Beaches, rainforest, waterfalls and carnival energy.
Brazil is South America's largest country, with long coastlines, the Amazon and big lively cities. It suits travellers who love beaches, music, wildlife and food. It is known for Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu Falls, the Amazon and Pantanal, and colonial towns like Salvador and Paraty. Distances are vast, so choose a few regions.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
The statue stands on Corcovado peak above Rio. Views take in the bays, beaches and mountains.
Sugarloaf is a granite peak reached by two cable cars. Sunset views over Guanabara Bay are famous.
Rio's beaches are the city's social life, lined with kiosks and promenades. Ipanema sunsets at Arpoador are a ritual.
The Brazilian side gives the widest panorama of the falls. A walkway reaches close to the Devil's Throat.
Manaus is the gateway to lodges and river trips in the Amazon. The Meeting of the Waters is nearby.
The Pantanal is a vast wetland and one of the best places to see jaguars, caimans and birds. Lodges run safari trips.
Pelourinho is Salvador's colonial old town with colourful houses and baroque churches. It is a centre of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Paraty is a colonial town with cobbled streets on a bay of islands. Ilha Grande nearby has car-free beaches and trails.
Lençóis is a field of white dunes with rainwater lagoons between them. The lagoons are fullest around June to September.
Noronha is a protected island group with clear water, dolphins and dramatic beaches. Visitor numbers are limited with fees.
This highland park has canyons, waterfalls and caves. Lençóis town is the base for hikes.
Ouro Preto is a hillside gold-rush town with baroque churches by Aleijadinho. Steep cobbled streets make it scenic.
Florianópolis is an island city with dozens of beaches and lagoons. It is popular for surfing and nightlife.
Bonito is known for crystal-clear rivers for snorkelling and caves. Visits are by booked tours only.
São Paulo is a huge city of museums, food and nightlife. MASP and Avenida Paulista are highlights.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Beaches and big landmarks.
beaches, culture · Open the city guideBase for the falls.
nature · Open the city guideAfro-Brazilian culture.
culture · Open the city guideFood and museums.
food, culture · Open the city guideIsland beaches.
beaches · Open the city guideAmazon gateway.
gateway, nature · Guide comingColonial bay town.
history, beaches · Guide comingBeach city and gateway to Olinda and Fernando de Noronha.
beaches, gateway · Open the city guideGaucho capital on the Guaiba waterfront, known for barbecue, culture and sunsets, and the gateway to the Serra Gaucha.
food, culture · Open the city guideA planned capital worth a short stop for modern architecture.
architecture · Open the city guideBig cities and colonial coast.
Rio de Janeiro, Paraty, Ouro Preto
Warm beaches and Afro-Brazilian heritage.
Salvador, Lençóis Maranhenses, Fernando de Noronha
Rainforest and rivers.
Manaus, Meeting of the Waters
Wetlands and clear rivers.
Pantanal, Bonito, Chapada dos Veadeiros
Falls and European-influenced towns.
Iguaçu, Florianópolis
Rainforest, rivers and Indigenous cultures.
Manaus, Amazon lodges, Meeting of Waters
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: April to June and August to October. Lower prices and fewer crowds with pleasant weather in many areas.
The northeast has heavy rain around April to July, the Pantanal is best in the dry season around July to October, and the south can be cold in winter.
January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
83°F daily high, 78°F average, 8.2 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
US State Department Level 2 (exercise increased caution) for crime; avoid favelas without a guide and be careful at night.
Domestic flights are essential; long-distance buses are good but slow.
Mid-range value is fair, but big cities are pricier.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check current visa and entry rules on the immigration pages of Brazil's Federal Police (gov.br/pf), and your own government's travel advice, before you book, as rules change. |
| Plugs | Type C, N; 127 V or 220 V, 60 Hz |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | A 10 percent service charge is usually included in restaurants. |
| Payments | Cards and the Pix system are widely used. |
| Emergency | 190 or 911 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire |
| Etiquette | Brazilians are warm and greet with kisses. Avoid showing valuables in cities. |
| What to wear | Beachwear is for the beach; cover up in churches and when away from the coast. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Domestic flights are the main way between regions. Buses are comfortable on long routes, and ride apps are cheap in cities. |
| Main airports | GRU, GIG, SSA, IGU, MAO, BSB |
| Ride apps | Uber, 99 |
Indigenous peoples lived across the land before Portugal claimed it in 1500. Millions of enslaved Africans were brought to work sugar, gold and coffee, shaping Brazil's culture deeply. Brazil became independent in 1822 as an empire and a republic in 1889. After military rule from 1964 to 1985 it returned to democracy.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.