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Following Brazil’s sugar trail
It’s hard to imagine it now, but much of the colonial architecture of north-east Brazil is there thanks to a single product: sugar. The Portuguese arrived in the north-east of Brazil in the early 16th...
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Beyond the Inca Trail – 5 other great South American treks
Tell someone you’re going to do a long-distance walk in South America and the chances are that they’ll instantly picture you on the Inca Trail. The insanely popular 4-5 day trek to Machu Picchu is...
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Spotlight on Wildlife: Jaguar
It is every wildlife watcher’s dream to see a jaguar in the wild. However, they are elusive, often silent and well camouflaged, so the chance of actually seeing one is fairly remote. The Jaguar is a...
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For the love of gold – Exploring Ouro Preto
We’ll all have our fill of Brazil and football this summer, but my first exposure to this obsession was not a happy one. We were on our way to Ouro Preto and thanks to a late flight decided to spend...
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Brazil and the forthcoming World Cup 2014
On 7 March 2003, FIFA announced that the world cup would be held in South America for the first time since 1978. The tournament will run from 12 June to 13 July and there will be 64 matches played...
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Salvador and a taste of Africa in Brazil
Salvador may lag behind Rio and the Amazon jungle on many visitors’ Brazil itineraries but as I recently discovered, there are more than enough good reasons to include Brazil’s 16th-century capital in...
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The Pantanal – Brazil’s top wildlife region
‘Pantanal’ comes from the Portuguese word ‘pântano’, meaning wetland, bog, swamp, or marsh, but in fact the Pantanal is a mixture of different ecosystems. Spanning 210,000 square kilometres (81,000...
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7 things to know when planning a visit to Iguazu Falls
If you haven’t yet seen Iguazu Falls it can be quite hard to comprehend the numbers. A waterfall that’s almost 3 km in length; twice as wide as Niagara and considerably taller. In fact to call it a...
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Latin America
There are currently 121 UNESCO World Heritage sites across Latin America. Here, are some thoughts on 5 which really stand out. Iguaçu National Park – Argentina/Brazil/Paraguay A favourite of the Sunvil...
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Out to sea in a jangada – a traditional Brazilian fishing boat
Visit the North East of Brazil and you’ll have the opportunity to sail in a jangada – a traditional fishing boat which has been used in the region for hundreds of years. In fact, for what appears to...
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Rio’s giant floating Christmas tree
Rio de Janeiro isn’t a city known for doing things on a small scale, and the Christmas tree in the Lago Rodrigo de Freitas is no exception. Not content with having a tree measuring around 85 metres in...
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Celebrating Carnival in South America
Looking at the extravagant parades and customs on show at the Rio carnival, it’s easy to forget that the tradition of celebrating this annual feast is even vaguely related to religion. The best clue...
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January 2016 – Moqueca (Brazilian Seafood Casserole)
Originally from the state of Bahia in the northeast of the country. The dish evolved during the Colonial times when the Portuguese brought coconuts to the country. They planted the coconut trees along...
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Petropolis and a breath of fresh air
Grand 19th-century mansions and a gothic cathedral are not the first images you’re likely to associate with a Brazilian town, but when you arrive in Petropolis, barely an hour from the beaches of Rio...
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The Queen’s 90th Birthday: A Royal Visit
As the Queen turns 90, we look back on the Sunvil destinations which she has visited during her 63 year reign. The Queen is not only our longest reigning sovereign but she must also be one of the...
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Barra da Tijuca – a very modern side of Rio
When the Olympic Games open on 5th August 2016, the eyes of the world will be on Rio de Janeiro. Or to be more precise, on Barra da Tijuca, where the Olympic Stadium has been built, along with the...
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Five unreal places in South America you have to visit
From trees of green and blooming red roses, to the colours of the rainbow and crying babies, it didn’t take much more than nature’s bounty to convince Louis Armstrong that we live in a wonderful world....
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Notes from the field – Brazil, Argentina & Uruguay Trip
In this edition of ‘Notes from the field’, our Latin-America expert Will went on an inspiring trip through Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay and shares his experience with us. Visits to these regions are...
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Small-ship Amazon cruises
For many visitors to Brazil a chance to venture into the Amazon jungle, if only for a short while, is a highlight of their trip. There are many Amazon cruise options to choose from, on vessels...
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Notes from the field – Brazil
‘Notes from the field – Brazil’ is the latest in our series of blogs following the Sunvil team as they explore our destinations in search of hidden gems and to handpick our holiday accommodation....
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