Retro Futuristic Capital or Seaside Metropolis

Brasília, is the world’s largest, most successful and in its own unique way beautiful planned city. It represents a Brazilian utopia, it's main attraction, is the architecture. Attractions within the city include the avant-garde Cathedral of Brasília which is the main Roman Catholic Church serving the City.

Paranoá Lake is a large artificial lake which offers a beautiful backdrop to the city, with embassies, government buildings, sports clubs, residential areas and the University of Brasília dotted around its shores. You can explore the lake with a caiake (kayak) or by renting a boat to sail around. You can even go fishing and if you can brave it, swimming!

The National Congress building is as old as Brasília itself and is free to explore. The Centro Cultural Banco do Brazil, is part of a series of cultural centres located in three other cities. It offers rooms for film showings, concerts, theatre performances and exhibitions. The National Theatre Cláudio Santoro is another venue for culture enthusiasts, with regular concerts, plays and conventions. The Brasília Shopping mall is a great place to explore a variety of shops and eateries in the centre of town.

The city offers much more than just a glimpse into Brazil’s heartland and is a great jumping off place for overland journeys to the Amazon or the Northeast with good-quality roads connecting it to the rest of the contry. Located just outside the centre of the city is the National Park of Brasília and features many different animal species living there, as well as natural mineral pools for swimming. It is popular with locals and tourists alike and is an excellent park for the whole family.

The park of Itiquira is a perfect destination for day trips from Brasília and offers visitors the opportunity to experience a real natural oasis. There are nature trails, with the main attraction being the Itiquira waterfall, the highest waterfall in the country standing at 168 metres.

Rio de Janeiro is famous for its unmistakable landmarks, such as Sugar Loaf mountain, the Corcovado mountain which supports the legendary statue of Christ the Redeemer and the notable sweeps of sand of Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. The Rio Carnival which takes place the week preceding Lent is world renowned and considered the largest festival in the world. There are many things to see and do in this dynamic and vivacious city nestled in between the sapphire sea and forest covered mountains. The city is also famed for its eclectic nightlife from drinks and dancing, bars with live music to seaside nightclubs.

Both cities are UNESCO World Heritage Landmarks, Brasília is a much smaller city with famed architecture by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer. Itoffers a glimpse into the heartlands of Brazil, with access to other parts of the country for exploration. It has a moderate climate and is a safer option with a lower Crime Index to that of Rio de Janeiro.

 If you are interested in experiencing both the Amazon and Pantanal regions of Brazil, Brasília offers a perfect place to stop over for a few days and venture outwards to explore. If you are short on time and prefer to experience a taste of the charm and contradiction of Brazil’s famous seaside metropolis, then Rio de Janeiro is the place to go.