A tour of Brazil - in pictures

Rio de Janeiro, as seen from above, with the curve of Copacabana beach to the left, and Sugar Loaf mountain rising in the foreground. Brazilians call it 'cidade maravilhosa' – the marvellous city Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

A family sit by the entrance to Rocinha, one of the largest favelas in Rio Photograph: Chloe Elmer/Getty Images

Brazil is home to a huge number of different indigenous tribes. The Aweti, from the Amazon region, are seen here arriving at a Kuarup ceremony, which honours their ancestors through rituals and wrestling bouts Photograph: Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images

Belo Horizonte, capital of the state of Minas Gerais and Brazil's third largest city, will host World Cup matches. The city is located between Rio de Janeiro and Brasília Photograph: Thiago Veras/Getty Images

The Fernando de Noronha archipelago is located off the country's north-east coast and comprises 21 islands, famed for their coral reefs Photograph: Renata Souza e Souza/Getty Images

A group of men play dominos next to a painted mural, by street artist Speto, in the Vila Madalena neighbourhood of São Paulo Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

The huge urban sprawl of São Paulo with its iconic Copan building (left), designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer Photograph: Gerard Sioen/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Iguazu Falls (spelt Iguaçu in Portuguese), spread between Brazil and Argentina, were used as a scared burial ground by the Tupi-Guarani tribes Photograph: Domingo Leiva/Getty Images

Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceara in north-eastern Brazil and is another of the host cities for the 2014 World Cup Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The Jamanxim river, in the state of Pará, winds through the Amazon rainforest, which covers almost half of Brazil, producing 20% of the world's oxygen Photograph: Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images

Joaquina beach in Florianopolis on the island of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The area has been popular with surfers since the 1970s Photograph: Lucas Brentano/Getty Images

The Chapada dos Guimaraes national park in Mato Grosso state, western Brazil, is a vast area of biodiversity at threat from deforestation and soybean cultivation Photograph: AFP/Getty Images