Rio de Janeiro

(Getty Images/Matthew Stockman)

As the world gears up for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this week, some lucky travelers are planning a trip to catch the events.

Rio has a multitude of beautiful sites to visit, including its world-famous bay, but for those a bit more adventurous, it's worth the extra time to see other parts of this gorgeous country.

Here are just a few must-see places to check out while in Brazil.

1. Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls

(Getty Images/David Silverman)

A finalist for the new seven wonders of the world, Iguazu Falls is a truly spectacular site to see. The semi-circular waterfall in the is 262 feet high and 8,858 feet in diameter, according to UNESCO. Located on a basaltic line spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil, the falls are made up of many cascades which produce vast sprays of water, making it one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.

2. Porto de Galinhas

Porto de Galinhas

(Getty Images/Lelia Valduga)

Recognized as by one of the country's top tourist magazines, Porto de Galinhas in thenortheastern state of Pernambuco, is near the equatorial line, which means "sunny weather, a warm sea and a permanent breeze," according to Recife Guide.

Meaning "Port of Chickens" in Portuguese, Porto de Galinhasgets its name from the country's slave history when it was illegal to mention slavery as ships arrived in the port. Instead, locals would say that "there are new chickens in the port."

3. Pelourinho

Pelourinho

(Getty Images/Christopher Pillitz )

Pelourinho was Brazil'sfirst capital between 1549 to 1763, and starting in 1558, it was the first slave market in the New World, with slaves arriving to work on the sugar plantations. The city has preserved many of its outstanding Renaissance buildings. A , according to UNESCO, are the brightly colored houses, which are often decorated with exceptional stucco-work.

4. Amazon Rain Forest

Amazon Rain Forest

(Getty Images/Wolfgang Kaehler)

The Amazon rain forest is a favorite destination for adventurous travelers. The that it supplies 20 percent of the world's oxygen, according to the World Wildlife Fund. At the center of the rain forest is the 4,080-mile-long Amazon River, which sustains millions of species of mammals, birds and insects, most of them still undescribed.

5. Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha

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This tropical island, which lies 340 miles off Brazil's northeast coast, is home to some of the and is a center for scuba diving, according tothe Travel Channel. The island is so remote that only 420 tourists are permitted on the island at any one time.

6. Cathedral of Brasilia

Cathedral of Brasilia

(Getty Images/Mario Tama)

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasilia, designed by Oscar Niemeyer, is a modern marvel that can hold 4,000 worshippers. Completed and dedicated on May 31, 1970, the Roman Catholic cathedralis weighing 90 tons each, according to AboutBrasilia.com.

7. Jalapao State Park

Jalapao State Park

(Getty Images/Alexandre Cappi Jr.)

The Jalapao State Park is often called the "outback" of Brazil. It's a wilderness area of savannah, with clear rivers, dunes and eroding flat-topped Serra that , according to Lonely Planet.

8. Gruta doLago Azul

Gruta do Lago Azul

(Getty Images/Andrea Pistolesi)

Gruta do Lago Azul, or Blue Lake Grotto, is one of the largest flooded cavities in the world. Thought to be 200 feet deep and fed by a yet-to-be-discovered underwater river, the large cave is filled with a pool of crystal clear, blue water. According to Atlas Obscura, when sunlight shines through a hole in the ceiling of the cave and makes the water shimmer in the light."

9. Mount Roraima

Mount Roraima

(Getty Images/luoman)

Mount Roraima is one of the oldest mountain formations on Earth and is a natural border between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.This mountain, surrounded by cliffs that reach 1,300 feet, was a place of mystery, myths and legends for the indigenous people that used to live in the area centuries ago.

According to CNN, to write his classic novel, "Lost World."

10. São Miguel Das Missões

Sao Miguel Das Missoes

(Getty Images/Axel Fassio)

São Miguel Das Missões, in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, is home to the remains of one of the Jesuit Missions of the Guarani that are listed by as a World Heritage Site. Founded in the 18th century, the mission was part of the Jesuits' efforts to convert the indigenous Guarani population and to protect them from Spanish and Portuguese slave traders. Despite their efforts, the Spanish and Portuguese slave traders eventually conquered and the Mission was abandoned.