The fifth largest country in the world, Brazil is also home to the most ecologically diverse rainforest on the planet, though visitors don’t often make it to the northwestern part of the country. In addition to being large, Brazil is also populous, with 190 million inhabitants spread among megacities such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero, and smaller but still sizeable cities such as Recife and Salvador de Bahía. Brazil is very racially diverse, with many people with African and/or European roots, and one of the largest Japanese colonies outside of Japan.
Many people come to Brazil for Carnival, which for foreigners tends to center around Salvador de Bahía, though in truth, the holiday is celebrated all over the country, and those looking for a somewhat quieter experience may choose Olinda, which is close to Recife.
