Brazil

Indisputably the ‘in’ country on earth right now, and somewhere that we at Original Travel can’t get enough of. More than ten of the travel team here have been to Brazil in the last five years alone, exploring everywhere from the deserted beaches of Natal province to the incomparable rainforests in the Amazon. There’s plenty more to explore throughout the world’s fifth largest country - try 4,500 miles of coastline teeming with tropical islands for starters.

Inland, the Amazon and the Pantanal wetlands are the best places to view Brazil’s abundant wildlife, while the urban areas range from historic colonial villages to the huge, vibrant metropolises of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. So, where to start? A few days in Rio is a minimum requirement, and will give you the best introduction to the thoroughly sensual rhythm of the country. There are sophisticated new boutique hotels opening all the time, and we have visited them all.

After Rio? That’s where our expertise really kicks in as the difficulty is choosing what not to do unless you’ve got a spare month or two. Rest assured that wherever you end up this will be one of the most memorable trips you ever take. Put it another way – we think pretty much everyone who visits secretly wishes they were Brazilian.