WASHINGTON - US PRESIDENT Barack Obama said on Saturday he was keen to check out Brazil's famed beaches, but quipped his Republican foes would prefer he got lost in the Amazon.

Mr Obama said he would visit Brazil soon, after hosting talks at the White House with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, though added no date had yet been set.

'Because I am somebody who grew up in Hawaii, I felt it was very important that I at least go to Rio where I understand the beaches are pretty nice,' Mr Obama said.

'I would love a trip to the Amazon, but I suspect the Republican Party here would love to see me travel through the Amazon and maybe get lost.'

Mr Obama made the first trip abroad of his presidency with a one-day visit to Canada in February.

He is set to visit Britain for the G-20 economic summit in April, followed by journeys to the Nato summit in France and Germany, a meeting with European leaders in Prague and an onward trip to Turkey.

In mid-April, Mr Obama is set to go to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. -- AFP