Pirenópolis, a cobblestoned colonial town about 85 miles from Brasília , is at its most charming and quiet during the week.

The big cities in Brazil have become expensive, but Seth Kugel finds a way to eat cheaply and healthily in Rio, without setting foot outside of the upscale beachfront haven of Ipanema.

The Brazilian real is at its strongest this century, but there are cheap things to do in Rio de Janeiro that won’t drain your wallet. Here’s how to see samba, dine out and enjoy some time on the beach on less than $100.

I interviewed some of Rio’s luminaries and less-than-luminaries to find out their favorite Rio beach spots, shops, bars and hotels. (Warning: not for the frugal.)

In this sprawling metropolis that anchors Brazil’s booming economy, the flaws — which include high prices and persistent drizzle — are no match for its teeming energy, which infuses everything from art to business to the city’s relentless…  

An exploration of the state so many Brazilians love (for the food, for the waterfalls, for the people, for the history) but so few others know about.

Outside of Carnaval week each February, when the emphasis is decidedly on the present, the coastal city of Salvador seems almost obsessed with its African past.

 It may be the ugliest, most dangerous city you’ll ever love. 

So you missed Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro last week. No worries. Many residents, known as Cariocas, missed it as well, fleeing the tourist onslaught for vacation homes and more intimate Carnavals around Brazil. But the party never stops.