Spanning almost half of South America’s landmass, Brazil is home to several ecosystems and countless amazing landscapes, from the vast expanses of the Amazon Rainforest to the granite cliffs of Rio de Janeiro.
In this post, I’ll introduce you to 16 stunning natural wonders in Brazil. I’ve added the most famous landmarks but I’ve also gone beyond them, so you’ll have plenty of destinations to check off next time you visit.
Table of Contents
Natural wonders in northern Brazil
1. Mount Roraima
Let’s start off with a controversial entry. I say controversial because only 5% of Mount Roraima’s area is located within Brazil, as the rest is split between Venezuela and Guyana. Still, you can visit the 288-acre national park created around the mesa along the border.
Though part of the Amazon rainforest, savanna is the predominant ecosystem in the area. At 1.8 billion years of age, Mount Roraima is one of the oldest geological formations on Earth.
Climbing the mesa will give you commanding views of the surroundings, yet it’s highly recommended to hire a specialized agency to guide you and take care of everything you’ll need, from food to shelter. And you’ll have to do it from the Venezuelan side.
2. Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest is hands down the most impressive of Brazil’s natural features. The forest encompasses the basin of the Amazon River, the mightiest in volume on Earth (and arguably the longest too).
The wildlife in the Amazon is so rich that, on average, a new species is discovered there every day.
The biggest rainforest in the world would be the seventh largest country if it became a sovereign nation. While it’s split between nine South American countries, 60% are within Brazil.
You’ll need to spend at least a few days in the region to explore it. Follow my 2-week itinerary of Brazil and you’ll get to swim with pink dolphins, canoe across peaceful creeks, and even fish for piranhas if you’re down.
3. Jalapão
Jalapão was virtually unknown to most Brazilians up to five years ago, when a primetime soap introduced it to a nationwide audience.
Located in the remote state of Tocantins, the region is distinguished by golden sand dunes and the so-called fervedouros, springs where the water pressure prevents you from sinking. Millions of years ago, this entire region was under the ocean.
When you visit, make sure you grab a handicraft item made of capim dourado, or “golden grass”, a local specialty. Locals create hats, baskets, purses, and jewelry with the shiny plant.
Natural wonders in northeastern Brazil
4. Lençóis Maranhenses
Welcome to Brazil’s most alien-looking landscape; so much so that planet Vormir from the Avengers saga was inspired by it.
Lençóis Maranhenses, literally the “Sheets” of Maranhão State, is made up of white dunes where over 36,000 lagoons are formed in the wet season.
Tour the dunes on a 4×4 between April and September, when the weather is warm and the lagoons are at their fullest.
São Luís, the state capital, was founded by the French and has preserved its colonial architecture. The city can be your base for visiting the park.
5. Serra da Capivara
Granted, Serra da Capivara was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its prehistoric cave paintings, the oldest in the Americas.
That said, the area’s astonishing rock formations, including the striking Baixão das Andorinhas, earn it a rightful spot among the natural wonders of South America as a whole.
Visiting Serra da Capivara isn’t easy, especially for foreigners, given it’s located in a remote area in the state of Piauí.
But if you’ve covered the basics around the country and are particularly passionate about archeological sites, it’s definitely worth the effort.
6. Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha is Brazil’s best-kept secret: few foreigners know about it, yet Brazilians are well aware this is the closest we can get to paradise.
The volcanic archipelago boasts some of the most stunning beaches on the planet, such as Sancho Bay. Despite officially belonging to the state of Pernambuco, it’s actually closer to the “corner of Brazil”, aka the state of Rio Grande do Norte.
Noronha is a sea turtle haven, and many beaches on the main island close after dark to help protect the animals. While thousands of turtle babies are born there every year, oddly no human baby is allowed to.
The government shut off Noronha’s last maternity ward in 2004 due to its high costs, and from then on expectant mothers are required to move to the mainland from the seventh month of pregnancy (at the government’s expense at least).
7. Costa dos Corais
Costa dos Corais is the informal name of a section of the coast that spans northern Alagoas and southern Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil.
The area, which has also been dubbed the Brazilian Caribbean, attracts thousands of visitors year-round and is renowned for its coral reefs, which form natural pools of crystal clear waters, clear sands, and tall coconut groves.
Highlights in the Costa dos Corais include Porto de Galinhas and Carneiros Beach in Pernambuco and Maragogi in Alagoas.
Though little known to most foreigners, Recife, Pernambuco’s state capital, boasts a thriving culture, stunning architecture, and delicious food. So it can serve as the perfect starting point for exploring Costa dos Corais.
8. Chapada Diamantina
The State of Bahia is famous for having the longest stretch of coastline in Brazil, yet its countryside is dotted with breathtaking attractions too. Chapada Diamantina is an extensive mountainous plateau and the most impressive sight in the region.
Here you’ll find canyons, grottos, waterfalls, rapids, as well as quaint historic towns like Lençóis and Rio de Contas.
The name Diamantina derives from “diamond” in Portuguese (diamante), because the region was once the largest producer of the gem in the world.
You can get the quintessential view of the Chapada (pictured above) from the top of Morro do Pai Inácio, which is also where you’ll watch one of the most awe-inspiring sunsets ever — I say that from my own experience.
Natural wonders in central Brazil
9. Chapada dos Veadeiros
If you ever visit Brasília, don’t miss this stretch of savanna in the central highlands of Brazil, where you’ll find scenic waterfalls and the fittingly named Vale da Lua (i.e. “Moon Valley”), where you can hike through the oddly shaped rocks.
Chapada dos Veadeiros attracts mystics of all stripes, from religious groups to UFO enthusiasts. Allegedly that’s due to two major factors: the area is crossed by the 14th parallel south (the same that crosses Machu Picchu) and sits on top of one of the vastest quartz deposits in the world.
10. Pantanal
The Pantanal is the largest wetland on Earth and as such serves as a major sanctuary for wildlife in Brazil, as it has the biggest concentration of animal species too.
The ecosystem is split between Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia (where it’s called Chaco), but the bulk of it is located within the Brazilian borders.
The best period to visit the Pantanal is from June through September when it doesn’t rain much, and temperatures are milder. It’s also during this time of year that you’ll be allowed to fish there.
Sadly, the biodiversity of the Pantanal is threatened by the expansion of cattle and soy farms (even more so than the Amazon). Go discover this amazingly beautiful region before it disappears, then!
11. Bonito
Whoever named this town in the western state of Mato Grosso do Sul nailed it — the word bonito means “pretty” in Portuguese.
Folks flock to the town to see the deep-blue waters of Gruta do Lago Azul (or the “Blue Lake Grotto”) and sunbeams shine through the Anhumas Abyss, or to go scuba diving with fish and to do other cool ecotourism activities.
The town of Bonito is quite close to the Pantanal, so don’t shy away from booking both on the same trip if you have the chance.
Natural wonders in southern Brazil
12. Rio de Janeiro
Here I’m not talking about the city’s unique cultural scene, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
I’m highlighting instead the unique landscape where granite cliffs, azure beaches, and lush forests are blended together to form a dramatic portrait.
Rio is also where you’ll find two of the biggest urban forests on the planet, as well as — according to science, apparently — the bluest sky of all.
More adventurous visitors will love the countless options of thrilling activities Rio has to offer, from trekking in the jungle to mountaineering and from kayaking to hang-gliding.
13. Pico das Agulhas Negras
Among the Rio de Janeiro natural attractions, Pico das Agulhas Negras (literally the Peak of Black Needles) is probably the least obvious.
At almost 2,800 meters tall, the granite summit is the highest mountain in the state and occasionally receives some snowfall in wetter years.
The peak is located in the Itatiaia National Park, which was established in 1937 and is the oldest nationwide. The park has a wide altitude range and as such is home to a great diversity of flora and fauna.
Plus, with its temperate climate, it looks and feels really different from most of the country, which is almost entirely located within the tropics.
14. Ilha Grande
Before becoming devoted to tourism, Ilha Grande had a leper colony and a notorious prison for centuries. Like Fernando de Noronha, the island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state is home to a few of the most dazzling beaches on Earth, such as Lopes Mendes.
One of my favorite spots on the island is the secluded Aventureiro Beach, where you’ll find the “reclined” coconut tree from the cover of the post. At night, there’s no electricity there, which means you’ll get to see the starriest sky of your life, with the Milky Way splitting it in two.
15. Iguazu Falls
Of all the natural wonders in Brazil, the Iguazu Falls stand out because they were voted one of the seven natural wonders of the whole world. Located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, they’re made up of 275 minor falls.
Argentina in fact owns between two-thirds and 80% of the falls, which ironically means you can get the finest views by visiting the Brazilian side.
You can hike a couple of trails in the park, but of course, the most unforgettable thing you can do there is to take a boat tour right through the falls.
16. Aparados da Serra
Quite possibly the least popular of Brazil’s natural landmarks, Aparados da Serra is a national park between the southernmost states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.
The central attractions in the area are the Itaimbezinho and the Fortaleza canyons, which sort of resemble a temperate version of Chapada Diamantina.
To hike the trails of Aparados da Serra, try to visit between November and February, as the warmer temperatures will make the waterfalls in the park a lot more inviting.
Conclusion
Whether relaxing on a beach in the sun-drenched Northeast or trekking in a canyon in the rugged highlands of central Brazil, you’re bound to find one or more destinations in the country that channel your definition of a perfect vacation.
Hopefully, our tour through the most beautiful natural wonders in Brazil got you pumped to explore all of them in person! While you’re at it, check out the country’s finest landmarks, including a bunch of architectural masterpieces.
Everything in Brazil is beautiful!