The long-lasting impression most visitors leave Brazil with is of carefree, colourful people dancing and celebrating in the street parades at Carnival, and of a passion for life and exuberance of spirit that charms visitors from around the world.

The country has much to offer visitors at all times of year, however. Tourists descending on the country's exciting cities, such as hedonistic Rio de Janeiro, can enjoy the five-star hotels, shopping malls, pristine beaches, sunny skies and bustling nightlife without really having to confront the hundreds of shantytowns (favelas) where the poorest of the poor eke out a living in the shadows of the skyscrapers.

With booming mining, agricultural and manufacturing sectors, Brazil has the highest GDP in Latin America and is expected to be one of the world's dominant economies by the middle of this century. Brazil also caters well for business tourism and is a favoured destination for conventions, congresses and expos, particularly the city of Sao Paulo, which is the country's largest city and the business capital of Brazil.

Being so vast, larger than the continental United States, Brazil offers a variety of cultures and topographies. The range is evident in the contrast of the Amazon and Pantanal rain forests to the mountain towns of Minas Gerais, the urban jungle of Sao Paulo and the vast central plateau around Brasilia, and the world-famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. It all adds up to an exotic and exciting Latin American mix where the common denominators are samba, sunshine, sultry smiles and soccer.

Corcovado

Address: Corcovado Railroad Station. Rua Cosme Velho 513, Cosme Velho Rio de Janeiro

Admission: R$36 (adults), R$18 (children) for a round-trip on the train Open daily, from 8.30am to 7pm. Train departs every 30 minutes

Telephone: (21) 2461 2700

Sugar Loaf

Address: Avenue Pasteur 520, Praia Vermelha Rio de Janeiro

Admission: Cable Car: R$44 (adults), R$22 (children 6-12) Open daily, from 8am to 7.50pm

Telephone: (21) 2546 8400

Botanical Gardens

Address: Rua Jardim Botânico Rio de Janeiro

Admission: R$4 Daily, from 8am to 5pm

Telephone: (21) 2294 9349

Ipanema

Address: Avenida Vieira Souto Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana

Address: Rio de Janeiro

Angra dos Reis

Address: Rio de Janeiro

Buzios Peninsula

Address: Rio de Janeiro

The Meeting of the Waters

Address: The Amazon

Lake Janauari Ecological Park

Address: The Amazon

Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden

Address: The Amazon

Museu de Arte

Address: Av. Paulista 1578 Sao Paulo

Admission: R$15 (adults), Free for children under 9. Other concessions available. Open Friday to Wednesday, from 11am to 6pm; and on Thursday from 11am to 8pm

Telephone: 3251 5644

Mercado Municipal

Address: Rua da Cantareira 306 Sao Paulo

Iguaçu Falls

Address: Rio de Janeiro

Estádio do Maracanã

Address: Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo Rio de Janeiro

Admission: R$20 Open daily, from 9am to 5pm

Tijuca Forest

Address: Alto da Boa Vista Rio de Janeiro

Admission: Open daily, from 8.30am to 6.30pm

Rio Scenarium

Address: 20 Rua do Lavradio Rio de Janeiro

Telephone: (0)21 3147 9000

Sepetiba Bay

Address: Rio de Janeiro

Ibirapuera Park

Address: Avenida Pedro Alvares Cabral, Sao Paulo Sao Paulo

Admission: The park is open daily, from 5am to midnight.

Telephone: (11) 5573-4180

Hopi Hari

Address: Rodovia dos Bandeirantes Km 72, Vinhedo, Sao Paulo Sao Paulo

Admission: R$ 69.90 at the gate, or R$ 56.70 through the website

Telephone: 0800 940 4674

Santa Teresa

Address: On the top of Santa Teresa Hill, near the centre of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha

Address: Túnel Zuzu Angel, west of the Ipanema area, Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro

Telephone: Advance booking essential – call (21) 8221 5572

Football Museum

Address: Estádio do Pacaembu, Praça Charles Miller 1, São Paulo Sao Paulo

Admission: R$6 (adults), R$3 (card-carrying students and seniors) Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm (last admission at 5pm)

Telephone: (0)11 3664 3848

Igreja São Francisco

Address: Lgo Cruzeiro São Francisco Salvador da Bahia

Telephone: (0)71 3322 6430

Fishing

Copacabana Palace Hotel Restaurants

Address: Avenida Atlântica 1702 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: International

Fellini

Address: Rua General Urquisa 104 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: International

Asia Restaurant

Address: Rua Almirante Alexandrino 256 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Asian

Carême

Address: 113 Rua Visconde de Caravelas Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: French

Confeitaria Colombo

Address: 32 Rua Gonçalves Dias Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Brazilian

Madame Butterfly

Address: 472 Rua Barão de Torre Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Seafood

Paladino

Address: 226 Rua Uruguaiana Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Brazilian

Palaphita Kitch

Address: Avenida Epitacio Pessoa S/N, Quiosque 20 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Local

Azul Marinho

Address: Avenida Francisco Bhering S/N, Arpoador Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Seafood

Brasileirinho

Address: Rua Jangadeiros 10 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Local