Best Brazil UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Ouro Preto

The historic town of Ouro Preto played an important role in the heyday of Brazil’s gold rush. The name “Ouro Preto” means “Black Gold,” and gold indeed flowed through this port city on its way to the Old World. During the 17th centuries and 18th centuries, gold mining was one of the major industries of colonial Brazil. The town got rich off the exports and soon boasted Baroque-style churches and other exquisite architectural features that showed off the largess of the town’s barons. In fact, the town’s first name was “Villa Rica” – “Rich Town.”

The sculptor Aleijadinho made some of his best creations during this time, including the Roccoco façade and bas-relief on the Church of the Third Order of St Francis, and the Twelve Prophets carved in soapstone in front of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus of Matosinhos, which is also a Brazil UNESCO World Heritage Site. These magnificent sculptures can still be admired today. The town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. View our Route of Gold Tour that includes Ouro Preto.

Iguazu National Park

The Iguazu National Park was declared a Brazil UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. The park boasts pristine subtropical forest, many species of endangered flora and fauna, and pleasant walking trails that allow visitors to admire the waterfalls and the forests alike. During a day tour of the park, you can view the waterfalls from many angles, and even walk out over the rushing water on raised platforms to get panoramic views. You might also see a variety of wildlife, including butterflies, anteaters, river otters, caiman, monkeys, parrots, and coatis.

The Pantanal Wetlands

Although the Pantanal wetlands in southwestern Brazil aren’t as well-known as the Amazon Rainforest, this conservation area is actually much better than the Amazon Rainforest for spotting birds and wildlife. The Pantanal Conservation Area, located in the state of Mato Grosso and covering an expanse of 464,108 acres (187,818 hectares), was named a Brazil UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. It is one of the world’s largest freshwater wetlands. Two rivers, the Cuiabá and Paraguay, flood the plains each year, bringing sustenance to a vast ecosystem. You’re almost guaranteed to see herons, egrets, jabirus, caiman, and river otters. Numbers of wildlife species amount to 80 mammals, 650 birds, 50 reptiles, and 400 fish.

Salvador da Bahia

Salvador was the first capital of Brazil, and as such, it has preserved its historic traditions and culture. The historic center of Salvador was named a Brazil UNESCO site in 1985 and features brightly-painted colonial Renaissance architecture from the 16th to 18th centuries. The Pelhourinho Plaza is the main plaza, where much of the city’s activity occurred. This was also the center for the African slave trade, where Africans were bought and sold to work in gold mines, sugar plantations, and tobacco plantations. African-Brazilian culture is evident in Salvador, where signs of the African candombe religion and samba music are everywhere.

The Amazon Rainforest

A Brazil UNESCO Site since 2000, the Amazon Rainforest is one of the world’s most important ecosystems. In fact, it is sometimes called “The World’s Lungs.” The Central Amazon Conservation Complex in Brazil covers 23,166 square miles (6 million hectares) and encompasses a variety of terrain, from igapó forests and archipelagos to oxbow lakes, tributaries, and channels. There are many endangered wildlife species here, including the arapaima fish, the Amazonian manatee, river dolphins, and black caimans.

Rio de Janeiro

The newest addition to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro was nominated in 2012. Regarded as “The Marvelous City,” this metropolis features world-famous beaches, rolling hills of the Tijuca National Park covered in Atlantic Rainforest vegetation, and a distinct carioca culture and lifestyle. From the peaks of Corcovado Mountain and Sugarloaf to the picturesque Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro has breathtaking views in all directions.