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South AmericaBeachAdventureCultureCarnival

Brazil

The Amazon, Rio's Carnaval, Iguazú Falls, Salvador's music, and some of the world's greatest beaches.

South America
🎭 Carnival🏖️ Beaches🌴 Amazon⚽ Football

Backpacking Brazil

Brazil is enormous — the second largest country in the Americas and it feels it. The beaches, the Amazon, the cities, the food, the music scene, and the energy of a place that genuinely loves being alive. Budget carefully — it's not as cheap as its neighbours.

£35–65/day avg daily budget
Key Info
Real (BRL)PortugueseType C/NDrive Right
10% service charge added — extra optional
Weather
Best: Jun–Sep
Southern Winter (Jun–Sep)Rio de Janeiro at its best — clear skies, no humidity
Vast country. Rio and south best June–September. Amazon and northeast hot year-round.
Health
⚠️Use bottled water — Bottled recommended outside major cities
Hepatitis Arecommended
Typhoidrecommended
Yellow Feverrecommended
Transport
Uber99 appLatam/Gol domestic flights
✈️ São Paulo (GRU/CGH) / Rio (GIG/SDU) / Recife (REC)
Metro in São Paulo and Rio — Uber for everything else in most cities
Emergency
👮 Police190
🚑 Ambulance192
🔥 Fire193
The Highlights

8 Things to Do in Brazil

01
Experience Carnaval in Rio or Salvador in February — nothing on earth compares
02
Hike to Christ the Redeemer at dawn and have it to yourself
03
Take a jungle boat trip deep into the Amazon from Manaus
04
See Iguazú Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides
05
Sandboard the Lençóis Maranhenses dunes — lagoons between desert dunes
06
Explore the colonial gold-rush city of Ouro Preto
07
Party in Lapa, Rio — all night samba and caipirinha
08
Take the overnight bus north to the beaches of Jericoacoara
Where to Go

Breaking Down Brazil

Each region has a completely different character. Here is what to expect.

🏙️Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf at sunset, Lapa arches at night, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. Favela community tours with operators that return money to the community give essential context.

🎭Salvador

The African heart of Brazil — the Pelourinho district (UNESCO), Capoeira in the streets, candomble ceremonies, and moqueca fish stew in local restaurants.

🌿Amazon (Manaus)

River boat journeys from Manaus to Belem take 4-5 days (hammock, meals included, £30-50). The meeting of the Rio Negro and Amazon — dark and brown water flowing side by side without mixing for kilometres.

🐆Pantanal

The world's largest tropical wetland — vastly better than the Amazon for wildlife spotting because the flat open landscape means you can actually see the animals. Jaguar sightings more reliable than anywhere else on earth.

Money Breakdown

What to Budget For

Budget Tip

Brazil varies enormously.

Daily Total

Rio and Sao Paulo £40-60/day.

Daily Total

Northeast and Amazon region £25-35/day.

Getting Around

Buses are the budget backbone.

Snacks & Drinks

Street food (pao de queijo, acai bowls) £1-2.

Travel Responsibly

Eco and Community Tips

Choose Amazon ecotourism lodges certified by ABETA. In Rio, favela tours should only be booked with operators employing local guides who return at least 50% of revenue to the community. Pantanal: choose operators who support Jaguar conservation projects.

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