Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

Post published:8 June 2013
Post category:Brazil South America

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Carioca Landscapes

And finally in Rio de Janeiro! One of the long time dreams made a reality. In fact, the whole of the trip planned for Brazil was pivoting around Rio, visiting Sao Paulo some days before and then making it our base for getting into magnificent Iguazu Falls.

Once again, and like everywhere you will see over the internet, or the mouth to mouth; what is described as a dangerous city, it does not mean it is. As long as you take care of your belongings and don’t do or go anywhere you should not. It is incredible to hear from people that Downtown is a dangerous area, yet to our surprise, it’s the most beautiful and totally safe place. Maybe some tourists get scared to see that many local people which are on drugs or drunk. Perhaps; yet still, they are harmless as long as you are cautious.

The city is well divided in different areas, all along the coast and within easy reach one to another, either by the very frequent buses, or by metro which runs parallel to the coast and covers all tourist areas in no time. To the south are the world famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. Corcovado Mountain where Christ the Redeemer is at the top; the Sugar Loaf Mountain and Botafogo Beach, which offers amazing views towards the Sugar Loaf. And right behind, the idyllic Tijuca National Park with its wonderful peaks and pristine forests. All of which the city, its landscapes and the national park are listed a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

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Iguazu Falls - Brazil

Iguazu Falls – Brazil

Post published:5 June 2013
Post category:Brazil South America

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One of the greatest spectacles of the nature

From the very beginning since booking the flights to Brazil, we knew Iguazu Falls would have to be part of the trip. How or when was secondary, the main point was to plan at whatever the cost was in this point, at least a day trip here. We could not let the chance go now that we were going to be in the country to admire the largest waterfall system in the world, without any doubt a well deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site listed. Fine that you could also get here from the Argentinian side, where you have the people who argue which side is better; and reach them also from Paraguay, from Ciudad del Este which neighbours Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil just across the Parana River.

Now, after the trip, if you ask me if I would return, I certainly say a definitely yes! And possibly to stay longer, and to check the views from the Argentinian side. It is mind blowing and jaw-dropping to see such power and beauty of nature. Simply grandiose.

Fortunately, and considering the size of this country, Iguazu Falls are quite well located at short flight distance from both Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. From our experience coming from Rio, this was a little less than 2 hours flight. Also, the choice of airlines was good enough to select some of the best times at great prices. After all, this is one of your major places to visit in your lifetime, immerse yourself and appreciate the magnitude and size of it all.

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Sao Paulo - Brazil

Sao Paulo – Brazil

Post published:1 June 2013
Post category:Brazil South America

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I am not led, I lead

As so excited it can get, finally travelling to Brazil, although a very tiny part of the massive country. We managed to find a nice open-jaw ticket, the ones we are more and more frequently starting to seek and take advantage where possible. This means, you depart from one city in a country, but do not return to the same city, but to another, also likely to be in a different country too. So to give you our example, it was a Madrid to Sao Paulo, few days there and then the leg Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro; while for the return flights, it was Rio to Sao Paulo and to London, all with TAM Airlines. But for more information on the different kind of tickets, and when is best to find nice offers do not forget to take a look at the section The Flight Search Guide.

Although the highlight for this trip was getting to Rio de Janeiro of course, one should never underestimate the beautiful and gigantic city of Sao Paulo. Forget what you hear from the mouth to mouth, or even from locals there saying there is nothing to see, or if it’s ugly, dangerous and nothing to do. This is absolutely wrong; and yes, although not much from the historic colonial town remains, it is enough for at least 2 days or even more of full sightseeing.

The city is well divided in neighbourhoods, and as a tourist, the chances are you will be for sure in 2 of them. These are around Paulista Avenue, and the Downtown, where both the historic colonial city was founded and the business district that grew around it.

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