Iguazú Falls and more in Brazil: A buffet of delicious nature experiences is written by Martin Bøgild
Brazil is one of the world's most beautiful travel countries - especially if you are looking for magnificent natural experiences. From jungles to waterfalls to mountains – Brazil's nature has it all. Read along here as we review some of the best experiences you can have in this beautiful country.
Iguazu Falls - "Poor Niagara"
"Poor Niagara!" Said former US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as she saw the Iguazu Falls. An eruption I only really understood the seriousness of when I stood in the middle of the impressive nature experience that extends over 2,7 km. And although Iguazú is frequented by a little too many tourists, it is definitely worth the trip.
Iguazú is located on the border between Brazil, Argentina og Paraguay. The Brazilian side has the best panoramic views of the area and access to 'Devil's Throat'; an 82 meter high and 300 meter wide drop that completely made me lose my breath. Iguazú provides one of those experiences where one forgets oneself for a while.
Do not deceive yourself for the Argentine side, which is generally more wild, while the Brazilian side is more beautiful. From the Argentine side, it is possible to take a boat trip under Iguazú, where you are allowed to feel the forces at play as the water rumbles around the boat and muffles the noise of the engine's many horsepower. At the same time a meditative and terrifying experience.
As the finishing touch, the area has a diverse animal and plant life, which helps to make it all even more fantastic. Here are butterflies in all the colors of the break image, monkeys in the trees, and the birds set the soundscape together with the Iguazú.
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From Iguazú to the world's largest wetland - the Pantanal
Since I'm interested in animals, I did not get around Pantanal. The wetland, which is larger than the whole of England, is without comparison the place in Brazil where there is the greatest opportunity to see a large selection of the species that most of us can only experience through bars.
The area has no cities and only a few people live here, so it is truly an authentic experience of the nature of Brazil. And the flat terrain provides favorable conditions for observing the diverse wildlife. We saw more animals than I remember, but here's a small selection: The giant rodent capybara, anteater, sloth, various monkeys and the South American alligator species, caiman. And we saw several toucans, parrots and other bird species. Unfortunately, we did not see jaguars or anacondas that also live here.
Most people choose to stay here for several days and stay in a hotel or in a camp from where they go on excursions. We did the latter, and although the hammock and insect sounds robbed us of a few hours of sleep, we agreed that we made the right choice.
I can certainly also recommend guided rides and hikes to get really close to nature and the animals. A little trick for the speed-loving, who are not used to riding, is that the horses ride gallop if you gently swing the reins from side to side. The guides would not tell us that.
Amazonas - beautiful nature, pirate fish and manhood test
Amazon need, like Iguazú, probably not quite the big introduction. Everyone knows the world's largest rainforest and is probably the first thing many people think of when they think of Brazil's nature. And for those of you who can do without the comforts of everyday life for a while, here are unimaginable experiences and adventures.
There are many places to start when you want to explore the Amazon. We chose the big city of Manaus, which is something as unusual as a million-strong city in the middle of the rainforest, which you can only get to by plane or boat. A city that is mostly built on the billion-dollar earnings from rubber-tree plantations and in its heyday attracted wealthy Europeans who brought with them their architecture and culture. The diversity is striking and the city itself is worth a visit.
The rainforest can be explored in many ways. We split up the trip so we had a couple of nights in a camp from where we went on boat trips, hikes and fishing trips with fishing tackle. Self-hygiene takes place in the opaque river, and in the beginning it required overcoming, for just 10 meters away we caught one ferocious pirate fish after another. Although the guide told me that humans are not their favorite food, I was never completely convinced that the roles could not be swapped in favor of the fish.
A few days later we left the camp; three friends and a 100 kg muscular native who knew the forest surreal well. It was the manhood test of the trip and we brought hammocks, machete and a minimum of food. The abundance of the rainforest, however, ensured that we never starved. Instead, it was the insistent and greedy mosquitoes that tested our ability to keep our heads cool - in the evening and at night, they were everywhere.
It's hard not to feel like an adventurer when sailing in the Amazon. The imagination runs free when the trees enclose the boat and only just allow passage on the small tributaries, and the monkeys jump from tree to tree over their heads while the birds communicate without ceasing. And if you visit one of the local tribes that live on the conditions of the rainforest, the adventure is complete.
Many choose to spend the night inside Manaus and only take day trips out into the rainforest. It's a shame. In the twilight, the surroundings change, and completely different animals sneak around and fill the humid air with new sounds. It is, to say the least, a different experience to be here at night.
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Chapada Diamantina - the most beautiful mountains in Brazil
The national park got its name, which means the diamond highlands, because diamonds were found here in the last century. But without the diamonds, it would still be an appropriate name, for Chapada Diamantina is undeniably a landscape gem. Especially for hikers, there is a lot to pick up here.
We arrived in the evening by bus to Lençóis; a charming little mountain village. We were here just to hike, so we spent the evening finding the right guide so we could get off early the next morning. We decided on a trip of three days with accommodation in the open air. If three days is too much, here are also shorter trips. But it is like so much else that the more you invest, the higher the return. For me, three days was appropriate.
The landscape is reminiscent of a fusion between the Scottish Highlands and The Shire - the Hobbit landscape in "Lord of the Rings". Here is both raw and idyllic at the same time, something that characterizes Brazil's nature. We felt this especially when we dragged ourselves with heavy steps over another mountain top, which in return for the hardships showed off with a lush mountain landscape as far as the eye could see. Here, Mother Earth boasts at will. The area also has quite a few waterfalls, and especially Brazil's highest, the Fumaca waterfall, impresses. And whichever route you choose, the 340 meter high waterfall should be included.
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Bonito - snorkeling and caving
I am into fals for diving and snorkeling, so an experience within this genre, with the nature of Brazil as a background, was inevitable. Brazil is not known as a destination where divers make a pilgrimage to pursue their hobby, nor is Bonito a city I would cross the Atlantic to experience if only for diving. But here is so much more than just diving and snorkeling. Nature is very special nice (beautiful in Portuguese).
Bonito offers a number of great nature experiences within a manageable area - that is, on a Brazilian scale. Here are azure streams and lakes with colorful shoals of fish, here are waterfalls that are almost as magnificent as iguazu, caves, beautiful forests and much much more.
We were only there for two days so it was necessary to sort a bit. We started by going snorkeling in Nascente Azul - the blue spring. And it lives up to its name. The water is so clear that it gets a blue tinge, and together with the light green grass that covers the bottom, the lush surroundings and colorful fish, it is something of a sensuous ride. Whether you are diving or snorkeling, however, it is more of a visual trip than a challenging diving experience. Everyone can participate, so do not expect to be tested on your diving skills.
A few kilometers from Bonito is Gruta do Lago Azul. It is a cave with an azure lagoon at the bottom. The cave has a large opening, which provides a good view of most of the cave. The cave is filled with stalactites in shades of gray and white, and the azure lagoon lights up dramatically from its interior. It's a breathtaking sight. The trip does not take that long, so it can be combined with other plans.
Whether you are into hard physical exertion or laid-back enjoyment, Brazil's nature has plenty. And whether you are into experiences in the thin air of the heights, the great waterfalls like iguazu or the humid surroundings of the rainforest, experiences await that you will only find here.
Have a good trip to experience the nature of Brazil!
What nature experiences to see in Brazil?
The Iguazu Falls
- Wetland "Pantanal"
- Amazon rainforest
- The mountains "Chapada Diamantina"
- The "Bonito" area
- The Source ”Nascente Azul
- "Caves" Gruta do Lago Azul "
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