Brazil travel guide

Getting there

Most international flights arrive at São Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro-Galeão (GIG), with others into Brasília, Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza. Land borders connect Brazil with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.

Best time to visit: Dec–Mar for beaches and Carnival; Jun–Sep for the Amazon and Pantanal.

Tougher months: No bad time – but December to March is hot, humid and expensive around Christmas and Carnival, and the northeast coast is wetter from April to July.

Weather by month in Rio de Janeiro

• 30°J●●
• 31°F●●
• 30°M●●
• 28°A●●
• 26°M●
• 25°J●
• 25°J●
• 25°A●
• 25°S●
• 26°O●
• 27°N●●
• 29°D●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: America/Araguaina, America/Bahia, America/Belem, America/Boa_Vista. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 101 of 198 other passports can enter Brazil without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 3 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 94 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Brazil (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-31). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Brazil travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Brazil are based around Rio de Janeiro, Salvador or Manaus & the Amazon. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$35–55 for a backpacker and US$90–170 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Brazil page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, N. Voltage: 127 V / 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +55.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Rio de Janeiro (Southeast · beaches & icons): A spectacular city of granite peaks, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, samba clubs and lush rainforest parks.
• Salvador (Bahia · Afro-Brazilian culture): Brazil's first capital, with a UNESCO-listed old town and the country's strongest African heritage in music, religion and food.
• Manaus & the Amazon (North · rainforest): Gateway to river cruises and jungle lodges in the world's largest rainforest.
• Foz do Iguaçu (Paraná · waterfalls): Base for the Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls and the nearby bird park.
• Pantanal (Mato Grosso · wetlands & wildlife): The best place in South America to see jaguars and a remarkable range of birds.
• Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais · colonial town): A hilly gold-rush town filled with baroque churches decorated by the sculptor Aleijadinho.
• Paraty & Ilha Grande (Costa Verde · coast & islands): Cobbled colonial streets, jungle-backed beaches and car-free island hiking between Rio and São Paulo.
• Florianópolis (Santa Catarina · beaches): An island city with dozens of beaches, surf breaks, lagoons and a laid-back southern vibe.

Things to do

• Ride up Sugarloaf Mountain. Take the cable car at sunset for jaw-dropping views over Guanabara Bay and Rio's beaches.
• Meet Christ the Redeemer. Stand beneath the giant statue atop Corcovado with the whole of Rio spread below you.
• Explore the Amazon. Sleep in a jungle lodge near Manaus, canoe through flooded forest and listen for howler monkeys at dawn.
• Join Carnival. Dance with a street bloco or watch samba schools parade through the Sambadrome in a riot of feathers and drums.
• Marvel at Iguaçu Falls. See the panoramic sweep of the falls from the Brazilian side, then take a boat ride into the spray.
• Spot jaguars in the Pantanal. Search the world's largest tropical wetland for jaguars, giant otters, caiman and hyacinth macaws.
• Wander Pelourinho. Stroll Salvador's pastel-painted old town to the sound of capoeira and Afro-Brazilian drumming.
• Island-hop in Fernando de Noronha. Snorkel with turtles and spinner dolphins in some of the clearest waters in the Atlantic.

Source: full Brazil guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Feijoada – black bean and pork stew
• Pão de queijo – chewy cheese bread
• Moqueca – seafood stew with coconut milk
• Açaí – frozen berry bowl with fruit and granola

Source: RoamSun Brazil guide

Talk

Twenty basic Portuguese phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Brazilian real (BRL). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: A 10% service charge is usually added in restaurants..

Emergency numbers: 190 police · 192 ambulance · 193 fire.

• The currency is the Brazilian real; cards are widely accepted and contactless payment is common.
• Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres during the day, and expect some machines to reject foreign cards.
• Street crime is a real issue in big cities; carry only what you need and keep phones hidden in public.
• Avoid empty beaches and streets after dark and don't enter favelas without a reputable local guide.

Source: RoamSun Brazil facts