Brazlië experience: Rio de Janeiro, Amazone-avontuur en stranden in het Noordoosten

About the destination: Rio de Janeiro, often referred to simply as Rio, is a Brazilian municipality, capital of the homonymous state, located in the Southeast of the country. The largest international tourist destination in Brazil, Latin America and the entire Southern Hemisphere, the capital of Rio de Janeiro is the best known Brazilian city abroad, functioning as a "mirror", or "portrait" nationally, whether positive ly or negatively. It is the second largest metropolis in Brazil, after São Paulo, and the sixth largest in America. It has the epithet of The Wonderful City and the one that is born in it is called carioca. Part of the city has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is one of the main economic, cultural and financial centers of the country, being internationally known for several cultural and landscape icons, such as sugar loaf, corcovado hill with the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the beaches of the neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema and Barra da Tijuca, maracanã stadium, the bohemian neighborhood of Lapa, the forests of Tijuca and Pedra Branca, the island of Paquetá, The New Year's Eve of Copacabana, the Rio carnival, Bossa Nova and samba. It was the capital of Brazil, from colonial Portuguese until 1960, when the government's office was transferred to the newly built Brasilia. Welcome to this wonderful city, considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

About the destination: Manaus is the capital of the state of Amazonas in north-western Brazil. It is situated in the heart of the Amazon rainforest on the north bank of the Rio Negro, just 10 kilometres upstream from the point where Rio Negro meets the Solimoes and forms the Amazon River. Manaus is the gateway to the Amazon. The enormous richness and diversity that can be found within nature in the Amazonas is amazing, and Manaus is where most Amazon tour operators are based.The city has plenty of sight to see and a vast array of grand-looking buildings. The floating dock is worth a visit, as well as the market. The Opera house is impressive, The Amazon Theatre, the National Institute for research in the Amazon and the Ponta Negra are worth a visit and the Museu do Indio has an excellent ethnographic collection. Good handicrafts from indigenous and traditional communities can be found in the Galeria Amazônica.Manaus is pleasant and friendly and it is a busy hub but feels laid-back. Manaus has char and it is impossible to dislike.

About the destination: Fortaleza is the capital and biggest city in the north-eastern state of Ceara. Fortaleza is a coastal city with nice beaches, happy people and a lively party atmosphere. It's a great place to relax and get away from the city buzz. There are many nice restaurants, pleasant colonial architecture, an impressive cathedral and loads of sun all year round. Fortaleza is a beautiful city by the Ocean with a tropical weather, so beaches are its main draw. With extensive sandy areas and dunes up to 30 meters high, one of the most popular spots is Cumbuco beach. Surrounded by palm trees and lagoons, situated among dunes it is a sight to be seen and enjoyed. Pedra Furada, a natural arch of rocks carved by waves over time, is considered the biggest symbol of the area. Therre ara also other rock formations like Jacaré and Tartaruga, which are also breathtakingly beautiful. There are many other beaches in this same coastal region, rich in natural beauty, such as Coqueiros, Iparana, Pacheco, Icaraí, Tabuna, Pecém, Taíba, Lagoinha, Guajirú, Mundaú, Baleia, Marinheiros, Pracianos and Sabiaguaba.Aside from the vast array of gorgeous beaches, Fortaleza is set amidst the lush scenery of Ceara's inland region, famous for its green forests covering the mountain ridges and valleys of Ibiapaba, Baturité and Araripe. The region scenery is a true oasis of dense and exuberant vegetation, with a healthy climate and rich and varied fauna.