Brazil travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

Brazil is bigger than most people expect: it is about the size of the whole of Europe, and the distance from Rio to the Amazon is like crossing a continent. It has beaches that run for hundreds of kilometres, rainforest, a huge wetland full of wildlife, colonial towns, big waterfalls and some of the world's most energetic cities. Trying to see all of it on one trip does not work, and the best trips choose a region or two.

The people are warm, the food is generous, and music is everywhere. This guide covers when to go, where to go, a fourteen-day route built on short flights, and what changes when you are planning with friends.

Capital

Brasília

Currency

Brazilian real (R$)

Languages

Portuguese

Plugs

Type N (Type C is also common), 127 V or 220 V depending on the city

Driving

On the right

Time zone

UTC-3 for Rio, São Paulo and Salvador; four zones from UTC-2 to UTC-5; no daylight saving

Best time to go

May to October for most of the country

Daily budget

About US$80–170 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

Brazil spans the equator and the tropics, so there is no single answer. The country's seasons are also the reverse of the northern hemisphere.

May to October is the dry season and the best window for most trips. In Rio, São Paulo and the south it is cooler and drier, with sunny days that suit hiking and beaches without extreme heat. The Pantanal is at its best for wildlife from about June to September, when the water level falls and animals gather near the rivers.

December to March is summer. It is hot and humid in Rio and Salvador, with storms in the afternoon. It is also high season for beaches, school holidays and Brazilians' own travel, so prices are high and the beaches are full. The Amazon is at its wettest around this time, from roughly December to May, when rivers rise and forest trails flood.

Carnival falls in the days before Lent, in February or March, and the dates change every year. Rio, Salvador, Olinda and Recife each celebrate in a different way. Book flights and rooms many months ahead and expect very high prices.

New Year's Eve is also big, especially on the beach in Rio, with crowds in white and a major fireworks display. It is another time when accommodation books out early.

Iguaçu Falls are impressive all year. The water flow is highest after heavy rain, which can mean some trails are closed; the dry months show the falls more clearly.

Where to go

Rio de Janeiro

Beaches, granite peaks and a city built around them. Go up Corcovado to the Christ the Redeemer statue, ride the cable car up Sugarloaf at sunset, walk the sand at Ipanema and Copacabana, and spend an evening in Santa Teresa or Lapa for music. Give it four days. Take care with phones and bags on the beach and on public transport.

Paraty and the Costa Verde

A colonial port town on the coast between Rio and São Paulo, with cobbled streets that flood with the high tide and islands to reach by boat. It is a calm base for sea kayaking, waterfalls and beach days. Two or three days.

São Paulo

South America's biggest city is a place for food, art, Japanese and Italian neighbourhoods, and nightlife. It is less scenic than Rio and more cultural. Two or three days in the city is a good length, and it is a major airport hub.

Salvador and Bahia

The first capital of Brazil has an Afro-Brazilian culture seen in its food, music and religion. The old centre, Pelourinho, has colourful colonial buildings. Nearby beaches and the islands, such as Morro de São Paulo and the Boipeba area, give you the sea. Three or four days.

Foz do Iguaçu

The Iguaçu Falls are a chain of hundreds of waterfalls on the border with Argentina, which shares them. The Brazilian side gives wide views; the Argentine side lets you walk close to the water. Two days lets you see both. For the Argentine side, see our Argentina travel guide.

The Pantanal

The largest tropical wetland in the world, with caimans, capybaras, giant otters, birds and, with luck, jaguars. Lodges and boat or jeep safaris are the way to see it. Three nights is a good length.

The Amazon

Manaus is the main gateway, where the dark Rio Negro meets the lighter Solimões. From there, lodges and river boats go into the forest. Allow three to five days, and check which season suits the activities you want.

Florianópolis and the south

An island city with dozens of beaches, surfing and seafood, popular with Brazilians in summer. Inland, the south has hills, wine and a mix of German and Italian culture.

Lençóis Maranhenses

A national park of huge white dunes with freshwater lagoons between them, which fill after the rains and are at their fullest from about June to August. It takes some effort to reach but is unlike anywhere else.

A 14-day itinerary

Days 1–4: Rio de Janeiro. Arrive and take an easy first day on the beach. Use the next days for Corcovado, Sugarloaf and a food and music evening in Lapa or Santa Teresa.

Days 5–6: Paraty. About 4 hours by road from Rio, by bus or shared transfer. Boat trips, waterfalls and the old town.

Days 7–9: Foz do Iguaçu. Return to Rio or São Paulo for a flight, about 2 hours, to the falls. See the Brazilian side one day and the Argentine side the next.

Days 10–13: Salvador. Fly from Iguaçu, usually via a connection. Spend two days in the city and two on the coast or on an island.

Day 14: Fly home. Salvador has international flights, or you can connect through Rio or São Paulo.

With more time, swap Salvador for the Pantanal, or add a lodge in the Amazon. If you have only a week, choose Rio, Paraty and Iguaçu, and leave the north-east for another trip.

Getting around

Domestic flights are how most visitors cover Brazil's distances. They are frequent between the big cities and reasonably priced if you book ahead, but check baggage rules, which vary by airline and fare, and allow time for connections.

Long-distance buses are comfortable and cover the country, with executive and sleeper classes on the main routes. For Rio to Paraty, or São Paulo to the coast, the bus is a good option.

In cities, metro systems in Rio and São Paulo are clean and safe in the daytime, and ride-hailing apps are the easy way to move around after dark. Taxis are available but it is best to use an app or a taxi booked through your hotel.

Driving is not necessary for most visitors, and traffic in the big cities is heavy. If you plan a coastal road trip, read our guide to renting a car abroad first, and plan to drive in daylight.

Boats link islands and coastal towns, from the Paraty islands to the Amazon, where river boats are a normal way of getting between places.

Money and costs

Cards are widely accepted, including contactless, in cities and many hotels and restaurants. Carry some cash for markets, small beach stalls and rural areas. ATMs are common, but some do not accept foreign cards, so use bank machines inside a branch or a shopping centre.

In restaurants, a service charge of around 10% is often added to the bill and is customary to pay. Check the bill before you add more. Rounding up taxi and tour guide fares is normal.

Food can be very good value. A lunch buffet paid by weight, called por quilo, is cheap and widely available; the big-city restaurants are costly. Domestic flights and organised trips to the Pantanal or Amazon are the biggest costs.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

• Budget: about US$40–75, with hostels, por quilo lunches and buses.
• Mid-range: about US$80–170, with hotels, restaurant dinners and a few flights.
• Comfortable: US$250 and up, with good hotels, private guides and lodge stays.

Planning Brazil as a group

Brazil is easy to enjoy with a group, because beach houses, boats and long dinners suit large parties. The challenges are distance and safety.

Pick a region. Fly less, and see more. A group of six that tries to do Rio, the Amazon and Salvador in two weeks spends half the trip at airports.

Stay together on the beach. Rooms and apartments for four to eight are common in Rio, Paraty and Florianópolis. Choose a place close to the sand and a safe, well-lit street.

Transport. For groups of four or more, a minivan or a pair of ride-hailing cars is often cheaper and simpler than public transport, especially at night and on trips out of town.

Tables. Brazilian restaurants are made for big tables, but the popular ones fill on weekends and holidays. Book for the group, especially at Carnival and New Year.

Cash and splitting. The por quilo lunch, the boat and the guide all get paid separately. Log each cost in reais when it happens, so the trip ends in a few simple payments.

Before you go

• Entry rules: check the official government site of Brazil and your own government's travel advice before you book, as requirements depend on your passport.
• Travel insurance that covers medical costs, theft and cancellations.
• Connectivity: an eSIM or a local SIM works well in cities and on the coast. The Pantanal and the Amazon have little coverage.
• A plug adapter for Type N, and check the voltage where you are staying, as it is 127 V in some cities and 220 V in others. Most phone and laptop chargers accept both.
• Health: ask a travel clinic well ahead about vaccines, in particular for the Amazon, the Pantanal and parts of the interior, and about mosquito protection.
• Customs: Brazilians greet each other with a kiss on the cheek or a hug. Speak Portuguese rather than Spanish if you can, even a few words such as obrigado (or obrigada); it is warmly received, and the two languages are not the same. Brazilian Portuguese sounds quite different from the European kind you will hear in Portugal; see our Portugal travel guide if you are tempted to combine the two.

What to pack

Light, breathable clothes, a swimsuit and a good hat will do for most of the country. Bring a light rain jacket for tropical showers, sunscreen with a high factor and insect repellent. Beach sandals are useful, along with walking shoes for waterfalls and wet paths.

For the Pantanal and Amazon, add long sleeves and trousers in light fabric, and binoculars. In the south in winter, bring a warm layer, as evenings can be cold. Use a small cross-body bag or a money belt in cities, and leave expensive jewellery at home.