For travellers from Singapore, making a trip to Brazil can be a little daunting. For one thing, it is a looong way away. And let’s face it, the fact that pizzas there cost US$35 (S$44) — and prices have spiked further, thanks to the World Cup — is likely to deter many from making the trek.

If you don’t want to be left out in conversations about the biggest country in South America hosting the biggest sporting event this year, here’s a cheat sheet that’ll make sound like a seasoned explorer.

A FOR AMAZON

While the Amazon rainforest stretches over eight countries, Brazil is home to 68 per cent of this important piece of biodiversity. The most accessible way to the Amazon is through Manaus, a World Cup host city, where you can book a tour. Even better, the Amazon Ecopark Lodge is just a 30-minute boat ride from town.

B FOR BRASILIA

That’s the capital of Brazil, not Rio De Janeiro, okay? The city was planned entirely by Brazilian urbanist Lucio Costa and renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer (his modernist masterpieces include the National Congress and the Metropolitan Cathedral).

C FOR CAXIROLA

We’re assuming you already know the other big Cs: The Christ The Redeemer statue, churrasco and caipirinha (the national cocktail made from cachaca or sugar cane liquor, sugar and lime juice). So here’s caxirola, the traditional Brazilian woven instrument, which is this World Cup’s answer to the vuvuzelas (remember those?). Because it’s filled with seeds, it reportedly produces a more pleasant, mellifluous and lower-pitched sound than those annoying South African instruments. We hope.

D FOR DONA COISA

Billed as Rio de Janeiro’s most fashionable boutique, it’s stocked with Brazilian designers and labels such as Gloria Coelho as well as limited-edition collaborations like Isolda X Converse and beautiful homeware. There is even a stylish espresso bar where you can sample homemade chocolates.

E FOR ECO-LOUNGE

This is something you definitely don’t get everywhere. The Palaphita Kitch bar overlooking the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio is a leafy outdoor bar that brings the Amazon to you. Seats and coffee tables are made of reforested eucalyptus wood (and are for sale) and there are raised platforms resembling tree houses to chill out in.

F FOR FAVELAS

Also known as “the slums”. Interestingly, there are tours being offered for some favelas in Rio such as Vidigal and Santa Martha (where Spike Lee filmed the music video for Michael Jackson’s They Don’t Really Care About Us). There’s even an official guidebook on favelas published last year available in major hotels and kiosks in the city.

G FOR GENIPABU

Genipabu is an amazing sight of nine beaches, three lakes and four large dunes that rise up to 60m. The best way to get up close to all this beauty for your photos is an open buggy ride that’s exhilarating and unforgettable.

H FOR HOT

We’re not talking about the weather here. It’s the people. Whether it’s sexy footballers (Kaka), gorgeous supermodels (Gisele Bundchen) or sexy, gorgeous footballer models — hello, Neymar! — you can find lookalikes on Ipanema Beach.

I FOR IGUAZU FALLS

One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the falls sitting on the border of Brazil and Argentina are taller than the Niagara and twice as wide. To get there, you’ll need to fly to the city of Foz do Iguacu in Parana state.

J FOR JIU-JITSU

Hey, the Brazilians don’t only excel in one sport. Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s history is tied to that of the Gracie family as it’s founded by Carlos Gracie, whose family members went on to popularise the sport across the world. While there are plenty of Brazilian jiu-jitsu gyms, one of the oldest is the Carlson Gracie Academy in Copacabana, opened by Carlos’ son named, hm, Carlson, where BJJ fans go to make a pilgrimage.

K FOR KICK-OFF

The 20th FIFA World Cup kicks off in Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo, tomorrow morning in Singapore. It’s the second time Brazil is playing host. The last time the five-time winners hosted in 1950, it was humbled on home soil by Uruguay. Can it rewrite the past?

L FOR LATROCINIO

The crime of robbery turned murder. It’s apparently a rather common crime in Brazil, so much so the police of Sao Paulo have given out pamphlets advising tourists not to scream if they’re mugged to prevent, well, latrocinio.

M FOR MOUNTAINS

Brazil has plenty of them, but you just need to remember three to sound like a know-it-all. The largest mountain range in Brazil is known as Serra do Espinhaco. Corcovado Mountain in Rio is where the Christ The Redeemer statue is perched. The Sugarloaf Mountain is another icon of Rio — take a cable car ride to the mountain to see the city in all its glory.

N FOR NATIONAL STADIUM

Brazil’s National Stadium or the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha is named after footballer Garrincha, who’s regarded as the best dribbler ever. This stadium in Brasilia also has the honour of being the second-most expensive football stadium in the world after Wembley.

O FOR OLINDA

This is the city to name-drop for some serious Brazil cred. It’s one of the best-preserved Portuguese settlements with quirky cafes along cobblestone streets and galleries mixing it up with the city’s 20 churches. Don’t miss the Pernambuco Museum of Sacred Art and the Convento De Sao Francisco, which is the first Franciscan monastery in Brazil.

P FOR PORTO ALEGRE

This World Cup host city found itself in the news when the mayor threatened to pull out of the event in March. It’s also home to the gaucho (or cowboy) and is supposedly where churrasco originated. The sights here are not bad, too, such as the Chafariz Imperial fountain and the Monkey Canyon outside the city.

Q FOR QUINTA DA BOA VISTA

The park to go to in Rio. The compound is home to the beautiful Palace of Saint Christopher, which is now the National Museum of Brazil. In its previous life, it was where the former emperors of Brazil stayed. Uh-huh, there were emperors who ruled Brazil in the 19th century.

R FOR RABANADA

The word means “gust of wind”, but it’s really Brazilian French toast that is traditionally eaten for Christmas supper.

S FOR SAO PAULO

Rio can keep its beaches because the most populous city in Brazil is also the most delicious. Sao Paulo has an exceptionally exciting culinary scene and its best-known restaurant is undoubtedly DOM, which has consistently ranked among the best restaurants in the world. Chef Alex Atala also made it to Time’s 100 Most Influential People last year for his inventive take on native ingredients. Other noteworthy restaurants include Braz Pizzeria (some claim the pizzas in Sao Paulo are better than in Naples), Skye (an amazing rooftop restaurant at Hotel Unique) and Jun Sakamoto (Japanese cuisine is generally excellent given that the city has more Japanese than any other city outside Japan).

T FOR TOURISTS

About 600,000 foreign tourists are expected to descend on the country for the World Cup. For those of you staying home, Google has thoughtfully provided Street Views of the 12 stadiums where the matches are played, as well as the famed painted streets celebrating the country’s love for football.

U FOR URUGUAY

Brazil’s neighbour, which is just one of the 10 countries it shares its borders with. Also a World Cup nemesis — Uruguay defeated the host country in the finals in 1950. Oooh, baggage.

V FOR VIVA! SAUDE!

That’s cheers in Portuguese. Besides caipirinha, you can toast with other popular alcoholic Brazilian beverages like beer, porradinha (cachaca topped with soda) or an alcoholic smoothie known as batida. We like the sound of that already.

W FOR WAXING

The Brazilian Wax did originate in Brazil or, to be more specific, Rio. This was back in the ’70s, because you needed to be properly groomed in order to wear one of those skimpy thong bikinis. Its popularity only took off in the United States after seven Brazilian sisters started a salon offering such services in New York City in 1987.

X FOR XAVANTINA

We didn’t make this word up. It’s an actual town in central-western Brazil that’s also known by its full name Nova Xavantina. Okay, we’ll stop here.

Y FOR YOGA

There’s a big yoga scene in Brazil. Whether you want to do your downward dog on the beaches of Bahia or hole up in one of the exclusive resorts in Santa Catarina, there’s a yoga retreat with your name on it. In fact, yoga packages are being trotted out for women who’ll be temporarily widowed by football-loving husbands.

Z FOR Z CARNICERIA

This bar in Sao Paulo typifies the electrifying nightlife of the city. What used to be a butchery is now a hip hangout. It pays homage to its former life with murals of cows, hooks dangling from the bar as well as fantastic cocktails named after meats. Sirloin Passion for you?