Sunday, January 27th, 2008
The grand Iguazu Waterfalls sits on the frontiers of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Higher than the Niagara Falls and four times wider, Iguazu’s 275 cascades fan out over nearly 3.2 kilometers of the Iguazu River. A volcanic eruption once cracked open the earth, and formed what is now the Falls. Water thunders over the giant cliff, sometimes at a rate of 450,000 cubic feet per second.
Various islands separate the Falls into separate currents, the best known being Gargantua del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). Best seen from the Brazilian side, these fourteen falls drop more than 100 meters with such force that the spray rises up into a 30 meter cloud. Walk through the subtropical forest of Iguaçu National Park for a closer view of Gargantua del Diablo. Or meander through park’s jungle trails; plan a full day to enjoy the nearly pristine ecosystem. The Falls’ name, coming from the Guaraní word for “great water”, was aptly chosen. Whether it’s by boat, helicopter, or by foot, take in this site for all it’s worth…just be sure to take some dry clothes with you.
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Sunday, January 27th, 2008
Ilha Grande is a rustic island that in the mind of navigator André Gonsalves, sailing the nearby canal in 1502, was not an island at all, but a landslide of the continent. He named the magnificent island on January the 6th, calling the surrounding cove Angra dos Reis (King’s Creek) in remembrance of the Magic Kings.
Here, mountains meet the sea, and hundreds of beaches, forests, caverns, and rivers spread out for exploration. Most visitors to Brazil make the island one of their top destinations because its beauty and adventurous offerings cannot be beat. The island is covered in tropical trees and vegetation and is accessible by trails snaking over mountains, leading to secluded beaches and natural springs. It is a wonderful place to hike, bike, swim, and soak up the lush beauty of this magical place.
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Saturday, January 26th, 2008
The enchantment of the Amazon lies in its size and its mystique. Just over half of the 6 million square kilometers of jungles and rivers spreads into Brazil. It is an unbelievably beautiful ecosystem that thousands are fighting to protect. Travelers seeking the heady experience of visiting the tropical wonder enter by bus, boat and air. Rustic lodges provide memorable accommodation along the way. Half of the three million inhabitants of the Amazon live in the metropolis of Manaus, at the confluence of the Amazon River and Rio Negro. A cosmopolitan city with a year-round hot climate, Manaus attracts many Brazilian and foreign tourists seeking an entrance to the surrounding jungle.
Just a few kilometers downstream from the city churns Encontro das Águas (Meeting of the Waters), where the dark violet Rio Negro meets the toffee-colored Rio Solimões. The two rivers flow side by side, never mingling due to differences in speed, density and temperature, until they finally meet in the Amazon River.
To visit the Amazon is to experience life in its most fertile and primordial. Visit the Pantanal flood plains – the marshlands in Central-West known for its birdlife. Take a triip to Belém, in Pará state, often considered the gateway to the Amazon. As one of Brazil’s busiest ports, at about 60 miles upriver from the Atlantic Ocean, it services the Pará, River, one of the tributaries of the greater Amazon river system. Belém, built on a number of small islands intersected by channels and rivers, is separated from the larger part of the Amazon delta by Ilha de Marajó.
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