May 21st, 2009 by

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Brazil is the largest and one of the most beautiful countries of South America. If you are planning a trip to Brazil then it will be interesting for you to know more about this exotic destination. There are many things which can be enjoyed in Brazil. You will be amazed with the hospitable spirit of people. You will have amazing experiences on your Brazil vacations. Brazil is an ideal destination for tourism due to a huge variety of attractions, rain forests, beautiful waterfalls and beaches and exotic food. You will never forget this country after visiting it once.

Each city of Brazil is special. You will find magic spots in big as well as in small cities, with many opportunities for all kinds of activities, including many destinations for ecotourism. Different cultural traditions from north to south gives Brazil a unique diversity on food, music, arts and way of living.

Brazil covers almost half of South America. Atlantic Ocean runs along the entire east coast of the country. By visiting this destination you can enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches of the world.

There are many things which should be kept in mind while planning a trip to Brazil or any other destination. First of all you should fix your travel budget. After fixing the budget you can look for some travel agencies online. Brazilian specialist can help you a lot to decide where to go and what to do for best chance to get a perfect Brazil vacations packages. There are many Brazil travel deals available, depending on dates and good flights. The basic travel requirements. Most commonly a package includes airline ticket, hotel room, tour package and regular transfer airport/hotel/airport. If you do a good research you can find very good Brazil travel deals with private transfer and tours. It is a good idea to explain all your expectations to him.

Never forget to compare the price of the packages offered by different agents. There are many websites and portals which can help you in comparing the price and finding an affordable package. Out of the pick season you can find good Brazil travel deals from March to May and from August to the beginning of December. If you are looking to have your Brazil vacations at this months you have a very good chance to stay in a very nice ocean front hotel for a reasonable price.

You should always try to find as much information as possible about the destination your family is planning to visit. It is a good idea to read some books or articles. There are many websites and blogs which provide free of cost information about several travel destinations all over the world. You can also visit some blogs which review popular destinations. Reading reviews can help you a lot in selecting a dream destination.

Do not forget to check the web sites of the Brazilian consulates all over the US, because the Country requires tourist visa for an American and Canadian citizen. Generally you need to send them your passport, 2 pictures, money order fees, copy of your itinerary signed by your travel agent or a copy of your ticket. There are about 9 consulates spread out all over US and each of them got some states under their jurisdiction. Generally it does take about a week to receive your passport back with your visa stamped on it. Enjoy your Brazil vacations. See you in Brazil and have fun!

Resource Box 1: Brazil Vacations offers many opti

May 21st, 2009 by

Since opening in 2001, the JW Marriot Rio has been considered a landmark in Rio de Janeiro. Located in front of Copacabana Beach, and only 24 km from the International airport and 12 km from the domestic airport, the JW Marriot is close to stores, shopping centers, restaurants, and night life hot spots. The hotel has 245 rooms specifically designed for those traveling for business. All rooms feature two-line telephones, speaker phone, voicemail, high speed internet access, cable/satellite TV, newspaper delivery from Monday to Friday, mini-bar, coffee machine, individual climate control, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, and safe. Also available for the guests use is an outside pool, fitness center, sauna, massage room, and beach service.

May 21st, 2009 by

The Pestana Rio Atlantica is located on Atlântica Ave with a beautiful view of Copacabana beach. All the rooms (including rooms especially for the handicapped) feature air conditioning, cable TV, and high speed internet access. The hotel also has available for the guests the restaurant Cais da Ribeira, a lobby and deck bar, 21 meeting rooms accommodating up to 400 people, a fitness center, Jacuzzi, swimming pool with a panoramic view, saunas, massage service, and beach service.

May 21st, 2009 by

Opened in 1923, this stucco-fashioned building is one of the most luxurious hotels in Rio de Janeiro. The Copacabana Palace has undergone extensive renovations and refurbishments to enhance its position as South America’s premiere hotel. The Copacabana Palace has two restaurants available for the guests, The Pergula, situated by the pool the guests can enjoy breakfast, buffet lunch, dinner, and refreshments, and the Cipriani which offers a selection of Northern Italian cuisine. The hotel’s convention center is comprised of 10 rooms each able to accommodate banquets, seminars, meetings, and social events. The hotel has 222 rooms and suites all with a view of either the sea or Copacabana Avenue. Also available for the guests use are tennis courts, a swimming pool, fitness center, laundry service, and a beauty saloon.

May 21st, 2009 by

Caesar Park Ipanema *****

The Caesar Park Ipanema is located in the heart of the residential district directly in front of the famous Ipanema Beach. A five star hotel, and also a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the Ceasar Park Ipanema offers excellent services
including 24 hour rooms service, safe deposit box at the front desk, bar, coffee shop, convention center, lounge, business center, restaurant, and convenience shops. All 222 rooms feature alarm clocks, telephones, cable TV, fax, internet access, iron and ironing board, and a mini-bar. The hotel also has available for the guests a fitness center, sauna, massage room, swimming pool, and bicycles upon request at the front desk.

April 19th, 2009 by

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Whoever gets to know it becomes a fan.

Enjoy your Brazil Vacations. The Country that gave birth to carnival, the dazzling costumes and glorious beaches of Brazil, will allure you to the rhythm of the Samba. The mix of colors shows Brazil’s great diversity. It has a hospitable spirit unequaled anywhere else in the world. The country of Soccer, good food, exotic beaches, rain forest, waterfalls, and many other topics make Brazil come together and the ideal destination for those who wish to be well received and treated as if at home. This is a place where many people leave their hearts, so look for some of the best Brazil Travel Deals.

Indubitably it is an ideal destination for travelers that look for a very luxury custom program or just a getaway from work and routine life for a great time of relaxation and fun. You will find here the perfect spot at any occasion for amazing Brazil vacations. Many tourists arrive home already dreaming of returning. Rio de Janeiro Brazil is the principal entrance of the Country for tourists. People from all over the world looking for the life style, gorgeous beaches, friendly and smile people, and the unforgettable tours sites to visit like Corcovado mountain, Sugar Loaf and the Botanical Garden in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil travel deals offer a variety of activities for different tastes and budgets and an exciting and worldwide know night life.

Brazil is a unique mix of nationalities, rich cultures, breath-taking mountains and gorgeous landscapes, amazing wild life, and rhythms. Come and get a glimpse of Brazil rich biodiversity. Those who come, fall in love. Your Brazil vacations will provide you with excellent opportunities to see an amazing Country and have exotic experiences.

Large International Hotels and good quality of service, unique way of life. From Amazon to Iguassu Falls you will experience fantastic scenes and a happy people with a laid-back way of living that enchant every visitor. From the big cities to the little ones, you are always going to find many magic spots and a reason to come back to a paradise named Brazil. Do not forget to check if you need visa to travel to Brazil, for more information speak with your travel guide or visit specialized web sites and enjoy the variety of beautiful places that Brazil travel deals offer to you. See You in Brazil and have fun!

April 2nd, 2009 by
GENERAL INFORMATION - STATE OF MARANHÃO PDF Print E-mail

A land for those in search of the best vacations,  with several options for leisure, history, beaches and many festivals. That is what Maranhão is like. It has the second longest coastline among all the states in the country. And the historical center in its capital preserves more than three thousand buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries. There are also the rhythms that go from the folk performance of the Bumba-meu-boi to the reggae. One should not hesitate if invited by a maranhense to dance by day light in one of the parks spread throughout the city, surrounded by large old colonial style houses, or at the cafes by the beach. Accepting that invitation ensures a good time in this enchanted land.

The capital of the state, São Luís, has the same name of the island where it is located, midway along the coastline of the state of Maranhão. The climate in the city is tropical, warm and semi-humid, with fresh and constant winds that blow from July to December. Heavy rainfalls the rest of the year make the temperature agreeable during the period which the maranhenses (the inhabitant of the state of Maranhão) call the winter.

São Luís was founded in 1612 by the Frenchman Daniel de La Touche, the Senhor de La Ravardière. It was named after the Young King Louis XIII of France. The village was supposed to be a base for the Equinoctial France, but the dream did not last more than two years: Portugal expelled the invaders of the colony and recovered possession of the Grande Island, as it was known by the Tupinambá indians. Later, the Dutch also invaded the island but did not resist very long either.

ARQUITECTURE AND SHOPPING
Being a port by the river and the sea, the island has been an important farming, commercial, and export center during part of the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the strongest marks of that period can be seen in the urban and architecture characteristics, which have been preserved to this day as one of the main attractions of São Luís. Narrow slopes made of old cobblestone lead to alleys and squares where there are several old two-story houses decorated inside and outside with glazed tiles imported from Europe or Macau, the Portuguese colony in Asia.

One of the districts that best represents São Luís is Praia Grande, in the lower section of the city. In that area the richest traders built their houses - the ground floor was a storage room for the dry and wet goods store. The market in Praia Grande, in front of the Largo do Comércio is a feast for good taste. There, one can find the tiquira, a strong and sweet brandy made of manioc, which is typical of Maranhão; dry fish that resemble codfish; a great variety of fruit such as the açaí (or juçara), the cupuaçu, the oil of babaçu palm, several desserts and regional liqueurs.

The historical center of São Luís is occupied by private and public offices. The main shopping Street in the city is Rua Grande (Large Street). The largest department stores, however, are located down Praça João Lisboa (João Lisboa Park). In the district of Renascença, the new area of the town, the shopping malls offer elegant clothes, imported products, food and leisure.

BEACHES AND SIGHTSEEING
The nearest beach to downtown São Luís, located four kilometers north of the city, is Ponta d’Areia, with the ruins of Saint Anthony Fortress dated in the 17th century and visited by the largest number of people. Youngsters and surfers prefer the São Marcos beach, where there are many cafes and restaurants. It was named after the fortress which has an old light that is still working up to this day.

Calhau Beach, just like São Marcos, is located along Avenida Litorânea (Litoranea Avenue); it is known for its sand dunes and by the night options it offers. Those who enjoy practicing windcar take advantage of the strong winds in the area of Olho d’Água, which is a beach surrounded by dunes, hills and crags. Jet-skiing is practiced on Praia do Meio (Do Meio Beach) and the campers usually look for the beach called Caolho.

A tour through the Capital of Maranhão includes fountains, parks, museums and churches. The metropolitan Cathedral or See Church was built in the 17th century in Baroque style. Its high altar has been declared a Historical Heritage.

The church of São José do Desterro, built in that same century, was the first to be built in the state of Maranhão. During the Dutch invasion it was torn down but rebuilt later by the town residents. Those who go to the Igreja dos Remédios, an example of stylized gothic architecture, may take the opportunity to visit Gonçalves Dias Square, named after that important poet from Maranhão. The square is also known as Largo dos Amores, a place where lovers may meet to watch a beautiful landscape at sunset. The Deodoro Square is the stage for the artistic, political and religious movements of the city. Power is concentrated around Dom Pedro II Square, where the main public buildings are located: the City Hall, the Cathedral, The Episcopal Palace and the Palácio dos Leões (Lion’s Palace), former seat of the state government and now a cultural center.

The cultural symbol of São Luís is the Arthur Azevedo Theater, one of the oldest, most traditional and famous in the country. The ludovicenses (residents of the capital) are very proud of that theater, which was inaugurated in 1817 and called Teatro União, a reference to the inclusion of Brazil in the United Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves, in 1815. The present name was a homage paid to the playwright from Maranhão, Arthur Azevedo (1855-1908). After facing many crises, the theater was restored between 1991 and 1993. Historical survey, modernization of the stage, restoration of the area of the audience and construction of anexes have transformed the theater into an adequate space for opera shows, ballets and drama performances, comparable with the most important theaters in the world. There are 750 seats, a stage 15 meters deep by 12 meters of open scene, three elevators for scenic effects and orchestra, besides the most up-to-date technical resources.

FISH STEW AND MINIATURES
A mark in the cookery of Maranhão is the abundance and the variety of the fish and mollusks found mainly in the dish called peixada maranhense and in the shrimp stew. The most typical dish is the arroz de cuxá (cuxá rice), eaten with fried fish, shrimp pie or mollusks. It is usually eaten with vinegar cruet, ginger and fine dried flour.

The boiled and stewed dishes are prepared by the cook from Maranhão with ingredients that give an African and Indian touch to the meals: okra, sweet potato, oil and milk from the babassu palm, taioba (variety of taro with edible leaves), and many others. Porridges, farofas (Brazilian dish made with manioc flour) and rice with bacon are some of the most common side dishes. Here vatapa and caruru, two popular typical dishes made with seafood, originally from Bahia, are also popular, but were incorporated to the menu in Maranhão with some differences, mainly that of being less spicy.

Bacury, banana, murici, guava and other kinds of fruit give origin to candied desserts, which are very popular. The sorbets, tapioca cakes, manioc, corn, rice, and others are also important part of the menu in Maranhão. The creativity of the cookery in the state also pleases those who appreciate alcoholic drinks: there are liqueurs of a thousand kinds, wines to drink with the fish and the meat, as well as the tiquira, the brandy made of manioc.

From the restaurants to the craft shops the maranhense continues to show creativity and skill. The naval art, which goes from one generation to another in the state, also appears in small pieces of art that reproduce the typical kinds of boats used,  following the minimum details in order to achieve perfection. The miniatures pay homage to the tradition of the Bumba-meu-boi, with all the different characters of the festival wearing their typical costumes and playing their part in the performance.

The stores in the historical center as well as the Ceprama market (center for supporting the artisans) are located in the building of an old fabric plant called São Luís. They offer Assorian lacework, cotton hammocks and different kinds of objects that include domestic articles and war instruments of Indian groups such as Canelas, Guajajaras and Krikatís.

BOL AND REGGAE
June is the month of festivals in the state of Maranhão and in almost every part of the country. Here, the ox is the main attraction. Fun and superstition mingle in an old festival with characteristics which are similar to those of the short medieval plays. The Bumba-meu-boi is as popular as the Carnival and involves hundreds of groups that have in common the devotion to São João (Saint John). They use different rhythms, clothes and instruments. They are also divided into three different accents, depending on the influences, the dances, the type and the beat of the drums and the wind instruments they use.

The original play describes an ox that had its tongue cut by an anxious father who wanted to satisfy his wife’s wish. She was pregnant for the first time. Nowadays, the jokes tend to be satirical and show protest with improvised tunes on religion and ecology. However, all participants repeat old songs that all maranhenses know by heart.

Despite having the same force it had in older times as a popular manifestation, today the Bumba-meu-boi has to share the attention of the population with the reggae that came to stay in Maranhão. In the mid-seventies this rhythm became very popular among the black population in the outskirts of São Luís. Today, the music spread all over the state, has its own costumes and characteristic dialect, being present in all sophisticated night clubs or at simple dancing cafes with cement floors.

The reggae has a weekly calendar in the capital and attracts lots of people on different nights, in the cafes of the historical center and of the district of São Francisco. Even during the day, as people go in and out of the water at the beach, the bathers dance at the clubs by the seashore. The Tribo de Jah, a band formed almost entirely by blind men, was one of the main groups responsible for the dissemination of the Jamaican music in the different classes and locations in Maranhão.

ALCÂNTARA AND LENÇÓIS
Masses, litanies, processions, and a lot of music, including the reggae, mark another traditional celebration in Maranhão: the Festival of Divino Espírito Santo (Divine Holy Spirit), in the city of Alcântara. The Festival lasts ten days in May, from the day before Ascencion Day to Pentecost Sunday. It includes rituals such as the lifting of the flagpole, the ruffle of boxes, solemn singing and many others. In August it is time for the black people of the region to celebrate São Benedito (Saint Benedict), predominantly to the sound of the tambor de crioula, a kind of drum typical of Maranhão.

These two festivals offer a great opportunity to get to know Alcântara. However, there are also other strong reasons for visiting the town. From São Luís one has to cross the Bay of Saint Mark, which takes about one hour by boat. The city is a rich architectural monument, spread among 370 buildings, ten streets, and some parks or by-streets paved with black stones. The rhythm of life in Alcântara is slow and silent, as if one were making a trip back in time.

History takes us to Tapuitapera, a small indian village of the Tupinambás, which became a town - Santo Antonio de Alcântara - in the 17th century. Then came the sugar mills, the European way of life brought by the Sons of the barons who returned from their schools in the Old Continent, and, finally, the decadence around the middle of the 19th century. Registered by the Historical Patrimony, due to its strategic position, Alcãntara was chosen the site of a satellite launching base. This, however, does not interfere with the every day life of residents and tourists in the city. However, it meant better infrastructure - restaurants, hotels - and a touch of future that contrasts gently with the environment of historical tourism.

Maranhão also has one of the most interesting geological phenomena in the country. The Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses (National Park of Lençois Maranhenses) was created in 1981 to protect 155 thousand hectares - area equivalent to that of the city of São Paulo - of a desert formed by dunes and lagoons of fresh and clear waters. One of the main entrances to the park is the town of Barreirinhas, 370 kilometers away from São Luís, at the Baixada Oriental Maranhense (Eastern Lowland of Maranhão). The visitor can stay in rustic houses and, as one goes down the Preguiças River, cranes, seagulls and red crabs can be observed in the area. The best time of the year to visit the park is from March to September. That is when the rainfall period is over and the lagoons are full, alternating with dunes about 50 meters high to make a beautiful landscape.

April 2nd, 2009 by

BRAZIL AND THE NETHERLANDS

One doesn’t need a History degree or to have partly spent one’s life in the Northeast of Brazil – as was my case – to acknowledge and praise the immense contribution that the Netherlands has always given to the development of Brazil. Great names such as Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, “the Brazilian” (known by every Brazilian as “Maurício de Nassau”), Frans Post and Albert Eckhout  will be forever engraved in our national memory and culture.

Our bilateral relations, which date back to the XVIIth century, always took place in a mutually beneficial manner, be it in the political arena, in trade relations and, specially, in the tourism front. This common heritage of our two peoples is increasing year after year. From the 18th place (2001) as provider of tourists for Brazil, Holland reached the 12th place in 2003. Since then, this position was maintained, but always with an increase in the number of tourists.

Our research on International Tourism Demand (2004-2005) shows that Dutch tourists come to Brazil predominantly for leisure and are in 3rd place in terms of the period of the stay – an average of 15,5 days (2005) -, just behind Italy and the United Kingdom . Holland is also among the 10 countries with highest average spenditure per capita. Thus we can say that, by doing so, Holland contributes meaningfully to the creation of jobs and revenue in our tourism sector.

Fortunately, Brazil is able to offer exactly what Dutch tourists pursue most on their holidays: a combination of culture, adventure and ecotourism destinations. Furthermore, they take home lovely memories of the Brazilian gastronomy, which, for its richness and diversity, is unique in the world. Not to mention the hospitality and cheerfulness of Brazilians!  For all of this, we hope that this long-standing friendship will remain as firm and prosperous as in the last 400 years.

Jeanine Pires
President of EMBRATUR
Brazilian Institute of Tourism

March 16th, 2009 by


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For the eighth consecutive year, Porto de Galinhas (State of Pernambuco) has been voted as the best beach destination in Brazil by the readers of revista “Viagem e Turismo” (Travel and Tourism magazine), the most popular tourism publication sold in newstands in Brazil.

The region of Porto de Galinhas has more than 16 km of white sandy beaches with coconut trees, crystal clear warm water (average temp. 28º Celsius) and natural pools. Although only 56 km (40 minutes by car) from Guararapes International Airport in Recife, the town seems to be far from city life. There are 7 linked beaches from Camboa to Maracaípe and its beautiful “Pontal”, taking in Muro Alto, Cupe and Porto de Galinhas beach.

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Porto de Galinhas boasts hotels of international acclaim and world standard resorts but also cozy family inns offering accommodations so close to the beach that it is possible to sleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore.

Porto de Galinhas is situated in the municipality of Ipojuca to the South of Recife. Besides the aforementioned beaches, Ipojuca has 3 more beaches to the South of the town – Enseadinha, Serrambi and Cacimbas – about 32 km of coastline, making it the town with the longest stretch of coast in the State of Pernambuco.

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The town of Porto de Galinhas is very small; indeed, only a couple of streets with a central square, called “Pracinha”. The village concentrates gourmet restaurants, souvenir shops and the residences of the local dwellers; most hotels occupy spaces along the beach, both North of Porto (towards Muro Alto) and South of Porto (towards Maracaípe). Also, it is from the village that visitors depart to boat and buggy trips to other beaches in the region.

Besides beaches, Ipojuca has numerous sugar cane mills that have produced and exported sugar to Europe for hundreds of years. These mills can now be visited by anyone interested in this period of Brazil’s history by joining a guided tour taking in the following sites:

Engenho Gaipó, which today is a tourist attraction due to its colonial mansion;
Engenho Massangana, where the abolitionist Joaquim Nabuco lived during his
childhood, located between Cabo de Santo Agostinho and Ipojuca;
Engenho Curuassu, which has a beautiful waterfall;
Engenho Canoas, which still produces molasses and rapadura (hard chunks of raw
brown sugar candy) and where the feast of St. Anthony is celebrated on June 13th;
Engenho Trapiche, birthplace of the famous Count of Boa Vista, whose name was
given to the main avenue in the centre of Recife, capital of Pernambuco, and
Engenho Tabatinga, whose patron saint is Santa Luzia, where a battle between the
locals and the Dutch took place.

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The origin of the name is well known. Porto de Galinhas means in Portuguese “Port of Chickens”. In the second half of the 19th century, the Brazilian Imperial government imposed restrictions to the commerce of slaves, which were widely used as manpower in the sugarcane farms. To circumvent the prohibition, the “black ships” (which transported slaves from Africa to Brazil) looked for other places to moor, further away from the usual Recife harbour. One such place was in the bays around Suape and Ipojuca. When a ship arrived in Porto de Galinhas, as it was prohibited to mention slavery, the word spread as “there are new chickens in the port”; hence, the place gained its name.

March 16th, 2009 by

Reportedly, GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES, the second largest airline in Brazil, is negotiating, in cooperation with Air France-KLM, the possibility to use Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles) as a hub between South and North America. Gol also would have plans to establish an operational base in the island and most likely to station one of its Boeing 737-800 there.

The interest around Hato Airport rises because one of the new shareholders of GOL - a Brazilian investor - holds also 80% of Curaçao Airport Partners.

Curaçao International Airport (HATO) has had, since 2003, a 30-year concession to develop, operate and maintain the airport. The airport currently serves 1 million passengers per year and has the longest runway in the Caribbean region.

GOL offers daily flights to more destinations in Brazil than any other national airline. With the GOL and VARIG brands, the company flies to 59 destinations, connecting all of Brazil’s major cities and ten Latin American destinations, in Argentina (Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Rosario), Bolivia (Santa Cruz de la Sierra), Venezuela (Caracas), Chile (Santiago), Colombia (Bogota), Paraguay (Asuncion), Peru (Lima) and Uruguay (Montevideo).