Brasil – What to know

If you don't know anything about it yet, this is a great place to begin your journey to learn more about Brasil!

Brasil is a large and diverse democratic country located in South America. With colorful landscapes, cultures, peoples, and histories pretty much everywhere, it is a place where you will constantly be surprised – and delighted.

Whether you plan to visit, study, or indeed make the leap to move here, spending time to better understand the joys and mysteries of Brasil is something you can be assured you will not regret. This is the first post in a blog that will share essential insights about Brasil, covering topics ranging from culture, to history, to sharing practical tips and information, and more.

And yes. I refer to it as "Brasil" with an S due to the native pronunciation and spelling in the country. I will spell it "Brazil" precisely ONCE to explain that people here do not pronounce it with a Z sound.

The Basics

Brasil is the largest country in South America, covering over 8.5 million square kilometers, and is one of the most populous countries in the world with over 211 million people. The national language is Portuguese, having been previously colonized by Portugal. The diverse and impressive landscapes that Brasil features include everything from lush tropical rainforests and vast savannas, to sugar-white beaches that bake under the sun.

While the immense Amazon River winds through correspondingly huge sea of green jungles, swamps, and mangroves, its rainforests only represent a fraction of what Brasil is. Brasil's vast geography contains various climates beyond the tropical Amazon in the north. Further south there are wide plains and farmlands, fields of scrubland and cactus, cool and misty mountains with ancient evergreen trees, and sun-soaked beaches and islands around the margins. The sheer variety of climates and landscapes alone goes far to explain how it is that Brasil is one of the most diverse ecological hotspots in the world, containing multitudes of different species – many of which are only found here.

An aerial view photo from the Amazon Rainforest, which takes up about 49.5% of Brasil.

In the Amazon, indigenous Brasilians are more common, demonstrating how Brasilian culture is a rich blend of containing influences and people from Indigenous cultures, Portuguese culture and African cultures due to colonization and associated slavery, and lastly other European and Asian cultures that immigrated later, up to present-day, in fact. The cultural mosaic that this makes up is evident in the extremely diverse music, dance, cuisine, and festivals you can experience throughout the country.

One thing Brasil is known for around the globe is its vibrant festivals. Carnival, celebrated annually in February or early March, is the most iconic, characterized by samba parades, block parties, colorful costumes, and lively music. Each region has its unique spin on Carnival, demonstrating Brasil's cultural diversity. Rio de Janeiro and Salvador claim their crowns as the most famous cities for their versions of Carnaval, but other cities like São Paulo and Belo Horizonte are becoming increasingly famous for their own versions, too, as the years pass.

Clip from Carnaval 2025 at the Sambódromo (the "Samba-drome"– where Rio's Carnaval samba parades occur )

Other noteworthy events include Festa Junina, a month-long celebration in June, commemorating rural traditions and the height of the cool season (remember, "Winter" is June-August in the southern hemisphere!), and the Parintins Folklore Festival, which showcases Amazonian culture. Participating in these vibrant celebrations allows you not only learn about but to also experience, firsthand, the rich heritage of Brasil.

Part of Brasil's heritage, too, is its fierce independence. Brasil boasts the largest economy in South America and is part of the BRICS group of emerging economies, as well as maintaining cordial ties with NATO and the European Union and their constituent countries. This unique position allows Brasil to better negotiate with all countries around the globe, and to therefore better safeguard its independence and protect its citizens' interests.

Key industries include agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. Brazil is also THE top producer of coffee, accounting for nearly 37% of the world’s coffee production. Other significant produce and products include everything from soybeans to sugar.

Final Thoughts

Brasil is a country absolutely filled with diverse cultural richness and stunning natural beauty. There is simply too much information, too much to share, for one blog post. In subsequent posts we will explore different topics in further detail such as history of Brasil, Brasilian cuisine, tips and tricks on everyday life, and more. Being equipped with such detailed information will certainly prepare anyone who wants to better experience this warm and welcoming – as well as tropical – country.