The idea of a tropical vacation probably calls to mind places like Hawaii, but the world's largest tropical country is Brazil.  The city of Sao Paulo embodies everything good about a tropical getaway:  High cliffs, white sands, humid nights and blue skies that act as a backdrop to the nightlife and culture of the city.

Where to Start

On your visit to Sao Paolo, take in the Avenida Paulista. This main artery of the city is where everything happens, from shopping to nightlife to the ubiquitous cafe culture. It is also home to some of the city's older buildings and is a very pretty spot to start or end your day.

Things to See and Do

If you're able, try to sneak a peek inside the Teatro Municipal. The design is based on the Paris Opera House, and it is a gorgeous example of Art Nouveau. If you haven't been invited (or bought a ticket) to one of the cultural events that are held here, you may be able to pop in and take a short stroll anyway, depending on who is on the door.

The Mercado Municipal (or City Market) is the busiest spot for fresh produce coming in to Sao Paolo and sells almost everything else you can imagine. The prices are good and the atmosphere is buzzing – a true Latin American open-air market. Pick up a few souvenirs as well as some new ingredients.

Shopping

Rua Oscar Freire is the place to shop for designer labels at great prices (well, relatively good). Thanks to Sao Paolo's increasing popularity during International Fashion Week, more and more international stores and designers are setting up shop here, and prices are more in line with the local economy than those of Paris or Rome.

Zoo

The Sao Paolo Zoo is a sweeping 204 acres of rainforest and is home to more than 2,500 animals from 360 species. True to its tropical environment, this is one of the best places in the world to see jungle birds and reptiles in their natural habitats and the daily shows all over the zoo are well worth a visit for the education and entertainment.

One of the more fascinating repositories of knowledge is the snake museum at the Instituto Butanta found on the campus of the Universidade de Sao Paolo. Not for the squeamish, this is an unadulterated look at the life of the average snake, and the not so average – stories, and evidence, of man-eating boa constrictors are on display here and are enough to make any visitor think twice about a stroll in the jungle.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Sao Paolo really does go all night, so take a siesta before hitting the dance floor. Love City is the oldest and best known nightclub in the city, but almost all of the alleyways and side streets downtown will offer some kind of music, dancing and cocktail.

Off the Beaten Path

To get off the beaten track, head to Japan! The neigborhood of Liberdade is known as Little Japan in this city, and here you will find the food, fashions and sake of the Land of the Rising Sun – and the prices are well below Tokyo's.

Hotels

Most travellers to Sao Paolo are businesspeople, and so the majority of the hotels are concentrated near convention centres and the main airports. This isn't a bad thing, as it tends to make nights quiet. A double room ranges between R$100 – R$250 per night.

Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder to find top accommodation and cheap hotels in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

(Photo:iStockPhoto/luso)