Bring Brazil Home

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B razil: Buying Guide

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GLOBAL PROPERTY GUIDE

Table of contents

Editor's forewordBrazil is an emerging powerhouse, one of the nextglobal economic superpowers. Its economic growthhas been impressive the last few years, and evenwith the downshift to a more sedate projectedannual GDP growth rate of around 4%, we believethat Brazil is one of the most exciting propertymarkets.

With a robust housing industry and a developingmortgage market, Brazil offers some of the bestprospects for international investors.

Introduction

The economySuccesses

Property investment, attractions, and tourism growth

Where foreigners buy

Concerns

Buying propertyRestrictions on foreigners

Property prices and rental yields

Buy-sell transaction costs

Taxes and costsIncome tax

Capital gains tax

Rental income

Property tax

Landlord and tenantRent

Landlord and tenants' rights

Deposits

Living thereThe Federal District and the 26 states

Major cities



If you ask the average Brazilian how things are going - Tudo bem? - he might reply that things are going well. Very well, in fact. South America's largest country is enjoying a robust economy, a strong currency, record low unemployment, solid tourism numbers, a trade surplus and a surging property market.

Brazil weathered the global financial crisis better than most countries, and its future looks as bright as the sun beaming down on Copacabana's sunbathers in the summer. It is now touted as one of the world's emerging economic superpowers, and it will be the centre of attention in the next few years as the host of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympic Games in 2016.

Introodducttiioooonn

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Is it all too good to be true? Perhaps. Brazil is already showing some signs of overheating, with exploding home values, growing credit card debt and rising inflation. But its economic growth continues, and for the moment, Brazil is enjoying its moment in the sun.

Introduction



The state of the nationBrazil's economy grew 7.5% in 2010, the fastest increase in 24 years. It is expected to register a more modest growth of 4% this year - still impressive compared to the mire that many other major economies are stuck in.

The country's current economic success was nurtured by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose corruption-plagued two terms as president from 2002 to 2010 nevertheless solved some of the country's worst problems and oversaw the growth of its economy. Lula's social welfare programs and economic management helped raise more than 34 million Brazilians out of poverty.

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On January 1, 2011, Dilma Rousseff succeeded Lula and became Brazil's first woman President. She is expected to continue some of the work of her predecessor, who was responsible for reform packages like the housing programme Minha Casa Minha Vida and Bolsa Família, which ensures that Brazil's current prosperity is felt even by its poorest residents. Rousseff has already launched Brasil sem Misería, another programme to help the 16 million Brazilians who remain in poverty.

It's not going to be easy. Rousseff also has to deal with corruption scandals and infighting within an unruly political coalition that could delay much-needed economic reforms essential to keep Brazil's economic boom going.

Ocean front real estate



SuccessesBrazil's fast-growing middle class is the key driving force behind the country's spectacular economic growth and housing boom in recent years.

Under the administration of Lula da Silva, poverty was reduced and the middle class expanded. During his 8-year term, Lula (as he was popularly known) took a pragmatic approach combining the free market with social support for the poor and workers similar to a European social democracy.

In the last five years, Brazilian's purchasing power increased by more than 40% and about 40 million Brazilians have joined the middle class since 2003. The middle class now makes up about 74% of the total population from just 49% in 2005, according to a recent report by Cetelem Bank.

The unemployment rate was successfully brought down to below 7% in 2010 from more than 12% in 2003. In March 2011, the unemployment rate stood at 6.5%. From 2003 to 2010, the minimum wage has risen by about 60% (in real terms).

Lula's spending reforms and sound economic management also led to a budget surplus, falling inflation and foreign debt and, within the first two years of his term, lowered Brazil's credit risk. The government also launched Bolsa Familia, a family grant programme for poor families that has helped more than 44 million people.

To address the severe housing shortage, a social housing program called Minha Casa Minha Vida (My House, My Life) was also unveiled in March 2009 to build 3 million houses.

The economy did not avoid recession in 2009, but contraction was minimal at -0.64%.

The Economy

The Ministry of Sports estimates that the World Cup will add at least US$70 billion to the economy, including $30 billion in direct taxes, $10 billion in indirect taxes, and $3 billion increased consumption of goods and services. More than 600,000 football fans from around the world are expected to come to Brazil for the games, generating another $2.5 billion for the economy. Domestic tourism will bring another $3.5 billion.

Property investment, attractionsand tourism growthBrazil's tourism industry is booming. Air travel was 32% up in April 2011 on the same month a year ago. Investments in the hotel sector are increasing as well. Brazilians themselves are also spending more tourism dollars, both abroad and in their own country. Brazilian tourists spent $8.3 billion overseas from January to May 2011, a 45% jump from the same period the year before. Brazilians are also increasingly buying property outside Brazil, and are some of the biggest buyers in Florida.

Foreign investment is pouring into Brazil. China is now Brazil's biggest trading partner, investing billions ofdollars in its fellow BRIC nation. More foreign investment is usually good news, but the real is on the verge of becoming overvalued; its appreciation helps fight inflation, but might weaken the position of local exporters and manufacturers as more and more imports (mostly from China) flood the market. A credit and asset bubble is looming, some experts believe.

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The economySuccesses

Property investment,attractions, and tourism growth
















Where foreigners buyConceerrnnnsss










Where foreigners buy in Brazil While new laws have been set in place to curb foreign ownership of land (usually farmland), there are no restrictions to foreigners' owning property. International investors are generally finding it easier now to buy homes in Brazil, though financing can still be difficult to obtain.

Foreigners who relocate to Brazil for professional reasons usually reside in the large commercial and financial centres of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. But many of those looking for a holiday home or a second home have been choosing the Northeast Region.

The area has become a popular choice among international investors, who have been snapping up beachfront properties in states like Bahía and homes in the new gated communities going up along the coast from the Natal, Rio Grande do Norte (considered the country's safest state capital) all the way up to the bustling city of Fortaleza in Ceará.

The Economy

The region is the closest part of Brazil to Europe, and several airlines in the top European cities already offer direct flights to the northeastern coast. For a long time one of the poorest regions in Brazil, it has now attracted the attention of investors, who are pouring billions of dollars in investment in hotels, resorts and golf courses. In 2010 the construction increase in the region was one of the highest in the country. President Rousseff has also pledged hundreds of billions of reais in investment in the area, and public infrastructure will improve in time for the World Cup in 2014.

São Paulo Rio de Janeiro

Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte

PiauíPernambucoParaíba

Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul

Bahia

Ceará



ConcernsIn his 2001 paper "Building Better Economic BRICs" , Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill identified Brazil, Russia, India and China as the countries in the most rapid state of economic development, predicting that their combined economies would eclipse the combined economies of the current wealthiest countries by 2050.

Brazil is certainly living up to the hype. It is already the world's seventh largest economy, with a GDP of US$2 trillion.

But are the BRICs in danger of overheating? Some economists are worried. Some aspects of the economy have experts worried.

Inflation and rising credit card debt. Food and gas prices have gone up and inflation, which has been accelerating every month since at least mid-2010, has not just passed the official target ceiling of 6.5% but exceeded 7% for the first time since 2005. As banks issue more credit cards to more and more consumers (the number of credit cards in circulation in Brazil is now 150 million, triple the number from eight years ago), their debts are getting harder to pay off as interest rates continue to go up. The central bank forecasts that by the end of 2011, as much as 28% of Brazilians' disposable income will go towards debt servicing.

Rising mortgage debt. Mortgage credit is being pushed by banks to homebuyers, especially to low and mid-income first-time homebuyers who are very sensitive to interest rate movements. And in Brazil, interest rates are already high and are still going up.

Because of this, many analysts worry about the ability of first-time homebuyers to finance their mortgage loans. From 2007 to 2010, real credit to the private sector soared by nearly 200% in Brazil, according to the IMF. In 2011, big banks in the country expect 20% growth in loans.In Brazil, consumers' debt service burden now stands at 24% of disposable income.

The Economy

As interest rates increase, the debt service burden of consumers is expected to rise to an exorbitant 30% in 2012. In comparison, US consumers, regarded as being over-leveraged, had a debt service burden of 14% of disposable income when the US sub-prime mortgage crisis erupted.

Roberto Attuch of Barclays Capital São Paulo estimates that the residential real estate debt of average mortgage-holders in Brazil rose from 25% of income in June 2006, to around 40% in November 2010.

Mortgages still difficult for the foreign buyer to obtain. Foreign buyers may find it difficult to obtain a mortgage unless they live and work in Brazil with permanent residency visas - and even then they may not find it easy to get financing in Brazil's still-nascent mortgage market. Many foreign buyers in Brazil choose to finance their home buying by borrowing from the Brazilian branch of an international bank which they have long been a client of in their own country.

A property bubble? In Rio de Janeiro, house prices have gone up 80% in the past year and nearly 100% since 2008. In São Paulo, prices have gone up 83% over the last three years. With an acute housing shortage of 7 million units, Brazil's real estate market is getting hotter, and many investors have raised concerns that the bubble is going to burst.

Brazil's economy is likely to remain robust in the near future. But more people are becoming cautious about spending in the South American powerhouse. It remains to be seen if their caution is enough to counter the morebuoyant spending of Brazil's new middle class.

10

15

20

25

30

'11'10'09

House Price Change, Annual (%)-Sao Paulo

Nominal Real

Source: FIPE ZAP




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Restrictions on foreignersForeign individuals and non-residents may buy urban and rural properties directly, or through resident companies or partnerships. A tax registration number from the Cadastro de Pessoa Fisica (CPF) is required.

There are however restrictions on buying rural properties. Foreign individuals who intend to migrate to Brazil may acquire rural properties directly from abroad only if they come to live in Brazil within three years from the date of acquisition. In addition, rural properties acquired by foreign companies shall be destined for the implementation of agricultural, industrial or settlement projects and these activities must be related to the companies' purposes.

Property prices and rental yieldsProperty prices are skyrocketing in Brazil, which already has one of the highest average prices per square metre in Latin America. The average per square metre price of a 120-square-metre apart-ment in the centre of one of its large cities is US$2,616.

The average asking prices of new apartments across the country soared by 24.7% in April 2011 from a year earlier, according to Exame Magazine using data from Ibope Intelligence, the largest Brazilian market intelligence firm.

Based on the Ibope Intelligence figures for April 2011:

In Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro's most expensive district, the average price of new properties rose 36% y-o-y to BRL13,031 (US$8,212) / sq. m., while the price of existing properties increased 25% y-o-y to BRL12,134 (US$7,646) /sq. m.

In Jardim Paulista, São Paulo's most expensive district, the average price of new properties rose 39% y-o-y to BRL9,120 /sq. m (US$5,747); the average price of existing properties escalated 49% y-o-y to BRL6,959 (US$4,385) /sq. m.

Buying Property

The FIPE ZAP Index of Dwelling Price Offers shows São Paulo dwelling prices up 25.9% during the year to April 2011, and up 83.7% over the past 3 years.

From 2008 to 2010, the average selling price of new one-bedroom apartments in São Paulo almost doubled. Newly launched two- to four-bedroom apartments increased in value by between 40% and 60% over the same period, according to Embraesp, a local real estate research firm.

Looking longer term, from 1996 to 2010, prices of newly launched apartments in São Paulo rose by almost 229% (131.6% in real terms), according to Embraesp. For all years since 1996 price rises have been strongly positive, except in 2007, when house prices dropped slightly due to Lula's stringent inflation targeting. Prices in São Paulo, for instance, dropped by 1.6% in 2007.

Property Prices vs GDP/Capita

GDP/cap Average real estate price,Sao Paulo

Source: embraesp, IMF

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

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Property prices and rental yields Residential prices in Brazil have lagged GDP per capita growth, but not too much should be read into this, because low-income countries tend to have higher house price/GDP per capita ratios than high-income countries. So if Brazilian house prices have been rising in parallel (more or less) to fast-rising GDP per capita, that is in itself worrying.

Buying Property

AVERAGE PRICES OF APARTMENTS IN BRAZIL, APRIL 2011NEW APARTMENTS EXISTING APARTMENTS

BRL/sq. m. y-o-y change BRL/sq. m. y-o-y change

SAO PAULO

RIO DE JANEIRO

North East

North Region

West Region

East Region

South East

Central

South East

South Region

North Zone

Central

West Zone

Barra

Jacarepaguá

South Zone

North

North East

Central

East West

West

South

4,255

4,663

6,792

2,992

7,384

5,717

4,860

4,250

2,929

No data

2,275

5,135

3,180

9,275

3,640

4,208

4,500

3,012

3,096

1,606

31%

31%

38%

10%

31%

41%

26%

13%

17%

34%

18%

23%

38%

No data

No data

18%

18%

19%

17%

No data

3,226

3,669

5,110

2,908

6,020

5,200

3,781

3,900

2,362

3,300

2,177

5,010

2,728

8,250

2,218

3,308

2,960

2,296

2,638

1,860

38%

18%

27%

19%

32%

39%

24%

33%

15%

34%

No data

10%

25%

31%

17%

14%

14%

19%

19%

No data

PORT ALEGRE

CITY REGION

Super-economic segment: house prices were up 6.9% to BRL2,271 (US$1,424) per sq. m.

Economic segment: prices rose 18.5% to BRL3,202 (US$2,008) per sq. m.

Middle segment: prices soared 29.5% to BRL4,600 (US$2,885) per sq. m.

Mid-high segment: prices rose 12.2% to BRL4,712 (US$2,955) per sq. m.

High-end segment: prices dropped 26% to BRL5,755 (US$3,610) per sq. m.

High-end segment: prices dropped 26% to BRL5,755 (US$3,610) per sq. m.

A look at the average prices of unitssold by Cyrela Brazil Realty, Brazil's largest developer, provides a glimpse of house price movements in each segment. During the year to end-Q1 2011,

There is a very strong upward price trend for apartments of all sizes in Rio de Janeiro, and for smaller apartments in São Paulo.

In Rio de Janeiro the price movement was strongest during the year to end-Q1 2011, with apartment selling prices going up by 48% on average, from an average US$3,429 per sq. m., to US$5,094. Rio penthouses moved up by less, and apartments in Barra da Tijuca hardly moved up at all.

In São Paulo, the prices of 50-sq. m. apartments moved up 33% during the year to US$3,384 per sq. mt; apartments of 120 square metres moved up 10.5% to US$2,616 per sq. m.. São Paulo apartment prices moved strongly up across all size ranges, except for the largest apartment sizes (200+ sq. m.).

São Paulo penthouses moved up across the size range, with 120 sq. mt. apartments moving up 37%.

During this past year, the real moved 3% up against the US$. Knight Frank's Global Residential Market Forecast seesBrazilian residential property prices rising by 5% in 2011.
















Property prices and rental yields (cont.)

Buying Property

Brazil: very strong upward price trend for any and all apartments in Rio, and for smaller Sao Paulo apartments

COST (US$) PRICE/SQ.M. (US$)

TO BUY MONTHLY

RENT

MONTHLY

RENT

YIELD (p.a.) TO BUY

SAO PAULO -

Apartments

SAO PAULO -

Penthouses

60 sq. m.

120 sq. m.

180 sq. m.

225 sq. m.

450 sq. m.

120 sq. m.

230 sq. m.

335 sq. m.

400 sq. m.

700 sq. m.

65 sq. m.

125 sq. m.

275 sq. m.

120 sq. m.

200 sq. m.

250 sq. m.

320 sq. m.

560 sq. m.

102,600

226,920

308,700

376,425

882,450

175,320

309,120

576,200

732,800

1,623,300

155,870

310,250

618,200

287,880

454,400

577,500

768,320

1,219,120

n.a.

1,240

1,940

2,399

5,040

1,234

2,077

3,467

n.a.

7,693

745

1,676

3,781

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

6.56%

7.54%

7.65%

6.85%

8.44%

8.06%

7.22%

n.a.

5.69%

5.73%

6.48%

7.34%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

1,710

1,891

1,715

1,673

1,961

1,461

1,344

1,720

1,832

2,319

2,398

2,482

2,248

2,399

2,272

2,310

2,401

2,177

n.a.

10.33

10.78

10.66

11.20

10.28

9.03

10.35

n.a.

10.99

11.46

13.41

13.75

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

RIO DE JANEIRO -

Apartments

RIO DE JANEIRO -

Apartments

CITY

The average rental yield (the gross annual rental income, expressed as a percentage of property purchase price - i.e., a landlord's rental return on investment before taxes and other costs) is 7.25% for a 120-sq. m. apartment in a premier city centre - not as high as that of Peru at 10.56%, but higher than those of manyother countries, like Uruguay.
















Buying PropertyBuy-sell transaction costsRound-trip buy-sell transactions are the total costs of buying and then reselling a residential property in Brazil.

Transaction costs can be broken down into four major cost areas:

Registration costs

Real estate agent fees

Legal fees

Sales and transfer taxes

In Brazil, total round-trip transaction costs usually come to between 11% and 12% of the value of the property. The real estate agent's fee is usually 6%, paid by the seller.

TransferNotary’s Fees Agent’s Fees

Costs paid by buyerCosts paid by seller

ROUNDTRIP TRANSACTION COSTS

3%2% – 3%6%

6.59%5.04%

11.63%

BuyerBuyerSeller






Property prices and rental yieldsBuy-sell transaction costs








Transaction Costs



Taxes and costs

Income taxNonresidents are generally taxed on their gross income at a flat rate of 15%. However, the income tax rate may change depending on the type of income derived and the residency status of the taxpayer.

Capital gains taxCapital gains realized by nonresidents on sale of real property are subject to Brazilian tax at a rate of 15%. The taxable gain is computed by deducting the acquisition costs and transaction costs from the gross selling price or market value of the property.Capital gains realized by nonresidents who reside in low-tax territories are taxed in Brazil at a special rate. Low-tax countries are defined as those countries that impose no tax on income or impose a corporate tax rate less than 20%. As of January 2004, capital gains earned by individuals residing in these countries are subject to 25% withholding tax.

Rental incomeNonresidents earning rental income from Brazilian propertyare taxed at a flat rate of 15%, levied on the gross rent.

Rental income earned by nonresidents who reside in low-taxterritories are taxed in Brazil at a special rate of 25%. Low-tax countries are defined as those countries that impose no tax on income or impose a corporate tax rate less than 20%.

Effective Tax Rate on Rental Income

Monthly Income Tax RateUS$1,500US$6,000

US$12,000

15%15%15%

Rental income tax can be quite high in Brazil. Non-residents are liable to tax on Brazilian-sourced income. Married couples are generally taxed jointly, but couples married under the separate property regime can opt for separate taxation. A spouse who is taxed separately may not be considered a dependent for tax purposes.

Property taxes Municipal tax on real estate ((Imposto sobre a Propriedade Predial e Territorial Urbana or IPTU): Property taxes are imposed on the assessed value of urban properties, as assessed by the municipality. The tax rates vary from one municipality to the other. Typical rates are around 0.3% to 1% levied on the assessed value of the property, an assessment usually lower than market value.

Federal rural property tax (Imposto sobre a Propriedade Territorial Rural or ITR): Rural property tax is levied on the land located outside the urban zones of the municipality. Unlike the IPTU, this is a federal tax. The tax rates vary from 0.03% to 20% depending on the number of hectares of land and the ratio which the utilized area bears to the total land area. Property owners are liable to pay this tax.







TTaTTT xes and ccoossttssIncome tax

Capital gains taxRental income

Property tax







Landlord and tenant

RentThe initial value of the rent can be freely agreed between the landlord and the tenant. The monetary value of the lease must be specified in Brazilian real, not foreign currency, and may not be linked to the variation of the exchange rate of a foreign currency or to the minimum wage rate.

Any contractually-agreed readjustment of the rent must occur annually, based on an index stipulated in the contract. The index cannot exceed official rates. If the contract is silent about the rate, or if there is disagreement about the achieved value, both owner and renter can ask judicially for its revision based on the fair market price, as long as it has been three years from the date that the contract was signed. Note that the revision can either increase, or alternatively decrease, the rent.

The landlord cannot demand that the rent be paid in advance, except in cases of temporary leases which may not exceed 90 days.

Landlord and tenants' rightsResidential lease contracts usually have a minimum duration of 30 months. At the end of that period the proprietor can recover his property without stating reasons and is not obligated to renew the contract.

However, if the tenant stays in the property after that term for more than 30 days without being given notice to quit by the owner, the contract is automatically renewed, but with an undetermined duration.

It can be agreed that the lease will last less than 30 months, though it rarely happens. In that case, if the vacancy of the property is not requested by a written document, the lease automatically renews, and the recovery of the property can only take place in the following special cases:

In 1991, legislation consolidated in one law all matters regarding urban real property rent, including its legal procedures by the law 8.245/91, known as Lei do Inquilinato. Brazil's landlord and tenant laws are pro-landlord.

need to recover the property for personal or family use, as long as it is the sole property; for demolition determined by the public authorities or licensed reconstruction that will increase the constructed area of the property in at least 20% or to turn into hotel or other similar business that will increase the constructed area in 50%; if the lease has been sustained for over 5 years; by mutual agreement; non-payment or contract violation

The parties may also stipulate a pecuniary penalty for violation of the lease contract, usually being the value equivalent to three months of rent. Also very common is to agree that the tenant will be exemption from the penalty for leaving the property before the contracted period, if it has been at least one year since the contract was signed.

Brazilian law gives the right of first option to the tenant in case the landlord desires to sell the property. Therefore, the owner must give a notice to the tenant, giving him 30 days to manifest his interest.

Tenants must make sure that their contract is registered in the real estate registry office, due to the possibility of the property being sold while it is still leased. If not registered, the new buyer will not be obligated to honour the lease agreement, and need only give the tenant 90 days notice to relinquish the property.

DepositsThe deposit is usually the equivalent of three months of the stipulated value of the lease, and will be restored to the tenant at the end of the contract.

Other types of guarantees related to the lease of real property include a surety bond, and the use of a guarantor, i.e., a third person responsible for paying any unpaid rental debts of the tenant. Both corporations and individuals are entitled to be guarantors, but given the risk, it is usually a close friend or a member of the renter's family. The guarantor must possess at least two real properties.

By law, the landlord can ask no more than one type of guarantee from the tenant, under penalty of nullity of the clause.










Landlord and tenantRent

Landlord and tenants' rightsDeposits




São PauloSão Paulo is the country's top economic and cultural hub, the source of almost half of Brazil's nationalincome. Its bustling cities, fine beaches, architectural gems and colourful festivals more than make up for the state's rather unreliable weather.

Metropolitan São Paulo is the country's largest urban area. It has Brazil's prime universities, colonial and contemporary museums, art galleries, business and shopping centres, and beautiful old cathedrals. The Fortress Circuit, encompassing the cities of São Vicente, Guarujá, Bertioga, Santos and Praia Grande, takes pride in the ancient strongholds preserving Brazilian culture, art, and architecture since the beginning of colonization five centuries past.

Living there


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The heart of the state is Brazil's largest city, the multicultural

megalopolis that is São Paulo.

The Federal District and the 26 statesInnnnnnttttttrroooooodddddddduuuucccccccttttiioonn











LLLiivvvvviiinnng therrreeThe Federal District

and the 26 statesMajor cities


Rio de Janeiro

The state of Rio de Janeiro is the smallest in the country's Southeast Region, yet it possesses the longest coastline in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro owns a wealth of Brazilian history in the superbly preserved colonial buildings of Santa Teresa, Lapa, Urca, and Botafogo.

.


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The state capital is the festive city of Rio de Janeiro
















Minas GeraisWith the second largest state economy in Brazil after São Paulo, Minas Gerais is the country's chief source of coffee and milk. It is also famed for its literature, music, and the fine Miniero baroque architecture in cities such as Ouro Preto and Tiradentes.


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The resource-rich state lies mostly in the highlands, contains some of the country's highest peaks and is the source of some of Brazil's biggest rivers. It is green and hilly in the south. Underground are large reserves of iron, gold and gemstones.

The state capital is Belo Horizonte, a neatly laid out city near the São Francisco River. It is the country's third largest city, but with no beaches and no Carnival, Belo Horizonte is not as internationally known as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It does, however, have the unusual distinction of containing more bars per capita than any other city in Brazil - over 12,000 botecos for its 5 million inhabitants.
















Espírito SantoEspírito Santo is prominent for having one of the most efficient port complexes in South America, notably the port of Tubarão in the state capital, Vitória. Old buildings recall itscolonial past, though modern hotels and restaurants have sprung up to accommodate the influx of visiting beachcombers.


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The state's main tourist attractions are its long stretches of sandy

beaches and its hearty,seafood-based cuisine.
















Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul is Brazil's southernmost state and shares a border with Uruguay. Its wine regions, Caxias do Sul and Bento Gonçalves, are popular tourist stops. The capital, Porto Alegre, is a port city sitting on a delta at the junction of five rivers, on the bank of Guaiba Lake. Most of the inhabitants are of European descent, as the city received thousands of immigrants from countries such as Germany and Poland in the late 19th century. It is one of Brazil's top commercial, financial and cultural centres.


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Bento Goncalvesvineyards
















Paraná


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Not far from Curitiba are the spectacular Iguazu Falls on the

border between Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

The state of Paraná preserves both the charming Imperial Railway, built in 1880, and sections of 19th century paving on Graciosa Highway between its capital Curitiba and Paranaguá. Curitiba is well-known for its green preservation policy, exceeding the United Nations' standard by 36 square metres of green per resident. This, and the fact that Paraná is Brazil's fifth biggest industrial economy, makes Curitiba a prime residence choice for agribusiness investors.
















Santa CatarinaIn the small southern state of Santa Catarina, snow covers the mountaintops and brilliant white sand carpets the sunny coast. Its bays, coves, and pristine beaches teem with surfers and water sports enthusiasts during the summer.

The state capital, Florianópolis, is a modern metropolis known for its stylish contemporary architecture and its beautiful beaches. It sits on an island and is connected to the mainland by three bridges. Along the coast are traditional fishing villages. Some of Santa Catarina's other cities, like Blumenau and Joinville, retain a fusion of Portuguese, Italian, and German cultures and colonial structures.


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Florianópolis Yacht Club - beyond the marina, tourists are attracted to the blue water big game fishing.
















AlagoasWater abounds in Alagoas-rivers, swamps, lakes, and especially lagoons, after which the state was named. And, of course, there are the beautiful, palm-fringed beaches that draw the tourists.


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The state capital is Maceió. Its name comes from an Amerindian word for water that comes out of the ground, and there are several such pools of water in the area. The city is also known for its crafts, especially its fine laces, and itswhimsical streak. Many of its public telephone booths are shaped like fruits and animals.
















BahiaThe northeastern state of Bahia has a long Atlantic coastline and a good chunk of the lush, tropical Atlantic Forest, but for many people the name of the state is associated with Brazilian art, literature, dance and especially music. The rich, evocative samba originated from Bahia. Combined with the state's glorious, sunny beaches and the warmth of its people, Bahia has become one of Brazil's top tourist destinations.

Bahia is also an important place in Brazilian history. It was the first Portuguese colony, and its capital, Salvador, was the site of the first European settlementin the country. Pelourinho, its historical centre, is dotted with the mansions of sugarcane plantation lords and 18th century Baroque cathedrals. Salvador is now the third largest metropolitan area in Brazil.


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The colorful streets of charming Bahia
















Ceará


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The hot, dry, sparsely vegetated state of Ceará is situated in the forbiddingly named Polygon of Drought, a semi-arid area in northeast

Brazil that does not get much rainfall.

The state capital, Fortaleza, is a bustling metropolis that receives more domestic tourists than any other city in Brazil. In the state's east coast, charming old sugar and flour mills can still be found in Aracati, Cascavel and Icapuí. Baturité frequently sponsors music and theatre festivals in its bid to promote local art and the city's beautifully preserved architecture.
















Paraíba


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

João Pessoa, the capital, is celebrated as the city with one of the highest ratios of green area toresident in the world. This includes over 700 hectares of fully preserved forests. Trees also dot the metropolis' squares, parks and boulevards. Tourists throng the Tambaba, Manaíra, and Tambaú beaches at the city's fringes.

The tiny northeastern state of Paraíba faces the Atlantic. Its easternmost point, the cape of

Ponta do Seixas, is also the easternmost point of the Americas.
















Pernambuco


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The small northeastern state of Pernambuco has a high inland plateau sloping down to a narrow but beautiful coast. The architecture in its cities echoes the prosperity of the sugarcane age - Recife's monuments, old manors, churches, and sugar mills stand in contrast with the modern buildings and streets. The former capital, Olinda, a sanctuary of art and architecture of colonial Brazil, was named a UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1982.

The former capital, Olinda, is a sanctuary of colonial art and architecture. It was named a UNESCO Cultural Heritage

of Humanity in 1982.
















Piauí


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Piauí is mostly inland, with only a tiny stretch of Atlantic coast in the north. It is one of the least prosperous states in Brazil. Its capital is Teresina. Named after the wife of Pedro II, Brazil's second and last emperor, it is the country's first planned city, and its design is said to have been inspired by a chessboard. The city is situated at the mouth of two rivers. Many of the buildings dating from its founding in the mid-19th century still stand.

Downtown Teresina with its typicalcolorful skyline
















Maranhão


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Maranhão is one of Brazil's poorest states. With a landscape that includes large tropical forests, big sand dunes and an abundance of palm trees, it can get very hot and humid here during the summer. The state capital is São Luís. Unusually for a Brazilian capital, it was founded by the French and is situated on an island. The city's historic centre has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is a beautifully preserved, 17th century colonial town that has managed to adapt to modern times without compromising its character.

Its most distinctive architectural element are the tiles that cover its old houses, earning São Luís the

nickname "City of Tiles".
















Rio Grande do Norte


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The state capital is Natal. More than 400 years old, the city took its name from the Portuguese word for Christmas because it was founded on December 25. As late as the early 20th century Natal was still a small village. Its urbanization began in the 1930s, and the presence of American servicemen during World War II changed its character. Today Natal is quite a liberal city that is growing in popularity as a tourism destination. It is well-known for its festivals and its beaches.

Rio Grande do Norte is a small, semi-arid state in the most northeastern part of Brazil. It has an Atlantic coast and is quite sandy

and dry in places.
















Sergipe


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Sergipe is the smallest Brazilian state. It has an Atlantic coast backed by forestland and hilly opencountry called agreste.

Its capital is Aracaju. A planned city on the banks of the Sergipe River, Aracaju has an international airport and is quite known for its beaches and festivals. It also has many fine examples of 19th century architecture.

Sergipe also offers Xingó Canyon, with its brilliant rock formations, crystal-clear waters,

ecological trails, richly diverseflora and fauna and the Caatinga Theme Park.
















Mato Grosso


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The heart of Brazil, the Central-West Region, is home to much of the country's history. The state of Mato Grosso was an important destination for inland expeditions from the coast during the beginning of Brazil's colonization in the 17th century.

Broad modern roads now crisscross the state capital, Cuiabá, but in the city centre, architectural relics and old colonial mansions still stand alongthe narrow, gold-rush era streets.
















Distrito Federal


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The Brazilian Federal District is located on the Central Plateau, It is comprised of 20, including Brazil's capital, Brasília. In the 1960s, part of Goiás was committed to the building of the city. Roads and railroads were built inland from the former federal capital of Rio de Janeiro, allowing the country's interior region to flourish with settlers.

Brasília is the only city constructed in the 20th century to merit UNESCO World Heritage status-the Cultural and Historic Patrimony of Humanity. Built in the shape of an airplane, the city's wide boulevards and districts form the central axes and wings of the Pilot Plan by Lúcio Costa. Works of famed artists and architects surround Três Poderes Square among the edifices of Brazil's political power: National Congress, Justiça Palace, Ministries Esplanade, Planalto Palace and Itamarary Palace.

Brasília is the country's seat of government.

It is a planned city that was built to fulfill an

article in the constitution that stated that

the capital should be closer to the country's

centre. It is only 55 years old and has been

the capital of Brazil for 51.
















Goiás


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The state of Goiás was settled in the 17th century by gold prospectors; in mining towns such as Corumbá, Pilar de Goiás, Goiás Velho, and Pirenópolis, the colonial influence can still be seen in their stone-paved streets and old colonial houses.

Goiás has begun to attract foreign investors. China is planning to invest millions of dollars in technology and research centres in the state.

The capital of Goiás is Goiânia. The city's economy is based on the sugarcane industry, as it has been for hundreds of years. It is also famous for the Heroines of Tejucupapo-women who drove Dutch invaders away from their village in 1645.

Tourists to the historic old town of Goiás

Velho will find themselves travelling back

through time as they stroll along cobbled

streets admiring the beautifully preserved

colonial houses.















Mato Grosso do Sul


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Hot, humid Mato Grosso do Sul is a largely agricultural state in southwestern Brazil. It is home to the vast El Pantanal, the world's largest wetland. The Pantanal is a low-lying area that covers a dozen municipalities and contains an abundance of flora and fauna - it is, in fact, an enormous ecosystem with the largest number of animal species in the Western Hemisphere. The area is hot and humid, and experiences ample rainfall for at least half the year.

The capital of Mato Grosso do Sul is Campo Grande. It sits on a flat plain, with broad, tree-lined streets and big

commercial centres. Some of the houses are traditional brick homes called ocas.

El Pantanal
















Pará


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The northern state of Pará is very ecologically important. It contains a large swath of the Amazon rainforest, and the large, rushing Amazon River goes through it.

Most of Pará's population is concentrated in the urban areas, especially the capital, Belém. Built on the banks of the Amazon estuary, Belém is considered the gateway to the Amazon. It has a busy port and airport that receives thousands of tourists every October for the festival of Círio de Nazaré.

Another popular destination in Pará is Marajó. It is the largest island in an archipelago

floating in the mouth of the Amazon near Belém. Visitors come to Marajó for its beautiful

beaches, rich animal and plant life, and warm, welcoming people. It can get flooded

here during the rainy season, though.
















Amazonas


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The large, landlocked state of Amazonas lies in Brazil'snorthwest, bordered by the countries of Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. It is home to several wildlife parks and the largest forest reserve in South America, the National Park of Jaú. Within the heart of the rainforest, the National Institute of Amazon Researches in Amazonas is the focal point of conservation research in Brazil.

Amazon River ManausThe capital of Amazonas is Manaus, a highly urbanized city in the middle of the Amazon with over two million residents. Situated at the confluence of the Río Negro and the Amazon River, it is becoming a top ecotourism destination. It is already one of Brazil's major commercial centres, with a Free Trade Zone and a large industrial sector. It is a top source of electronic products, though the state's market share in this sector has declined over the years.
















Acre


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The Amazon rainforest encompasses Acre, one ofBrazil's poorest and least populated states. It is also Brazil's youngest state, only becoming one in 1962. The economy is largely driven by the rubber industry. Acre's capital is Rio Branco, a remote city that is usually reached by boat. The city grew around the banks of the Acre River and has an interesting mix of colonialand more modern buildings, including a museum dedicated to rubber, the city's most important product.

Rio Branco
















Amapá


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

The state of Amapá is quite remote and inaccessible; it is sparsely populated and not well-developed. The terrain consists of tropical forest, still largely untouched, and savannas and plains.

The capital of Amapá is Macapá, a small mining town on the

equator.
















Rondônia


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Covered by the Amazon rainforest, Rondônia is one of Brazil's fastest growing states in terms of economy and population. Its economy is based around the mining of cassiterite, a mineral that is an important source of tin. The downside of thisgrowing prosperity, however, is the environmental cost. A large portion of Rondônia's forest area has been denuded. Problems are also being caused by the great influx of migrants into its cities.

The state capital is Porto Velho. It started out as a village built to accommodate labourers working on

the railway, and today one of its attractions is a ride on part of the historic track going through the

Amazon rainforest, built by the workmen who first settled in the area. Porto Velho was named after the area's port on the Madeira River, and it is the region'smain trade centre for cassiterite. Despite its growing economic importance, the city is still quite a frontier

town, notorious for cocaine smuggling.
















Roraima


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Roraima is Brazil's northernmost and least populated state. The Amazon rainforest covers the south, but the terrain develops into savannas and plains further north.

Half of Roraima's meagre population lives in the capital, Boa Vista, a planned city that is usually hot, humid and rainy. It is also the only Brazilian state capital located entirely above the equator.

The capital, Boa Vista
















Tocantins


Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Brazil

Tropics zone

Tocantins, noteworthy as the newest and one of the best-managed Brazilian states, draws immigrants from all over the country by virtue of its flourishing agricultural economy. Unlike its neighbours, the landlocked state has open pastures besides the expected rainforests, and rivers carving oases in the dry terrain. The North-South Railway currently in the works is foreseen to raise the standard of living in Tocantins in the coming years.

The state's profile was raised when it became the site for the filming of

the popular US television series Survivor. The capital is Palmas.
















São Paulo

Rio de Janeiro

Minas Gerais Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


São Paulo is Brazil's largest, wealthiest city. Mercer's Cost of Living Survey named it the tenth most expensive city for expatriates to live. According to the survey, which took into account the cost of food, housing, transport, clothing and other essentials in 214 cities around the world, São Paulo (and the other major Brazilian cities) had risen through the rankings as the real strengthened significantly against the dollar.

In São Paulo, skyscrapers soar next to century-old houses, and the inexorable rhythm of workdays and nightlife seems endless.

The city is the third largest metropolitan area in the world. It is home to South America's chief financial centre Avenida Paulista, the São Paulo Stock Exchange, a massive helicopter fleet and, amidst the city hubbub, traces of stately colonial architecture and pockets of greenery.

The city started out with a small Jesuit mission on a hill between the Anhangabaú and Tamanduatei rivers in 1554. It soon became a trading post and entry-point for expeditions into Brazil's interior. Not long after it became a city in 1711, the first coffee saplings were brought into Brazil and planted around the city's outskirts. Coffee cultivation and trade rocketed following the construction of the 1867 railway, making São Paulo the world's largest coffee exporter. Immigrants poured into the city to work the coffee plantations after slavery was abolished in 1888, and the multitude of ethnicities-German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, and Arabic among them-remain vibrant ingredients of São Paulo culture to this day.

The Anhangabaú, long ago filled to construct a freeway, occasionally strikes back, flooding roads. A partial replica of the old mission, Pátio do Colégio, sits on the hill today.

Paraná

Mato Grosso do Sul

Minas Gerais

São Paulo

São Paulo

São Paulo state

Atlantic Ocean

Rio de Janeiro

Living thereMajor cities












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Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Minas Gerais Espírito Santo

Alagoas

CearáMaranhão

Acre

Amazonas

Amapá

Tocantins

Roraima

Rondônia

Pará

Mato Grosso do Sul

Goiás

Distrito Federal

Mato GrossoSergipe

Rio Grande do Norte


Bahia

Santa Catarina

Paraná

Rio Grande do Sul


Sprawling, vibrant Rio de Janeiro is also deservedly known as Cidade Maravilhosa. A city of surprising natural beauty, Rio has the two largest urban forests in the world, the iconic urban beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema in its South Zone, and the massive and iconic Christ the Redeemer guarding it from atop the Pico do Corcovado.

São Paulo

In the late 19th century the city's wealthier residents, or cariocas, adopted Parisian masquerades in their celebration of the season before Lent. Soon, Native American and African elements were also mixed into the balls, creating the colourful occasion that Rio has become most famous for: the flamboyant, festive Carnival.

Just like every major city famous for its life, Rio has an underbelly that exists in bleak, seedy contrast to its glitz. There is a huge gap between the rich minority and the poor majority. Violence and crime is rampant within the city's slums, or favelas, just at the outskirtsof the upmarket districts.

Rio de Janeiro is soon going to be in the global spotlight as it hosts the 2016 Olympic Games and some of the games of the 2014 World Cup.

Rio de Janeiro stateRio de Janeiro

Minas Gerais

Espírito Santo

São Paulo

Brazil's second largest city, Rio was the country's capital for almost two centuries, and the Portuguese empire's capital from 1808 to 1821.

Atlantic Ocean

Living thereMajor cities












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Bring Brazil Home