Luxury Vacation Guide 2012: Brazil

Long known as the land of tropical beaches, beautiful rainforests, and of course, Carnival, Brazil emerges in 2012 as a luxury destination on the verge of blowing its long under-the-radar cover.

Brazil, South America’s largest country offers something for everyone – exceptional cuisine, active pursuits, and of course, famous beaches and Brazilian bikinis. In true luxury fashion, consider a visit to the new Aman resort, Amanoca, about 1.5 hours outside of Rio, opening later this year. Other “luxe” staples include Ponta dos Ganchos, near Florianapolis on Brazil’s south coast, or split your time between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero – either way, you can’t go wrong. Of course, fans of luxury shopping won’t be missing out either. In 2012, the world’s sixth largest economy will see an influx of brands like Fendi and Prada. A recent Forbes article stated that Brazil was home to more high net worth individuals than Russia and India, and more billionaires than Saudi Arabia, France and Italy in 2010. Visit now before the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics turn this paradise into a tourist trap.

[flickr image via Matito]