Luxury Holidays Brazil | Original Travel

Why visit Brazil with Original Travel ?

As the fifth largest country in the world, Brazil can be quick to overwhelm. But leave the planning in the hands of our expert team – two of whom are natives and one of whom grew up there – and dive into a stress-free, tailor-made itinerary. From closing off the Christ the Redeemer statue for a private, white tablecloth breakfast (yes, really) to beach picnics in Bahia, our experiences surpass the norm. With our portfolio of properties including luxury resorts in Rio and mid-century houses with views of Sugarloaf Mountain, there’s something to suit all travellers' tastes.

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Travel to Brazil by Region

Bahia

The State of Bahia is known as 'the land of the drum', and fuelled by a rich Afro-Brazilian culture Bahia’s cool coast certainly moves to its own beat. Experience this by the bucket-load in Salvador da Bahia - the musical and cultural capital of the north-eastern state, where Brazil’s African roots thrive. One of the main draws is the Pelourinho - a multi-coloured UNESCO-listed neighbourhood (on just about every postcard of Salvador), full of colonial buildings and beautiful baroque churches. The Brazilian author Jorge Amado was inspired by its gritty charm, while Michael Jackson performed with the city’s most celebrated percussion band - Olodum - in the picturesque main square. While on Bahia holidays, encounter electric evenings, of live capoeira performances and indulge in doughy shrimp fritters sizzled in dende oil – a Bahian speciality. Your base? How does an 18th-century mansion overlooking the cobbled old town and church bells sound? Take our word for it, it’s perfection.

Brazilian Amazon

Superlatives fall short when talking about the Amazon. The largest tropical rainforest in the world with a river of legendary size (around 4,000 miles to be more precise) and reputation, there’s no wonder Brazilian Amazon holidays have graced bucket lists since the dawn of time. Spanning nine countries, with 60% of the rainforest situated within Brazil’s borders, you could spend a lifetime exploring this enormous green lung and discovering its abundance of wildlife. Canoe down flooded waterways in search of pink dolphins, caimans and piranhas - while on land meet jungle tribes, (some of whom have never made contact with the outside world). Where to stay? A jungle lodge with a sophisticated set-up or a private yacht for a sense of pioneering adventure, take your pick.

Buzios and the Costa Verde

To the east and west of Rio you can find some of Brazil's best beaches, and on Buzios and Costa Verde holidays you can take your pick of the finest. Once a small fishing community, Buzios was put firmly on the map when Brigitte Bardot was photographed on holiday here in the 60s. Despite increasing popularity the area has retained its charm by strictly controlling development, allowing only low rise construction. On a Buzios holiday you can pick your favourite of over 20 beaches in the vicinity, and head off windsurfing, surfing, diving, riding, trekking, biking or sailing. To the south-west of Rio lies the lush Costa Verde, home to charming coastal villages, more gorgeous beaches and a lovely laidback surf culture. Costa Verde holidays are prime road trip territory as you cruise from Rio to Sao Paolo, with one particular highlight being the tiny town of Paraty. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its well preserved colonial architecture, the cobbled streets of Paraty are a delight to wander around, as are the boutique shops, fine restaurants and bars, which are some of the best in Brazil. You can also explore the coastline here by kayak, and of course surf beautiful beach breaks to your heart's content.

Iguaçu Falls

Visions of the Niagara Falls may just peter away when you set your eyes on Iguaçu Falls - the largest waterfall system in the world is wider than Victoria Falls, higher than Niagara and, in our humble opinion, more beautiful than either. The name itself is a reference to its incredible size – Iguaçu Falls literally means ‘big water’ - so expect a spectacle of immense proportions. It’s easy to combine Iguaçu Falls holidays with other stop-offs. Before you hit the natural wonder why not pause at Sao Paulo, only an hour-and-a-half flight away, for a dose of cosmopolitan life. Stroll around the leafy parks, duck into contemporary galleries and dine in hip restaurants before you immerse yourself in one of earth’s greatest natural spectacles. Or you could combine the thundering falls with a jet-set beach address on the gorgeous Emerald Coast - the perfect antidote to all that jungle adventure.

Minas Gerais

Thanks to its rich farmland, colonial architecture and delicious rustic cuisine - Minas Gerais is one of Brazil’s best kept secrets. Once the booming heart of the country’s gold rush, its glorious outposts remain wonderfully preserved and embroidered into the lush surrounding countryside. The region is known for its mix of natural beauty and pretty colonial towns, such as Ouro Preto, a baroque gem, and Tiradentes, full of charming cobbled streets and an off-the-radar culinary scene. We could go on about its rich history, but Minas Gerais holidays can also offer adventure at every turn, with biodiverse landscapes that are perfect for outdoor escapades - riding through the forested farmland, hiking to awesome viewpoints and swimming under secluded waterfalls. Then there’s Inhotim, an outdoor sculpture park reason, enough to make the trip to this beguiling destination.

North-East Brazil

The North Eastern coast of Brazil is where Brazilian outback meets wild beaches, with castaway vibes in abundance. North-East Brazil holidays take you from dry desert land studded by cacti to lush tropical deltas and miles of open sand. Experience simple pleasures alongside raw beauty, whether it’s careering down dunes in an off-road buggy or swimming in forget-me-not-blue freshwater lagoons. In the undulating dunes of Jericoacoara, pared back luxury is enjoyed by a relaxed crowd who make the pilgrimage to its wild beaches and kite-surfing meccas. The harbour city of Fortaleza deserves a stop off, if only to dine on seafood and dance to the rhythmic beats of forro, while the picturesque fishing village of Pipa overlooks divine beaches, lapped by warm pale blue water. Finally, 220 miles from the mainland east of Pipa lies the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha - a UNESCO Natural Heritage site - consisting of 21 small volcanic islands, isolated in the equatorial South Atlantic. All different, all wonderful.

Pantanal

In the centre of South America lies the largest inland delta in the world, the Pantanal, or flooded outback, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Life in the Pantanal follows a yearly cycle of rising and falling waters, dictated by the rains and the course of the great Paraguay River and its many meandering tributaries. The Pantanal is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and there are some great tours out there. The diversity of vegetation, the rich soil and the abundance of water attract and sustain an enormous variety of wildlife. Most of the wildlife is also encountered in other parts of Brazil, but nowhere - not even in the Amazon - are they as easily seen as in the Pantanal. So what sort of wildlife are you spotting on Pantanal holidays? Let's start with over 650 species of bird, and then you can see crocodiles, piranhas, giant anteaters, blue hyacinth macaws, cougars, capybaras, toucans, monkeys, giant river otters, anacondas, iguanas and, of course, jaguars because this is without doubt the best spot in Brazil for seeing them.

Rio de Janeiro

Nowhere in the world is more seductive than Rio de Janeiro, the city with perhaps the most stunning physical setting of any on the planet. The city’s many faces can charm even the most discerning travellers - from its dazzling beaches to its sultry bossa nova bars. Undoubtedly one of the most iconic beaches in the world, Copacabana is the city’s calling card, a mass of beautiful bronzed bodies and stylish promenading. If you can drag yourself away from its soft white sands, the surrounding swish neighbourhoods of Ipanema and Leblon beckon with design-led architecture and upscale restaurants. For an entirely different, but equally beguiling perspective, head up into the hills to the artsy Santa Teresa district, home of superlative feijoada and the famous mosaic - Selaron Steps. It would almost be a sacrilege not to visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, which watches over the city, during Rio de Janeiro holidays, as well as taking a trip to Sugarloaf Mountain to soak up the sunset before plunging into Rio’s samba scene.

Southern Brazil

The Southern coast of Brazil has an abundance of white sand beaches and emerald seas to soak up while on holiday, encased by endless green mountains and lush forestry. With 350 miles of beaches in Santa Catarina alone, the area boasts spectacular surfing. Head south from Rio to the coastline around the city of Florianopolis (known as Floripa) for Southern Brazil holidays, surfing hotspots, (yet more) beautiful people, whale watching and sensational seafood.

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Brazil Testimonials

3 reviews

4.3 / 5

"Every element of our holiday was well thought out and brilliantly executed - the hotels , the transfers , the tours… made for a wonderful holiday without any of the headaches - loved handing over the reins to you guys. "

Jessica - Leicester
Published on 27th November 2018

"I am thrilled to be working with you and have really enjoyed working with Oliver on my itinerary. He has been incredibly helpful and efficient in crafting such an amazing adventure for us."

Steven - New York, USA
Published on 11th February 2020

"Thank you arranging the most wonderful holiday - we had a wonderful time. Loved all the places we stayed at, they were perfect and we loved how small and intimate they were. Ibitopoca was a particular standout - absolutely wonderful and they had fantastic food too. Catucaba and Pincinguaba were magical locations and both were very peaceful and restful. Fasano and Emiliano were brilliant city hotels - amazing service and our room at Fasano was sensational. Julie, who took us on the tour of Sao Paulo, was absolutely brilliant and gave us a wonderful introduction to the Sao Paulo art world along with the Niemeyer buildings. Our guide in Rio too was brilliant and both were very flexible and allowed us to dictate where we wanted to go etc. It was a brilliant holiday, thank you, and I loved that it was all organised for us - I may never go back to organising a holiday ever again "

Vivek - London
Published on 1st August 2019

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What can you find in Brazil that you won’t find elsewhere?

In a country so vast, there’s always a sunny spot to flock to - at any time of the year, whether it’s reclining on the sparkling white-sand beaches of the dazzling Emerald Coast or wildlife-spotting in the lush wetlands of the Pantanal. Brazil holidays are the only place you can encounter such a mingling of cultures from carioca life in Rio, to Afro-Brazilian communities in the beautiful Bahia region. Festive spirit is encountered all-year round. The Rio Carnival - one of the country’s most famous calling cards, explodes with flamboyant samba parties and musical blocos, which swarm the streets, while in Salvador it’s all about Afro-focused celebration; drum corps, capoeira and brass bands playing in the colonial squares. It’s also where the Candomble religion is practised, a unique mix of Catholicism and spirituality – mostly prevalent in Bahia. Don’t forget the heart-stopping natural landscapes such as the Amazon (Brazil contains 60% of South America’s rainforest), the mighty Iguazu Falls and the undulating dunes of Lencois Maranhenses.

Who is Brazil best for?

Brazil holidays come in all shapes and sizes for those looking to be swept off their feet. While city lovers can let loose on Rio’s iconic beaches, world-famous architecture and samba music, budding conservationists can live out their wildlife-documentary dreams immersing themselves in the Amazon’s great biodiversity, or even tracking elusive jaguars in the wildlife-rich Pantanal. All the while, sun worshippers and honeymooners will no doubt appreciate the ravishing beaches, complete with caressing sea breezes and chic promenades.

What is the best option for a Brazil holiday?

Rio is a must, but choosing what to do next is where our expertise really kicks in as the difficulty is filtering out what not to do, unless you've got a spare month or two. Rest assured that wherever you end up this will be one of the most memorable luxury holidays you ever take. There's plenty more to explore on a luxury holiday to the world's fifth largest country - for example 4,500 miles of coastline teeming with tropical islands and home to ever more sophisticated new boutique hotels opening all the time. Several of the travel team here have been to Brazil in the last few years alone, exploring everywhere from the deserted beaches of Natal province to the incomparable rainforests in the Amazon. We, therefore, have the inside track on all the best places to suggest for your luxury holiday. One thing we do guarantee - we suspect everyone who visits will secretly wish they were Brazilian.

Special things to do in Brazil

Hole up in a Beach Bungalow:
Spend your days in sleepy Bahia, staying in a former fisherman’s home, or in a treehouse overlooking the sweeping Atlantic. It’s only a short hike through the mangroves to the white-sand beach where you can while the hours away caipirinha in hand.

Trailblaze through a Natural Paradise:
Discover the lush Pantanal region, exploring its marshlands on foot, galloping on horseback or paddling in a canoe. Traversing its lush waterways, keep your eye out for Brazil’s extraordinary creatures such as capybaras, black monkeys and if you’re lucky, elusive jaguars.

Rio Highlights:
Whizz through Rio de Janeiro with an expert guide who knows the ropes. Visit artist studios in bohemian Santa Teresa, soar over the Sugarloaf Mountain in a helicopter and dance the night away in the city’s coolest bossa nova bars.

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Why visit Brazil with Original Travel ?

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What can you find in Brazil that you won’t find elsewhere?

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What is the best option for a Brazil holiday?

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