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A vast land, Brazil shares a border with nearly all other countries in South America! The variety of animal and plant life is
astounding, beautiful beaches on the eastern coast and cities surrounded by jungles. The wide open plains in the south take you
deep into the land of the Gaucho. The mighty Amazon river in the north offers adventure tours and the Pantanal amazing wildlife!
I have visited Brazil briefly 3 times, in the very south, for a tour of the Pantanal and most recently in the far north in Manaus and a 6 day/night journey on the Amazon River. Here are my experiences and story.
Uruguay Border, Livramento to Uriguiana:
I entered Brazil from Uruguay in the very south into the dual border city of Santana do Livramento and Rivera but there was no border control and I didn't know I was supposed to find them myself, so I didn't get a stamp in my passport. I spent the night in this city in a cheap hotel. More
Corumba:
We arrived in Corumba from Bolivia on the Death Train in the morning, we took a taxi from the border control to the bus terminal which is where a couple of tour operators have offices. After the whole night on the train, it was too soon to make a decision about the Pantanal tour, we needed to find a hostel and get some sleep. More
The Pantanal:
The 90 minute bus journey to the entance of the Pantanal park from Corumba saw us pass mountains, trees and a lot of greenery, I was getting a real sense of being in the jungle and started to see a few animals like a jabiru stork and its huge nest in a tree beside the road. More
Campo Grande to Foz:
This was a 10hr bus journey through the night leaving at 8:30pm. Halfway through the night the bus stopped at a police checkpoint, they came onboard, I was asleep and one woke me up, he wanted to see everyones passport or ID, they may have run dogs through the luggage compartment. More
Pacaraima to Boa Vista:
After crossing the border from Santa Elena in Venezuela to Pacaraima in Brazil I took a co-op taxi south to Boa Vista. At times the speed was between 120kms and 140kms per hour. It cost 25 Reais ($15USD) and took over 2 and a half hours and included a coffee stop along the way. More
Manaus:
I came to Manaus on a 12hr bus journey from Boa Vista in the north, I planned to stay a few days, have a look around and decide whether to go east downstream on the Amazon River to Belem on the coast or west upstream back to Colombia. I stayed in a hostel in the center of town on a main street near many of the city's popular sights. More
Manaus to Tabatinga (Amazon River):
I wanted to get back to Colombia from Manaus on the Amazon River, it is a long 6 night journey up river but I was looking forward to having an experience that I think many people wonder what it would be like to do. I bought a ticket from down at the port, the cost was 340 Reais which is just over $200USD, this included everything, 3 meals per day and a place on the crowded hammock deck. More
Tabatinga to Leticia (Colombian Border):
After traveling up the Amazon River for 6 days and nights from Manaus I arrived in Tabatinga so that I could get back to Colombia. The border crossing is extremely simple and straightforward. From the port of Tabatinga I walked for 5 or 6 minutes to the building of the Federal Police or as it is called locally the Policia Federal. More
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