Brazil is the perfect place to kick off a holiday adventure

England's World Cup Campaign begins in earnest in the Amazonian city of Manaus. For some, it is the start of at least a fortnight of high hopes, high drama and, ultimately, crushing disappointment. For others, it is just another reason to look forward to Wimbledon.

But what we can all agree on is that the team will play in some of the most fascinating places on our planet.

Manaus

The most isolated city of England's group matches, Manaus lies deep in the tropical Amazon rainforest and is accessible generally by plane or boat. At the confluence of the Negro and Solimoes rivers, about 1.9 million people live in a city where life ebbs and flows around the river. England fans and players will find themselves at the heart of Amazonian rainforest life, where the natural environment has nurtured native society and culture for thousands of years.

Activities here are set against the startling landscape: from Lake Janauari Ecological Park - featuring 9,000 acres of Amazon splendour - to Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden, visitors can hike, raft and explore.

A particular highlight of any visit to Manaus is the "meeting of the waters" - where the Rio Negro and brown Rio Solimoes meet to form the Amazon River itself. At the start of England's World Cup adventure, the mightiest of rivers begins its own journey deep into the forest.

Sao Paulo

Nowhere on England's itinerary will embody Brazil and its relationship to the tournament more than Sao Paulo. Brazil's largest city is vast, complex, and not wholly welcoming of football's most costly exhibition.

A visit to Sao Paulo will live long in the memory for any fan and for those keen for a spot of spirited adventure, there is more than football on offer.

Pico do Jaragua Mountain is 1,135 metres high and is located at Serra da Cantareira. This is the highest point of the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo. The city has more than 10 large parks with lakes, running tracks, courts, and bike tracks. The Atlantic coastline is dotted with stunning beaches, islands, ecological sanctuaries, and tropical forests. On the water itself, surfing, kitesurfing and diving are all possible.

Belo Horizonte

England's last group-stage city is surrounded by mountains, large parks and native forests.

After receiving a major facelift over the last four years, Belo Horizonte has reinvented itself as a cultural capital, with brand new museums and a burgeoning arts scene.

The Serra do Cipo National Park is part of the huge Serra do Espinhaco mountain range, which crosses the state and is home to unique orchids, jaguar, and ant-eaters; it is also a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

The Caparao National Park has the 2,892-metre Pico da Bandeira, while Itatiaia National Park has 2,787-metre Agulhas Negras, making the border with Rio de Janeiro. These are among the highest peaks in Brazil and adventures abound accordingly.