The Rio Carnival arrives with a bang before Lent every year, and given that it sees two million people per day burst onto the city streets, it is considered the worlds largest carnival. Its origins come from the Portuguese, who brought the celebration of carnival to Brazil in about 1850. Black slaves became involved in celebrations, and were allowed to be free for five days during the festivities, which soon took on a uniquely Latin American feel. Expect flamboyant costumes with more diamante and glitter than a Swarovski factory, and more excitement than you can shake a Brazilian bottom at. For more information, visit: rio-carnival.net

The Rio Carnival arrives with a bang before Lent every year. Photo: Getty

4. Visit the lagoon-filled dunes in Lenois Maranhenses National Park

Although this area in north-eastern Brazil, covering 1500 sq km, initially appears to be a desert like any other, the proximity to the Amazon basin means that it is actually subject to not insignificant rainfall, leading to the creation of alien-like lagoons among the white sands. Park residents work mainly as fishermen, moving to more urban areas during the dry season. Getting into the park is difficult (there are no direct access roads) but come tour operators offer trekking trips, including Bespoke Brazil (01603 340680; bespokebrazil.com)

5. Escape from the city to an artists retreat

An antidote to the hubbub of Brazils big cities, Olinda is said to be the countrys best preserved colonial city, where artisans workshops crouch alongside colourful old houses and years-old churches. Indeed, the historic centre was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1982. Visit the S de Olinda cathedral, originally a small mud chapel and now a baroque-style, haunting white, red-roofed building (open from Tues-Sun, 9am-5pm) and the Museu de Arte Sacra de Pernambuco, housed in a former Bishops Palace (Tues- Fri 10am- 4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-2pm).

6. Climb Sugarloaf mountain

This peak Po de Acar soars to 1,299ft above Rios harbour, and is one of several granite and quartz mountains around the city. You can reach the summit by cable car, on a line originally built in 1912, in six minutes, or tackle it on foot, which will take three hours, and involve downward views best avoided by vertigo sufferers. Journey Latin America can arrange tailor-made itineraries for Brazil include trekking to Sugarloafs summit (020 3582 0822; journeylatinamerica.co.uk)

Bonito's surrounding natural landscapes have underground lakes. Photo: Alamy

7. Snorkel in Bonito

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Brazil World Cup 2014: 25 travel highlights