Brazilians are seeking evermore radical ways to spend their time, so opportun­ities for fresh-air adventure are on the rise. The websites www.360graus.com.br

and www.guiaverde.com.br (both in Por­tuguese) are valuable resources on a host of activities, from canyoning, paragliding, kitesurfing or wakeboarding to plain old rafting, surfing, trekking, diving or moun­tain climbing.

Hiking & Climbing

These popular activities are best during the cooler months, April to October. Outstand­ing hiking areas include the national parks of Chapada Diamantina in Bahia, Serra dos Orgaos in Rio de Janeiro state, Chapada dos Veadeiros in Goias and the Serra de Sao Jose near Tira­dentes in Minas Gerais.

Within 40 minutes of central Rio de Janeiro , the hub of Brazilian climbing, are some 350 documented climbs. Serra dos Orgaos and Itatiaia ( Rio de Janeiro ) and Caparao (Minas Gerais) national parks also have some particularly good climbs.

Brazilian hiking and climbing clubs are an unbeatable source of information, as well as the best meeting place for like­minded people. They generally welcome visitors. Try Rio 's Centro Excursionista Brasileiro (Tel: 0xx21-2252-9844; www.ceb.org.br in Portuguese; Av

RESERVATIONS

In tourist centers, especially Rio , during vacations (July and from Christmas to Carnaval), reservations are a good idea for mid-range hotels or the most popular budget ones. The same goes for any vaca­tion mecca (eg Bums) on weekends. Most mid-range places, at least, should have someone who'll understand some English or Spanish on the phone. For ultrapeak times leg Carnaval in Rio , Salvador or 01­inda) make contact weeks or months ahead; during Carnaval hotels only accept reservations for four nights or more.

At any time, a phone call from the air­port or bus station can establish whether your preferred lodgings have a free room.

Another good reason for making reser­vations in mid-range or top-end hotels is that the price may be up to 30% cheaper than if you just walk in off the street. How­ever, there have been reports of travelers being forced to upgrade on the spot after reserving a room over the Internet.

Almirante Barroso 2, 8th fl, Centro). It lists upcom­ing excursions on its website, and often has meetings during the week to discuss the weekend's program, usually geared toward trekking and day hikes.

Surfing

Surfing is very popular, and there's surf virtually all along the coast; it's particularly good in the south and southeast. The best surfing beaches are in Santa Catarina state, at places like Ilha de Santa Catarina and Sao Francisco do Sul. Ilha do Mel, Buzios and Rio de Janeiro also have great breaks. The waves are best in the Brazilian winter (June to August).

Rentals of boogie boards and surfboards are easy to arrange on the beach wherever you go.

Windsurfing

Buzios in Rio state has good conditions, and access to rental equipment. But Brazil 's hardcore windsurfing mecca is the Ceara coast northwest of Fortaleza , from July to December. Here, Jericoacoara and the small fishing village of Icaraizinho are the most popular spots.