Brazil is unique in being the only Portuguese speaking country in Latin America due to its past as a former colony of Portugal. However, the Portuguese were not the only people to have an impact on the country, Brazilian culture has been heavily influenced by the native Amerindians; there are over 200 hundred different Indian cultures in the country. Some of the tribes who live along the Amazon still live in isolation from the modern world. African culture was also passed along by slaves brought to the country. Immigrants from Germany, Spain, Italy and Japan carried their own traditions with them to weave into the local culture. The melting pot of cultures has resulted in a large group of multi-racial people living in the country.

Brazilians love to dance, particularly the samba, which has become a symbol of Brazil and particularly the Brazilian Carnival. Visitors may want to try mastering the steps by attending samba school on their trip. The bossa nova is another musical style that originated in Brazil in the 1950's evolving from samba with a strong jazz influence. This style produced the famous hit, "The Girl from Ipanema." An unusual modern musical tradition is the Capoeira, which combines dance steps with martial arts and is accompanied by its own style of music which include a gourd rattle and an instrument called a berimbau.

Although soccer did not originate in Brazil, Brazilians feel they have perfected the game. Not only did the country give birth to one of the best players in history, Pele, but Brazil has won the World Cup five times and visitors who attend a match while on vacation will witness firsthand the passion of the people for this sport.

Brazilian cuisine has been shaped by the mix of people and cultures in the country. The abundant coastlines means seafood dishes are a significant part of local gastronomy. One of the most typical dishes, called feijoada, is a stew of beans with either pork or beef. The dish is usually served with side dishes such as collard greens, rice or deep fried bananas.

Churrascos, which have become popular even outside of Brazil, specialize in grilled meats. Many of these churrascos practice rodizio, where waiters circulate the restaurant with skewers ready to slice off a piece of meat for customers.

Fruit lovers should try one of the 312 fruits found in the country including jabuticabas, pupunha and acerola. Pineapple fans should give, abacaxi, a Brazilian white pineapple a taste.

Brazil's national cocktail is the Caipirinha made from a type of sugar cane rum called cachaca, limes and sugar. Brazilian coffee has also achieved a positive reputation.

Brazil is the largest country in South America. Due to its enormous size it shares a border with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. With a coastline that extends for 4,578 miles, visitors can revel in white-sand beaches and glimpse tropical islands. Brazil is also home to the Amazon, the world's second largest river. Famous Iguassu Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its 275 waterfalls shaped by 120 million years of geological history, one of earth's most unforgettable sights.

Brazil is one of the least densely populated countries worldwide, with most of the population concentrated in specific areas within two hundred miles of the Atlantic coast. Rio de Janeiro is nestled between the mountains and the sea with beautiful people, the amazing Ipanema & Copacabana beaches, Sugarloaf Mountain and the famous Christ the Redeemer statue that watches over the city.

Sao Paulo, the biggest city in Brazil in both size and population, is located on a plateau a short distance from the ocean, is known for monuments, parks, museums and skyscrapers. The city has over 1,000 restaurants to intrigue gourmands.

Smaller towns worth a visit include Buzios with its fine beaches, Salvador do Bahia renowned for its Colonial architecture, and Manaus, the gateway into an adventure of ancient forests, rare plants and animals and indigenous tribes and cultures.

Most visited cities: Rio de Janeiro, Manaus, Sao Paulo, Brasilia

Native Indians lived off the land for centuries. In the 16th century Portuguese explorers landed in Brazil and colonized the country displacing the natives with slaves imported to harvest sugar cane and coffee. Brazil declared independence from Portugal in the early 19th century, and after a short-lived turn as a monarchy, and dictatorship before becoming the democracy it remains today.ry's foreign debt has led to economic crises, which has made the country attractive to tourists, who find prices in the country to be very reasonable.