The liveliest and arguably most attractive city in Brazil is Rio de Janeiro. Famous for many things, the city is known for its great swathes of sandy beaches, the curious hump of Mount Corcovado and the outstretched arms of Christ the Redeemer, standing sentry over the city. Rio de Janeiro holidays are often the starting point of any holiday to Brazil, and it’s a good place to begin your adventure. For a taste of Rio rhythm you could visit in February or March for the party of the year, the Rio Carnival. Over five days the city comes alive for the greatest show on Earth, where visitors flock from all corners of the globe to revel in the celebrations. Away from Rio the beach resorts become more chilled, such as the island of Ilha Grande which remains, to this day, largely undeveloped. As well as being pleasing on the eye, it holds a tumultuous history as a pirates’ lair, a leper colony and a gaol for political prisoners. East of Rio is Buzios, a beach resort with calm bays fringed with soft sands and watersports for those who prefer their beach time a little less horizontal. Between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo you’ll find Paraty, a small town hemmed in by secluded beaches on one side and steep mountains blanketed by tangled jungle on the other. This is the Costa Verde, and the verdant forests vie for attention with the equally beautiful towns lined with cobbled streets and colonial buildings.