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Brazil country guide

4 questions, each answered from published authorities with the sources listed.

Panorama from Sugarloaf over Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro and Niterói — Photo: Piutus, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Author Piutus · CC BY 2.0 File source

When to visit 1

When is the best time to visit Brazil for Rio de Janeiro?September — Rio is deep in its dry season and warming into spring, the Pantanal is at peak jaguar season, the Amazon's rivers are low enough for forest trails, and the…

Food and drink 1

What local dishes should I try in Brazil, and where should I look for them?Eat Brazil by region and by calendar: feijoada on a Wednesday or a Saturday, acarajé hot from a baiana's tray in Salvador, the two rival moquecas of Bahia and Espírito…

Places and experiences 1

What should a first-time traveler see in Brazil beyond the obvious highlights?Brazil's twenty-six UNESCO sites point past the postcards: go to the dune lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses, the rock galleries of Serra da Capivara with paintings over…

Trip planning 1

How can I plan a memorable first trip to Brazil without rushing?Fly everything, give each region the better part of a week, and let Rio anchor the ends of the trip — Rio to Manaus alone is 1,765 miles (2,841 km), four hours by air…

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