Travel

Now is a good time to plan a trip to Brazil – and not just because the World Cup will be held there in 2014 and the Olympic Games two years later. We’ll get a chance to assess Brazil’s capacity for organisation when the FIFA Confederations Cup kicks off in June.

There is no doubt, though, that thanks to the growing strength of the economy, and the improved infrastructure required for those two later events, the country is safer and easier to travel around than ever before.
After decades of overselling a handful of tried and tested beach destinations, Brazil is now inviting travellers to explore further. Even the mildly adventurous tourist can get deep into the Pantanal, the immense wetlands of the south that rival the Amazon for biodiversity, or drive the coast roads of the north-east. Intrepid beach lovers can mingle with Brazilian travellers on the Costa Verde, in Fortaleza and in the resorts of Santa Catarina.