FERNANDO DE NORONHA
Four views of BRAZIL
CHAPADA DIAMANTINA NATIONAL PARK
Boasting a cinematic landscape of table mountains bursting out of forested lowlands, this vast inland park is the perfect place for hikers. As well as exploring the various trails and spotting cactuses, orchids and hummingbirds, you’ll find spectacular grottoes, waterfalls and iridescent lagoons. Poco Encantado is a subterranean pool hugged by limestone walls which turns a dramatic azure when the sunlight filters in.
You know Sugarloaf Mountain and the Amazon, now discover these lesser-known Brazilian wonders
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Undulating, pristine white sand dunes (the name means ‘bedsheets’ in Portuguese) interspersed with bright blue lakes make this park a surreal spectacle. Located in Brazil’s north-east, the dunes edge the wild Atlantic coast. The best time to visit is May to August, after the rainy season, when the lagoons are filled with royal blue fresh water perfect for a cooling swim. You can explore the dunes, lagoons and mangroves on a 4WD tour or on foot.
THE PANTANAL
The world’s largest tropical wetlands stretch over 42 million acres and into neighbouring Bolivia and Paraguay. The Pantanal is a mix of dry savannah, tangled forest and meandering rivers which flood into lily-paved pools, alongside cattle ranches farmed by cowboys, or peãos, on horseback. Fascinating residents of this unique habitat include some 10 million caimans, the world’s highest density of jaguar, the biggest parrot on the planet (the hyacinth macaw), anacondas, capybaras (large relatives of the guinea pig), the pig-like long-snouted tapir and giant anteaters.
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LENCOIS MARANHENSES NATIONAL PARK
This Atlantic archipelago is around 220 miles off the coast of Brazil and home to just 5,000 people, along with a diverse collection of birds, reptiles and marine life including dolphins, rays, sharks and turtles. Characterised by its dramatic black volcanic rocks, banana-hued beaches, turquoise seas and lush vegetation, the island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and something of an exclusive retreat where you’ll be charged an eco tax for the sublime privilege of visiting.
