Beautiful Brazil
We were captivated by Brazil’s lush landscapes, vibing beaches and metropolitan cities and that was only scratching the surface!
Here’s my suggested 2-week itinerary (ideal for first-timers) including the best bits and some useful top tips.
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English is not widely spoken, so unless you can speak Portuguese, Google translate is your best friend
You don’t need to take much cash as pretty much everywhere accept card and most places didn’t have change for big notes
If you do want to withdraw cash, go to Santander bank which you will find in Rio and Sao Paulo, the cost of international withdrawal is much lower than other ATMs
Buy an e-Sim in advance - we used Airalo which offers different plans depending on the amount of data you want, 5-10GB would be fine for 2 weeks
Check the weather before booking viewpoint attractions such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain to ensure you get the best views
There is not a tipping culture as it’s added to the bill, so anything extra is at your discretion
Avoid drinking tap water - check with the seller if ice is from filtered water if you are worried
Bring a reusable bottle (one that keeps water cool), and buy large 2-litre bottles to refill your own before your day trips to save on single-use plastic bottles
Wear shorts with zip pockets to keep your phones/wallets safe and don’t carry all your cards and cash around at one time
Have a copy of your passport saved on your phone, or carry your driving licence with you as some places ask for ID when booking tickets for things
Traffic can be pretty bad so allow extra time to go places if you book an Uber
Don’t do a favela tour, it can be dangerous and disrespectful to the resident’s privacy and potentially exploitative if tourists are visiting. Consider supporting local businesses or organisations run by favela residents instead
If you have a late flight you can leave your luggage at a storage place such as Radical Storage which was around £10 for the day. They are usually just small shops with a back room but we didn’t have any issues
Do a free walking tour in each city to get your bearings and find out more about the history
Rio de Janiero (3-4 days)
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Day 1
Head to Copacabana Beach to soak up the vibe and go for a dip. There are plenty of beach activities such as beach and foot volleyball which looked super fun!
If you walk along the front, there are many street vendors, restaurants and bars to stop for a snack or drink.
Catch the train up to Christ the Redeemer for some incredible views and check out the awesome statue. Book in advance using the trem do corcovado website.
Ensure you arrive around 40 minutes before your departure time so you don’t miss your slot. The train is fun as you go through lush greenery up Corcovado Mountain.
When you arrive, you’ll have to walk up quite a few steps, but it’s not too difficult!
Alternatively, you can also take an Uber up part way and walk, or book a guided hike.
If you like football it’s worth catching a game at the Maracana Stadium, the atmosphere is electric! You can buy tickets at the Fluminese Store - get there early as the queue is super long and slow! The Office closes at 2 pm, it’s cash only and you need ID (driver’s licence or passport).
Alternatively, go to the stadium directly a couple of hours before the match and buy tickets there. It is cash only. There is a language barrier, so try and find a steward who speaks English to help you buy tickets.
Day 2
Visit Ipanema Beach - around a 40-minute walk from Copacabana. Stick to the promenade, where people walk and cycle, or take a 10-minute Uber.
It’s a busy beach with great waves and there are surf schools and board hire. I’d recommend renting sun beds and an umbrella for the day (approximately £15).
In the late afternoon head to the Sugar Loaf Mountain cable car to get up in time for sunset. Go a bit earlier as the queues can be long, you can buy tickets on arrival for around £20.
The views over Rio were amazing and there is a mid-station where you can grab a drink and soak up the atmosphere.
Allow 3 hours to go up and down, bear in mind the last cable car up boards at 6.30 pm and the last one comes down at 9 pm.
Day 3
Take an Uber to Lapa, or book a taxi tour guide who will take you to a variety of attractions and stop and wait (make sure to haggle on the price of this)! You can choose which places to visit, I’d recommend the Selaron steps, the deceiving cathedral and the viaduct.
Stick to main roads if you’re walking around and keep your belongings close!
For an evening in Lapa, head to Beco do Rato Samba Bar, a buzzing bar with live samba music. Again, keep your bags close and pockets zipped!
Day 4
We had pre-booked a day trip to Ilha Grande which is 3 hours drive from Rio. We booked it on Get Your Guide which was a bit more expensive and a large group tour.
The benefit was they collected and dropped you at your Hotel and organised the boat trip, with a buffet lunch included. The lunch left A LOT to be desired, so take snacks/buy some when they stop!
The boat was good fun, they made stops to jump off and snorkel and visited a few different white sandy beaches.
This trip did not include a hike which would have been great, so look at other hiking tours if that’s your thing!
If you have more time it would be worth going to Ilha Grande under your own steam for a few nights as you can stay there in a bungalow and do your own exploring of the many small islands.
Other activities
Book a guided hike
Catch the sunset at Arpoador Rock
Go paragliding, or hang-gliding with incredible views over the mountain and beach
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Don’t miss the Brazilian BBQ! They serve a variety of unlimited BBQ meats and sushi if you’re not a meat lover! It is not cheap but worth it for the experience.
The food is great and so is the atmosphere - we loved the mini shrimp burgers!
Zaza Bistro Tropical - Ipanema
A laid-back vibe with amazing Moroccan and Asian-inspired food. Ask to sit upstairs for a relaxed dining experience!
A Peruvian restaurant on the Copacabana Beach Road - does lovely ceviche. Restaurants are not super cheap in this area as it is more touristy but still not expensive by UK standards!
On the promenade in Ipanema, this place does great brunch and dinner with a beach view.
This snack is very popular with locals, you can find it on every street corner. It’s a berry grown in the Amazon that’s blended and can mix it with a variety of toppings of your choice. It can be bitter, so ask to try a scoop with and without sugar to taste before buying!
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Accommodation
Accommodation was not too expensive, we stayed in an AirBnb in Rio on Rua Inhanga which was a few streets away from CopaCabana Beach.
This location was busy and felt quite safe in a more touristy area, it was close to the beach, good bars and restaurants. The apartments here are mostly gated with 24 hour security guards on the door. The benefit of AirBnb is you can message your host for a advice and reccommendations.
Hotels close to Copacabana or Ipanema beach would be a good choice.
Transport
We didn’t take any public transport whilst there, even buses as Uber was easy to use and relatively cheap and we felt this was the safest option. The traffic can be quite bad so make sure you allow extra time for journeys.
There is a metro system in both Rio and Sao Paulo if you do want to use it, just take care with your belongings.
Manaus and the Amazon (4 days)
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The flight from Rio to Manaus was around 4 hours and was a late night schedule, landing there at around 01:00 am.
You can use Uber here too, but if you prefer, ask your Amazon tour company to collect you from the airport. We booked with Iguana Tourismo who collected us from the airport and dropped us at our Hotel.
You could skip a day in Manaus and book the Amazon tour for the next day after landing, but you’ll only get a few hours of kip!
We spent a day in Manaus and it wasn’t bad, a chance to relax and prepare for the Jungle tour:
Do a free walking tour to find out more about the history of Manaus
Take a guided tour of the Teatro Amazonas, and see if there are any tickets for a show that evening.
Check out the Galleria do Largo for some quirky art work and a coffee.
Do some shopping at the Amazonas mall
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A good option for juicy burgers
A relaxed place to sit with a drink and snack to enjoy the hubbub of the main square
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Cheap and basic but had a lovely breakfast and was in a good location. You can walk to a few attractions such as the Amazonas Theatre and the main square.
A good option if you want somewhere more upmarket, although a bit further out, it is connected to a shopping mall and has a rooftop pool and gym.
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The 3-day, 2-night adventure was an amazing experience! It was a good mix of hiking in the forest and boat trips and we spent one night camping in the Jungle in hammocks - it truly felt like a different world.
We went in December, at the end of the dry season, meaning the river was quite low, so we didn’t see as much wildlife as you might think. Our guide informed us that the best time of year to visit for wildlife viewing is July.
The weather in December was sunny and there were hardly any mosquitos due to the season.
Don’t forget to pack swimwear if you are feeling brave enough to dive in!
On the final day, you arrive back in Manaus at 4 pm, I’d recommend staying one more night there instead of booking an evening flight as you can’t be sure about the traffic.
Sao Paulo (2 days)
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As we were flying home from Sao Paulo, we took a 4-hour flight with Latam.
We were pleasantly surprised by the city!
Do a free walking tour of the central area, or Vila Madalena if you like street art. Beco de Batman in Vila Madalena is worth a trip to explore the graffiti and independent art shops.
If you wander around the central area, visit Liberdade to try Japanese Street food, Mercado Municipal (always ask how much something is before trying it), and admire the old buildings such as the library where they have events such as rooftop cinema.
It’s worth a trip to Ibercura Park (it gives Central Park vibes). You can hire bikes for around £5 per hour which is a really fun way to explore, make sure to stop for some fresh lemonade at one of the pop-up stalls!
If you have time, take an Uber to the Museum of Independence to learn more about Sao Paulo’s history and wander round the grand building and grounds.
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Sao Paulo is the Culinary Capital of Brazil and it did live up to its name! In the early 1900’s there was an influx of Japanese and Italian migrants, so definitely sample both these cuisines whilst you’re here!
Beware the portions are huge, so check with the host for the right amount before ordering! On the same street, there are a few other Italian restaurants too which seemed to have good vibes, one had live music.
Visit the Paulista area for some upmarket Japanese Restaurants, we had some amazing food here. Make a booking beforehand, it is not cheap though!
For more affordable, homely Asian food head to Liberdade. We enjoyed our meal at Udon Jinbei, but there are plenty of great options in this area.
This place makes an incredible pastrami sandwich!
For a fancy underground cocktail visit the Secret Bar in the vault under the bank in the Central area of Sao Paulo
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I would recommend staying in a central location, we had a lovely stay at Sooz Hotel