Green Toad Bus

Recommended Nights: 2
Recommended Hostel: Hostel Bambu

Foz do Iguacu is the second most visited place in Brazil by backpackers after Rio. This is the place to come to see one of the most fascinating sceneries of South America and maybe even the world. The Iguazu waterfall is one of the places you shouldn't skip when backpacking in Brazil. It offers an experience difficult to describe, only comparable to places like the Grand Canyon, the Mexican Cenotes or the Galapagos Islands.

 These enormous waterfalls, about four times the size of the Niagara falls (USA), are located in the limit between Argentina and Brazil, and very close to the border with Paraguay. A few kilometers from the waterfalls is Foz de Iguazu, the city close to the Brazilian side of the falls. The city has many hotels and restaurants and is well prepared for tourism. Foz is the base for exploring the falls.

 The magic of Iguau waterfalls is that they're located in a tropical environment and surrounded by great rainforests. Big trees, beautiful flowers, toucans and others colored birds, small animals and even monkeys can be found in the area allowing a insight into the wild of South America.

 Even though most of the waterfalls are found on the Argentinean side, the best views remain from the Brazilian side. It is recommended to visit both sides, with the Brazilian side offering magnificent panoramic views, but to admire them closer and to see the true force of the water you must venture to the Argentinean side. The boat trip on the Argentinean side is a must-do activity which takes you right under the falls. There are also many short walks to smaller cascades, great for photo lovers.

 There's an elevator on the Brazilian side that takes you above the falls offering the best view. From there you can see the giant Floriano Fall and the part of the falls where 3 sides of water meet called the Devils Throat. If you want even more, then experience the tremendous view from a helicopter trip that takes about 7 to 10 minutes.

Traveling in Brazil is a once in a life experience, and the Iguau waterfalls are one of the most spectacular spots on Earth. Backpacking with the Green Toad Bus will take you there to enjoy it, and dont forget to bring your camera, as everywhere you look makes a great picture!

Recommended Nights: 2

Recommended Hostel: Lime Time Hostel

Sao Paulo One of the biggest cities in the world, with almost 20 million people, Sao Paulo is a huge modern city and also the economical and financial heart of Brazil if not Latin America. 

You need to see this impressive city with your own eyes to truly understand it's size and the best way to take it all in is by heading to the 'Edificio Italia' observation floor.  'Avenida Paulista' and its skyscrapers offers a great walk through the city, past big shops and nice restaurants. 

Sao Paulo has the rush of a big city but it also offers nice walks and tranquil places to get away from it all. For instance, the Ibirapuera Park is a big place for a pleasant walk and it also has good museums to visit. In this park you can appreciate some of the buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer, a well known modern Brazilian architect that was also involved in the design of Brasilia. Paque do Carmo is another amazing park, and also the biggest in the city.

Sao Paulo is a great place for admiring Brazilian art as there is always a great variety of events and shows for all tastes. You can visit the MASP (Sao Paulo Art Museum) located on the Paulista Avenue and featuring a great European art collection and frequent modern art and photography events. Pinacoteca del Estado is also a good spot, as it holds more than 4000 Brazilian paintings from the 19th century to present times. MAM & MAC (Museum of  modern and contemporary art) has more than 5000 works of art and there are usually many exhibitions.  

Due to its intense and varied immigration waves, Sao Paulo has many interesting neighborhoods to visit. For example "Liberdade", the Japanese district, that holds many interesting asian shops and buildings. The Mooca is the Italian district and a really attractive area. 

Sao Paulo has a beautiful Cathedral, the "Catedral da S", an icon of the city located in the nice "Praa da S", the historical square. There are also many historical buildings that are worth a visit. You can see Patio do Colegio, an old Jesuitic school, the municipal Theatre of Sao Paulo and the Estao da Luz, a beautiful old railway station. 

You can also visit one of the biggest attractions in Brazil: the football (soccer) stadium. Sao Paulo has hundreds of stadiums, and its a good idea to enjoy a football match. Corinthians and Palmeiras are the most popular teams and their games provide enough enthusiasm to truly admire Brazilian football.