BRAZIL

Brazil is South America's giant, a dazzling land of beautiful beaches, unexplored jungles and crowded metropolises. Music and dancing are as integral here as eating and sleeping, and you'll find as many regional styles , from samba's sensual rhythms to Bahia -charged beats.

Brazil contains an astounding variety of fauna and flora with incomparable settings for spying wildlife. The winter (June to September) is probably the best time to go there.

Those looking for the soul of Brazil would do well to focus on the Northeast.Music, history and culture amid spectacular natural scenery make for an unforgettable journey.

Brazil's beaches are among the most beautiful in the world, most famously in Rio de Janeiro.It's no wonder Rio de Janeiro is known as cidade maravilhosa, or Marvelous City: With its spectacular beaches, world-famous Carnival, pulsing nightlife and a laidback, sun-soaked culture that celebrates the good life, Rio treats visitors to an unforgettable holiday.

Brazil does Carnival (in Portuguese, Carnaval)-the annual four-day festival marking the arrival of Lent-like nowhere else. With parties all across the country- most famously in Rio de Janeiro -Brazil's version of Carnival is an epic celebration of the senses, and visitors are welcome to join the fun. Carnival usually falls toward the end of February, but the festivities vary from region to region

Iguazu Falls are among the great natural wonders of the world. With 275 falls along the Iguazu River. Some of the individual falls are up to 269 feet high

While it may not be the Eden of popular imagination, Brazil is still a country of staggering beauty. There are stretches of unexplored rainforest, islands with divine tropical beaches, and endless rivers. Then there are the people themselves, who delight visitors with their energy and joy.