Want to plan the ultimate trip to Brazil and hit all the key places? You’re in safe hands. On our trip, we had a perfect blend of culture, history, and nature. Here is how we did it and where we visited to make the most of our time in Brazil.
- Why visit Brazil?
- Places to visit in Brazil
- Best time of year to visit Brazil
- How to stay safe in Brazil
Why visit Brazil?
It pains me that this is even a question because Brazil is simply electric!
It’s so unique and brimming with life and beauty. Brazil has some of the most vibrant cities in the world, and jaw-dropping nature. It’s got an interesting history too, and there is no better place to learn about it. There is so much variety within what you can see and experience.
Brazil gets a bad rep around safety, which of course, is based on some extreme incidents (more on that later). We were beyond apprehensive heading there as our first country on our RTW trip.
However, we were bowled over by how friendly people were – I’d go as far to say they’re some of the planet’s friendliest!
They are so proud of their country and want you to have the best experience of it. The people alone are a huge reason to visit Brazil; our encounters were unique to Brazil and gave us a lasting lust for life and pride for where we are from – it rubs off!
Places to visit in Brazil
On our trip, we experienced a mixture of history, culture, and nature. We planned a route that allowed us to experience cities and beaches and see one of the most epic natural sights in the world.
Suggested itinerary for your trip to Brazil
- São Paulo
- Foz du Iguazu
- Paraty
- Rio de Janerio
- Ilha Grande (and back to Rio for onward travel)
Rio de Janeiro
A trip to Rio de Janeiro is a MUST when visiting Brazil. It’s iconic AND you can tick off not one but two wonders of the world! The Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the 7 wonders of the world, and the harbour of Rio claims a proud spot on the natural wonders of the world list.
This city has a bit of everything. It’s got bustling city vibes, a beautiful coastline and beaches, and stunning mountains. There are endless things to do, and you could spend as long as you want here without getting bored.
We were in Rio for the infamous carnival, and it was unforgettable! We definitely recommend it, and you can read our guide to Carnival here (coming soon).
Things to do in Rio De Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer, Hike Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, Escadaria Selarón (famous steps), Free walking tour, Carnival!
Suggested time to spend in Rio de Janeiro: At least 3 nights, but try to stay longer if your trip allows; there is so much to see and experience.
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls is still, to this day one of the most incredible sights we’ve ever seen. Being right at the bottom of the country, you’re looking at a heck of a journey to get there (approx 18 hours by bus) but god, are they worth it!
The falls span the Brazilian-Argentinian border. You can visit both sides (on different tickets), and you should because each gives a completely different perspective of the falls.
Activities to do in Foz do Iguaçu : Visit the infamous Iguazu Falls (in Brazil AND Argentina), go to the unique spot where the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet (Triple Frontiers),
Suggested time to spend in Foz do Iguaçu: We stayed 3 nights (mainly to recover from the long journey before making it in reverse). If you’re flying in 2 nights would be ok as this would give you enough time to visit both sides of the border and hit the frontiers too.
Paraty
Paraty (pronounced pa·ruh·chee) is a small Colonial town between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janerio. We absolutely loved the feel of the place and actually returned twice whilst we were in Brazil. It’s the perfect spot to slow down after experiencing the bustling city life of Rio or Sao Paolo.
It has stunning beaches and also islands surrounding it, making it a beautiful place to stop. Not only that, it’s a very interesting place, with lots to important history to learn about.
We did a free walking tour and learnt about the colonial history of the town and the role Brazil played in the enslavement of African people. There are many markers of this dark history within the preserved town. For example, the curved roof tiles you can see on most roofs were made by using the thighs of enslaved women as moulds for the clay.
Paraty is very walkable and has a lovely atmosphere in the evening too, with outdoor seating at restaurants and bars and independent shops open late.
Activities to do in Paraty: Boat trip/island hopping, Beaches, Free walking tour
Suggested time to spend in Paraty: We recommend 3-4 nights minimum to surrender to the chilled vibes of Paraty (and more if you can fit it in!)
São Paulo
São Paulo is absolutely mammoth with a population of over 11 million people! If cities are your thing, then you’ll love it. We were much more impressed by Rio, but São Paulo is likely going to be a place you’ll stop at anyway as it’s a huge transport hub for the rest of the country.
Activities to do in São Paulo : Free walking tour, self-guided street art tour, enjoy Paulista Avenue on a Sunday (it’s shut to vehicles so you can make the most of walking and cycling), sample a Mortadella sandwich (and other local delicacies) at the Mercado Municipal de São Paulo, Ibirapuera Park (including Afro-Brazilian Museum)
Suggested time to spend in São Paulo: 1-2 nights max (unless you’re a huge fan of sprawling cities, then extend your stay)
Ilha Grande
Near(ish) Rio de Janerio is the haven island of Ilha Grande. If you enjoy untouched nature, make this a must for your visit. There are no cars allowed on the island which makes for a peaceful stay and an explorative feel. There are also no ATMs so a bit of forward planning is needed!
It’s got some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil (Lopes Mendes I’m looking at you), and seriously rewarding hikes (between the views of the coastline and the islands rainforests).
You can even hike to an abandoned prison; not everywhere you visit can offer that! Falling into disuse in 1994, this prison was used initially as an isolated community/quarantine for people with leprosy. It then went on to be used as a high-security prison – Shutter Island anyone?!
Activities to do in Ilha Grande: Beaches, Hiking (you can even hike to an abandoned prison)
Suggested time to spend in Ilha Grande: We recommend at least 3 nights with the option to extend if time allows. Although day trips are available, we feel you’ll get the most out of Ilha Grande by staying there, allowing for a mixture of exploring and relaxing.
We booked a transfer for ease from Rio and you can book a reputable transfer here that picks you up from Rio and takes you via shuttle to the boat and onwards to Ilha Grande.
Best time of year to visit Brazil
Depending on where you’re from, Brazil is likely a big deal trip. You may not know when/if you’ll make it back, so do yourself a favour and time your visit to coincide with CARNIVAL!
The dates vary from year to year, but it usually falls in February (going into early March). It is electric! There is so much to it, from the samba parades at the sambodrome to the blocos (street parties). We spent carnival in Rio de Janerio, but we were torn between there and Salvador. I don’t think you can make a bad choice with carnival; you simply need to experience it.
Of course, if your dates don’t match up – fear not; a trip to Brazil is always a good idea.
Here is some considerations around budget and weather to consider when planning your trip.
How to stay safe in Brazil
I’ve purposely put this at the end as I think so much of what you read about Brazil is safety orientated. That said, if you follow some simple steps, you can cut out a lot of worry and just enjoy your trip.
- Avoid taking taxis and stick to Ubers or Bolt
- Consider taking an old phone for your trip (for photos). We did this and it reduced anxiety a lot as phone snatching (on bikes or otherwise) is rife. Bottom line is if it’s a ‘rubbish’ phone, it’s less likely to be taken and if it is, it’s not the one that’s got the photos from the rest of your trip and/ or life admin stored on it
- Travel with a Monzo bank card and use this for most purchases to limit cash (you can use it as you do a Mastercard back home with no hidden charges). If this gets stolen, it’s easy to freeze and order a replacement card that will be with you in a few days no matter where you are.
- For some things, you will need cash, but only take what you need for that day. Leave the rest in a locked bag/safe. Split the money between different places so if you are mugged, you can offer the lowest denomination, higher ones could be say in your sock.
- We wore bum bags under our clothes (the flat old-fashioned type not the fashionable over clothing kind; if in fact a bum bag can ever be considered fashionable. On night buses, these were a god send. We were in the habit of putting our passports in these and any cash and bank cards for safekeeping.
- If you go to a beach in Rio basically just don’t take anything you’re bothered about with you. It’s not worth the paranoia. We heard so many stories of things getting nabbed on the beach. Even when a person was allocated to stay with the bags, she got robbed and felt awful for losing everyone’s stuff. I’m sure you can survive without your phone and cash for a few hours; better that than lose them for the rest of your trip. Beaches are for relaxing and swimming not worrying! Just leave it back at base.
Hopefully we’ve helped you plan your top places to visit in Brazil. If you want more information about any of the places we visited (or why we left other places off the list) then drop us a message in the comments. We always love to hear from you.