Brazil 150 Rio de Janeiro is the seductively friendly and hedonistic city of eastern Brazil. It is well known for its stunning location between lush, forested mountains and breathtaking golden beaches, most famously Copacabana. The symbols of Sugar Loaf Mountain and the statue of Christ the Redeemer are known worldwide, but other natural attractions include the botanical gardens and Tijuca National Park, the last remnant of the Atlantic rainforest that once surrounded the city. Here, you can walk on well-marked trails through a dripping green forest full of creeks, caves and waterfalls - home to many different species including iguanas and monkeys. Porto Bay Rio International Hotel HIGH OUR CHOICE This stylish modern hotel has a superb waterfront setting. It boasts magnifi cent ocean views and direct access to the world- famous Copacabana beach. There are rooftop leisure facilities, a private beach service and sophisticated wining and dining options. The rooms are beautiful and all have balconies and sea views. Augusto's Copacabana MID This hotel is well- located just a couple of blocks from Copacabana beach. As you would expect of a modern Rio hotel it has a bar, swimming pool and excellent restaurant. If you're looking for a good value option, then this is it. Brazil is the largest country in South America, dominated by 60 percent of the Amazon Rainforest. This immense country has a huge diversity of wildlife in more than 100 parks, reserves and protected areas, including coastal forests, savanna and the world's largest wetland area, the Pantanal. Brazil is considered to have the greatest biodiversity of any country on the planet with new species still being discovered on a regular basis. As well as a simply staggering array of birds, fi sh, amphibians, insects and reptiles, larger animals here include jaguar, puma, giant anteater, coati, giant river otter, maned wolf, tapir, capybara and over 70 species of primate including howler, capuchin and squirrel monkeys. The country's other major attractions include the mighty Iguassu Falls, dazzling white beaches, magnifi cent colonial architecture and, of course, the world- renowned Rio Carnival. Talk to an expert 0845 130 6982 Rio de Janeiro

Pantanal The Pantanal is an immense landlocked river delta - one of our planet's most spectacular wetland systems and unmissable for any lover of wildlife or the natural world. This ecological paradise contains hundreds of species of birds, thousands of varieties of butterfl ies, a myriad of brightly coloured fl owers and shoals of fi sh. The ecosystems are different in the north and south, and a visit to both areas is recommended. South Pantanal This is a great place for spotting jaguar. Although no one can guarantee jaguar sightings in the wild, this is one place where your chances of seeing one are maximized. During the dry season you generally have a 25% success rating which in terms of jaguars is pretty high. This area is also home to the hyacinth macaw project and bird lovers should not miss the incredible Macaw's Crater, a huge depression in the ground, home to a large macaw population. Wildlife spotting is by a number of exciting activities - travel by boat through the Pantanal's watery channels, go horse riding or maybe fi sh for piranhas. One of the attractions of this area is the small town of Bonito, on the southern fringe of the Pantanal, and very good for nature. Here you can snorkel on the surface of the ' natural aquarium', said to have the most transparent water in the world. You can also see the Blue Lake Grotto, one of the world's largest fl ooded caves. Embiara Lodge HIGH This is a comfortable eco- lodge situated in the southern Pantanal. Family- owned and only recently opened to visitors, it prides itself on offering a peaceful, intimate experience, extremely close to nature; it has only three rooms. San Francisco Farm MID San Francisco Farm is a working rice farm which offers rustic accommodation, game- viewing and bird- watching by boat, foot or on horseback in the southern Pantanal. Pousada Olho D'Agua MID Just outside Bonito, Pousada Olho D'Agua is a simple lodge surrounded by woodland fi lled with native fl ora and fauna. It has rustic decoration in its 12 rooms each with a verandah and a hammock! North Pantanal The northern Pantanal is reached by regional fl ights to Cuiaba and then a drive into the pristine interior where the largest populations of wild animals and huge fl ocks of birds can be found. On exciting night safaris you may see owls, nightjars, armadillos, foxes and maybe even maned wolves. Rio Mutum HIGH A higher end lodge where you'll be accommodated in one of 16 comfortable rooms, all with private veranda. You can also take a dip in the lodge's swimming pool and enjoy the tropical gardens which surround the property. Jaguar Lodge MID Jaguar Lodge is located in the heart of the Pantanal, in the Jaguar Ecological Reserve. It offers comfortable air- conditioned accommodation and money from your stay will be reinvested into getting more land for the reserve, and thus protecting more of this delicate eco- system. THE AMERICAS | BRAZIL 151 Pantanal seasons The nature of the Pantanal varies depending on the season and cycle of the waters. There are four key periods. January to March: The Pantanal is fl ooding at this time and the mammals are seeking the higher ground. There is a stunning explosion of colours as fl owers bloom. April to June: The fl oodwaters recede at this time, migratory birds return from the north, reptiles tend to gather in number and the young caiman are born. July to September: This is the dry season, the time when there is the greatest concentration of birds and reptiles in and around the remaining pools. October to December: This is when the fl oodwaters are advancing. It coincides with the return of the rains; the migratory birds are preparing to depart. This is a good time for observing predators. Wildlife of the Pantanal Larger mammals here include capuchin and howler monkeys, capybaras, tapirs and over 160 species of reptiles including the infamous anacondas and caimans. Caimans are particularly abundant in the Pantanal, and it is thought the population is so high that it is home to the largest population of crocodilians anywhere. Capybara numbers are estimated at half a million and the Pantanal continues to be one of the best places to see jaguar, black howler monkeys, giant river otter, coatimundi, black- capped capuchin, yellow anaconda, crab- eating fox, both greater and lesser anteater, giant armadillos, the endangered maned wolf and marsh deer. There is also a huge diversity of bird species here as it is one of the three migratory paths, bringing ospreys from the Arctic latitudes to the north, wood storks from the pampas to the south and fl ycatchers from the Andes to the west. The result is one of the planet's most diverse avian communities, with 656 species of birds, belonging to 66 families identifi ed so far. Or visit us on the web www. wildlifeworldwide. com