Sugarloaf Mountain Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Brazil is widely famous for its beautiful landscape and lively atmosphere. Sugarloaf Mountain (Portuguese Pão De Açúcar) is one of them and world’s most prominent natural landmark peaks overlooking the Rio de Janeiro and the entrance of Guanabara Bay, in southeastern Brazil. The name comes from the unique shape of mountain’s similarity to a concentrated sugarloaf used in the 19^th century, so acquainted in the city during its sugar cane hey-day. 

The shape, the conical, granitic peak 1,296 feet lies at the end of a short range between Rio de Janeiro and the Atlantic Ocean. A cable car which was first installed in 1912, blossoming the tourists industry to operate from its summit to the adjacent Urca Hill, nearby the foot of which is the site of the Praia Vermelha Campus of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The summit of the Sugarloaf can be reached by cable car, from where the sights over the city and the bay are remarkable. Tourists from all over the world are attracted to this striking landmark every year and it continues to be one of the most visited places in Brazil. Reaching the top of Sugar Loaf is actually about four to five hours round trip.

Rock Climbing at Sugar Loaf Mountain is one of the largest and most admired urban rock climbing endpoints in the world. There’re over 270 different routes to explore in the area as you climb high above the Atlantic Ocean and the sprawling Rio de Janeiro. You can give it a hand yourself, or watch other adventurers conquer the iconic mountain. Sugar loaf neighboring mountains are adding tranquil beauty of the entire peninsula. Morro de Babilonia, or Babylon Mountain and Morro de Urca, or Urca's mountain are two neighboring natural wonders. These two mountains are also accessible to the public and open to rock climbers. 

Morro de Urca offers a play area for children and a restaurant that serves up delightful dishes. Guanabara Bay a historic Guanabara Bay stretches in front of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Translated as "the bosom of the sea", it was home to a number of fortifications built by the colonial government in the 16th century. As with Corcovado, climbing the back side of Sugar Loaf is possible for the daring fighter. It’s not very well recognized because the hiking trail paths near where you catch the cable cars are blocked by a pillar to dispirit the curious hiker. Walk around them and you’re on your way. Be advised. This is a very rugged climb and not for the uninformed, and once you reach the top you won’t able to climb down and you can’t buy a ticket at the top. Buy your one-way ticket first and take it with you.

Guanabara is made up of more than 130 islands and surrounded by attractive natural scenery you can grasp from high above as you tour the mountain. Two comfortable cable cars take visitors to the summit where they can relish fabulous views of Rio de Janeiro from a height of 1,296 feet. The cable cars themselves are enclosed by glass panels. As you start to ascend to the very top, you can get the wonderful experience of breathtaking views unfolding below you. Because Sugarloaf Mountain sits on a peninsula that stretches into the Atlantic Ocean it offers a unique scenic combination of a bustling city, a tranquil bay, and a sparkling ocean. You will love reaching the summit, but the journey there will be just as enjoyable.

It is believed, that 600 million years ago Mother Nature’s geologic hand formed a princely natural wonder, which has converted into most commonly recognized and sought after tourist attraction in Rio. But it has served its past inhabitants equally well. Navigators for years would spot the imposing figure as the entrance to Guanabara Bay. The first Portuguese arrivers chose the landmark as a settling location for the magnitude of visibility afforded towards the sea and mountains assuring their continued protection. Riding or walking, Sugar Loaf Mountain is an undying attraction which should be taken advantage of by all who visit Rio. Without any doubt the views are gorgeous, the photo ops endless, and most of all the experience priceless!

“Iguazu Fall” Brazil and Argentina

One of the great natural wonders of the world, the Iguazu Falls are situated near the border of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Iguazu Falls, called Foz do Iguaçu in Portuguese, and Cataratas del Iguazú in Spanish, lie on the Argentina & Brazil border and are on the list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The name of the waterfalls comes from the Guaraní word for "great water". The Iguazu Falls is Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horseshoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River. The magic beauty of Iguazu Falls is the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth.

In 1541; the first Spanish traveler to see the falls was Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca but the vast power of the falls was not fully utilized until the construction of the huge Itaipu hydroelectric power plant built jointly by Paraguay and Brazil. It was completed in 1991 and opens for public. The dam provides substantial 12,600,000 KW of power almost 40% of Argentina and Brazil power needs. The dam is one of the largest in the world and touted by both countries as a masterpiece of modern technology.

During the rainy season of November - March, the rate of flow of water going over the falls may reach 450,000 cubic feet (12,750 cubic m) per second. To view the matter of fact, the tremendous amount of water thundering down 269 feet. The sheer beauty is bigger than four times the width of Niagara Falls. Iguazu Falls are divided by numerous islands into separate waterfalls. One of the best known is Devil's Throat or Gargantua del Diablo with its continuous spray high over the falls. Other notable falls are the San Martin, Bossetti, and Bernabe Mendez. 

The Iguazu falls are part of a singular practically virgin jungle ecosystem protected by Argentine and Brazilian national parks on either side of the cascades. Almost 2/3 of the falls are on the Argentinian side where you can also trip to Iguazu National Park consists of jungle trails and bird hikes. You may plan a full day trip to the park to fully adore the wildlife flora and fauna. Therefore; it is possible to grasp the falls and surrounding area in a lightning trip but it is highly recommended to make a plan for at least two days. The view from the Brazilian side is the most panoramic and there’re helicopter rides out over the falls from Foz do Iguaçu. You may also take boat rides out to the falls. 

If you want to some special photographs then you’ve to visit in the early morning, when lights are in the best shape. It is believed that best seen from the Brazilian side is the remarkable Devil's Throat, Garganta del diablo, where fourteen falls drop 350 feet with such force that there is always a 100 foot cloud of spray overhead. The amazing seen is to watch the extraordinary rainbow! For a closer view, walk through the subtropical forest of National Iguaçu Park to the base of Salto Floriano and take the elevator to the top of the falls. Or you may walk out over the falls at Salto Union. 

However; from the Argentine side you can proceeds a series of catwalks over the water rushing into Devil's Gorge. However; protective rain suits are provided. There’re some areas where it is possible to swim in the spray of the cascades. But highly recommended to seek locals guide and instructions but be sure that you might have a resulting problem with cuticle parasites. Therefore; best times to view the real beauty of Iguazu Falls are in the spring and fall. Summer is intensely tropically hot and humid, and in winter the water level is considerably lower. There’re hotels on both sides of the river and many tour agencies provide sightseeing opportunities around the area. 

You may found more detail of hotels on the internet for Brazilian side of the falls, or these on the Argentine side. Downstream from the falls where the Parana and Iguazu rivers meet, so do the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Each country has created a landmark in their national colors on a spot in each of their countries where you can understand all three. To the matter of reaching the location it is not too difficult as both the Brazilian and Argentinean cities have nearby airports. Upon seeing Iguazu, the United States' First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed "Poor Niagara”. Iguazu is also often compared with Southern Africa's Victoria Falls which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe. The only wider falls are tremendously large rapid-like falls such as the Boyoma Falls. With the flooding of the Guaíra Falls in 1982, Iguazu currently has the second-greatest average annual flow of any waterfall in the world, after Niagara Falls. Iguazu Falls experiences a humid subtropical climate with abundant precipitation and high temperatures all year-round.

Iguazu Falls, wonder of nature from Planetphoto on Vimeo.

Iguazú / Iguaçu / Iguassu falls - FPV Aerial videography - Scarab Reconn FPV Quad from glambert7777 on Vimeo.

Caracol Falls Brazil

Caracol Falls or Cascata do Caracol is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Brazil with 131 m tall waterfall by far is not the tallest or largest but it has a rare quality. There’re tremendous lookouts where the beauty of Caracol Falls and surrounding forests and mountains can be observed. Caracol Falls have formed on the basalt cliffs of Serra Geral volcanic formation. Caracol waterfall has two cascades one is upper cascade consists of multiple smaller cascades; its total height is approximately 10 m and after some 100 m comes the 2nd by far the largest plunge. Here the stream falls over an overhanging cliff edge. So far it is not confirmed whether the height of 131 m includes both cascades or is just the height of the main, tallest cascade. However; upper part of waterfalls starts in pine forest altitudinal zone with quite a few gorgeous araucarias and lower end is located already in the moist Atlantic Forest.

Caracol waterfall majestic beauty is harder to observe, therefore it is a lot less popular tourist destination. The area nearby Caracol Falls may seem to be unspoiled and remote but in reality this is very widespread tourist destination with nature trails, 27 m tall observation tower, cable car, tourist train, restaurant, shops. 25 ha large Caracol State Park has been established around the falls and without any doubt this is one of the most famous natural landmarks in Brazil, perhaps the second most visited after the famous Iguazu Falls. The waterfall popularity could be explained by the vicinity to major cities and definitely by the rare beauty of this waterfall which becomes particularly beautiful during the sunset.