Some tips on Brazil from
Jeff :
Great places I've never been but heard about:
-The
Pantanal region (use Corumbá as your base)
-Olinda and Recife (very african and very interesting music and food)
-Salvador, Bahia (also very african and very spicy)
Great places I've been:
-Belem - go visit the largest fluvial island in the world near there,
but get yellow fever shots 10 days before
-Natal - beautiful beaches and dunes
-São Luis and especially the Lenções Maranaheses - blends amazonia and northeast cultures with french twist
-Florianopolis - surfer island in the south - most laid back capitol in Brazil
-Ouro Preto - like a little europe in central brasil - does have tourists because it is getting popular, but you can avoid them
-Some of the old pizza parlours in São Paulo that the locals go to
Some nice suggestions from a gringo with a Brazillian wife (ie. this shouldn't let down).