Discovering Brazil- The top 5 best kept secrets about Brazil

What are the top 5 best kept secrets about Brazil? Well, if I told you, they wouldn’t be secrets anymore now would they? Just kidding. First of all, Brazil in itself is an exotic travel destination that still largely remains a secret. According to the World Tourism Association (UNWTO), Brazil only had five million international tourist arrivals in 2007. Countries such as South Korea, Bulgaria and Macau ranked higher. So what are the 5 best kept secrets…

1) The People- Brazilians are some of the most friendly, fun loving, party people on the planet. The zest for life that Brazilians have regardless of how much money they have in their bank accounts, is intoxicating. They love to play soccer, dance, and party but also work hard and always try to find time for family and friends. Brazil is a multi-ethnic, multi-racial nation of immigrants not unlike the United States. Brazilians easy going and peaceful nature makes them popular worldwide.

2) The Music- Not only is Brazil home to famous music genres such as Samba and Bossa Nova, there are a half a dozen other musical delights that many have never heard of. Axe, Pagode, Forro, and Musica Popular Brasileira just to name a few. Take for example Axe, a popular music genre originating in Salvador, Bahia fuses different styles of Afro-Caribbean music such as Reggae and Calypso.

3) The Food- Yes, beans and rice are a staple of Brazilian cuisine, just as many other Latin American countries, but the main dishes stem from a wide variety of poultry, meat, seafood and fresh fruits and vegetables. Brazilian ‘churrascarias’, all you can eat steakhouses, are extremely popular in Brazil and have even made their way north to American cities such as Beverly Hills, Chicago and Miami. Vegetarians won’t go hungry in Brazil either as there is a plethora of fresh fruit juices, soy, nuts and fruits and veggies.

4) Soccer- Alas, the fact that Brazil is known for soccer isn’t a secret. From soccer superstars such as legendary Pele and Ronaldo, Brazil continues to bring phenomenal players to the game of soccer year after year. Brazilians are passionate about soccer and it is no wonder that they have won five world championships. A visit to the world’s largest soccer stadium, Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, is a must for any soccer aficionado.

5) The Beaches- Sure, Brazil is well known for the Amazon but don’t forget about the 4,577 miles (7,367 kilometers) of Atlantic Ocean Coastline. Of course Copacabana must be visited in Rio de Janeiro but from there you can venture either northeast to tropical paradises such as Morro do Sao Paulo, Bahia or the archipelago 350km off the north-east coast of Brazil called Fernando de Noronha. Florianopolis in the Southern State of Santa Catarina has over 42 breathtaking beaches on one island alone. The New York Times named Florianopolis the party destination of the year in 2009.

So there you have it, folks. The top 5 best kept (not so secret anymore) secrets of Brazil. Oh and by the way, if I could add one more, it would be that Portuguese is the native language spoken by Brazilians, not Spanish.