Brazil

Types of trips: Ecotourism, Leisure, Beach, Adventure and Active, Outdoor, Historic and Cultural

Best known for: The Beautiful Game - football, 2014 Fifa World Cup, Amazon River and Rainforest, Carnival, Samba, Capoeira, beaches including Copacabana and Ipanema, Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Why Go?: Although not a typical destination for a school trip there's a whole host of reasons to pick Brazil for yours. The rainforests will make for an unforgettable experience, but so would the beaches and cities. The 2014 Fifa World Cup was a real catalyst for development throughout Brazil making it an even more desirable location. This is only going to be furthered by Rio de Janeiro hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Fact File

Population: 202,700,000

Capital: Brasilia

Language(s): Brazilian Portuguese

Ties to the UK?: The UK government works on a wide range of political, commercial, security, defence, and economic matters of interest to the UK and Brazil, and provides consular support to the many Britons visiting and living in Brazil.

Landscape: Huge variety - Rainforest, Rivers, Beaches, Mountains, Waterfalls, deserts.

Climate/Seasons: Vastly different depending on location, The rainforests of the North are unsurprisingly hot with heavy rainfall whereas the beaches of the South-East are hot and dry.

When to Go: It depends on where you're going and what you're looking for, careful consideration should be taken if you're visiting the rainforest, its advisable to completely avoid the wet season. Big cities like Rio come alive during the summer with events such as Carnival.

Reasons to Visit: Brazil is a very diverse country with very different things to see which aren't all that far apart. The Amazon is a destination you will never forget, as are the big cities and in fact Manuas (where England played Italy in the 2014 World Cup) is a very large city in the middle of the Amazon rainforest.

How to Get There: Fly, be prepared for a long haul flight but to a big city. There will be the choice of direct or indirect flights and don't forget to factor in the effects of jet lag. You may have some very sleepy pupils (and staff) at the end of each flight.

Places to Go: The Amazon Rainforest, Rio de Janero, Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo

Famous People: Carmen Miranda, Paola Oliveira, Oscar Niemeyer, Pele, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, Ronaldinho 

Natural Wonders/Wildlife: The Amazon Rainforest, Toco Toucan, Poison Dart Frogs, Jaguar, Puma, Capybara, Acaconda, Sloths

History: Colonization, Independence

Architecture: Portuguese Inspired, minimalist building with little decoration. Oscar Niemeyer

Culture: Carnival, Capoeira

Sport: Football, Volleyball, MMA, Basketball, Motorsport (F1)

Events: Carnival, Host of the 2016 Olympics

Watch Out For: It's a common misconception that English is spoken throughout Brazil. The wildlife can be dangerous if you're not careful, especially in the rainforest or on rivers.

Medical Issues: No mandatory vaccinations required, but check with your GP for your specific needs

Watch this video about visiting Brazil!