An oasis within the oasis of Brazil, Recife struts to its own magical multi-cultural appeal: delve into the short stint of Dutch rule; wander the colourful UNESCO museum-city of Olinda to fall on your knees in a church adorned in pure gold then browse folkloric arte-sanato in a former prison turned artist haven. Float down picturesque waterways that slither through the city’s cosmopolitan centre or quaff cooling coconut water along the Boa Viagem, a jaw-dropping 8-kilometre stretch of pearly-sand beach that is strung between gleaming skyscrapers and cobalt sea.