Writer Sarah Brown escape the hustle and bustle of chaotic Rio de Janeiro and finds calm on the tranquil island of Paqueta, which is actually a neighbourhood of Rio.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Standing on the rooftop of the five-storey Museum of Art (MAR), I have an aerial view of the Praça Mauá square in the heart of this playful Brazilian city.

CRISTALINO, BRAZIL — The September 15, 2015 Guardian Weekly reported that there are just over three trillion trees on the planet. Then Science Magazine chimed in, explaining that 319 billion of those trees existed in the Brazilian Amazon.

NATAL, BRAZIL - Known as the “city of the sun,” Natal doesn’t disappointment me — when I step off the plane, the sun kisses my face and welcomes me home.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - For such a big event, Rio’s world famous carnival occupies very little space. For those who think that every street of this vibrant, colorful city is jammed with people watching Rio's world-famous Carnival parade, think again.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - A ray of early morning sunshine kissed my cheeks and aroused my interest about the noise coming from outside.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Safety is always a concern in Rio - so play it safe and don't invite trouble by wearing any jewellery while walking the streets and especially not on the beaches. Only take local currency with you and leave your credit cards and valuables in your hotel safe.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - "Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl ... At the Copa, Copacabana ..." There is only one drawback about staying at Rio de Janeiro's spectacular Copacabana Palace hotel - you can never stop humming that old Barry Manilow hit of a few decades ago. If I could only remember the words.

SANTOS, BRAZIL - For a coffee town, Santos really proves to be a tourist’s cup of tea. Not as well known as some of Brazil’s other major cities, this sleepy town offers vacationers beaches that rival anything in Rio and some of the most unusual attractions in South America.

RIO DE JANEIRO - For someone who had been to the top of Corcovado "more than 800 times," Rodrassis, our chain-smoking, wise-cracking guide, seemed overly excited about introducing us to Le esta o Crito Redentor, the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer that sits atop the city's largest mountain.