• Population: 173 million.
• Capital city: Brasília (pop. 1.7m)
• Time difference: -3 hours GMT (Manaus -4 hours GMT)
• Language: Portuguese

The vast land that is Brazil - the fifth largest country in the world - projects a sensual image of samba, carnival and beach culture. 

Brazil flaunts thousands of kilometres of palm-fringed, pristine golden beaches, some highly developed for tourism, others remaining an unspoilt tropical paradise.

It is of course much more than this. The lovingly preserved colonial towns, with their delicate Portuguese architecture and cobbled streets are a seductive draw.

The country is endowed with some of the world’s most magnificent natural phenomena – from the majestic network of waterfalls at Iguaçu, to the rich and diverse ecosystem of the Amazon and the abundant wildlife of the Pantanal wetlands.

The country is equally diverse in its culture and ethnic variety, with Portuguese colonists, Amazonian Indians, descendants of African slaves in the North-east and the German-Italian communities of the south. 

Music, football and love of life are the defining characteristics of this vibrant society.