Brazil Vacations

With moderate weather conditions all year round, a Brazil vacation can be planned at all times of the year. The peak tourist season extends from December to March when both foreigners and Brazilians throng the scenic places. Along with the huge crowd comes a substantial rise in prices all around. At the same time, it happens to be the most festive period of Brazil.May to September is the off-season when thin crowds and low travel prices mean a more budget-friendly trip.If the high point of a Brazil tour is the Carnival, then the late winter is the time to visit. For exploring and trekking in the Amazon, June to August is the best time.

Try Feijoada at Antiquarius Grill in Rio, the national dish of Brazil, slow-cookedmeat and black bean stew.

Try out the famous fried fish and crabs, washed-down with cold beer in Praia do Futuro in Fortalisa.

For home-cooked style food that most tourists crave after a period of traveling, Mineiro or the miner’s dish of Minas Gerais is a must-eat in that area.

Brazil’s national drink is the Cachaça, served with a twist at Astor in São Paulo.

Relax in Brasilia at the Martinica Café, serving regular fare and more exotic drinks such as the Coffee Choc.

How to get there: there are direct connections between the USA and Rio de Janeiro, from Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Miami, New York, and Washington.

When to go there: It is always the right time to visit Rio de Janeiro. The average temperature is 75.20°F (24°C). But the summer (December to March) is really the season when Rio reveals its entire splendor, despite the occasional downpours.

What to take: Essentially light clothes and swimsuits, slippers, tennis shoes, sunglasses, cap and sun block. A small backpack is also useful. Even during the night, few places in Rio require formal clothes. For men, sports pants and a shirt are enough; for women, informal clothes. A light coat is enough for the winter nights. The electric current is 110 or 120 V and many hotels and buildings have alternative sockets for 220 V.

Tips: Just like anywhere else in the world, avoid ostentation and the obvious “tourist” look. Tips are optional but usually come discriminated as 10% of the consumed total and are added to the final value of the bill.

How to get there: there are direct connections between the USA and São Paulo from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington.

When to go there: Most of the year, the weather is mild. From November to March, it is hot and the temperature can reach the upper 80's. In these months, it often rains strongly at the end of the afternoon, which may make traffic difficult. In the winter (June and July) it can be very cold, with temperatures dropping as low as 42ºF.

What to take: Professional engagements in São Paulo require more formal clothes. Sports and casual clothes are enough for tourism. The winter calls for something a little warmer. At night, it is interesting to have more elegant clothes. The electric current is 110V in the city, and 220V in many places of the coast.

Tips: Have room in your suitcase for the purchases in the city! Tips are optional but usually come discriminated as 10% of the consumed total and are added to the final value of the bill.

How to get there: Two air companies have regular flights from Recife (1:20 flight) and Natal (55 minutes). Other options are sea cruises and private ships.

When to go there: There are two well-defined seasons: a dry one (from September to March) and a rainy one (from April to August), the latter with sporadic rains, in between intense sunshine. Between August and November the waters are calm and proper for diving. Between December and March, the sea is rough, good for surfing. The average temperature during the year is 81ºF.

What to take: The climate is tropical and the waters are warm, thus take light clothes, caps, sunglasses, sun block, reels, diving mask, sandals or tennis shoes for hiking and walking. The electric current is 220 V.

Tips: Drink a lot of water and always follow the Laws of the National Park to avoid problems with the fiscalization. Camping is forbidden.

How to get there: Porto Seguro is accessible by plane, ship and road BR-367. Distances: Salvador: 449 miles, Eunápolis: 40 miles, São Paulo: 977 miles. Rio de Janeiro: 705 miles, Vitória: 373 miles.

When to go there: The Sun shines all year round, but the probability of rain increases in the months of May, July and August. The average temperature is 76°F.

What to take: Swimsuits, trunks, bikinis, light-colored shirts, sandals and sunglasses already make the complete look of the tourist that visits the area. The electric current is 220 V.

Tips: Porto Seguro is a traditional Carnival (February) destination, when the city become quite crowded. For those looking for partying, it is the ideal. But if you are looking for peacefulness, it is better choosing the coast to the South of the town. Bring a good book!

How to get there: By plane, by the Foz do Iguaçu International Airport. There are flights to Foz do Iguaçu from any Brazilian city, most of them with stopovers. From São Paulo, for instance, the flight time is approximately 1:40 h. By road there are many options. From Curitiba, access is gained by the BR-277 (Curitiba-Assunción) highway. From São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro the main access highway to Paraná is the BR-116 one.

When to go there: In the summer the temperature ranges between 72ºF and 95ºF, and, in the winter, it ranges between 41ºF and 72ºF. The best time of the year to see the falls is the summer, from December to February, when the rains are fast and the volume water is bigger.

What to take: Cap, water, sun block. Warmer clothes for visits during the winter, when it is quite cold in the South region of Brazil. Don't forget to take a backpack. The electric current is 110 V.

Tips: Save room for many pictures in the memory card of your camera.

Brazil is a huge country with mind-boggling diversity in all spheres, from the bustling cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to the great beaches to its landscapes to the often incomprehensible splendor of the Amazon rainforests, it has it all. The country is big enough to house all of these very different features without losing its very specific type of charm—a country looking forward economically and culturally while keeping their unique ability to party.

The nightlife and bar scene in cities such as São Paulo seem endless, but is in no way constrictive. The city offers massive amounts of green space and lakes to hide from the sprawl of activity in South America’s largest city. A vacation to Brazil will no doubt involve one of its famous cities, but for the adventurous traveler, climb the 100-foot observation tower overlooking Cascata do Caracol or embark on a journey through the Amazon Rainforest, home to an ever-increasing number of plants, animals, and mysteries still undiscovered.

The city of Manaus in the Amazon is considered the gateway to the rainforest, home to about half the population of the Amazon.

The Atlantic Forest is still open to the public to offer a glimpse of the huge reserve of vegetation and endangered animal species.

Cristo Redentor, perhaps the most recognizable monument in the Western Hemisphere, can be seen from nearly every part of Rio de Janeiro.

The Iguazu Falls, on Brazil’s border with both Argentina and Paraguay, will simply leave you speechless with its power and beauty.

The Cachoeira da Fumaça (“Smoke Falls”) is Brazil’s second highest waterfall with a fall of more than 1000 feet.

Carnival is a huge draw for tourists coming to Brazil in the months of February and March, with its never ending samba parades and huge masks.

The Arcos da Lapa is an aqueduct used to deliver water to Rio from the Carioca River.

The Santuario Dom Bosca in Brasilia has 500 pieces of illuminated Muranoglass, giving the illusion of a star-lit sky.

Some of the popular beaches are Ipanema and Leblon, most sought after for sunbathing and tanning activities.

Hike on the Circuito do Abraão, offering great views and several watering holes to cool off.