Enjoy a rough and ready adventure in Brazil in 2012

Despite being one of the geographically largest countries on the planet, much of Brazil's population is crammed into its cities, with some conurbations having favellas perched on top of hills overlooking some of the country's richest streets.

Furthermore, years of settlers coming to live there has turned the South American nation into a vibrant hotchpotch of cultures and makes it a very cosmopolitan land perfect for exploring on overland adventure tours.

The great thing about Brazil is that it offers not only amazing cities packed full of activities and attractions; but also vast swathes of unexplored jungle full of stunning flora and fauna.

Furthermore, the nation enjoys miles of beautiful coastline facing out onto the South Atlantic and benefits from pleasant weather for most of the year.

This all combines to make Brazil a perfect destination for an adventure holiday and Brits who visit will rarely leave disappointed by what the country has to offer.

A Rio carnival package could be the perfect start to an extended break travelling around South America, while the country is also set to host the Fifa World Cup and Olympic Games in the coming years.

Those who enjoy their South America adventure tours might even decide that it is worth investing in a nation that has weathered the financial downturn admirably.

BuyAssociation editor Paul Collins explained that the property market in Brazil has proved itself as one of the most resilient in the world in the past few years.

He pointed to strong growth in sales and a robust rental sector as evidence of a healthy property industry.

"Ready to build projects have the advantage of giving the investor a price that is close to those offered to off-plan purchasers while allowing the investor to start making returns within a shorter timeframe than may be the case with a more traditional off-plan project," he advised those considering investing.