Don't judge a book by its cover, as the saying goes, and if Brazil were a book its cover would surely feature the city of Rio de Janeiro and girls dressed in feathered carnival costumes. However Brazil is far more diverse than just the beautiful city of Rio on which its reputation is built. There is, literally, something for everyone here and often on a mighty scale. The colossal Amazon rainforest is a nature-lovers paradise and the largest tropical forest in the world, the central western savannah area is home to the Pantanal, the largest wetland area in the world and the best area for wildlife viewing while Brazil also boasts 4,300 miles of white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees. As you can gather, it excels at more than just football.
My recent trip was to take me to historical Salvador, a vibrant city, alive and kicking with the strong influence of its African heritage. On a Tuesday night the colonial quarter, with its cobbled streets, pulsates to a rhythmic drum beat from street bands set up to play while the locals come out to eat, drink and dance. You get the feeling this is not just for visitors, this is a party for no other reason than it's a Tuesday. During the day things are slightly quieter and you get time to wander and admire the beautiful colonial churches and colourful buildings. Most have been lovingly restored and are now museums, shops or small boutique hotels interspersed with restaurants serving an intriguing blend of African and Brazilian cuisine, with ingredients such as coconut, ginger, hot peppers, coriander and fish.
I was also lucky enough to take a private flight to the Kiaroa eco-resort. This is a small property 30 minutes south of Salvador by plane on the end of the Marau peninsula. The flight itself is a scenic adventure, passing along the lush southern coast of Bahia we landed on a private strip 50 yards from the hotel reception. Although it is a 5 star resort, with all the facilities you would expect, if feels quiet and relaxed, especially after the hustle and bustle of Salvador. Of the 28 rooms, most are bungalows with their own private plunge pools, set amongst exquisite tropical gardens. The property overlooks a long sandy beach, almost private in its emptiness, and being on a peninsular, you get the benefit of both sunrise and sunset, a double treat everyday.
Back to Salvador and I then headed north on the Coconut highway. A lovely 90 minute drive along empty beaches and palm trees, I arrived at the sleepy fishing village of Praia do Forte. Instantly my pulse slowed as I slipped into the local way of life. Praia do Forte is a pretty coastal village home to the hugely successful Tamar Turtle Reserve which was started in 1980 to save Brazil's five species of sea turtle from extinction.
My trip ended in my most favourite city in the world - Rio. Fun, lively and with a naturally amazing setting, the buildings squeeze into the space between golden beaches and bays and the tropical escarpment, dripping with vegetation.
