Brazil holidays
Brazil holidays at a glance
It’s the people who give Brazil its identity. Indigenous Amazonians, Portuguese colonists, and African, European and Japanese communities fuse into a rich medley of cultures. Brazil is famous for samba, the carnival, football and beaches, but there’s far more to it.
Sample pão de queijo in Minas Gerais, hear Afro-Brazilian drumming echo through the cobbled streets of Salvador, and watch capoeira spin in the square. São Paulo, the biggest city on the continent, adds world-class food, art and nightlife.
Our Brazil holidays take you across a country almost as big as western Europe, with an astonishing range of landscapes and cultures. It would take months to see it all, but in a few weeks you can experience something unforgettable, from the iconic beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the spellbinding Amazon rainforest, the thundering Iguazú Falls to the wildlife-rich wetlands of the Pantanal.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Brazil
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
“Don’t try to see all of Brazil in two weeks. Pick two or three regions and give yourself time to sink in. And whatever you do, don’t skip Salvador. The food, the music and the energy of the Pelourinho are unlike anywhere else in the country.”
When to visit Brazil
Wondering when is the best time to visit Brazil? Explore our in-depth guide to the weather in Brazil by seasons, as well as wildlife spectacles and cultural events throughout the year.
The summer season in Brazil is mostly hot and humid with a mix of heavy rain showers and sunshine throughout but there are some exceptions, such as the drier northeast. Temperatures surpass 40°C in many places. It’s holiday time throughout, and popular places such as Rio, Salvador and Olinda burst into action around Carnival and can be very crowded. It’s a great time to go to Iguazu Falls for the vast volume of water.
In the Brazilian autumn, the summer heat is somewhat diminished and rainfall less violent. Some places have elaborate Easter celebrations but on the whole it is quiet season for visitors. Weather in Rio is never reliable but this can be a lovely time to be there and exploring the far south.
Winter is cold in the far south, with rare snowfalls: it can be chilly but pleasant warm sunny periods are not uncommon. Cooler, drier conditions make it a good time for wildlife visits to the Pantanal and Amazon. There’s a good chance of beach weather around Rio and Paraty and August is a great time to be in Bahia and NE Brazil. This period is good for the Amazon and Pantanal and Lencois Maranhenses.
Spring in Brazil can be an attractive time to travel from a weather point of view – there are usually fewer cold fronts than in winter and the temperatures are warming up without being extreme. It’s not a particularly busy time for visitors, so beaches and attractions are less hectic. It’s a great time to be in Bahia – the beaches, Chapada Diamantina; and on Fernando de Noronha island.
Places to visit in Brazil
Brazil is enormous, so it pays to focus your trip rather than try to cover everything at once. Most holidays pair a city or two with a wilderness region and a stretch of coast, linked by short domestic flights. Here’s where we recommend spending your time.
Rio de Janeiro
Waking up to your first view of Copacabana Beach is one of Brazil’s great travel moments, and Rio only builds from there. Granite peaks, rainforest-covered hills and golden sand meet a city that never quite sits still: samba spilling out of bars, football on the beach, Carnival taking over the streets once a year.
The Brazilian Amazon
Home to the largest stretch of Amazon rainforest Brazil has within its borders, this is the world’s biggest tropical wilderness – mighty rivers, extraordinary wildlife and dense jungle combining to form one of the planet’s most remarkable environments. For anyone chasing genuine wilderness, Amazon adventure holidays don’t get more immersive than this.
Experience one of South America’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, where immense waterfalls plunge through subtropical rainforest alive with birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls offers sweeping panoramic views, exhilarating adventures and an unforgettable perspective on this extraordinary landscape.
Top Things to do in Brazil
Brazil’s contrasting landscapes mean you’ll never be short of things to do, whether you’re cruising the Amazon River, watching a samba show or tracking jaguars in the Pantanal. Here’s what we recommend.
Stay at a secluded lodge where you can head out into the rainforest wilderness on foot and on water to spot wildlife and breathe in the sights and sounds of the jungle.
Experience Rio at its most dazzling by heading out on the town for a typical Brazilian meal and a samba show to put you in the carnival spirit.
Enjoy a unique opportunity to observe jaguars in the wildlife at Refugio Caiman in the Brazilian Pantanal.
Accommodation in Brazil
We hand-pick every property for character, location and quality. In Rio, we book around Santa Teresa, Ipanema and Copacabana, close to the beach, restaurants, and the best live music. In the Pantanal, homely lodges on working fazendas put you within reach of wildlife, while Amazon eco-lodges give you guided access to the rainforest in comfort. Along the coast, characterful pousadas from Paraty to Bahia are our speciality.
Porto da Lua is a small, attractive hotel with a breezy, tropical feel and prime location right on Praia do Forte beach in Brazil’s Bahia.
The first class, utterly luxurious Kenoa Beach Spa and Resort is an intimate boutique property on a gorgeous stretch of northeast Brazil’s Atlantic coastline.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Brazil
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Escorted Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays and trips to Brazil. Use the options below to filter by region, holiday style and duration.
Group Brazil Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Hummingbird: Ocean to ocean
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Buenos Aires · Sucre and Potosi · La Paz and the altiplano · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lima
21 days from £5,861
Trogon: Natural Brazil
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Brasilia and the Cerrado · The Pantanal
12 days from £3,662
Toucanet: Cities and Cascades
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Buenos Aires
9 days from £3,048
Tailor-Made Brazil Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Brazil Wildlife: Iguazu, Pantanal and Amazon Cruise
Places visited: Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · The Pantanal · The Brazilian Amazon
15 days from £7,675
Luxury Brazil: Rio, Iguazu Falls and Buzios
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Buzios, Paraty and Costa Verde
11 days from £7,800
Value Brazil: The emerald coast
Places visited: Rio de Janeiro · Buzios, Paraty and Costa Verde
9 days from £1,450
FAQs about visiting Brazil
Brazil is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- Do I need a visa to visit Brazil?
British passport holders don’t need a visa for tourist visits of up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the start of your trip. If you’re routing through the US, you’ll need an ESTA in advance. Always check the latest entry requirements before you travel, as rules can change.
- How do I get to Brazil from the UK?
British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, taking around 11.5 hours to Rio. There are also connecting routes via Lisbon, Madrid and other European hubs. We arrange all flights and transfers, and can quote them separately based on your dates.
- What’s the best way to travel around Brazil?
The country’s size makes domestic flights the most practical way to cover long distances, with most routes connecting through São Paulo or Rio. Within regions, we arrange private transfers and guided excursions. In the Pantanal, travel is by 4×4 and boat from your lodge, and in the Amazon, river transport is part of the experience.
- What currency does Brazil use?
The official currency is the Brazilian real. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, and ATMs are available in most towns, though some have withdrawal limits. Carry some cash for tips, smaller purchases and rural areas. We’ll advise on the latest currency situation before you travel.
- How long should I spend in Brazil?
Two weeks works well for a first trip, pairing Rio with Iguazú Falls and either the Amazon or the Pantanal. To go further and add Salvador, the northeast beaches or Fernando de Noronha, allow three weeks or more. We’ll help you build an itinerary that makes the most of your time.
- What language is spoken in Brazil?
Portuguese is the official language, and Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South America. English is spoken in hotels and tourist areas, less so beyond them, so a few words of Portuguese go a long way and are always warmly received.
- Is Brazil safe for travellers?
The tourist areas of Brazil are generally safe and well visited. As in any large city, take sensible precautions in Rio and São Paulo, keeping an eye on your surroundings, avoiding flashy valuables and using licensed taxis or ride apps. We plan every itinerary carefully with trusted local partners, and our Travel Experts will advise on anything specific to your route.
- What countries can I combine with Brazil?
Brazil pairs naturally with Argentina, taking in both sides of Iguazú Falls and adding Buenos Aires or Patagonia. Peru combines well for a broader South America itinerary, and Uruguay is an easy connection from the south. Our Travel Experts can design a multi-country trip around you.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
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