7 steps to Brazil Cultural Immersion

Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world, taking up nearly half of South America. It is bordered by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana to the north; by Colombia northwest; by Bolivia and Peru in the west; by Argentina and Paraguay on the southwest and by Uruguay in the south. The Atlantic Ocean lays to the west of this country. There are many places to explore in this diverse country to immerse yourself into the culture with its beaches, the Amazon and the Iguazu Falls. A trip to immerse oneself in the culture of Brazil includes the pleasure of experiencing the traditional and modern together, getting a full rounded picture of the cultural diversity.

1. To truly immerse yourself in the Brazilian culture you need to experience some of its past. The best way to see and learn about Brazil’s past is to visit some of the historical locations that can be found. To begin with you could go visit Serra da Capivara National Park in the northeast area of the country with its prehistoric artifacts and paintings and Serra das Paridas. It is a good point to start in your immersion into Brazilian culture.

2. The second way to continue with your Brazilian cultural immersion is to look around for and experience the natural preserves that can be found around Brazil. Experience your natural surroundings as you tour the nature and ecological preserves in Brazil. Embrace the natural beauty of the nature preserves such as the Atlantic Forest (southeast) and the Cerrado and the beaches You can appreciate and get to know the environment better, finding out how the people interact with different parts of their environment.

3. Continuing your immersion into the culture of Brazil it must be remembered that history and nature are only a start. Hungry by now the next place on our agenda should be a stop for some authentic traditional food in one of the small restaurants to be found here near the town square, and run by locals. The best place if in the north is with some tacaca which you can find sold by street vendors, and if in the northeast you could try some moqueca, a Bahia’s dish. This is an excellent way to taste the cuisine within Brazil.

4. A popular time to travel to Brazil is during high season, December to March when foreign tourists and holidaying Brazilian families visit. Depending where you go the weather will impact differently. To go to the Pantanal you should go during the dry season (mid April to late September). The Amazon, the best time to go is May to December, but be away it still rains, but shorter spells. Brazil has no end of holidays and festivals all year round so whenever you take a trip to the country you are sure to run into some. These holidays will show you how the Brazilians celebrate their holidays and immerse you further into their culture.

5. Communities gather in Brazil in the town squares as in the past you can see, a popular gathering spot for locals and tourists. Town squares are always good places to people watch, many dressed in the traditional clothing of their beautiful country. Here you can immerse yourself in the culture with the traditional costumes, crafts and food of Brazil. Walking through the streets, markets or just sitting you will see all walks of life in Brazil. You can enjoy and take in the smells and taste of all on offer of the local culture, and with everything you taste or smell you will find yourself wanting more.

6. Another step to immersing yourself in the culture of Brazil is to meet people, talk to them about their lives, making new friends in the process. The markets and the local shops are perfect places to meet people. You can meet local artisans in their shops, learn about their family’s roots and their ancient traditions first hand. This is a good way to relax and unwind, a good time to mingle in an unstressed atmosphere.

7. A final way to immerse yourself in the culture of Brazil is to volunteer in one of the many programs from around the world involved in rural education, development projects, and other social projects most affected by poverty. You could get involved with volunteers and teach English to small groups of children in the town of Foz do Iguazu, giving them an essential advantage if they are ever going to attain success in Brazil. You can volunteer to work with street kids, teach, do youth work, work with health or conservation. The possibilities are endless. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to experience Brazil as tourists rarely get the opportunity to do so.

Any of these steps above is the perfect opportunity to truly immerse yourself in a foreign culture. To see the world through the eyes of the inhabitants of that country is often an eye opener, yet a great experience. However you choose to do it you will be forever changed by your experiences. So plan your trip carefully, making sure you make the most of the time there. Following these guidelines will help make your trip to Brazil unforgettable.

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