South America
Brazil
Beaches, waterfalls and cities that never stop, in a country the size of a continent.
Brazil is big enough to fill several trips. Most backpackers start in Rio de Janeiro, then head down the Costa Verde to the car-free island of Ilha Grande and the colonial town of Paraty before flying to the falls at Iguaçu.
With more time, fly north to Salvador for Afro-Brazilian food and music, and hike the table mountains of the Chapada Diamantina. Long-distance buses are comfortable, but domestic flights often cost about the same.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT-3 in Rio, São Paulo and Salvador
- Plugs
- Types C and N, 127V or 220V depending on the city (Rio is 127V)
- Emergency numbers
- 190 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire
- Tap water
- Drink bottled or filtered
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
- Tipping
- Most restaurants add a 10% serviço to the bill, so there is no need to leave more.
- SIM cards
- Local SIMs from TIM, Vivo or Claro need registering in a shop with your passport, so many travellers use an eSIM from about $10 for 5GB instead.
When to go to Brazil
Best months to go: April to June and August to October. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Spring arrives with pleasant weather and few visitors.
- Daytime high
- 25°C
- Rainfall
- 60 mm
- Crowds
- Quiet
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C | 135 mm | Peak season | No |
| February | 31°C | 125 mm | Peak season | No |
| March | 30°C | 135 mm | Busy | No |
| April | 28°C | 95 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| May | 26°C | 70 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| June | 25°C | 50 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| July | 25°C | 45 mm | Busy | No |
| August | 25°C | 45 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| September | 25°C | 60 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| October | 26°C | 80 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| November | 27°C | 100 mm | Busy | No |
| December | 29°C | 170 mm | Peak season | No |
What Brazil costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$616for 14 days, about $44 a day (R$3,330 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $15 | $210 | |
| Food and drink | $12 | $168 | |
| Getting around | $8 | $112 | |
| Things to do | $6 | $84 | |
| Everything else | $3 | $42 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Prato feito, a set lunchR$30, about $5.56
- Coxinha from a lanchoneteR$8, about $1.48
- Açaí bowlR$20, about $3.70
- Caipirinha on the beachR$20, about $3.70
- Can of beer on the beachR$8, about $1.48
- Hostel dorm bed in RioR$80, about $15
- Bus from Rio to ParatyR$110, about $20
Routes through Brazil
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 5 stops
Rio and the Costa Verde, then a flight to Iguaçu Falls. Easy to reverse if you arrive from Argentina.
Rio de Janeiro
4 nights
Sugarloaf, Christ the Redeemer, samba in Lapa and a sunset at Arpoador.
Ilha Grande
3 nights
A car-free island of jungle trails and beaches like Lopes Mendes.
Paraty
3 nights
A colonial town of cobbled streets, with boat trips to empty coves.
São Paulo
2 nights
Street art in Beco do Batman and the best food scene in the country.
Foz do Iguaçu
2 nights
See the falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides.
Getting around
Bus
$20–80 for a long trip
Long-distance buses are comfortable, especially leito sleepers. Book on ClickBus or at the rodoviária.
Flight
$50–150 one way
Gol, Azul and LATAM fly everywhere and are often worth it for trips over 12 hours.
Ferry
$5–30 a crossing
Boats reach Ilha Grande from Conceição de Jacareí and Angra, and catamarans run from Salvador to Morro de São Paulo.
Private car
$3–10 for most city rides
Uber and 99 are cheap and safer than hailing taxis on the street, especially at night.
What to eat and drink
Feijoada
Black bean and pork stew with rice, greens and orange, traditionally on Saturdays.
R$50, about $9.26
Pão de queijo
Chewy little cheese breads, best warm with a coffee.
R$5, about $0.93
Coxinha
A teardrop-shaped fried snack of shredded chicken in dough.
R$8, about $1.48
Moqueca
Fish stew with coconut milk and palm oil, cooked in a clay pot. Usually for two.
R$120, about $22
Acarajé
Black-eyed bean fritters stuffed with prawns and spicy paste, sold by Baianas in Salvador.
R$15, about $2.78
Caipirinha
Cachaça muddled with lime and sugar over crushed ice.
R$20, about $3.70
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hi
Oi
Say it like: oy
Thank you (said by a man / a woman)
Obrigado / Obrigada
Say it like: oh-bree-gah-doo / oh-bree-gah-dah
How are you? All good?
Tudo bem?
Say it like: too-doo bayng
Cool, all good
Beleza
Say it like: beh-leh-zah
How much is it?
Quanto custa?
Say it like: kwan-too koos-tah
Thanks (casual)
Valeu
Say it like: vah-leh-oo
The bill, please
A conta, por favor
Say it like: ah kon-tah poor fah-vor
Cheers!
Saúde!
Say it like: sah-oo-jee
Questions travellers ask
Is Rio safe?
Copacabana, Ipanema and Botafogo are fine with care. Take only what you need to the beach, keep your phone out of sight on the street and use Uber at night. Only visit favelas with a local guide.
Which side of Iguaçu Falls is better?
Do both. The Brazilian side takes half a day and gives the big panorama, while the Argentine side takes a full day and gets you right above the Devil’s Throat.
Will I get by without Portuguese?
English is less common than in much of South America, so learn the basics and use a translation app. Spanish helps with reading, but spoken Portuguese sounds very different.
Should I use cash or card?
Cards work almost everywhere, even on the beach. Locals pay by Pix, an instant bank transfer, which some travel apps now let foreigners use. Keep a little cash for buses and street food.
How do I plan for Carnival?
Book beds three to six months ahead and expect prices to double or triple. The free street parties, called blocos, are the best part and happen all over Rio, Salvador and Olinda.