Four states make up the southeast: Rio De Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. Brazil's urban centers are concentrated here. Starting with Rio, the surrounding exuberance of the area's natural beauty contrasts with the modern buildings and thrilling metropolitan air. Rio is well-known for the elán of its frenzied nightlife and exciting cultural atmosphere. It's home to the most famous Carnaval celebration in the world, renowned for its seemingly never-ending parade and the escolas de samba (samba schools). Attractions like Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado, the Botanical Garden, and the lush Tijuca Forest make Rio an idyllic getaway. The state of Rio de Janeiro also boasts beautiful beaches in Angra dos Reis, Búzios, Cabo Frio, historical buildings in Parati and a mountainous region with the cities of Petrópolis (the renowned imperial city), Teresópolis and Friburgo.

In the small towns of Minas Gerais, you can immere yourself in Brazil's colonial past, seeing Baroque architecture and fascinating works of art in the historical cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana, São João del Rey, Tiradentes, Sabará, Diamantina and Congonhas. Minas Gerais is a vast state rich in agricultural and mining resources. Just about every mineral in the world can be found in here; prospectors detected the the area's rich resources in early colonial times. Today, you can still discover the most beautiful precious and semi-precious stones from area mines. The region is also known for the medicinal waters of Caxambu, Araxá and São Lourenço.

In Espírito Santo, just north of the state of Rio de Janeiro, try the famous muqueca capixaba, a spicy seafood dish, and visit the historical cities of Vila Velha and Anchieta just south of Vitoria, the capital. The beaches are great for surfing, and are noted for their mineral-rich monazitic sands such as those seen at the resort town of Guarapari. Inland, there is a wealth of ecological reserves and farmlands.

In São Paulo, Latin America's largest metropolis, one finds the characteristics of five continents united in a modern cosmopolitan melting pot. Founded by Jesuits in the 1550s, the town remained fairly small until industrialization in the late 1800s. Immigrants of European, Japanese and Arab origin built industrial and commercial empires in São Paulo, bringing with them their native cultures and cuisines, transforming the city into a jolly circus of ethnic neighborhoods, diverse restaurants, stores and cultural institutions such as the theatre and music. National and international business dealings are conducted here, São Paulo is the site of many important conferences, congresses and trade shows every year. On the northern shore, one encounters serene beaches set amongst breezy palm trees and blue waters at idyllic places like Ilhabela, Ubatuba and São Sebastião.

The South: blonde kids, blue eyes and strong accents. Are we really in Brazil? The South is like that. Colonised mainly by German, Italian and Polish immigrants, the South carries in the works and endeavours of its inhabitants a strong European touch.

We may say that it is the only region of the country where the seasons are well-defined. The winter is cold, even with occasional flurries of snow in the mountains.

In Paraná, in addition to the city of Curitiba, a model of urban planning and of high living standards, we can stand in awe at Iguazu Falls, the spectacle of one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

Santa Catarina is another state that has seen large numbers of European immigrants. In the northeastern valley of Itajaí, one sees how industry has thrived and you can still experience original German cooking. In Florianópolis, capital of Santa Catarina, and along the coast, the unique beaches are sparkling gems. Joaquina is the site of international surf competitions, and Bombinhas is a diver's paradise. Camboriú is probably the most urbanised beach of the South. Santa Catarina is a superb place for trekking, climbing, canyoning, boat trips and reqarding cultural experiences.

In October, the city of Blumenau, in Santa Catarina, attracts joyful tourists from all over the country and even from abroad for the Oktoberfest (better known as The Beer Festival). Pomerode, in Santa Catarina, Gramado and Canela in the mountains of Rio Grande do Sul, look like true Bavarian postcards, with colonial cafés, delicious sausages and German delikatessen. In Rio Grande do Sul, the ruins of São Miguel and around Santo Ângelos are evidence of centuries of Jesuit missions in Brazil. The strong regionalist spirit in the state has preserved a rich folklore in music and dance, and cuisine like churrasco (barbecue) and chimarrão (stimulating tea made from yerba mate).

In the midwestern region of the country, made up of the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and the Federal District, we will find the amazing contrast between the new-born and the timeless. In the middle of Goiás's cerrado, is Brazil's striking capital, Brasília, designed and built within a few short years (the late 1950s). The architecture of this completely planned, artificial city might be described as "space-age modern meets Eastern Bloc." Its buildings, like the Alvorada Palace the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Congress are quite bold, and the immense concrete apartment buildings stand in long, repetitious rows on either side of wide boulevards.

On the other side, Mato Grosso's Pantanal, a true ecological sanctuary, where the visitor, hosted in inns or pousadas, can make excursions with specialized guides and safely observe alligators, snakes, capybaras, and also infinite numbers of bird species which flock to the Pantanal as an important migration stop.

In Goiás, the Caldas Novas resort has revitalising hot springs, which have medicinal properties and range from 86° to 122° F (30° to 50° C) in temperature. For the freshwater fishermen, here's an excellent tip: the Araguaia river is considered one of most plentiful rivers in fish in the world, and the region has an excellent hotel infrastructure and there are numerous possibilities for boat excursions for those who love fishing.

In addition, the Chapada dos Guimarães and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Parks are noted by naturalists and nature tourists alike for their beauty and ecological value.

The origins of modern Brazil can be found in the northeast. Here lies the so-called Discovery Coast, where explorers from Portugal (Pedro Alvares Cabral arrived in Bahia in 1500) came ashore and established the country's first European settlements. The area's natural beauty is exuberant and is best known for its the islands, beaches and coves of its scenic coastline. In places like Salvador and Recife, the country offers its richest manifestation of popular culture. The Northeast Region, made up of nine states: Maranhão, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia.

In the Northeast we find an everlasting summer climate and the most charming beaches of the continent, from the fascinating Canoa Quebrada beaches, in Ceará, to Genipabu, with its sand dunes, in Rio Grande do Norte; Ponta do Seixas and Cabo Branco in Paraíba; Porto de Galinhas and the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, in Pernambuco; Pratagy in Alagoas; from Atalaia Velha, in Sergipe, to Porto Seguro, in Bahia, among many others.

In the vibrant northeast, we find varied musical styles and rhythms, such as the forró, mangue, frevo, ciranda, maracatu and the lambada. These once-derided folk styles are rapidly gaining in international popularity, and their places of origin are attracting similar attention. Carnaval celebrations are always a hoot in the coastal cities. Much of the cuisine was developed on the plantations by slave cooks preparing African recipes and they incorporated local ingredients. One can enjoy the dendê fruit (a native African palm, used for food and oil), several kinds of peppers, spices, tropical fruits, seafood (especially mouth-watering shrimp dishes like vatapá and carurú), shellfish, and cassava, possibly accompanied by the potent caipirinha (sugar cane spirits with lemon added), Brazil's most famous drink or some refreshing coconut milk.

Regional handicrafts may be found for sale at the Mercado Modelo in Salvador, at the Casa da Cultura in Recife and at the Feira de Caruaru in Pernambuco. Colonial architecture can be seen in Olinda, Pernambuco and in the borough of Pelourinho, in Salvador. These two places were declared "Mankind's Cultural Heritage" by UNESCO, together with São Luís in Maranhão, possess interesting examples of the use of wall tiles in its 17th and 18th century architecture. At the Serra da Capivara National Park, in the municipality of Raimundo Nonato, Piauí, we find rock paintings which attest to an early appearance of homo sapiens on the Sout American continent.

The rivers of the Amazon basin, which contain a fifth of the world's fresh water reserves, are arteries that lead to the heart of the forest. Of the twenty major rivers of the planet, ten are situated within the Amazon basin. The Amazon River, over 3,400 miles (5,500 km) in length, is the primary one.

Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas, is the usual springboard for discovering the Amazon and its wonders. There are even beaches here on the banks of the Rio Negro. There are many jungle hotels that provide comfort and safety for the discovery and exploration of the region's flora and fauna. Amazonian culture, including its folklore and cuisine is an attraction in itself. In Manaus, one can see several museums and also the turn-of-the-century Teatro Amazonas (Amazon Theater), built in Renaissance style with an Art Noveau interior.

In Parintins, the folk festival of the Boi-Bumbá is held in the last days of June after the end of the rainy season. It arouses great excitement among the local populace, who gather in the tens of thousands and dress up in the colorful costumes of the Caprichosos (red) and the Garantidos (blue), singing and dancing to the infectious, drum-driven Boi beat. The festival is also celebrated in other parts of the Amazon and is rapidly becoming a cultural export.

The region is a great source of handicrafts and native products. For example, colorful native artwork, feather collars and the striking marajoara and tapajônica pottery can be found for sale at the Ver-o-Peso market, in Belém, State of Pará. The name Ver-o-Peso means "check the weight." At this incredible market, you can buy all types of foods, fish, herbs and medicines, local perfumes, jewelry and many other interesting objects.

Another great attraction is the island of Marajó, known for the pororoca, the meeting of the Amazon River with the Atlantic Ocean. The Bananal Island, in the State of Tocantins is the world's biggest river island, having beautiful beaches and plentiful fishing.