Brazilian Highlights & The Amazon - V319A

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, located on the eastern shore of the Rio de la Plata, on the SE coast of South America. The birthplace of the tango, the city is as bustling with energy as the dance itself. Stroll neighbourhoods with romantic restaurants, past its architecture and parks. The 20-lane main boulevard is the longest in the world, fashioned after the Champs-Élysées. Read more about Buenos Aires, Argentina

Montevideo is the largest city, capital, and chief port of Uruguay. Situated on the River Plate (Silver River), it is also home to almost half of the nation's population, and subsequently is a modern metropolis, though with a fascinating historical old town dating back to colonial times. Described as a vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life, it is the hub of commerce. The varied architecture reflects its history that ranges from colonial to Art Deco, all influenced by either Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French or British immigrants. Read more about Montevideo, Uruguay

The municipality of Santos, in the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil, is the largest seaport in Latin America. It is a beehive of activity that offers an intense cultural experience. It is in fact a great city to explore, with its own idiosyncrasies, and the exquisite way of living of its inhabitants. Not to be overlooked are the world-class restaurants that offer a diverse regional and international cuisine to suit all tastes. Read more about Santos (Sao Paulo), Brazil

Ilha Grande - aka Big Island - is located off the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and part of the municipality of Angra dos Reis. The island is largely undeveloped and noted for its scenic beauty, which includes tropical beaches, luxuriant vegetation and a rugged landscape. Ilha Grande is one of the most pristine remnants of Brazil's Atlantic rainforest, one of the richest ecosystems in the world, and a hotspot for biodiversity and conservation. The entire island is a protected area, with most of its territory included in Ilha Grande State Park, and the rest subject to stringent development restrictions. Read more about Ilha Grande, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is a large Brazilian city situated on the South Atlantic Coast of South America. It is perhaps best known for its carnivals and the largest art deco statue in existence, the giant Christ the Redeemer Statue that is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. While there absorb the magnificent views and you will feel as though you are taking a walk in the clouds. If possible, just before sunset, take the cable car (made famous in the James Bond film Moonraker) to its top and see Rio’s breathtaking landscape light up before you. Read more about Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is a large Brazilian city situated on the South Atlantic Coast of South America. It is perhaps best known for its carnivals and the largest art deco statue in existence, the giant Christ the Redeemer Statue that is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. While there absorb the magnificent views and you will feel as though you are taking a walk in the clouds. If possible, just before sunset, take the cable car (made famous in the James Bond film Moonraker) to its top and see Rio’s breathtaking landscape light up before you. Read more about Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Buzios in Brazil is situated 169 km NE of Rio de Janeiro, a small and sophisticated paradise that was popularised by legendary movie star Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s, and her statue still graces the main street. Today it is the haunt of the rich and famous of the world who flock to the city to enjoy the more than 20 stunning beaches in the vicinity. The peninsula is a sophisticated beach resort with a very active night life and fine restaurants. It also has good shopping and great ocean sports opportunities. Read more about Buzios, Brazil

Recife is one of the largest and most important cities on the NE coast of Brazil. This lively capital, originally founded by the Dutch, is brimming with a vibrant culture. The many rivers, small islands and over fifty bridges found in the city centre gives it the title of ‘Brazilian Venice’. This is an interesting historical town, which includes the oldest synagogue in the Americas, and some fine beaches. Read more about Recife, Brazil

Natal is the capital and largest city of Rio Grande do Norte, a NE state in Brazil. Natal has several tourist attractions and is famous for: its natural beauty, such as the crystalline waters of Maracajau; its historical monuments and buildings, such as the Forte dos Reis Magos; the Alberto Maranhao Theatre; and the Newton Navarro bridge. Ponta Negra, Pipa and Genipabu are popular beaches. Visit the Natal Historic Centre that is comprised of the oldest neighborhoods of the city, which have characteristics of the first centuries of the history of Brazil, highlighting important aspects of Portuguese colonisation. Read more about Natal, Brazil

Macapa, Brazil, is a river port and capital of the territory of Amapa, lying on the northernmost and largest arm of the Amazon River delta, opposite the Marajo archipelago. The city lies exactly on the Equator, and the football stadium is the only one in the world where each half of the field is located in opposite hemispheres. Macapa retains some of the history of the region in its monuments. One of these is Sao Jose Fort, at the entrance to the city. Read more about Macapa, Brazil

Arguably, no other place is more critical for human survival than the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon River, covering almost half of Brazil in South America, is the widest river in the world, the second longest, and plays a key role in global carbon cycles and climate. Due to its thousands of lengthy tributaries - 17 are over 600 km in length – it produces 20 percent of the world’s fresh river water. Indeed, its river water reaches 320 km out to sea and till this day ships anchor in the outflow to remove the salt water marine life, especially barnacles, attached to their hulls. Read more about Amazon River, Brazil

Santarem in Brazil, some 800 km up the Amazon, is located on the southern bank of the clear emerald blue waters of the Tapajos River, a tributary of the Amazon. Not far from here these waters encounter the muddy waters of the magnificent Amazon River. A natural phenomenon, the two rivers flow side by side and are known as the ‘meeting of the waters’. The city has a bustling harbour full of riverboats and ancient dugout canoes. Read more about Santarem, Brazil

Parintins is a major river port with a population of 114,000, situated on Tupinambarana Island amid the largest archipelago of the mid-Amazon. It is one of the most isolated medium-sized cities in the world, and is accessible only by air or boat. The community can trace its history back through two centuries and still proudly celebrates its traditional Indian culture. The town is famous for its annual ‘Boi Bumba Festival’, a fantasy derived by the mixture of Indian and European cultures that revolve around a bull, and is a very well-known world class event. Read more about Parintins, Brazil

Manaus is a main port on the banks of the Negro River 1450 km inland in the heart of the Amazon rain forest, and is the main transport hub for the entire upper Amazon Basin. It also attracts crowds of tourists who find a variety of land and boat trips into the jungle. Wildlife is plentiful, even within the city, and it is home to the Pied Tamarin, one of Brazil's most endangered primates. Tour boats take visitors to see the point where the black waters of the Rio Negro meet the Solimoes River's brown waters and then flow next to each other without mixing for nine kilometres. Read more about Manaus, Brazil