Brazil by James

Where better to start a trip to Brazil than Rio. As the Brazilians say: 'God made the world in six days, the seventh he devoted to Rio'. Great beaches, fun loving people, stunning tropical scenery and fantastic nightlife. Need I say more.

From Rio I flew north to Salvador, the capital of Brazil during colonial times (until 1763), whose success and wealth derived from the cultivation of sugar cane and cocoa. The legacy of this period can be seen not only in the buildings and monuments but also in the distinctive African culture - Salvador is a hedonistic mix of folklore and pageantry - namely Candomblé and Voodoo ceremony - as well as a rich mix of music, dance, exotic food and a beautiful people.

From Salvador I headed south to Porto Seguro, where I picked up a hire car and began exploring the beautiful palm fringed beaches along the Cocoa Coast. I visited the main centres of Trancoso, Ilheus and Itacare, all perfect spots for spending a few days relaxing on white sandy beaches enjoying great water sports or a round of golf.

Finally I flew back to Rio and took the Costa Verde road, a stunning stretch of jungle-clad coastline, four hours south of Rio de Janeiro to Paraty. Paraty is a small colonial port with immaculately renovated 18th century colonial architecture, fabulous shopping for ceramics and other local handicrafts and a plethora of tropical islands to explore by boat. Cars are not allowed down its cobbled streets, so it is a perfect escape from the frenetic pace of Rio or Sao Paulo. An excellent way to spend the day is on a boat exploring the many unspoilt islands which have superb sandy beaches.

Brazil is a vast country with such diversity that on my two week trip I felt like I had only visited a tiny part of it. I will definitely have to go back to visit the areas I missed including the Pantanal, Amazon, Iguazu Falls, Brasilia and many more hidden gems