Brasilia and the Cerrado holidays
Brasilia and the Cerrado holidays at a glance
Brasília is unlike anywhere else in South America. Purpose-built and inaugurated in 1960 to shift focus toward Brazil’s vast interior, the capital was conceived from scratch as an organic whole, with distinct sectors for government, commerce and residential life – a striking contrast to the older, more chaotic cities found along the coast.
The skyline is dominated by the work of Oscar Niemeyer, from the dramatic Cathedral of Brasília to the wind-funnelled avenues and Praça dos Três Poderes, a collection of landmarks that has earned the city UNESCO World Heritage status.
Beyond the capital lies the Cerrado, a vast tropical savannah covering a full quarter of Brazil’s territory. Its lagoons, marshland and scrubby bush look inhospitable at first glance but support extraordinary biodiversity – macaws, eagles, pampas deer, armadillos, anteaters, ocelots and the shy maned wolf among more than 13,000 recorded plant species.
Brasília is rapidly becoming a base for ecotourism into this landscape, with the canyon-riven, UNESCO-listed Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park – around 3.5 hours north of the city – among its standout destinations.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Brasilia and the Cerrado
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.
Often overlooked by travellers, Brasília and the Cerrado offer a fascinating combination of striking modern architecture, unique wildlife and one of Brazil’s most important yet least-visited natural landscapes.
When to visit Brasilia and the Cerrado
Brasília and the Cerrado experience distinct dry and rainy seasons. Weather conditions play an important role when planning a visit.
This is the period with the most rainfall, and increased cloud cover means temperatures will be somewhat lower than the annual average of late 20°Cs.
The dry season begins in April – expect a lot of sunshine, temperatures which edge towards 30°C and much lower humidity levels.
During this time you’ll get the most sunshine hours, and temperatures continue to hover around 30°C with low humidity.
While September is still the dry season with sun and higher temperatures, October marks the beginning of the rainier period here. Greener gardens and blooming flowers may be a draw for some visitors during October. Temperatures are cooler and there is more cloud coverage.
Top Things to do in Brasilia and the Cerrado
The region combines extraordinary architecture, national parks and wildlife experiences.
Venture on a wildlife spotting safari in the Brazilian savannah to spot maned wolves, deer, anteaters and a kaleidoscope of exotic birds.
Spend a couple of days exploring Brazil’s modern planned capital Brasilia with its futuristic architecture.
Accommodation in Brasilia and the Cerrado
The Brasília Palace is one of the city’s original landmark hotels, designed by Oscar Niemeyer and restored to celebrate the capital’s architectural heritage, alongside a wider range of stays from city hotels to remote lodges out in the Cerrado.
Explore the bird-filled savannah of Brazil’s Cerrado, enjoy luxury in the wilds and watch wolves at this conservation-focused pousada.
A slick, modern hotel with a wide range of facilities which serves as an excellent base for visits to Brasilia’s attractions.
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 Brasilia and the Cerrado
Group Brasilia and the Cerrado 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.
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
FAQs about visiting Brasilia and the Cerrado
Brasilia and the Cerrado is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- What's the best time to visit Brasilia and the Cerrado?
The weather is a key factor when planning a visit to Brasilia. The dry season in May-June is a good time to visit – temperatures are pleasant and the gardens in the city are beautiful. July -September are very hot. With the coming of the rain in October, the weather becomes more pleasant. Rainfall can be heavy from November to February.
Many of the inhabitants of Brasilia are immigrants from other parts of Brazil; a large number of them prefer to spend weekends in their home state, so the city can be very quiet from Friday to Monday.
The climate of the Cerrado is tropical with two seasons: dry from May to September and rainy October to April. Temperatures are highest in the dry season.
- How do I get local currency in Brasilia and the Cerrado?
Brazilian Real.
Notes can be withdrawn from the ATMs at the airport and in town. Banco do Brasil, Bradesco and HSBC accept UK credit or debit cards. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. ATMs close at 10pm. Currency also obtainable in banks and money exchanges.
- What's the time difference between Brasilia and the Cerrado and UTC??
GMT -3 hours. Daylight saving from Oct- end Feb (approx) when clocks are put forward one hour was abolished in 2019.
- What places combine well with Brasilia and the Cerrado?
Combine a visit to the urban landscape of the capital with the wild scenery of the surrounding national parks, or delightful historic colonial towns such as Goias Velho and Pirenópolis. Brasilia is connected by excellent roads with the Amazon and the northeast; distances are great but there are plentiful air links with all major cities.
- What's the flight time between Brasilia and the Cerrado and the UK?
Average flight time to Brasilia is 12-15 hours. There are no airlines offering direct flights from the UK but you can fly via Lisbon on Air Portugal (fastest); there are also connecting flights with Latam and British Airways. There are flights with European and US connections from many other major cities.
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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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