Rio de Janeiro & Beyond

Rio – the very name immediately conjures up images – the flamboyant costumes of Carnival; the outstretched arms of the mountaintop statue of Christ; and the sandy beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, filled with beautiful bodies and immortalised in song. And it's easy to dive in – whether you fancy dancing to sultry samba at a club or joining the cheers of 100,000 fans at a football game at Maracana Stadium – friendly locals encourage participation. Fashionistas, foodies and art lovers find a non-stop mecca in sprawling Sao Paulo. And in between, at the fabulous beach resorts Búzios and Florianopolis, the party never stops.