The long-lasting impression most visitors leave Brazil with is of carefree, colourful people dancing and celebrating in the street parades at Carnaval, and of a passion for life and exuberance of spirit that charms visitors from around the world. Tourists descending on the country's fabulous cities, such as hedonistic Rio de Janeiro, can enjoy the five-star hotels, shopping malls, beautiful beaches, sunny skies and inspirational restaurants 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 continental United States, Brazil offers a variety of cultures and topographies. The range is evident in the contrast of the Amazon rain forest 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$45 round trip on train Daily 8.30am to 6.30pm. Departs every 30 minutes

Telephone: (21) 2461 2700

The distinctive statue of Christ the Redeemer, arms spread to welcome the world, is the symbol of Rio de Janeiro and one of the seven New Wonders of the Modern World. It rests on top of Rio de Janeiro's Corcovado Mountain, 2,330ft (710m) above the beaches below, and is accessed via a miniature train that runs from the Cosme Vehlo District through the Atlantic rainforest to the foot of the statue. The train ride offers stunning vistas of Rio, and the view from the summit is breathtaking. Spread out beneath the statue is the Tijuca Forest, resplendent with attractions to enchant visitors in the cool of the rainforest among natural pools and waterfalls. There is for example the Mayrink chapel, which features murals painted by Candido Portinari, one of Brazil's best known modern artists, and the Museu do Acude, housing colonial furniture and a collection of china from the East India Company.

Sugar Loaf

Address: Avenue Pasteur 520, Praia Vermelha Rio de Janeiro

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

Telephone: (21) 2546 8400

The summit of Rio's unique 1,299ft high (396m) belvedere, named Sugar Loaf because of its resemblance to the loaves of sugar used by the Portuguese colonists, can be reached by a two-stage cable car ride. The first stage takes visitors up 722ft (220m) to the Morro da Urca, where there is a restaurant, amphitheatre, heliport and spectacular view of the Yacht Club and Botafogo Bay. The second stage takes one the rest of the way to the summit for a panoramic view of the city, and the whole of Copacabana beach. The Sugar Loaf cable car is a major icon of Rio's tourism.

Botanical Gardens

Address: Rua Jardim Botânico Rio de Janeiro

Admission: R$4 Daily 8am to 5pm

Telephone: (21) 2294 9349

Rio's Botanical Gardens were created in 1808 by the Prince Regent of Portugal as a temporary site for acclimatising imported plants. Today it is home to some 2,600 species of plant life, particularly bromeliads and orchids. Colour is added to the botanical treasures by a wealth of wildlife, such as Toucans, Tanagers, Marmoset monkeys and brilliantly coloured butterflies.

Ipanema

Address: Rio de Janeiro

Immortalised in a popular song, 'The girl from Ipanema', this part of Rio offers not only its legendary beach, but numerous excellent hotels, bustling nightlife, sophisticated shopping opportunities and quality restaurants, all within walking distance of each other. Ipanema (the name, incongruously, means 'bad water') is famous for setting fashion trends, particularly in the line of skimpy swimwear, and fashion fundis should look out for the famous bikini boutiques like Salinas, Blue Man and Bum-Bum. Also do not miss exploring the Rua Garcia D'Avila to shop for designer fashion, jewellery and furniture. Visit the Amsterdam Sauer Museum of Gems here for a workshop tour. There are numerous other streets in Ipanema to explore as well, including the attractive commercial street Visconde de Piraja that is lined with speciality shops, bars, restaurants and some of Rio's best boutiques. Visit the hippie fair at General Osorio Square on Sundays for wooden sculptures, handcrafts, exotic musical instruments and artworks.

Copacabana

Address: Rio de Janeiro

This famous Rio beach neighbourhood was just a small fishing village until a new highway changed the face of it sometime in the 1900s. The Copacabana Palace Hotel first opened its doors in 1923, and since then the area mushroomed with Neoclassical and Art Nouveau skyscrapers, penthouses and apartments. Visitors still flock, as they have always done, to the glamorous Palace Hotel, the place to be seen. Sometimes the visit is only to have tea or a meal at the famed Cipriani restaurant. The beach itself has white sand and calm water and is festooned with kiosks. It is a popular spot for beach sports like soccer and volleyball, and a good place to sunbathe. Copacabana beach is particularly popular on New Year's. According to tradition, visitors dress in white and congregate here to celebrate in their droves, counting more than two million people during this time.

Angra dos Reis

Address: Salvador da Bahia

This peninsula and group of 365 islands (one for each day of the year!) is a holiday playground that boasts 2,000 beautiful beaches and a natural wonderland of mountains, forests, waterfalls, lakes and secret coves. Visitors can take trips by schooner, yacht or motor launch to explore the delights of the area, particularly the main island, Ilha Grande. Fishing and diving are the favoured activities for tourists, and on land there are hundreds of walking trails giving access to some of the less frequented beaches like Canto, Abraaozinho, Morcego and Grande das Palmas. The beaches of Aventureiro and Lopes Mendes are also popular with surfers.

Buzios Peninsula

Address: Rio de Janeiro

Once the preserve of pirates and slave traders, the peninsula of Buzios, 105 miles (169km) north east of Rio, is today the haunt of the rich and famous who flock to the city (once a fishing village) to enjoy the 20 or so beaches in the vicinity. The peninsula was popularised by legendary movie star Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s, and her statue still graces the main street of Buzios, the Rua des Pedras. The peninsula is a sophisticated beach resort with a very active nightlife and fine restaurants. The west coast beaches offer calm, clear waters while the east coast ones, facing the open sea, are a little wilder and draw the surfers and water sports enthusiasts. Among the most popular beaches are Azeda Beach, Joao Fernandinho Beach with several bars and known for its seafood, Ferradura Beach, and Geriba beach, popular for surfing.

The Meeting of the Waters

Address: The Amazon

Where the dark waters of the Rio Negro join the lighter muddy waters of the Rio Solimoes a natural phenomenon is caused: the separate shades of water run side by side for a length of more than four miles (6km) without mixing. The separation is apparently caused by the difference in temperature, density and flow rate of the waters from each river: Rio Negro travels at about a mile (2km) per hour with a temperature of 72ºF (22ºC) while Rio Solimoes flows at between two and four miles (4-6km) per hour with a temperature of 82ºF (28ºC). This phenomenon has become a major tourist attraction in Brazil, best accessed by taking an hour's journey by boat from the floating docks in Manaus.

Lake Janauari Ecological Park

Address: The Amazon

This park, an hour by boat from Manaus on the Rio Negro, provides a taste of the Amazon experience with its 9,000 acres of dry land forests, lowlands and flooded forest (known as igapos). Day package trips are available from Manaus including lunch in a typical regional restaurant and a visit to the area's other main attraction, The Meeting of the Waters. Daytrippers are also taken on a canoe trip on the lakes and streams. Lake Janauari Park has abundant examples of the famous Amazon Victoria-Nympheaceae water lily that spreads its round leaves, measuring up to seven feet (two metres) in diameter, on still shallow waters. The flowers, which start out white and turn mauve then dark red, only last three days.

Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden

Address: The Amazon

This vast forest reserve, covering more than 39 square miles (100 sq km) to the east of Manaus, provides tourists with the opportunity to discover what lies beneath the dense Amazon rainforest canopy. The park building complex hosts plant nurseries and an exhibition of the woods of Amazonas, as well as a library and restaurant. A network of trails has been created in the forest, and local youths are trained and employed as guides to direct visitors along the paths.

Museu de Arte

Address: Av. Paulista 1578 Sao Paulo

Admission: R$15 (adults), free for children under 10 Friday to Wednesday, 11am to 6pm. Thursday 11am to 8pm

Telephone: 3251 5644

A large concrete building supported on delicate pillars in the Avenida Paulista houses an important collection of Western art. This museum features the work of the great European artists from the last 500 years, and hosts visiting exhibitions. It is open every day and entry is free on Thursdays. The complex includes a reasonably priced restaurant.

Mercado Municipal

Address: Rua da Cantareira 306 Sao Paulo

This imposing neo-Gothic style hall, dating from 1933, is the venue for a huge market, which sells local fruit, vegetables, cheese and other produce. The hall is noted for its gigantic stained-glass windows that depict scenes from the coffee plantations and other agricultural pursuits. The building is north of Praca da Se.

Iguaçu Falls

Address: Rio de Janeiro

The Rio Iguaçu arises in the coastal mountains of Paraná and Santa Catarina and snakes west for 370 miles (600km) before it widens majestically and sweeps around a magnificent jungle stage, plunging and crashing in tiered falls at the border with Argentina and Paraguay. The Foz do Iguaçu (Iguaçu Falls) are over two miles (3km) wide and 262ft (80m) high and their beauty is unsurpassed. Their name, fittingly, comes from the Guarani Indian word meaning 'great waters'. The deep flowing waters of the river tumble down 275 falls (almost twice the height of Niagara Falls) the most famous of which is Devils Throat on the Argentinian border, dropping 230ft (70m). As well as taking in the stunning views, visitors can enjoy kayaking and other watersports in the river. The best time of year to visit is August to November, when there is least risk of floodwaters hindering the approach to the catwalks. The falls are surrounded by the Iguaçu National Park, a huge sub-tropical rainforest covering 135,000 acres that is home to thousands of different species of flora and birds including parrots and hummingbirds.

Estádio do Maracanã

Address: Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo Rio de Janeiro

Admission: R$20 9am to 5pm daily

Built over 50 years ago for use in the Soccer World Cup, this stadium is the largest on the continent, seating a crowd of over 95,000. The stadium is currently used to host the local soccer league games, and is the home of the Brazillian soccer team. The Maracana is also often used by international acts visiting Brazil as a performance venue - Madonna and Sir Paul McCartney being among the big names who have played here. Inside the ground is a Hall of Fame honouring soccer greats such as Pele, Roberto Dinamite, Romário, Valdo and Bebeto all of whom have been honoured by having their footprints cast in the sidewalk. A guided tour will take you through the hall, where you can enjoy a display of historical photographs and a great panoramic view of the city.

Tijuca Forest

Address: Alto da Boa Vista Rio de Janeiro

Admission: 8.30am to 6.30pm daily

The world's largest urban forest, Tijuca spans 7,900 acres (3,200ha) and sits on Rio's doorstep. Inside the forest, walkabouts will lead you past caves, waterfalls and an abundance of exotic and rare flora and fauna. Stop and enjoy a pre-packed lunch at the 'Mesa do Imperador', a massive granite picnic table. The famous Corovado Mountain and statue of Christ the Redeemer form part of the forest.

Rio Scenarium

Address: 20 Rua do Lavradio Rio de Janeiro

Telephone: (0)21 3147 9000

The most festive spot in what is arguably the most festive city in the world. Rio Scenarium is a three floor dance club dedicated to sultry, sweaty summer salsa nights. The decor is interesting, set in an abandoned antiques warehouse, the club is adorned by movie props and other oddities. Live acts and dance events take place regularly at the club.

Fishing

Brazilian fishing is reserved for travellers as Brazilians aren't very fish crazy. This means more fish for those who are, but also restricts the large country to one main fishing route. Luckily it is the Amazon River. Here, in criss-crossing tributaries and lagoons, outfitters compete to bring fishermen to the remotest and most un-fished stretches of the river in hunt of the famous peacock trout. These river leviathans are a tropic treasure worth the arduous upstream trip. Most fishing outfits are for both the serious fisherman and those wishing for luxurious accommodation.   Beautiful fishing lodges dot the river banks and are accessible by boat or float plane. A number of shallow hulled yachts also go as far as they can. These can both cost around 4 to 5 thousand dollars a week. The most remote access is granted to those who use a float plane to reach floating tents. These are towed to shallow and otherwise inaccessible stretches of the river and promise pristine fishing and luxury tent living. There is nothing but fishing around the clock and perhaps not the best suited vacation for the family minnows. Be weary of outfitters that venture too far into the wild, tourists can bring diseases to contacted tribes.

Copacabana Palace Hotel Restaurants

Address: Avenida Atlântica 1702 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: International

The Copacabana Palace Hotel houses two of Rio de Janeiro's most elegant restaurants. The Hotel Cipriani Restaurant serves excellent north Italian cuisine to guests in an elegant dining area, while the poolside Pérgula Restaurant offers a buffet breakfast, and delicious South American meals. Cipriani is open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, with Pérgula open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week and from 12.30pm to 4.30pm on weekends. Reservations required.

Fellini

Address: Rua General Urquisa 104 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: International

Not only does Fellini offer a variety of international cuisine, with everything from Japanese to Mexican food available, but it's all sold 'by the pound' allowing diners a choice of exactly how big their portions should be. Fellini has a funky, laid-back atmosphere and look to match. Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, reservations recommended.

Asia Restaurant

Address: Rua Almirante Alexandrino 256 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Asian

High up in the hills of the Santa Teresa artist community, Asia is a stylish and modern restaurant warmed by dark wood furnishings and a soft paper lantern glow. While Asia is known for its dim sum selection (similar to Spanish tapas), the menu also offers Malaysian stir-fries and satay, as well as various curry and tofu dishes. 'Art in a glass' flower tea adds a beautiful finishing touch. Open on Wednesday for dinner and Thursday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, reservations recommended.

Carême

Address: 113 Rua Visconde de Caravelas Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: French

They say that dynamite comes in small packages and that couldn't be more true of Carême. Located in a cozy home in Botafogo, the venue exudes romance. The menu is minimalist but packs a delicious punch. The hours are short (only open for dinner) and the time in the restaurant certainly flies. Friendly and efficient service are the cherry on top of delectable French cuisine. Reservations essential.

Confeitaria Colombo

Address: 32 Rua Gonçalves Dias Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Brazilian

The Confeitaria Colombo acts as an homage to an age long passed. Established in the late 1800s, this Victorian style hall turned restaurant hasn't changed much in over 100 years& so they must be doing something right. This is considered to be a perfect lunch or light tea spot for execs doing business in the city. Tea meals are complemented by breads and condiments, while the meals are filling and appetising.

Madame Butterfly

Address: 472 Rua Barão de Torre Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Seafood

If you're in Ipanema and a sushi fan, be sure to stop by Madame Butterfly for some of the most original sushi to be had south of the equator. The innovation is Not so much the combinations themselves but the shapes, which are creative and, sometimes, a puzzle to eat. The fish with shimeji mushrooms in ginger and sake sauce come highly recommended.

Paladino

Address: 226 Rua Uruguaiana Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Brazilian

Revel in merriment with the locals at this affordable eatery, where authentic Brazilian cuisine is served generously. Have a plate or platter depending on how hungry you are, the price difference is negligible. Sardine sandwiches are a good bet for your taste buds. The Paladino is always popular and beer flows steadily from the taps. Open Monday to Friday from 7am to 8.30pm, and Saturday from 8am till 12pm.

Palaphita Kitch

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

Food Type: Local

With its rustic, eco-friendly décor (couches, wooden tables, lots of palm trees...) and its candlelit dining area, Palaphita Kitch has an idealistic yet somehow romantic atmosphere, backed by excellent views of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. The menu offers a selection of exotic Amazonian cuisine, with its carpaccio being a favourite. Open every night for dinner, reservations recommended.

Azul Marinho

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

Food Type: Seafood

As the name suggests, Azul Marinho is a quiet, sophisticated restaurant near the beach with a great seafood menu. Famed for their Moqueca (Brazilian seafood stew) with shrimp, cod, lobster, crab and octopus, the restaurant has a lovely outdoor dining area with ocean views from which to enjoy it. Open daily for lunch and dinner, reservations recommended.

Brasileirinho

Address: Rua Jangadeiros 10 Rio de Janeiro

Food Type: Local

Near the beach, this small and comfortable restaurant has an idyllic, rural atmosphere and its décor features handmade arts and crafts. The menu offers authentic, homemade Brazilian cuisine such as a plate of rice, beans, farofa (toasted manioc flour), steak and French fries, or the traditional caldinho de feijão soup, with beans and bacon. Reservations recommended.