Brazil is a huge landmass of 3,287,597 sq. miles with diverse climatic conditions. There are forests, beaches, cities with unique architectural styles and many other places worth visiting in Brazil. The diverse flora and fauna of Brazil is also one of the factors that attracts tourists to this South American nation. An attempt to list some of the best places to visit in Brazil is made in this article. Famous Places to Visit in Brazil The list presented below is not an exhaustive one. However, you can find some of the best places to visit near Rio de Janeiro and surrounding areas. Ouro Preto This town is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ouro Preto was a colonial town and came into focus due to the gold rush of 18th century; this place is 513 km away from Rio de Janeiro and lies to its north. The highlights of Ouro Preto are its churches (famous for their Baroque architecture), cobblestone streets and whitewashed mansions. You get the feeling of entering an 18th century city when you visit Ouro Pretpo. School of Mines and Metallurgy and Museum of the Inconfidencia are the important monuments that you can visit in Ouro Preto. Brasilia The capital city of Brasilia is also listed as one of the World Heritage sites. It is said to be the only city that was built in 20th century. Brasilia is also one of Brazil's famous places known for the futuristic buildings and other monuments. Therefore, the architecture offers a great look to this city. Important places to visit in Brasilia include the Catedral Metropolitana, President Kubitschek's Memorial, Three Powers Square and the TV tower. Pantanal It is the largest wetland area in the world. Situated on the western border of Brazil, Pantanal is the best place to see different animal species in their wild habitat. The total area of this wetland is 54,000 sq miles. A place called Corumba is the starting point for organizing tours to the Pantanal. Corumba is connected by air with cities like Cuiaba and Campo Grande. The jaguars, caimans and capybaras are main attractions for tourists visiting the Pantanal. The period between June and November is best to spot a jaguar in the Pantanal region. Marine National Park of Abrolhos This park is located on the southeast coast of Brazil and in the state of Bahia. Marine National Park of Abrolhos was developed from the point of preserving the diverse flora and fauna of this region. The Jubarte whales are one of the main attractions of this park. Also known as singer whales, the Jubarte weigh around 30 tons and have a length of up to 16 meters. Marine birds that you can see in this region are Frigates, Branco and Grazina. Iguaçu Falls This waterfall lies on the border of Brazil and Argentina. Width of Iguacu is a staggering 1.2 miles. This waterfall is formed of 275 smaller waterfalls. Exact location of Iguacu is the point where Iguaca river crosses the edge of Parana Plateau. The area surrounding this waterfall is known for its pristine forest cover and diverse fauna. Nearest airports to the Iguaçu Falls are Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport (Argentina) and Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (Brazil). Sao Luis It is the capital city of the Brazilian state Maranhao. Sao Luis is known for its picturesque squares and architecture from the colonial era. If you are visiting this place in the month of June, try to attend the Bumba Meu Boi festival. Local troupes perform in this festival on streets. Sao Luis is the birthplace of Capoeira, the martial art from Brazil. Out of the many places to visit in Brazil, those mentioned above are the important ones. There are so many places worth visiting in Brazil, that you would feel spoilt for choice. The above list should however, prove to be useful for first-time visitors.