- Bahia State and Salvador (northeast)<BR>www.bahia.com.br<BR>Salvador is a major costal city, one of the oldest in Brasil. Beautiful colonial buildings finely restored, mainly in the Pelourinho region. Some very fine museums and historic churchs. Both to the north and south of Salvador, besides the city itself, an uninterrupt array of very fine beachs.<BR><BR>- Rio de Janeiro<BR>www.ipanema.com<BR>www.bondinho.com.br< BR>Some major attractions: the magnificent views of/from P&atilde;o de A&ccedil;&uacute;car (by cablecar) and Corcovado with the Christ statue (by railroad), beautiful urban beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema/Leblon, historic places/monuments/museums, Floresta da Tijuca, Barra da Tijuca. Forte de Copacabana, a millitary museum/fortress at the tip of Coapacabana beach, offers a beautiful view of Copacabana/P&atilde;o de A&ccedil;&uacute;car. Hellicopter, boat tours, city tours available. Taxis are cheap (however, make sure the taxi driver starts running the meter). Air-conditioned urban buses, metro.<BR><BR>- Foz do Igua&ccedil;u (southeast) www.uol.com.br/cidadesonline/pr/fozdoiguacu/ <BR>A very, very big waterfall inside the Natural Park of (river) Igua&ccedil;u, on the border Brasil-Argentina. Visit the cataracts on foot, experience the thrill of boarding a boat which brings you very close to the thundering bottom of the waterfalls (of course, you will be soaked to the bones). Hellicopter tours avalilable. The argentinian side may be the most beautiful, however, you must be on the brazilian side to fully see and enjoy it.<BR><BR>- ecological destinations<BR>www.freeway-adventures.com.br<BR>Some top destinations: &quot;Chapada Diamantina&quot;, &quot;Fernando de Noronha&quot;, &quot;Len&ccedil;&oacute;is Maranhenses&quot;.<BR><BR>- other destinations<BR>Adventurous people, with a basic knowledge of portuguese, can easily go beyond the beaten path, and discover Brasil by themselves.

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Dilermando did you take a tour to visit the Tijuca forest? Or is this a self guide walk/hike? Since I will only do day trips from Rio would this be the only rain forest to visit? Thx for your help, Denise

I have visited Floresta da Tijuca a few times, longtime ago. Although I have not yet tried it, http://www.jeeptour.com.br/ offers some nice tours in Rio de Janeiro, including Floresta da Tijuca. You know this is not the original forest. The original one was destroyed and replaced by coffee plantations. Later, public administration decided to recover the whole area, using native species. Nowadays, all the vegetation there is the result of this successful reforestation program.

Thank you for your reply, I did see this website recommended in one of the books at the bookstore. Since I am staying Ipanema which tour operator would you recommend.

I was planning to get to Sugar Loaf, Jesus Christ statue using the Cityrio Buses, but the old coffed farms, tijuca forest, Grumari, and green coast looking interesting on the jeep tour site. Your recommendation would be welcomed if you experienced any of the above.

Since it is 3 of us are these tours the best way on the cost side? or I see posts about private cars is that a better way? Thanks again for all your great help during my planning stages.

I am so surprised that there are so few recent trips reports posted under Brazil whereas under France there are reports daily.