Here’s our guide to help you plan a trip to Brazil. Brazil has so much more than beaches to offer! If you have planned a trip to Brazil and have an extra tip please share it by leaving a comment!

Best time of year to travel to Brazil

Since the seasons are completely opposite from the UK you should consider when travelling, and make the best of it. Summer is normally from 21st December to March, winter begins June 20th. The more north you travel in Brazil, then the warmer it becomes, but normally you can expect an average temperature of 30° C and up throughout the country during the summer.

Where to go on holiday in Brazil

If you want to see the beautiful beaches you can go to Florianópolis which lies along the southern coast. It is a place known for its beautiful cities. Paraná is known for its beautiful beaches.
The more south you go, the more like Europe is, in some places only German and Polish are spoken!. Want to see nature so maybe a trip to Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso (which means dense forest) and Amazonia may be appropriate. In Minas Gerais there are beautiful old buildings, mansions, which are not seen elsewhere in Brazil.

A trip to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo is well worth it and easily acessible, perhaps before or after your flights to Brazil. These cities are full of life!
For the food & recipes the state of Bahia in northern Brazil will quench a thirst for very exotic food. Throughout Brazil, there are various fruits that do not exist elsewhere, not even in Brazil. In the north, the food is spicy.

One of the world’s largest theme park is located in the State of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and named Beto Carrero World, assume that you need two days to go through the whole park and zoo!.

Accommodation in Brazil

Places to stay in Brazil can be found in all possible forms. A good place to check hotel rates is Room Wizard, you just enter where you want in the world, not just Brazil, and they find hotels with good prices for you.

Hostels are also a good choice for budget travel in Brazil, however, they are harder to find in smaller towns.  For long stays in Brazil it is possible to rent an apartment or house. Like in all destinations. if you want a better standard you have to pay more. To rent in high season, Dec.-Mar, is more expensive, and the nearer the beach you get, the higher the cost.

Is Brazil Expensive?

How much money do I bring? Since everything is relative it depends of course on where you are going and how you want to stay and what to want to do on your holiday to Brazil.

Food - Go to a decent restaurant, you can expect a bill of at least £12 for two people. A 2.5 liter CocaCola costs about  £1, one beer approximately 70 pence. If you want to eat lunch on the street you can get a hamburger for something like 50 pence. It all depend where you are and to what extent you are prepared to seek out the non touristic areas.

Clothing – If you want to spend money on clothes, in Brazil you can find clothes in all sorts of price classes. If you want quality as may be expected a typical top costs about £5 and up. Like food, how much money you need to take with you depends entirely on how long you should stay and which standard you want.

What to pack on a Brazil Holiday

As with all travel this depends on what you going to do on your holiday in Brazil. If you have booked a tour to Brazil with Intrepid Travel for example they have a detailed itinerary with suggested items to pack. In general pack as light as possible.

What Electricity current does Brazil use ?

This is a recurring theme, can I bring a hair dryer / phone charger  etc.? Answer: Yes, usually. In Brazil the type of socket and the current can vary so exercise caution. Often you will find an EU style two pin plug so you just need an adapter.

Food in Brazil

What can you eat in Brazil? Rice and beans is the staple food and is normally included with each meal. The food is usually not spicy, but again with Brazil being such a huge country this varies with the north having spicier food. Chili sauce is included with each meal usually if you prefer spicy food. Anyway, the food is good and if you like ordinary UK food you will probably enjoy the food in Brazil. Steaks are very popular with UK guests to Brazil.

Speak Portuguese in Brazil

One item to pack is a  Berlitz Portuguese / English mini dictionary. It contains everything you need to know. For a longer holiday in Brazil or if you really want to get the most out of your trip invest in some language lessons or a Linguaphone course so you can make yourself understood. Most older people do not speak English, if you are talking to younger people it is more likely.

Is Brazil Safe for Travel ?

Brazil is a wonderful country, people are open and sharing with the things they have.  Never give personal valuables to others to care for, or leave bags unattended. Avoid being flash with your cash and exercise common sense when it comes to jewellery, expensive watches etc.. Avoid gangs, is not to say they will do anything but exercise caution. Read the FCO advise on travel to Brazil.

Hope you enjoy a safe and wonderful holiday in Brazil!

Brazil is the carnival and festival country. Brazilians love their festivals and carnival time is the biggest and most important weekend of the year.

The official carnival period extends over 4 days but in many places, carnival is celebrated for a whole week. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the most famous worldwide but there are many more carnivals to experience in Brazil.

Among the more popular carnivals in Brazil include, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Recife, Olinda, João Pessoa, Salvador and Aracatí.

To book a holiday to Brazil to be part of a carnival, book as early as possible as demand is high for both flights to Brazil and hotels.

Carnival celebration is an ancient tradition where, since 1641, the people  have gone out on the streets to dance and forget about “real life” for a while. Carnival peeled away titles and the working class could have fun side by side with the upper classes. Carnival costumes, perhaps the chief characteristics of the Brazilian carnivals, are originally from all the different ethnicity’s cultures which constitute the Brazilian population. Here we see influences from Native Americans, Africans, Europeans, and everything in between. Carnival in Rio is a more modern flavour and costumes rather follow a theme that each samba school has chosen for its visual appearance. In smaller towns, the traditional elements are still strong.

Carnival has not solely been a festive event. The costumes enabled anonymity and so pave the way for carnival goers to be critical of corrupt politicians, complaining about poverty or provide constructive criticism on how those in power could improve society. However, the essential characteristic of the carnival to lift the spirits and celebrate life has always been the most important thing during carnival time over the years.

Carnival in Bahia is still today most likely have religious elements. In Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo the carnival is primarily a display of samba schools. In Pernambuco, some 1.5 million people in one long train for a joint appearance. Carnival is different from city to city and all have filled the carnival with its own special charm.

Carnival is also a year-long work. Once a carnival closes planning for the next year begins. Costumes have to be sewn, dance steps will be organised to music and will be printed for people to practice. This can be seen perhaps mainly in Rio de Janeiro where the carnival is a major industry. The music played by the samba schools begin playing on the radio a few weeks in advance and Rio residents have their own favorites to cheer in the carnival train. The performances will be graded by a strict regulatory framework. For example, a school may deduct points if any participant is completely naked. Carnival in Rio is a showcase at the highest level of luxury, music, song, dance and costumes. Samba Schools performs with thousands of members in their carnival.

Carnival Dates for the next few years:

2010 February 13, 14, 15, 16
2011 March 5, 6, 7, 8
2012 February 18, 19, 20, 21
2013 February 9, 10, 11, 12
2014 March 1, 2, 3, 4

The Best Beaches in Brazil

Guia Quatro Rodas and Viagem have now released its annual list of the 10 best beaches in Brazil.

Quatro Rodas is the main travel guide company in Brazil and releases annually a large number of guides ranging from city guides to road maps and their now famous beach guide. Most of the Quatro Rodas writers are also writers for Lonely Planet’s Brazil and the Fodor’s Guides. Viagem is one of Brazil’s leading travel magazines.

When you’re talking about a beach (Praia) in Brazil it involves so much more than just the beach. A beach here is a pleasant village with restaurants and offers a good lifestyle. Usually there are at these beaches a lot pousada (small hotel) and in some cases, even larger hotels. The beaches are where you relax, enjoy good food, meet friends, show up and be happy staying for a few days.

Here’s to the hottest list in Brazil … The 10 best beaches!

1st. Porto de Galinhas (Pernambuco)

Porto de Galinhas is located about 60 km south of the city of Recife, and has a wonderful natural environment, a fabulous beach, where natural pools are formed at low tide, which lends itself to hot baths. Porto de Galinhas is the perfect destination for sun lovers and families with children.

2nd. Jericoacoara (Ceará)

Jericoacoara is a wonderful beach about 7 hours drive north west of Fortaleza. Getting to this place is an adventure in itself – a large portion of the route travels with off-road vehicles over the dunes in a desert-like landscape where the roads is completely missing. To get here makes this beach a must for anyone who wants to get away from the usual tourist hordes are and to experience a genuine Brazil at its best.

3rd Praia da Pipa (Rio Grande do Norte)

Pipa is located just south of Natal. There is a backpacker atmosphere and it is a paradise for the surfers. Anyone who does not want to surf can instead watch the dolphins or just chill out in a hammock in the shade of palm trees with a good book and a refreshing coconut drink.

4th Bombinhas (Santa Carina)

Bombinhas located just north of Florianópolis. Bombinhas beach is not on the island of Santa Catarina, but the region that bears the same name. This beach is very good for families with children and for snorkeling and diving.

5th Baía do Sancho (Pernambuco)

This beach is located at Fernando de Noronha. We’re talking mostly about Fernando de Noronha as an island but in fact it is an archipelago consisting of 21 islands located 550 km off the coast of Recife. The archipelago is protected by strict nature protection laws and only a small number of tourists are allowed to be present here at the same time. Fernando de Noronha offers an untouched tropical nature at its best.

6th Praia do Forte (Bahia)

This beach is located north of Salvador in the state of Bahia. Here, in addition to a lovely beach, you will find excellent opportunities for diving and fishing. There is a rich marine life. The waters here are ideal for sailing.

7th Canoa Quebrada (Ceará)

This village is located about 2 hour drive from Fortaleza. The beach is wide and inviting, of course, for swimming. The nightlife in the village above the beach is one of the best in Brazil. The beach is internationally known and people flock here from all corners of the globe. In the village there are plenty of restaurants and pousada (small hotels).

8th Frances (Alagoas), Trancoso (Bahia)

8th place is shared by a wonderful beach just south of Maceió, Praia do Francês and Trancoso south of Porto Seguro in Bahia. At both beaches natural pools form at low tide and the possibility of surfing is very good. The waves can be a bit big and maybe not the best beaches for families with children. At Trancoso is also Terra Vista, one of Brazil’s best golf courses.

9th Gunga (Alagoas)

Gunga, which lies south of the state of Alagoas in Maceió, is the archetype of a paradise dream beach and is great for water sports and fishing. It is not a regular tourist destination, but trips can be arranged there for those who want to experience paradise.

10th Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro)

This is the only major city beach on the list. Copacabana is located in Rio de Janeiro and is a must visit for anyone visiting the city. It’s one of the world’s (if not the most) most famous beaches. There are several large hotels located in the district of the same name. More information about Rio de Janeiro.

From festivals in Fortaleza to turtles in Suriname

Thanks to Jon Coates who sent us this article after his recent holiday to Brazil.

High waves or calm water?
Beach resorts along the coast of Brazil are quite different in nature, so when it comes to choosing the right one it’s important to make an informed choice as to avoid errors.
Distances are large in Brazil. From Fortaleza in the North is over 500 KM to Natal in Brazil’s Northeastern tip, which is the country’s most talked about charter destination which has been popular with Northern Europeans for some time now and has had some UK flights from time to time.

Ponta Negra

At the beach of Ponta Negra in Natal tourism is clearly labelled. Souvenir shops have been hastily erected and are fighting for attention. Here the wind blows almost every day and the waves hit the beach. At Morro do Careca dunes the water is calmer making it popular for families with children and on weekends it is full of Brazilian bathers. Often you’ll find friends and family gathered on the beach for swimming, drinking beer and grilling from early morning until the sun goes down.
When darkness falls people wake up to life. Simple beach bars selling beer and cocktails, some boys playing football on the beach. Every street corner is filled with Brazilian music from the CD vendors that boasts great speakers and cheap pirated discs. One can see that the city begins to become accustomed to tourists. Not least on price.

Pipa

Then consider Pipa, a few hours’ bus ride further south on the coast, more exciting. The actual place is aggregated along a long cobbled street with exclusive boutiques, cosy restaurants and simple hotels. Pipa is a colourful picture perfect little town.
If you want to see dolphins, you can walk to Praia do Madeiro, dolphin beach, says the woman at the tourist office.
It takes 45 minutes before I reach there the next morning. I do not see any dolphins but that’s life. The sunshine yellow sand beach is uniquely beautiful.

Isango has a wide range of prebookable tours available on “The Golden Coast”

Porto de Galinhas

The journey from Pipa to Porto de Galinhas is an adventure. First, it is an hour by minibus to the main road. A simple sign with blue paint declares the bus stop. But when I try to get on the driver gesticulates that you can not. The bus is full. Next bus is coming two hours later.
But then the driver smiles and spreads a towel on the steps along the front of the bus. I jump on board.
Three and a half hours later we roll into the city of millions, Recife. From here it’s only metro to the centre, then bus to the airport and then another bus. I sleep a little for the last hour bus ride down the coast.

Porto de Galinhas is a quaint fishing village that has managed to retain its charm, despite hordes of tourists from both South America and Europe. “Galinhas” means chicken and was formerly a code word for slaves. Porto de Galinhas was in other words, “slave port”.
Today, local budding entrepreneurs have focused on the word and each shop is full of ugly little chicken souvenirs. I follow the chicken-tracks on the pedestrian area down toward the water.

For flights to Brazil try Opodo. The airport code for Natal is NAT. The airport code for Recife, Brazil is REC

Amazon Travel

The Amazon is the name of both the world’s largest rain forest and the world’s largest river by discharge. The state of Amazonas is Brazil’s largest by area. Manaus is the capital of Amazonas state.
Rainforest stretches over seven Brazilian states and goes into many other South American countries. The Amazon River is in many places so wide, that it is impossible to see the land on the other side. Even 1000 KM in from the coast, the river is more than 70 metres deep.

Responsible Travel, Intrepid Adventures, Isango and Great Adventure People are good sites to find out more about holidays and overland tours to The Amazon.

Manaus, Amazonia

Manaus is a suitable starting point for a visit to the Amazon. Manaus itself is a modern city with the famous Teatro Amazonas opera house built during the rubber barons heyday in the late 1800′s.
In addition to the opera house, the the biggest tourist attraction in Manaus is ‘Meeting of waters’, where the black Rio Negro water flowsalong with the Rio Solimoes brown waters for many miles without mixing, depending on the particular water – the different speed, weight and acidity.

Click Here to book a full day excursion to the meeting of the rivers and see the gigantic Victoria Regia water lilies in the January Ecological Reserve.

Amazon Jungle Lodge

To experience the rain forest properly you need to come out of the city of Manaus to a jungle lodge. A jungle lodge is a form of simple living far out in the jungle. Often it takes several hours to get there by river boat. Most lodges are ecological and constructed according to nature. Lodges often lack electricity, but otherwise there is most amenities there. We recommend the lodges that are away from the city and believe that several lodges in the market is too near the city of Manaus.

Click Here to find prices and availability of Jungle Lodge Tours, Eco Tours and Amazon cruise trips including the Tree Top Tower Lodge.

Amazon makes a lasting impression for all the senses. The feeling of the first swim in the hot black river water, all the sounds are heard continuously from the jungle and the strange smells from the rich jungle vegetation enriches our journey.

The many tours from the lodge makes life interesting and exciting. A real treat is the night tour, where the guide captures a caiman (reptile like a crocodile). The canoe glides silently through the darkness while the guide searches caimans eyes with the flashlight. He dazzles caimans by flashlight and catches it then by taking a firm grip around its jaws before he lifts it up. You get yourself the opportunity to feel how strong caimans are before the caiman is allowed into the water again.

Other interesting excursion from a jungle lodge is a jungle walk, where guides show jungle and indigenous Indians’ secrets, home visits to the local people called the Caboclo.

Best month to travel to The Amazon?

It’s fine to go to the Amazon year-round, even when it is rainy season. Rainy season begins in late November and goes on until June. During the rainy season it rains often violently for an hour and then clears up again with fresh oxygen-rich air.

For flights to Manaus check Opodo and / or ebookers who will compare all flights for you. It’s normally a flight from Sau Paulo, Brasilia or Recife. The airport code for Manaus is MAO and the airport name is Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport.

If you are looking for a package holiday to Rio de Janeiro, Kuoni offer holidays including scheduled flights to  hand picked three, four and five star hotels in Rio. With scheduled flights from the UK you can take a holiday to Rio departing all year round – including the Rio carnival but you will have to book early.

If you book online you qualify for an online discount. It’s worth doing and worry free as each and every holiday booking made on their website is checked by Kuoni to make everything is feasible. Please check Kuoni.co.uk for more information. Kuoni have the following Rio hotels on offer :

• Caesar Park Ipanema – Five Star
• Copacabana Palace – Five Star
• Fasano – Five Star
• Orla Copacabana – Three Star
• Leme Othon Palace – Three Star
• Pestana Rio Atlantico – Four Star
• Hotel Santa Teresa – Four Star
• Sofitel Rio de Janeiro – Five Star