10 reasons that make Brazil one of the top tourist destinations in the world

Of the more than 6.5 million foreign tourists that visited Brazil last year, most came from neighbouring Latin American countries and 60% of them came to the country looking for leisure, as data by the Ministry of Tourism shows.

Brazil is among the most sought-after destinations in the world, as pointed out by the Tourism Barometer survey of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO). Options are incredibly varied. The country offers a unique diversity of landscapes and biomes and a wealth of cultures and customs, all major draws for travellers.

Check out some of the main tourist experiences available in Brazil's many regions:

1. Ecotourism

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The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) ranked Brazil as the most conducive country in the world for the practice of ecotourism, especially because of the ideal conditions it offers for activities like abseiling, rafting, trekking and diving. Tourists can enjoy amazing waterfalls and caves at the Chapada Diamantina (Bahia), marvel at the mobile dunes in Natal (Rio Grande do Norte) or dive in the crystal-clear waters of Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul).

2. Accessibility

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To make tourism more democratic, various urban and tourist facilities have devices to ensure that travellers with physical, visual, hearing and intellectual disabilities can enjoy the experience. In Salvador (Bahia), for example, ramps and elevators allow all visitors access to period architecture. In Foz do Iguaçu (Paraná), a pioneer in accessible tourism, options range from an accessible observation deck for the falls to parachute jumping facilities for persons with disabilities. In Rio de Janeiro, several sought-after attractions, such as the Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer, were also fully adapted to persons with disabilities as part of the preparations for the Paralympics.

3. Beaches

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The Brazilian coastline stretches for almost 7,500 km, with beach options with infrastructure for travellers spanning the country from north to south. With so many choices, tourists can go see incredible coral reefs up close in Pernambuco, discover the preserved marine life of Fernando de Noronha or board a raft bound to the natural pools of Pajuçara beach in Alagoas.

4. Gastronomy

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The diversity of typical Brazilian dishes is another major draw for visitors to the country, a sign of the profusion of cultural influences that make up our national identity. Maniçoba, for example, is a feijoada-like dish of indigenous origin prepared in the North, using cassava leaves instead of beans. In the Midwest, a must-have is piranha broth. The typical Pantanal fish has its meat mashed with spices and then boiled to perfection. In the South, a classic is the chimarrão, a hot drink based on yerba mate.

5. Crafts

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There are more than ten million artisans spread throughout Brazil, producing the most varied types of art that showcase national culture in fairs and open-air markets in several states. In Tocantins, for example, pieces are often made with capim dourado ("golden grass"), an abundant plant in the region. Ceramic objects are also popular elsewhere in the Midwest, while in southeastern Minas Gerais one can find the carrancas, wood-carved objects with scowling faces that natives believe can scare off evil spirits.

6. Prehistory

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A treasure trove for researchers of (and people who are curious about) prehistoric periods, the Serra da Capivara park in Piauí preserves a number of walls and caves with ancient cave paintings. The works portray the daily life of people who inhabited the region 60,000 years ago. The park holds the largest concentration of rock paintings in the American continent, spread across five municipalities of the state.

7. Literature

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Brazil offers several destinations that combine tourist experiences and literature. The 'literary route' stops at the house of poet Cora Coralina, in the midwestern state Goiás, where tourists can find photographs, letters, books and personal objects of the writer, and stretches all the way to the Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana (in Brazil's sourthernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul), which offers movie sessions and literary meetings. The poet lived in the property for more than 20 years. In Minas Gerais (southeast), the honouree is Guimarães Rosa. The house-museum in his honour set up in Belo Horizonte was also the writer's birthplace. And Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro, is home to one of the most respected literary events in the world, the Paraty Book Fair (Flip).

8. Music

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A musical tour is a great option for those seeking to explore the country through its many regional rhythms. Frevo, a very popular style in Pernambuco, can be enjoyed to its fullest during Carnival. In Bahia, Axé music reigns supreme. As for Maranhão, the intense local reggae culture has led to the creation of the first museum dedicated to the musical style outside Jamaica.

9. Theatre

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Brazilian theatres also delight tourists with plays as well as their dazzling architecture. The São Paulo Municipal Theatre (SP) was inspired by the Palais Garnier in Paris and inaugurated at the beginning of the 20th century. The Peace Theatre, in Belém (PA), has influences from Italian theatre and was the first show house in the Amazon. The Theatro José de Alencar, in Fortaleza (CE), is another artistic monument that features other works of art, such as the garden designed by renowned landscape artist Burle Marx.

10. Festivals

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Another major attraction is Brazil's varied cultural festivals. The most famous is Carnival, which happens every year between February and March and brings millions of revellers to the streets to watch or join the samba schools parades in Rio and join thousands of other parties all over the country. Between June and July, the Festas Juninas (June parties) attract tourists throughout the country to enjoy typical (mostly corn-based) foods and enjoy some Brazilian style square dancing, called quadrilha. Another major highlight is the Parintins Festival, in Amazonas, which celebrates the contest between the Caprichoso and Garantido bois in parades that portray indigenous rituals and regional customs.