BR
Brazil
Carnival, Amazon and Atlantic surf
Carnival, Amazon and Atlantic surf
Christ the Redeemer (38m Art Deco statue on Corcovado, 710m) above a city of 6.7 million. Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car. Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. The most theatrical setting of any city in the world.
The Meeting of Waters (the black Rio Negro and the brown Amazon flow side by side for 6km without mixing): pink river dolphins, Victoria amazonica water lilies and jungle lodge wildlife immersion.
The Brazilian side gives the panoramic view of the entire falls system: the 275 individual falls across 2.7km of cliff, with the full Devil’s Throat visible from the catwalks.
The Afro-Brazilian cultural capital: the Pelourinho’s UNESCO-listed colonial architecture, the candomble religion’s sacred sites, the Mercado Modelo and the most expressive Carnival outside Rio.
The world’s largest tropical wetland (150,000km²): the highest density of jaguars on earth, 650+ species of birds, 260+ species of fish, capybaras, caimans and giant anteaters.
An island city of 42 beaches on the Atlantic: Joaquina Beach’s surf, Lagoa da Conceicao’s lagoon culture and a Brazilian beach lifestyle at its most relaxed.
The largest city in the Southern Hemisphere: the MASP (Museum of Art of Sao Paulo, with a 10,000-piece collection suspended on two red arches above Avenida Paulista) and the world’s largest Japanese diaspora creating the finest Japanese food outside Japan.
A highland national park in the Bahia interior: the Cachoeira da Fumaca (420m, one of the tallest waterfalls in Brazil), the Poco Azul crystal pools and cave art from 10,000 years ago.
A slow-cooked stew of black beans with pork (ears, trotters, smoked meats and sausage), served with rice, orange slices, farofa (toasted cassava flour) and couve (kale). The national dish: eaten on Saturdays.
Brazilian barbecue served rodizio-style: an endless parade of skewered meats (picanha, flank, sausage, chicken hearts) brought to the table and carved directly onto your plate.
A teardrop-shaped croquette of shredded chicken in cream cheese wrapped in dough, breaded and deep-fried. The definitive Brazilian street snack, sold at every padaria.
Black-eyed pea fritters deep-fried in palm oil (dende), split and filled with shrimp, vatapa (bread and nut paste) and caruru (okra sauce). A Bahian Afro-Brazilian street food of West African origin.
Cachaca (sugar cane spirit), lime juice, sugar and ice: muddled together and served in a rocks glass. The national cocktail and the world’s finest two-ingredient tropical drink.
An espresso-sized cup of very strong, very sweet black coffee: the social lubricant of Brazilian life, offered at every counter, office and home visit.
Brazil’s two dominant lagers (both owned by AB InBev). Cold, light and correct by a beach. Craft beer from Sao Paulo’s Colorado Brewing is the more interesting option.
A gluten-free crepe made from hydrated tapioca starch, filled with cheese, coconut or carne de sol (dried beef). The staple street food of Northeast Brazil.
São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) is the main international hub; Rio Galeão (GIG) and Campinas (VCP) also receive long-haul flights. LATAM and Gol serve the extensive domestic network. For trip planning, see the official Brazil tourism portal.
💡 TAP Lisbon and Iberia Madrid offer the most connections from Europe to Brazil. Lisbon–São Paulo at 10 hours is one of the shorter transatlantic routes to South America.
💡 Miami is the closest US city to São Paulo — American and LATAM both fly direct, often with the best fares for South American itineraries.
💡 Brazil is vast — flying between cities is essential. Azul (Blue) has the best regional network for less-served cities. Book early; domestic fares spike close to travel dates.
💡 Uber is reliable, cheap and the safest way to get around Brazilian cities as a visitor. App-based transport avoids the risk of overcharging and is available in all major cities.
Brazil is large and the seasons vary by region. Rio and the south are best April–October (dry, mild). The Amazon is best June–November (lower water, better wildlife access). The northeast (Bahia, Fortaleza) is dry and sunny July–February. Carnival (February) is the unmissable annual event.
Brazil varies enormously by city and region. Rio and São Paulo are expensive by South American standards; the Amazon and the northeast are much cheaper. Prices have risen since the 2016 Olympics.
A prato feito — rice, beans, meat, salad and an egg for BRL 20–35 (≈US$4–7) — is what most Brazilians eat for lunch. It’s substantial, cheap and often very good.
A churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse — all-you-can-eat sword service of 15+ grilled meats) at a good Rio or São Paulo restaurant costs BRL 150–250pp. The quality of the beef is exceptional.
D.O.M. in São Paulo (Alex Atala, two Michelin stars) has been ranked among the world’s 50 best restaurants. Amazon ingredients — tucupi, açaí, priprioca — used in fine dining that couldn’t exist anywhere else.
Rio de Janeiro for three days, Iguazu Falls for one, the Amazon for two. This plan covers the three defining Brazil experiences in a single week.
Take the cog train or van up to Cristo Redentor (38m tall, 700m above the city) — the view over Guanabara Bay with the city spread below is the definitive Brazil image. Walk back through Santa Teresa, the hilltop bohemian neighbourhood, for dinner.
💡 Go to Cristo Redentor early — 8am on a weekday. By 11am the crowds are thick and the haze has usually set in.
The Pão de Açúcar cable car reaches 396m with panoramic views of the city and harbour. Afternoon: Copacabana and Ipanema beaches — the beach culture here is a genuine social institution, not just tourism. Ipanema is quieter and more local.
💡 The safest way to enjoy Rio’s beaches is to follow the local rhythm: stay visible on the busy main stretch, keep valuables at the hotel, stay until sunset when most people are still there.
Tijuca National Park — the largest urban forest in the world, within the city — for a morning hike. Afternoon: the neighbourhood of Lapa for its famous tiled steps (Escadaria Selaron), the Lapa Arches and a churrascaria for dinner.
💡 The Selaron Steps were created by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selaron over 20 years, using tiles donated from around the world. He lived there until his death in 2013.
2h flight from Rio to Foz do Iguaçu. The Iguazu Falls are 2.7km wide and contain 275 individual falls — Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly said “Poor Niagara” on first seeing them. The Brazilian side gives the panoramic view; the Argentine side (1h away by bus) puts you inside the falls.
💡 Devil’s Throat (Garganta do Diabo) is the most powerful section — a 150m-wide horseshoe of falls. Take the walkway to the platform at the top: the spray, the noise and the rainbows are extraordinary.
3h30 flight from Foz to Manáus. Manáus is a city of 2.2 million in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, accessible only by air or river. The Teatro Amazonas opera house (1896, built during the rubber boom at extravagant expense) is one of the strangest buildings in South America.
💡 The Meeting of the Waters — where the dark Rio Negro meets the pale Amazon river without mixing for 6km, due to different temperature and density — is visible from boat tours from Manáus.
Most visitors stay at a jungle lodge 1–2 hours upriver from Manáus. Piranha fishing, caiman spotting at night, pink river dolphin encounters, night jungle walks. The Amazon at dawn from a river boat is one of the great experiences in South America.
💡 June–November (dry season) is best for wildlife spotting in the Amazon — animals concentrate around shrinking waterholes, and walking paths through the forest are accessible rather than flooded.
Fly back to Manáus, then on to Rio (GIG/SDU) or São Paulo (GRU/CGH) for your international connection. São Paulo is Brazil’s financial and food capital — if you can extend, the restaurant scene rivals Buenos Aires.
💡 São Paulo has more Japanese immigrants than any city outside Japan, and the Liberdáde neighbourhood’s Japanese restaurants are exceptional. Worth knowing for a final dinner.
Both work throughout Brazil.
A pao de queijo at a padaria: BRL 3-5. Sao Paulo fine dining: BRL 200+ per person.
Brazil is the size of the US. LATAM and GOL connect all major cities.
Rio and Sao Paulo have areas requiring caution. Use Uber, not street taxis; avoid phone use on the street.
Personal space is minimal; warmth is immediate and physical.
Rio’s Sambadrome parade (February/March) requires tickets bought months in advance.
Both give good data coverage across the country.
Obrigado/obrigada (thank you) and por favor are warmly received.
The dominant ride-hailing app across Brazil — essential for safety in Brazilian cities.
FreeBrazil’s most popular local ride-hailing app — often slightly cheaper than Uber; widely used across all cities.
FreeBrazil’s dominant food delivery app — covers 1,000+ Brazilian cities with the widest restaurant selection.
FreeBook Amazon jungle tours, Iguazú Falls, Rio carnival experiences, Christ the Redeemer entry and more.
FreeBrazil’s primary communication platform — Brazilians use WhatsApp for everything including business.
FreeTransit navigation for São Paulo, Rio and Brazilian cities — metro, bus and BRT covered.
FreeExplore Brazil’s top city destinations — from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo, each with its own distinct character.
Brazil sits within easy reach of several other destinations — each with a completely different character.
