tour guide in brazil

Deals of the Week   All of Europe's finest   Up to 50% OFF

Brazil Tours & Trips

At the top of your to-do list whilst in Brazil might be to dance the samba during the rainbow spectacle of the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro adventure. And don’t forget the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. A visit to Sao Paulo should not be missed, nor should a tour to Iguazu falls .

182 Brazil tour packages with 256 reviews

• Christmas & New Year

Manaus Amazon Jungle Adventure 5D/4N

This trip was truly amazing. Our guide Anderson was so knowledgeable about the Amazon and just a great bloke. We had a great bunch of people from all over the world to enjoy the tour with. Food was plentiful and delicious. Sleeping in hammocks in the jungle and catching fish and Caiman were highlights. If you have an adventurous spirit you will love this!

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Best of Brazil

Great tour overall. Itinerary was perfect for a short trip to Brazil. The transportation was average with a mix of shared van, private van, public transport, boat, etc

The metropolis of Sao Paulo with the waterfalls of Foz & the wonderful Rio

Rio de Janeiro and Amazon Rainforest Sustainable Experience

We had a blast and all of our tours, drivers, and tour guides were great! A truly unforgettable trip for a family of four (including 9 and 11yo). It all went off without a hitch and we have made some lasting memories. It was a great itinerary giving us ample time to see what we wanted to in Rio, and explore the Amazon without feeling overly rushed and still able to check all the boxes for the highlights! Highly recommend for any traveler looking for some education and adventure.

• Sightseeing

Tailor-Made Best Brazil Tour to Rio and Iguazu Falls, Daily Departure & Private Guide

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Tailor-Made Private Brazil Tour to Rio, Ilha Grande & Paraty, Daily Departure

Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguazu Sustainable Experience

Fantastic tour and beautiful country!

Looking for tours beyond just Brazil?

Explore tours with itineraries going through multiple countries, including Brazil.

Route of emotions

• Coach / Bus

Pantanal, Bonito & Iguazu Adventure 9D/8N (from Campo Grande)

Do not book hostel, hostel is terrible

4 Days North Pantanal - Unearthing exotic treasures in the Pantanal wetlands - New***

We were able to observe a large number of animals of different species, we were lucky to see some that are very difficult to find. They have to make this trip and bring a camera to save these incredible moments

The entire Green Coast from Sao Paulo to Rio, with sea areas around Rio

Rio +Angra and Ilha Grande day tour (5 Days)

Multicultural Brazil

Amazon Jungle - 3 Days

This was an excellent tour however the location was different and activities were different from what was given in the description. Nevertherless, we had a great time and would love to go back one day! The location we ended up was in Ipanema Amazon Lodge, which was several hours from Manaus (car, boat, van, boat). Google it if you are interested in what it is like. All transportation was arranged and food was also very good during the whole time. The lady who was cooking it was really amazing at it. In terms of activities, we spent a night in the jungle, did piranha fishing, caiman spotting, dolphin watching, couple forest walking etc. Accomodation was also very nice and comfortable. Obviously there are lots of insects everytwhere including the huts which is expected. Overall it was a great trip and definitely reccommend it.

Best Of Brazil

What people love about brazil tours.

Luma was amazing. The trip was basic, but she made the trip

Brazil Destinations

• Mata Atlantica (58)
• Southeastern Brazil (47)
• Northeast Brazil (19)
• Northern Brazil (19)
• Amazon Rainforest (18)
• Iguazu Falls (17)
• Amazonas (15)
• The Cerrado (12)
• Pantanal (11)
• Brazilian Highlands (38)
• Amazonian Basin (34)
• Chapada Diamantina National Park (6)

Travel Styles

• Small Group (91)
• Budget (49)
• Luxury (12)
• Singles and Solo (125)
• For Couples (44)
• Seniors (106)
• Group (122)
• Explorer (119)
• Family (108)
• Partially Guided (106)
• Fully Guided (64)
• Personalized (64)
• In-depth Cultural (51)
• Private (50)
• Active (46)
• Self-Guided (25)
• Custom (11)
• Hiking & Trekking (8)
• Festival & Events (6)
• Intl. Flights Included (5)
• River Cruise (5)
• 3 Day Tours (26)
• 7 Day Tours (60)
• 10 Day Tours (26)
• 2 Week Tours (30)
• 3 Week Tours (14)
• Spring 2024 (80)
• Summer 2024 (120)
• Fall / Autumn 2024 (120)
• Winter 2024 / 2025 (99)
• Spring 2025 (58)
• Summer 2025 (44)
• Fall / Autumn 2025 (41)
• Winter 2025 / 2026 (37)
• May 2024 (96)
• June 2024 (111)
• July 2024 (114)
• August 2024 (113)
• September 2024 (116)
• October 2024 (114)
• November 2024 (108)
• December 2024 (98)
• January 2025 (58)
• February 2025 (57)
• March 2025 (55)
• April 2025 (48)
• May 2025 (44)
• June 2025 (44)
• July 2025 (37)
• August 2025 (37)
• September 2025 (39)
• October 2025 (40)
• November 2025 (40)
• December 2025 (37)

Brazil Tours starting in

• Starting in Rio de Janeiro (85)
• Starting in Buenos Aires (21)
• Starting in Manaus (16)
• Starting in Foz Do Iguacu (7)
• Starting in Salvador (6)
• Brazil Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

Discover TourRadar

• See All Tour Operators in Latin America
• See All Tour Operators in Brazil
• Europe Tours
• California Vacation Packages
• Northern Spain June 2024 tours
• Spain, Portugal and Morocco Budget tours
• Gorilla Trek y tours
• Stunning Alberta - Canada's hidden treasure awaits
• 10 Best Overland Travel Companies (with over 1000 reviews)

TTC family of brands

My Trafalgar

Destinations

Get Inspired

866 513 1995

See All Brazil Tours

Trending Brazil tours

Save up to $355

Impressions of South America

3 Locations

2 Countries

Internal flights included

South America Revealed

8 Locations

3 Countries

See More Brazil Trips

5 million happy guests and counting

Brazilian real

Capital City

Good morning

Good evening

"I love watching our guests find their rhythm in Brazil. Learn how to dance the samba, move to the drumbeats of Carnival, or listen to the jungle song of the Amazon."

Travel Director

Visit a traditional Brazilian churrascaria

We’ll take you on a journey through Brazilian culture, with a visit to a churrascaria, a traditional Brazilian barbecue where meat is cooked in churrasco style. We’ll have churrascaria dinners while enjoying folkloric performances of Samba and Tango, and we’ll even learn how to make the perfect caipirinha.

Ascend Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car

Board a cable car and take to the clouds, as you glide up Sugarloaf Mountain. This monumental mountain is one of the most famous peaks of Rio de Janeiro, towering 396 metres over the harbor, and you’ll make it to the top for spectacular views over the bay and city.

See how the country prepares for the annual Rio Carnival

When you join our Brazil group tours, you’ll dive into culture with a visit to a local Samba school. Discover how the school prepares for the pageantry of the annual Rio Carnival, see the colorful costumes and feel the rhythms of Samba as you experience an exciting dance lesson.

Take a walking tour around Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is a gorgeous hillside district, built around a convent during the 16th century. It was once home to upper-class residents, although it’s now the home of artists with many galleries and museums. We’ll show you around the beautiful architecture, bohemian atmosphere and sweeping views of the city below.

Visit one of Rio de Janeiro's hillside favelas

Join our Local Specialists on a journey into Rocinha, one of the hillside favelas of Rio de Janeiro. You’ll see the daily lifestyles of the locals of Rocinha, visit a community school, and you’ll also have the chance to interact with locals and gain a deeper understanding of Brazilian culture.

Our top 5 things to do in Brazil

Our Brazil tour packages soak up the monumental sights of Sugarloaf Mountain, and also delve deeper into Brazilian culture with visits to a churrascaria, Samba school and a hillside favela.

Rio de Janeiro

Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã)

Housed in an incredible futuristic building, the Museum of Tomorrow shares a glimpse of life in the future. The museum displays digital ideas rather than objects, and predicts the future based on social, environmental and economic factors. You can spend hours exploring interactive experiments and exhibitions on a sustainable future.

Rio Art Museum

The Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR) tells the history of Rio de Janeiro through art. You’ll find traditional and contemporary Brazilian works of art, including paintings, photographs and sculptures. The museum is housed in a striking building, with a wavy roof canopy that appears to float above the building.

Museum of Modern Art

Located in Sao Paulo, the Museum of Modern Art (MASP) has one of the best collections of European art in Latin America, with artworks by Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, Botticelli, Picasso and Renoir. The museum building is also a fantastic piece of architecture, perched on large pillars.

Best museums in Brazil

See the country’s top museums on our Brazil vacations tours, from a collection of Brazilian art to a digital insight into the future.

The Brigadeiro is a popular Brazilian dessert made from a mix of condensed milk, cocoa powder and butter, shaped into small balls and showered in chocolate sprinkles. It’s named after Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes, a Brazilian war hero, and can be found in bakeries across the country.

Coxinhas are the quintessential snack of Brazil. These beloved deep-fried treats are made from breaded and fried dough filled with potato and chicken, and shaped in a triangular cone. You can find these everywhere, from street stalls to lavish restaurants.

Beijinho de Coco

The coconut version of the brigadeiro, Beijinho de Coco are one of the most favorite desserts in Brazil. They’re made from condensed milk, coconut milk, butter, covered with sugar or grated coconut. They’re a classic treat at birthday parties and you can find them in bakeries all over Brazil.

Best food in Brazil

Our group tours in Brazil will introduce you to the delicious Brazilian cuisine, from deep-fried chicken croquettes to sweet desserts sprinkled with chocolate and coconut.

What to pack for Brazil

Portuguese phrasebook

Unlike the majority of Latin America, the official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Learning a few phrases is always appreciated and will help you connect with the locals.

Brazil is famed for its golden coastline and has some of the world’s best beaches. Pack a swimsuit to soak up the sun and the dazzling waters.

Sunglasses and sunscreen

As one of the sunniest destinations in the world, sunglasses and sunscreen are essential items in Brazil. Be sure to pack UV-protected sunglasses and SPF 30 sunscreen or higher.

Adaptor plug

In Brazil the standard voltage is 127 / 220 V and the power plugs and sockets are of type N. The standard frequency is 60 Hz.

Versatile shoes

You’ll need to pack shoes that can take you from exploring hillside favelas and traversing jungles, to dancing the Samba in Rio de Janeiro.

Our South America destinations

Other worldwide regions we visit

Africa the Middle East

Australia and New Zealand

North and Central America

Get your free brochure

Find your next escape with the world's leading travel brand

Request A Brochure

Award winning tours

Every year, we're proud to win some of the most prestigious travel accolades around the world - from the Travel Globes to the Agent's Choice Awards

Search Our Tours

Help & Info

WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Unedited Reviews

Our Destination Management Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Updates

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Travel Planning

Get Your Free Brochure

Travel Insurance

Booking Conditions

Trip Deposit Level

Recommendations

Trafalgar Tours Limited is a proud member of  The Travel Corporation  family of companies.

#SimplyTrafalgar

Travel House, Rue du Manoir St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2JH

Selected Region

United States

United Kingdom

New Zealand

South Africa

Copyright 2024 Trafalgar. All rights reserved.

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Brazil Tours & Vacations

Everything in Brazil is bigger, brighter and bolder – from the waterfalls and jungles to the street parties and beaches. It’s no wonder there’s always a festival.

Brazilians are famous for their zest for life. The country is loaded with incredible natural attractions – the Amazon, roaring Iguazu Falls and jungle-clad mountains where you feel on top of the world (much like Christ the Redeemer). And let’s not forget Brazil’s infectious music – from samba and bossa nova to Afro-Brazilian beats – and a party to be had around every corner. And of course the pumping beaches, where you can play football until the sun dips low behind Corcovado.   Brazil   is your cue to pick up a caipirinha and join the fun.

Our Brazil trips

Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.

Brazil tour reviews

Filter by rating

Best of Brazil

Rio Carnival Experience

Articles of Brazil

The top 8 destinations to travel to (and give back to) in December 2024

The top 7 destinations for travel in February 2024

7 festival trips that should definitely be on your radar

Everything you need to know about visiting the Amazon

5 great countries in South America for solo travel

Where to find the best street art in South America

Beach bliss: Why Florianopolis is a must-visit in Brazil

5 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites worth a visit

Brazil at a glance

Capital city.

Brasilia (population 3 million)

214.3 million

Brazilian real (BRL)

(GMT-03:00) Brasilia

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin) Type B (American 3-pin) Type C (European 2-pin) Type I (Australian/New Zealand & Chinese/Argentine 2/3-pin)

Learn more about Brazil

Best time to visit brazil.

In most parts of Brazil, temperatures range from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, regardless of the season. The summer months between December and February can be hot and humid, bringing temperatures to the high 30s – perfect weather to enjoy Brazil’s famous beaches. It’s also festival season, so it’s well worth visiting during this time.

Rainfall varies greatly around Brazil so depending on where you’re traveling, you could experience some rain. Around the Pantanal, Manaus and the Amazon basin, expect patches of rain all year round. Rio and the areas around Foz de Iguacu don’t have distinct rainy seasons and are typically drier than some other areas of Brazil.

The south of Brazil experiences extreme seasonal changes, so pack accordingly.

Read more about the best time to visit Brazil

Culture and customs

Brazilians are universally known for their infectious enthusiasm and lust for life. The wild celebratory atmosphere of Carnaval isn’t a one-off —impromptu street parties, heaving nightclubs and busy dance halls all display the same vibrant energy and passion all year round. Travelers will find that music, dance and good times are all passionately pursued by most Brazilians, regardless of income, gender or age. But it doesn’t stop there. Fun is not limited to the dynamic bars and clubs of the big cities - the natural world is also enjoyed by most Brazilians. With so many spectacular beaches, national parks, mountains and forests, there are plenty of places for Brazilians to enjoy their favorite past times – football, surfing, swimming, hiking, volleyball and capoeira (a Brazilian blend of martial arts and dance). Brazilians are also known for being one of the most open, friendly and affectionate nationalities – personal space isn’t regarded as highly in Brazil as in most other countries, so expect to be hugged and kissed by new and old friends when traveling here.

In contrast to the exuberant, modern life that Brazil's city dwellers live, are the humble, traditional ways of the indigenous tribes that live in the Amazon and surrounds. Despite modern advances, many still live off the land – hunting for wild animals and gathering fruit and berries - although sadly this is rapidly changing due to deforestation and urbanization. In the face of this, many tribes still cling to their ancient culture through traditional clothing, dance and song.

Eating and drinking

Intrepid believes that one of the best ways to experience a country is by eating! Whether you're sampling street food, savoring a cheap eat or indulging in a banquet, there are endless options to choose from wherever you are in the world. 

Brazil’s major cities feature a wide range of international cuisine, so it’s possible to eat a western-style breakfast, Mexican for lunch and Italian for dinner, with a few traditional Brazilian snacks in between. For an in-depth look at what you can eat in Brazil, visit our   South American food guide . 

Things to try in Brazil

1. Churrasco

This traditional Brazilian barbecue is a true pleasure for meat eaters. Beef, pork, chicken, duck, lamb and fish are all skewered and cooked to perfection over hot coals, creating a smoky flavor and tender texture.

Brazil’s coastline is home to a bounty of marine life so when on the coast, be sure to eat seafood while it’s at its freshest. Fried baby octopus, king prawns and fragrant, seafood stew are great options.

3. Feijoada

This stew of beans and beef is Brazil’s national dish, and reflects its rich immigrant history. The flavors and style are a mix of African, Indian and Portuguese food traditions, making it a direct culinary link to Brazil’s past.

4. Caipirinha

This refreshing cocktail made from cachaca (a spirit derived from sugar cane), sugar, crushed ice and lime is the Brazilian national drink, and the perfect accompaniment to a beachside sunset.

Brazil has plenty of tropical fruits and berries – so for a quick snack, head to the markets and buy fresh bananas, limes, oranges, guava, jackfruit and acai berries.

Discover the must-try foods in Brazil

Geography and environment

Being the fifth largest country in the world, Brazil shares land borders with many other countries including   Venezuela , Guyana,   Colombia ,   Peru ,   Bolivia , Paraguay,   Argentina , Uruguay, Suriname and French Guiana. Home to many different landscapes and ecosystems, Brazil’s natural environment is one of the most famous in the world. From the steamy tropical rainforest that surrounds the Amazon River and the swirling torrents of white water at Iguazu Falls, to the stunning beaches, reefs and islands of the coast, Brazil is certainly blessed with the very best of Mother Nature. Home to many of the world's most rare and endangered species, travelers will be able to see the full spectrum of colorful bird life, curious mammals, gigantic snakes and unique marine life.

With such a large population, Brazil’s major cities are busy, crowded and chaotic. It can take some getting used to, but once you’re working with the flow of the Brazilian way of life, you’ll begin to enjoy the pace. With a widening gap between the rich and the poor, housing can vary from large mansions in upscale neighborhoods and modern apartments right in the heart of the city, to humble tin sheds in the sprawling favelas. In some ways, Brazil’s major cities are full of contrasts but the universal appeal of partying, dancing and drinking seems to cross all cultural and social barriers.

History and government

Early history.

Indigenous tribes inhabited Brazil for centuries before the arrival of the first European settlers from Portugal in the 1500s. Colonization brought agriculture and crop growing to Brazil, resulting in extensive land clearing which dispossessed much of the indigenous population. The growing of sugar cane resulted in an influx of new residents, mainly slaves who brought rich African traditions with them. Remnants of this can still be seen in much of today’s music, dance and food. By the 19th century, coffee had taken the place of sugar as Brazil’s most valuable crop. The increase in coffee production brought a new wave of migrants to Brazil, mainly from Europe, and Brazil’s economy continued to flourish until the military coup of 1889.

Recent history

Brazil’s more recently history has also been characterized by wide spread immigration – especially during and after World War II - with large numbers of Jewish people choosing to flee persecution to live in Brazil, as well as significant numbers of people from the Middle East and other European countries.

In 1989, Brazil held its first democratic election in almost 30 years after decades of military rule. More recently, a stable government has resulted in increased economic prosperity, although many of Brazil’s residents are still impoverished, living well below the poverty line.

Top 10 beach spots of Brazil

1. praia do rosa.

The big surf and relaxed vibe of this hip holiday haven in Southern Brazil makes it a firm favorite with visitors and locals alike. Praia do Rosa manages to balance development with tradition - elegant small-scale hotels and eco-lodges provide the perfect place to rest after hiking, whale watching or surfing.

The cosmopolitan charms of this world-famous beach make it popular with people from all walks of life. Expect to see enthusiastic travelers, smug millionaires, bohemian artists and indifferent locals all enjoying Ipanema’s magnetic magic.

3. Jericoacoara

Far away from the showy extravagance of Rio lies this secluded spot only accessible by 4x4. Strictly protected from overdevelopment, the slow pace suits the windsurfers and kite surfers who prefer to get their thrills from the ocean's wild tides.

4. Lopes Mendes

This beach, located on the island of Ilha Grande, is considered one of Brazil’s best. The killer combination of fine white sand, great waves and clear, blue water guarantee perfect conditions for swimming, surfing and sun-worshipping.

5. Canoa Quebrada

This mellow hippie haven boasts stunning sand dunes and a deep blue-green sea. Horse riding on the dunes at sunset or cruising the coast on an old fishing boat are great ways to make the most of this picture perfect piece of Brazil.

Put on the world map by Bridget Bardot back in the 1960s, Buzios is the epitome of Brazilian sophistication. The designer boutiques, glam hotels and cool bars attract the celebrity jet set – but it’s the beautiful bays and beaches that are the true superstars of Buzios.

7. Copacabana

One of the world’s most famous urban beaches, Copacabana, is a top spot to indulge in a bit of people watching. Watch an eclectic mix of people play football, work on their tans and strut their stuff on this busy meeting spot that attracts all walks of life.

8. Praia da Mole

Soft white sand for lazing in the sun and a year-round supply of waves for surfing make this beach in Florianopolis a top pick. Paragliding, wakeboarding and other water sports provide more thrills, while the nearby bars and clubs ensure good times when the sun goes down.

9. Maragogi

Found on the Coral Coast of Brazil, Maragogi’s calm waters offer some respite from the big breaks found on many other Brazilian beaches. Colorful offshore reefs make snorkeling or scuba diving a must for visitors looking for aquatic adventures.

10. Tambaba

One for the free spirits of the world, Brazil’s only official nudist beach is flanked by steep, dramatic cliffs and dotted with swaying coconut palms. Choose to get cheeky and take advantage of lying on Brazil’s only sanctioned nudist beach in all your glory, or keep your kit on and stick to the “non-naturist” side.

Brazil’s two largest cities – Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo – offer a wide range of shopping opportunities, from high-end designer shops to independent boutiques and everything in between. Every mid-sized city will have at least one ‘shopping’ (what Brazilians call their shopping malls), but as you move to more rural and remote areas, your best bet is the local market.

Shopping tips in Rio

Peddlers roam Rio’s beaches offering an enormous range of items including footballs, bathing suits and jewelry. Be aware that the price might be good but the quality likely isn’t. For better quality bikinis and swim trunks, consider heading to Blue Man, Brazil’s most successful beachwear label. Or visit Barra Shopping, one of the largest malls in South America, which boasts more than 570 stores, a movie theatre, a bowling alley and a range of restaurants and bars. Rio also hosts a number of popular markets including the Hippie Fair in Ipanema, where more than 700 vendors sell one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothing, leather shoes, paintings and gourmet goods each Sunday. Like many markets, bargaining is accepted.

Responsible travel tip 

You may come across goods made from the skins of protected species (such as reptiles or wild cats). Keeping with Intrepid’s commitment to responsible travel, please refrain from supporting any business that exploit or abuse endangered animals. 

Festivals and events in Brazil

Rio carnival.

Colorful, raucous and hedonistic, there’s a reason Rio’s Carnival is one of the best-known parties in the world. The parade of elaborate floats and colorful, bejeweled dancers in barely-there costumes dancing to samba may be the main event, but the revelry begins a whole month before. Each February in the lead up to Lent, the caipirinhas are free-flowing as clubs hold glitzy parties and bandas (street parties also called blocos) take over the streets.

Parintins Folklore Festival (Bumba-mei-boi)

An annual spectacle that commemorates a legend about a pregnant woman’s craving for bull tongue, the murder of a bull to satisfy said craving, and the bull’s magical resurrection. Two teams retell the myth and attempt to outdo each other using flamboyant song and dance routines, colorful costumes and giant floats. Spectators cheer and moo to performances at this three-day June celebration.

Festa Junina

This nationwide festival held each June celebrates saints John the Baptist, Anthony and Peter, but celebrations in the north-east take on a distinctly country flair. People flock to rural fairs wearing straw hats and plaid shirts to feast on corn and sweet treats, play games and dance the quadrilha (similar to a square dance).

Rio New Year’s Eve

Join two million revelers decked in white at Copacabana beach for a unique New Year’s celebration. Before the concerts and massive fireworks display begins, Candomble worshippers (an Afro-Brazilian religion) push boats filled with flowers and other offerings into the sea in exchange for safe sailing in the upcoming year.

Further reading

Brazil travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do you need a visa to visit Brazil?

Foreign nationals from over 80 countries – including folks from EU countries, the United Kingdom , New Zealand, South Africa and Japan – can travel to Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days per entry. You’ll need an empty page in your passport, as a border officer will stamp it on arrival.

If you’re not from a visa-exempt country, you’ll need to apply for a Visitor Visa (VIVIS) through Brazil’s consular website.  Find out whether you require a VIVIS or not .

As of 10 April 2024, passport holders from Australia , Canada and the United States must apply for an e-visa to enter Brazil for tourism, transit or business  on the Brazilian government's e-visa website . If you have a valid physical visa on your passport for the purpose of your visit, you do not need to apply for a new visa.

The page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. 

Last updated: 15 Jan 2024

Is tipping customary in Brazil?

Tipping is up to the individual when traveling in Brazil. It isn’t expected but will be happily received by service workers like taxi drivers and waiters. Restaurants in Brazil add a 10% surcharge, which is included in the bill. Feel free to leave spare change or tip extra if the service is particularly good.

What is the internet access like in Brazil?

Internet access is widely available in cities and tourist areas like Rio and Sao Paolo, where there are many internet cafes. Internet access is less frequent in rural and remote areas.

Can I use my cell phone while in Brazil?

You will be able to use your cell phone in most urban areas of Brazil, although some of the more remote areas may not have network coverage. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your cell carrier before you leave home if you wish to use your cell while in Brazil.

What are the toilets like in Brazil?

Toilets in Brazil will vary depending on what area you are traveling in. Flushable, western-style toilets are common in the cities large hotels, malls and clubs but more modest squat toilets are the standard in rural areas and while camping. Either way, carrying a supply of toilet paper and soap is a good idea, as these aren’t always available in public toilets.

What will it cost for a…?

Cup of coffee in a café = 2 BRL Beer in a bar = 3.5 BRL Budget meal = 10 BRL Three course meal in a restaurant = 60 BRL

Can I drink the water in Brazil?

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Brazil. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water and fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Are credit cards accepted widely in Brazil?

Major credit cards are widely accepted by large shops, hotels and restaurants in Brazil. However, they may not be accepted by smaller vendors such as small family restaurants, market stalls or in remote towns and rural areas. Make sure you carry enough cash for purchases, since credit cards aren't always an option everywhere in Brazil.

What is ATM access like in Brazil?

ATMs are found widely throughout Brazil and withdrawing cash shouldn't be problematic in most areas. Some smaller villages and rural areas may not have ATM access, so prepare for this before venturing too far from a city or major town.

What public holidays are celebrated in Brazil?

• 1 Jan: New Year’s Day
• Good Friday*
• 21 Apr: Tiradentes
• 1 May: Labour Day
• 7 Sep: Independence Day
• 12 Oct: Our Lady of Aparecida
• 2 Nov: All Soul’s Day
• 15 Nov: Republic Day
• 25 Dec: Christmas Day

*Please note these dates may vary. See a current list of public holidays in Brazil .

Do I need any vaccinations before visiting Brazil?

No vaccines are required in order to enter Brazil but some are recommended for protection against disease. Visit your doctor or travel clinic for advice and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.

Is Brazil a safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers?

Brazil is a welcoming destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers. There is no law against homosexuality, and the country tends to be more tolerant than anywhere else in South America. Rio is considered the gay capital of Latin America, though Sao Paulo and Salvador have lively gay scenes as well. That being said, discretion is still advised in smaller towns, which tend to be more conservative.

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Does my trip to Brazil support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveler. Trips to Brazil directly support our foundation partner, Gastromotiva Brazil . 

Gastromotiva Brazil  

Gastromotiva Brazil is tackling youth unemployment and homelessness while promoting a zero-waste movement. Gastromotiva addresses important social and environmental issues through job training, advocacy, and sustainable cooking classes. Donations from our trips support their professional cooking courses for vulnerable youth in Rio De Janeiro. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

THE 10 BEST Brazil Tours & Excursions

Brazil tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Rio's Full Day: Selarón Steps, Christ & Sugarloaf – Tickets & Lunch Included

2. The Best Half Day in Rio with Christ Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Hill

3. Full Day: Christ Redeemer, Sugarloaf, City Tour & Barbecue Lunch

4. Sunset Sailing Tour in Rio de Janeiro - DDRio

5. Private Custom Full-Day Highlights in Rio: Only the best sights!

6. Full Day Iguassu Falls Both Sides - Brazil and Argentina

7. The Best Helicopter Flight Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer

8. Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour Brazil and Argentina

9. 25 - Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande

10. Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Lunch and Small Group City Tour

11. São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group)

12. Rio's Hidden Gems: Waterfalls & Caves Trail in Tijuca Park

13. A day in Arraial do Cabo the Brazilian Caribbean

14. Amazing São Paulo overview in 4 or 5 hours with a private guide

15. A day in Rio - Full City Tour

16. 2 Hour Jet Ski Ride and Tow Snorkeling in Tijuca Islands

17. Panoramic Helicopter Flight over Iguassu Falls

18. A Whole Day in the Jungle

19. 3 Hour Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with a Local Guide

20. Ginga Tropical - Brazilian Samba and Folklore Show

21. Rio's Cookin' Good: 9-Dish Fiesta w/ Market tour & Caipis Galore

22. Exploring Angra Dos Reis and Ilha Grande in One Day

23. Rio de Janeiro Sightseeing Cruise with Morning and Sunset Option

24. Private tour: Christ the Redeemer, Maracanã,Sugarloaf, Old Downtown and Selaron

25. Rio de Janeiro Helicopter Tour - Christ the Redeemer

26. Private Tour: 2Day to Both Sides of Iguazu Falls

27. 5-hour Private Tour Of São Paulo With Its Main Sights – Optional Airport Pickup

28. 3 Hours Snorkel and Swim with Turtles Tour at Tijuca Islands

29. Full-Day Private Tour of Rio with Pick Up

30. Visit the Best Spots in Tijuca Forest - Hike to Caves & Falls

What travelers are saying.

• Luca C 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Comfy view of the city highlights Really cool tour of the city highlights by car. Seen the most typical spots and got the time to take some pictures here and there, as well as a coffee. Lots of info on the city and its history/culture. Our guide, Neto, has been a gracious host. Very happy with it all! Read more Review of: Amazing São Paulo overview in 4 or 5 hours with a private guide Written May 14, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Brazil Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

Plan a trip to brazil with local tour guides, and rio de janeiro, iguazu falls (brazil), salvador and more..

View all 2 reviews

Popular Brazil Tour Destinations

Rio de Janeiro

Iguazu Falls (Brazil)

Popular Brazil Tour Guides

My name is Celso and I was born in São Paulo in 1976. In the first phase of my professional life, I worked in the electronics industry for 27 years. During this period, in addition to walking around São Paulo, I traveled through several Brazilian states, getting to know the diversity of Brazil. In the second and current phase, after the 2020 pandemic, I decided to start a new career by choosing tourism. I took the tour guide course and was accredited. São Paulo is the largest and most populous city in the entire southern hemisphere, and welcomes and shelters people from all over Brazil and the world. For 12 million inhabitants, it is the city of dreams and challenges, of hope and achievements, of culture and shopping, of nature and architecture, and obviously of travel and tours, and in these I will be happy to accompany you on your stay over here. I love seeing the sparkle in tourists' eyes when they discover a new place. I want to share emotions and discoveries in special places on your visit to São Paulo. I'm tour guide accredited by Ministry of Tourism. Welcome to São Paulo!                                                                                                                                  

Hi! My name is Marcelo I´am a Tour Guide in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil. Working for more than 35 years with tourism and hospitality industry, as a travel agent, tour operator and many years as a Hotel Concierge, I am prepared to offer you a personalized itinerary and provide the best experience in Rio. So, See You in Rio?                                                                                                                                  

I am a tourist guide in the land of Iguaçu Falls, I have an inbound Tour Guide team and I work with private transport and tour guide services, all the free-lance guides that I have partnerships with are legalized with federal registration. My history with tourism begins in 1990 when I decided by chance to start working in this area, I really liked it and subsequently decided to take the Tourist Guide course offered by the federal government, subsequently I graduated in tourism at a local university, then graduated in administration . I like this area because it gives us the opportunity to meet people from different cultures every day, learning a lot from them, as well as being a dynamic and surprising job, as well as the satisfaction of showing our clients the countless attractions in our city and region.                                                                                                                                  

Hi, iam Matheus, but you can call me Mat! Your local guide and tourism agent since 2014, with a passion for showcasing the best of this vibrant city. Having worked with over 40 nationalities, including being the host for the Australian Olympic Committee during the 2016 Olympics, I bring a wealth of experience to every tour. Private tours, smooth transfers, and I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese – your Rio adventure just leveled up! Let's make your time in Rio remarkable!                                                                                                                                  

New brazil tour guides.

Sou guia profissional no Rio de Janeiro e apaixonada pelo Rio de Janeiro. É muito gratificante poder apresentar minha cidade tão rica em belezas naturais e história a nossos visitantes. Além de guia de Turismo, tenho formação superior em Museologia e já visitei mais de 15 países.                                                                                                                                  

I am a biologist, passionate about cycling, the rainforest, the history and culture of the three border area. I will show you the best spots in iguassu. My main goal as a tour guide is to show you some hidden spots of our city and connect you with the history and culture of the area.                                                                                                                                  

Guilherme G.

Hello i'm guilherme, from rio de janeiro i am a tour guide and i am also a musician. i love my city, nature, beaches, history and the surprises that rio has to offer my tour always has music, information and friendliness i'm waiting for you here                                                                                                                                  .

Hi there! I'm Rosa a Local tour guide in Rio de Janeiro. I love taking visitors to experience the best places in the City. If you want to enjoy your trip visiting amazing spots at our Marvelous City with a responsible, local and fun guide who really knows secrets about the places around u should consider Rosa.                                                                                                                                  

Popular brazil private tours.

Private Sunrise Tour at Mirante Dona Marta

Enjoy a breathtaking sunrise from one of the most beautiful spots, Mirante Dona Marta. From the spot, you can see Sugarloaf Mountain and the famous Christ the Redeemer statue while the sun fills the city with light.

Bahia By Night: Dinner and Folkloric show

It is the best way to visit and enjoy Salvador at night time. A City full of joy and happiness that everyone who visit it, fall in love with its beauty.

Private Tour Guide and Translator Services

Hire a private tour guided. i will help you to build the itinerary, according to your needs. from a regular sightseeing tour, to a trip around the state of rio de janeiro. nature, ecotours, gastronomy, football, music, corporative services and translations..

Rio Day Tour - Get to know Rio de Janeiro in a few hours

We'll visit the famous christ the redeemer statue with open arms blessing the city which is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. on the way down coming off the statue we'll visit the charming and old santa teresa uphill neighborhood. next we'll drop off at the special selaron steps decorated by tiles from different countries. to finish the tour we take a cable car to enjoy a breathtaking view from the sugar loaf hill.

New Brazil Private Tours

Behind of the scenes of the Rio Carnival!

An unforgettable experience behind the scenes of the rio carnival the only experience that offers visitation behind the scenes of the carioca carnival in rio de janeiro.

Petropolis. The imperial City

Discover the charm of petrópolis, also known as the "imperial city," as it served as the summer refuge for the brazilian imperial family. this city boasts a beautiful architectural ensemble, featuring iconic landmarks: imperial museum: the most visited museum in brazil. once the residence of the imperial family, it now houses a vast collection of artifacts from that era. quitandinha palace: in the 1940s, it was the largest casino hotel in latin america. now it holds a cultural center complex..

Private Tour on Chist Redeemer and Sugar Loaf cable car

This is the best way to get to know the two main attractions of the marvelous city by saving time in the queues with access from our guides preferences. first let's get to know christ the redeemer being one of the first to arrive at the statue and watch the dawn day. after visiting the statue we will go to the sugar loaf where we will save time with our guides..

Pedra do Telegraph Hike

The hike begins in guaratiba on the west zone of rio, after 35 minutes of walking up a medium level trail we have a breathtaking view of the beaches parque da pedra branca' beach and recreio dos bandeirantes' beach., popular brazil private cars.

Private transfer Airport x Rio de Janeiro hotels.

Make your arrival or departure from rio de janeiro pleasant and stress-free. take a private transfer from the airport/pier to your hotel or back to the airport/pier on your way out. enjoy a comfortable, climate-controlled vehicle and a personal driver who knows the city intimately and will get you to the back and forward safely and on-time. your transfer includes reception at the airport or pier, taxes, tolls, and parking fees..

Transfer Pier to SDU Airport

Experience a seamless transfer from rio pier, pier maua, to santos dumont airport. our professional driver will greet you, assist with luggage, and ensure a comfortable journey. enjoy the convenience of a private car, stress-free pick-up, and drop-off at your preferred location, with parking fees included. travel worry-free with our reliable service.

Transfer Southside Rio to SDU- Santos Dumont Airport

Experience a seamless transfer from rio southside area ( copacabana, ipanema, leblon, lagoa, botafogo, flamengo) tosdu- santos dumont airport. our professional driver will greet you, assist with luggage, and ensure a comfortable journey. enjoy the convenience of a private car, stress-free pick-up, and drop-off at your preferred location, with parking fees included. travel worry-free with our reliable service.

Transfer Southside Rio to GIG - Galeão International Airport

Experience a seamless transfer from rio southside area ( copacabana, ipanema, leblon, lagoa, botafogo, flamengo) to gig galeão international airport. our professional driver will greet you, assist with luggage, and ensure a comfortable journey. enjoy the convenience of a private car, stress-free pick-up, and drop-off at your preferred location, with parking fees included. travel worry-free with our reliable service, brazil tour reviews.

“ Amazing views, amazing experience! ”

So greta i found this tour! It is indeed private, i was picked up from the hotel and we were pretty early at the spot to get the best place to see the sunrise. The views are amazing, also i've got to know so many different facts about Rio (we had much time while waiting for the sunrise). Really appreciate this opportunity and great company!

“ Josuel Q. is Excellent ”

Josuel was an excellent tour guide through and through. He is top notch and I would recommend him to anyone. Amazing knowledge; tons of patience, so much grace in how he managed everything. He was just superb!

Thank you so much Mr. Jimmy. It Was a really pleasure meeting you both. I have some pics and vídeos to send to you but I post your contact. Please send me message on whatzzap

Brazil Private Tour Guide

Latest brazil articles.

Top 7 Most Popular Foods in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

With influences hailing from Africa, Europe, and everywhere in between - Rio de Janeiro is a true melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Rio de Janeiro...

4 Hidden Gems to Visit in Rio de Janeiro

From the majestic statue of christ the redeemer, to the imposing form of sugarloaf mountain, many of rio de janeiro's most famous attractions are so b....

Top 4 Shopping Spots in Rio de Janeiro

Home to almost 7 million people, rio de janeiro’s bustling streets are home to countless attractions, fascinating museums, delicious restaurants, and ....

Our Top 4 Private Nature Tours in Rio de Janeiro

Though it's easy to forget amidst the hectic pace of the city, rio de janeiro is actually surrounded by incredibly vibrant nature and wildlife. brazil..., the best tours and activities.

With a real local of your choice

The option to personalize your tour

Just contact your favorite local

Only private tours!

So no group tours with strangers

Related Brazil Tour Guide Pages

• South America Tours
• Brazil Tours
• Guided and Escorted Tours

Brazil Escorted tours and Guided trips

Experience the magic as you take a trip to Brazil and delve into its vibrant culture, awe-inspiring landscapes, and hidden gems with one of our Brazil-guided tours. With an experienced guide well-versed in the country's history, traditions, and local nuances, you'll gain a deeper understanding of each destination you visit. Wander through the colorful streets of Salvador, where your guide will unravel captivating stories of Afro-Brazilian heritage and take you to hidden corners of the city known only to locals. Explore the enchanting Amazon rainforest, guided by an expert who will introduce you to the rich biodiversity and indigenous communities. Ascend to breathtaking heights as you hike through the towering peaks of Chapada Diamantina National Park, guided by an expert explore the best trails, and can share fascinating insights into the region's geology and flora. With their passion, knowledge, and personalized attention, our guides will transform your Brazil guided tour into an immersive journey. Build a personalized itinerary for an escorted travel experience with a customized trip to Brazil . Or check out our guided tours for Brazil below.

• Best Time to Visit Brazil

122 guided tours in Brazil

• Starts Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
• Ends Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Best of Brazil

• Best price guaranteed
• No booking fees
• Tour Type Small Group Tour
• Activities Explorer
• Accommodation Hotel
• Transport Boat, Ferry, Bus, Private Vehicle, Minibus & Taxi
• Age Range 15-99 yrs
• Operated in English
• Brochure Price: US$ 990
• Special Deal (20%): - US$ 198
• Total Price from: US$ 792
• May 26 Only 1 seat left
• Jun 16 10+ seats left
• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

• Starts Salvador, Brazil

Pure Brazil

• Activities Wildlife & Active and outdoor Wildlife , Active and outdoor , Cruise , Cultural, religious and historic sites & Safari 'data-more-tripid='17109'>+3 more
• Accommodation Hotel, Lodge & Eco Lodge
• Transport Boat, Bus, Flight, Private Vehicle & 4WD Jeep
• Age Range 16-95 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 6,930
• Special Deal (4%): - US$ 270
• Total Price from: US$ 6,660
• Jun 15 Only 6 seats left
• Sep 07 Only 6 seats left

• Starts Cuiaba, Brazil
• Ends Cuiaba, Brazil

Land of the Jaguar

• Activities Wildlife & Bird watching Wildlife , Bird watching , Wildlife safaris and game drives & Safari 'data-more-tripid='7959'>+2 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Lodge
• Transport Boat & Jeep
• Age Range 16-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 8,098
• Special Deal (14%): - US$ 1,153
• Total Price from: US$ 6,945
• Jul 01 Only 7 seats left
• Jul 18 Only 3 seats left

• Starts Campo Grande, Brazil

Discover Pantanal, Rio & Costa Verde

• Trip customizable
• Tour Type Private Tour
• Activities City sightseeing & Trekking and Hiking City sightseeing , Trekking and Hiking , Natural landmarks sightseeing & Honeymoon 'data-more-tripid='23613'>+2 more
• Transport Boat, Private Vehicle & Bus
• Age Range 1-80 yrs

Natural Wonders of Brazil - 12 days

• Tour Type Group Tour
• Activities Natural landmarks sightseeing
• Transport Flight, Boat, Private Vehicle & 4WD Jeep
• Age Range 18-80 yrs
• Sep 21 Only 8 seats left
• Nov 16 Only 8 seats left

Rio, Foz do Iguazu and Pantanal Experience

• Free cancellation
• Activities City sightseeing & Natural landmarks sightseeing City sightseeing , Natural landmarks sightseeing & Waterfalls 'data-more-tripid='27203'>+1 more
• Transport Flight, Boat & Private Vehicle
• Age Range 12-99 yrs
• Operated in English, Portuguese, Spanish

• Starts Foz Do Iguacu, Brazil
• Ends Campo Grande, Brazil

Pantanal, Bonito & Iguazu Adventure 9D/8N (from Foz do Iguacu)

• Activities Adventure & Wildlife Adventure , Wildlife & Explorer 'data-more-tripid='34452'>+1 more
• Accommodation Lodge, Hostel & Hotel
• Transport 4WD Jeep, Boat, Bus & Flight
• Age Range 18-99 yrs
• May 19 10+ seats left
• May 20 10+ seats left

• Starts Manaus, Brazil
• Ends Manaus, Brazil

Manaus Amazon Jungle Adventure 5D/4N

• Activities Rainforest and jungle visits & Honeymoon
• Accommodation Camping & Lodge
• Transport Boat & Bus

• Starts Belém, Brazil

Brazilian Amazon by Boat

• Activities Wildlife & Active and outdoor Wildlife , Active and outdoor , Cruise , Explorer & Safari 'data-more-tripid='17101'>+3 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Camping
• Transport Boat, Bus, Flight & Ferry
• Brochure Price: US$ 4,700
• Special Deal (6%): - US$ 270
• Total Price from: US$ 4,430
• Sep 21 10+ seats left

Costa Verde Explorer 5D/4N

• Activities Adventure & Explorer
• Accommodation Hostel & Hotel
• Transport Boat

Pantanal Adventure 4D/3N

• Activities Rainforest and jungle visits & Wildlife
• Accommodation Lodge
• Transport Boat, Jeep & Bus

• Starts Cusco, Peru

Exploring South America -13 days

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & City sightseeing Cultural, religious and historic sites , City sightseeing & Sightseeing Tours 'data-more-tripid='9983'>+1 more
• Transport Train, Bus, Flight, Jeep & Private Vehicle
• Age Range 5-79 yrs
• Operated in English, Spanish

Rio de Janeiro Welcome Package 4D/3N

• Accommodation Hotel & Hostel
• Transport Train

The Big Dude Tour- Touring Rio de Janeiro

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites
• Accommodation No Accommodation

Going to Brazil? Chat with a local travel specialist in Brazil who can help personalize your own escorted trip to Brazil.

Brazil Guided Tour Reviews

• Bridgett And Stephen Shrum
• Edward Smith

Guided and escorted tours

• South America guided tours
• Central America guided tours
• Peru guided tours
• Argentina guided tours
• Costa Rica guided tours
• Ecuador guided tours
• Chile guided tours
• Bolivia guided tours
• Brazil trips
• Brazil budget tours
• Eco tours in Brazil
• Brazil family tour packages
• Brazil luxury tours
• Brazil private tours
• Brazil self-guided tours
• Brazil small group tours
• Brazil solo trips
• Brazil tailor-made vacation packages
• Brazil tours for senior citizens
• Brazil tours for young adults
• Brazil group tours
• Brazil last minute deals
• Brazil travel deals

Brazil upcoming departures

• Spring 2024/2025
• Summer 2024/2025
• Winter 2024/2025
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024

Sign-in to unlock instant trip discounts. Create wish lists and save up to USD 1,500.

©Nat Photos/Getty Images

One of the world's most captivating places, Brazil is a country of powdery white-sand beaches, verdant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, leave the planning to a local expert.

Experience the real Brazil. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Parque Nacional da Tijuca

Rio de Janeiro

The Tijuca is all that's left of the Atlantic rainforest that once surrounded Rio de Janeiro. This 39-sq-km tropical-jungle preserve is an exuberant green…

Pão de Açúcar

Seen from the peak of Pão de Açúcar, Rio is undoubtedly a Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City). There are many good times to make the ascent, but sunset on…

Copacabana Beach

A magnificent confluence of land and sea, the long, scalloped beach of Copacabana extends for some 4km, with a flurry of activity along its length: over…

Parque Nacional do Iguaçu

Brazil's second-oldest national park, created in 1939, protects one of South America's most magical and majestic sights, Iguaçu Falls, part of the largest…

Ipanema Beach

Ipanema & Leblon

One long stretch of sun-drenched sand, Ipanema Beach is demarcated by postos (posts), which mark off subcultures as diverse as the city itself. Posto 9,…

Reserva Extrativista Baixo Rio Branco-Jauaperi

This newly minted extractive reserve is an outstanding place to immerse yourself in the best the Amazon has to offer, with excellent wildlife-watching –…

Cristo Redentor

Flamengo & Around

Standing atop Corcovado (which means ‘hunchback’), Cristo Redentor gazes out over Rio, a placid expression on his well-crafted face. The mountain rises…

Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina

Spanning over 1520 sq km and containing within it innumerable species of plants and animals, deafening waterfalls and vast, rugged plains, Parque Nacional…

Top picks from our travel experts

15 things to do in brazil that will amaze you.

Parque das Aves

Foz do Iguaçu

This 5-hectare bird park, located 300m from the entrance to Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, is home to 800-plus species of birds, including red ibis, bare…

Museu de Arte de São Paulo

Sampa’s pride, this museum possesses Latin America’s most comprehensive collection of Western art. Hovering above a concrete plaza that turns into an…

Farol das Conchas

Built in 1872 on orders from Dom Pedro II, this lighthouse stands picturesquely atop a hill at the island’s most easterly point. From here you have…

Museu do Futebol

Tucked under the bleachers of colorfully art deco Pacaembu Stadium, this fantastic museum is devoted to Brazil’s greatest passion – football (soccer). Its…

Maracanã Football Stadium

Rio’s Maracanã stadium is hallowed ground among football lovers. The massive arena has been the site of legendary victories and crushing defeats. Maracanã…

The epicenter of Rio’s Carnaval, the Sambódromo was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and completed in 1984. During big parades, come here for fantastic views…

Beco do Batman

One of São Paulo's premiere street-art locations, 'Batman's Alley' has slowly risen from secret location for band promotional shots and Brazilian films to…

Cumbuco, 35km from Fortaleza, has a long wide beach with soft sand, an expanse of dunes and a few lagoons that make it very popular for buggy rides and…

Parque Nacional da Serra da Capivara

One of Brazil's most important national parks, this 1300-sq-km reserve contains more than 40,000 rock paintings among spectacular panoramas of immense…

Parque Nacional do Itatiaia

Rio de Janeiro State

Brazil’s oldest national park, Itatiaia shelters a stunning variety of landscapes, from dense rainforests to spare and rugged upland peaks. Most visitors…

Itaipu Binacional

With a capacity of 14 million kilowatts, this binational dam is the world's second-largest hydroelectric power station, and the one that produces the most…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

Whether you prefer magnificent nature or exciting cities, Brazil has an experience lined up for you. Here’s our guide to the top things to do in Brazil.

Things to Know

Visiting a community to better understand the lives of the people who live there – that's the sort of positive impact tourism is supposed to have. 

Transportation

Find your way around in Brazil with this guide to the country's transportation.

Visa Requirements

Brazil offers different visas depending on the purpose of travel and country of origin. Here’s everything you need to know about getting a visa for Brazil.

Money and Costs

Everything you need to know to make your money go further in Brazil.

Traveling with Kids

With top tips on safety and places to go, find the perfect activities for all age groups on your family trip to Brazil.

Best Road Trips

From coastal drives to winding mountain roads, getting behind the wheel in Brazil opens up a world of natural wonders. Here are Brazil's best road trips.

Plan with a local

Experience the real Brazil

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Latest stories from Brazil

Filter by interest:

• All Interests
• Adventure Travel
• Art & Culture
• Beaches, Coasts & Islands
• Food & Drink

Tips & Advice

Mar 1, 2024 • 9 min read

Don't get overwhelmed by the scale of Brazil – get organized! Here are our top 10 favorite places to visit in this South American sensation.

Dec 2, 2023 • 7 min read

Nov 9, 2023 • 4 min read

Nov 8, 2023 • 5 min read

Oct 7, 2023 • 8 min read

Oct 6, 2023 • 4 min read

Sep 28, 2023 • 12 min read

Sep 28, 2023 • 3 min read

Sep 20, 2023 • 9 min read

Mar 15, 2023 • 6 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Brazil

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks.

Get to the heart of Brazil with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

Brazil and beyond

Guided Brazil Tours & Escorted Brazil Tour Packages 2024 & 2025

Brazil only tours, expertly curated guided tours to brazil for 2024 & 2025.

Our guided Brazil tours are made simple for 2024 & 2025 when you work with our experts to create the perfect escorted Brazil tour itinerary. Whether spending two weeks or two months on one of our Brazil private tours, we deliver the ideal travel schedule that allows you to indulge in everything you want to experience as a part of your unforgettable Brazil tour and South American adventure.

All of The Latin America Travel Company Brazil tours packages are highly bespoke to give you the immersion into this fantastic place you crave. We will produce a travel program for your tour to Brazil that will take away any concerns you may have over Brazil tours travel between destinations, hotel bookings, or local guides. It ensures that your Brazil tour package has everything organised from the moment you arrive in the country so you can relax and enjoy your guided tour of Brazil. The below multi-country tours incorporate tours to nearby countries including Argentina escorted tours and Chile guided tours .

MULTI-COUNTRY TOURS

Brazil escorted tour packages to suit your requirements and budget.

Each customer we see has different wants and needs when booking tours to Brazil and our carefully tailored Brazil tour packages offer the best flexibility. The country is so diverse in what it can offer when travelling that the cost of escorted Brazil tours can vary greatly. We will work with you to create the Brazil private tour you want working to your budget.

During your escorted tour to Brazil, you may wish to travel to multiple destinations within the country, so having us create your itinerary with appropriate accommodation as part of your Brazil tour package is essential. We will deliver on the requirements of your Brazil vacation tour with a tailored schedule. It will allow you to enjoy and immerse yourself in all that this magnificent part of South America has to offer whilst staying within your budget and being attentive towards your Brazil tour cost.

Start Your Journey Here

Please complete The Form Below

Please provide as much information as possible so we can respond with the best answer and don't forget to press the submit button at the bottom. We reply to all enquiries within one working day.

How Can We Reach You?

How can we help, which region(s) are you interested in, how did you hear about us, from jungle-clad mountains to the roaring iguazu waterfalls, our brazil guided tours will amaze you, discover sun-kissed beaches and travel deep into the amazon with our brazil private tour itineraries, experience rio de janeiro, the home of samba, with tailor-made private brazil escorted tours, guided tours of brazil with fun-packed itineraries which leave no stone unturned, memorable 2023 brazil escorted tours that offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience, your safety and security are the top priority for all of our brazil vacation tour packages, interested in a guided brazil tour package speak to our friendly brazil tour operator team today , brazil escorted tours faqs, can i do a brazil guided tour in 10 days, how much do brazil tour packages cost,  what can i see on your brazil adventure tours, what makes the latin america travel company one of the best brazil tour operators in the uk, are brazil escorted tours safe, start your journey.

DESTINATIONS

• € EUR

Luxury Private Brazil Tours made for you

in Brazil's Pantanal

Brazil's Big Cities

are vibrant, energetic and full of culture

Iguassu Falls

massive waterfalls surrounded by lush jungle

Rio de Janeiro Carnival

for one of the World's biggest street parties

is the world's largest rainforest

Stunning beaches, incredible culture and plentiful nature

Immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty and splendours of Brazil in style with Jacada Travel. We’ll carefully curate a personalised luxury trip just for you, encompassing exceptional accommodation, a collection of enlightening private tours and a flawless blend of unmissable destinations and incredible activities.

Brazil is one of the largest and most diverse countries in the world, rich with culture and presenting a miscellany of sensational experiences. We have the expertise to help you create your dream private journey to Brazil.

Several of Jacada’s Travel Designers have worked and lived in Brazil, so we’ll not only provide you with suggestions like where to find the most secluded and pristine beach spots, but also the best accommodation that will tick your boxes. All of our fantastic Brazil trips are meticulously designed to give you the ultimate supreme full-service and private tailor-made experience of this magnificent country.

We can plan every step of your trip, allowing you to relish the tremendous adventures and wonderful sights of Brazil, knowing that Jacada Travel is taking care of all the details.

Musing over the Sugar Loaf Mountain while sipping on the perfect caipirinha in  Rio de Janeiro

Tracking jaguars in the epic wilderness of the  Pantanal wetlands

Setting off on a cruise down the river, keeping an eye out for wildlife in the  Amazon jungle

Venturing on a boat ride or hike to see the spectacular  Iguassu Falls

Soaking up the beautiful artistic scenes, with an expertly guided art tour around  Sao Paolo

Lily Bunker

Senior Travel Designer

I absolutely love Brazil, it has everything in one captivating country. Here, you can relax on beautiful beaches, explore pretty colonial towns, adventure into the rainforest, party at world-famous festivals or search for wildlife in the Pantanal – and you will have only scratched the surface of this vast destination.

Trip inspiration

11 Day trip

12 Day trip

10 Day trip

Luxury accommodation in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro

The Pantanal

Whatever you want from your Brazil tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Where to go

Brazil’s most iconic city with one of the most famous beaches in the world on its doorstep; Copacabana. The towering sugarloaf mountain and emerald green forests and parks, coupled with a vibrant culture make Rio a city not to be missed.

Brazil’s largest waterfalls thunder into the Parana river below. From Brazil, stand within the lush tropical rainforests for the best views of the 275 cascading waterfalls, stretching all the way into Argentina.

An unmatched natural wilderness, its sheer scale is hard to comprehend. Brazil’s amazon is the ultimate adventure with hikes, boat trips, nature walks, bird watching and fascinating cultural encounters.

South America’s premier wildlife spotting location and the world's largest wetlands area. The place to find the sleek, strong and surprising large jaguars among many other intruiging and endangered species.

Rural beach life, relaxed and connected to local culture and stunning nature. There’s an effortless and sophisticated luxury hidden away here among village life that attracts Brazil's glamorous crowd.

Buzios is a collection of sandy coves where clear blue waters lap at the glistening rocks. The town itself is bustling with many chic bars, boutiques and restaurants where it’s become known as the St Tropez of Brazil.

A picturesque town of cobbled streets and white washed buildings with bright colourful doors and shutters. Nestled into the Costa Verde it’s a wonderful place for exclusive boat trips around the many inviting coves and beaches of the area.

Ibitipoca, just half a day's drive from energetic Rio, is an area of intense natural beauty and serenity. Great for hikes, horse rides and swimming in waterfalls, there’s also lots of opportunity to join in with and learn about local rural life.

Florianopolis

Many Brazilians and Argentineans head to the secluded beaches of Florianopolis to relax. Long white sandy stretches punctuated by little fishing villages with great surfing, windsurfing and kayaking activities.

An architecturally beautiful city with a rich history. This is one of the best places to learn about Brazil’s African culture with an expert guide. As you explore the city's old town look out for the impromptu displays of hypnotic capoeira.

Chapada Diamantina

Chapada Diamantina is a stunning part of Brazil’s interior where table-top mountains, waterfalls, vast plains, caves and streams stretch out endlessly before you. Explore this natural playground on foot, mountain bike or horseback.

A beach destination that is well and truly off the beaten-track. A protected area that’s crammed with natural highlights from secluded sandy beaches to lush rainforests teeming with wildlife.

A magnificent metropolis and Brazil’s capital of commerce, known mostly as a business city. There’s much more though; a thriving art scene, gourmet restaurants, stunning hotels along with a cosmopolitan fashion and music scene.

Fernando de Noronha

One of the world's premier dive spots, Fernando de Noronha is part of a tropical archipelago 160 kilometre off Brazils coast. Crystal clear waters are home to dolphins and turtles and the white sandy beaches are beyond idyllic.

A huge savannah region of Brazil where allusive jaguars lurk and the iconic maned wolf roams. Due to Corrado's size there's a massive range of plant and animal biodiversity that can be explored with expert naturalist guides.

Meet your Latin America team

Travel Designer

When to visit

Brazil’s summer is from December to March, and the country experiences winter from June to September. It can get very hot and humid during the summer, making the slightly cooler shoulder seasons great for travelling. The Amazon is humid all year round. Carnival is a great time to visit Rio, but you must book well in advance.

June - October

December - March

When is the Best Time to Visit Brazil?

Brazil travel guides.

A Guide to Exploring the Amazon in Brazil

Luxury travel to Brazil: an insider guide

What to Pack for a Trip to Brazil

Plan your trip to brazil.

Whatever you want from your adventure in Brazil, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Why book with Jacada?

Personalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

Responsible travel

Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

As returning Jacada customers, our Brazil trip was a spectacular 22 day adventure that took us from Sao Paulo, to the Falls, to the Pantanal, to the Amazon, and Rio. Everything from pre-planning to execution and all things in between were handled flawlessly as Charles and Melanie created an outstanding itinerary with a good pace, locations, guides, and accommodations. Every…

The guides were great, especially the one we got in Brazil. Also, the guides were always there waiting for us at the airport when we landed. Appreciate all the little presents from the agency as well.

They organized a tour for me in Brazil. I have to say that the organization was perfect, the guides were very knowledgeable, and I felt impeccably assisted throughout the entire trip! I also had a mishap at one of the domestic airports which they handled magnificently without even needing my prompt. From now on, they will be my go-to travel…

The company representatives went above what I had expected...and I had expected quite a bit. Their pre-trip advice was spot-on, however they did listen to my goals and amended times, travel and locations to better suit my agenda. The guides we were assigned were knowledgable and punctual to a military standard. The recommended accomodations were perfectly located and we were…

Jacada arranged an extensive private tour for my wife and me in November (2022), visiting Brazil, Argentina and Chile. The entire trip took 3 weeks, starting with 3 nights in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, 2 nights at the Iguazu Falls, 3 nights in Buenos Aires, then a week in Patagonia followed by a week in and around Santiago in…

Plan with peace of mind

When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.

If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.

Travel Guide Brazil

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

• roughguides.com
• South America
• Travel guide
• Itineraries
• Local Experts
• Travel Advice
• Accommodation

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

Just wanted to say that it was incredible. Trip Provider was also incredibly good, and really made their best effort to solve any problems. We were very im...

Brazilians often say they live in a continent rather than a country. It’s an excusable exaggeration. The landmass is bigger than the United States if you exclude Alaska; the journey from Recife in the east to the western border with Peru is longer than that from London to Moscow, and the distance between the northern and southern borders is about the same as that between New York and Los Angeles. Brazil has no mountains to compare with its Andean neighbours, but in every other respect it has all the scenic – and cultural – variety you would expect from so vast a country.

Brazil fact file

Where to go in brazil, festivals in brazil, language in brazil, tailor-made travel itineraries for brazil, created by local experts.

9 days  / from 2042 USD

Brazilian Beaches: Copacabana, Botafogo and more

Begin at Foz do Iguaçu, where you will stand in awe of the huge Iguaçu Falls. Next up, we'll head to the lively city of Rio de Janeiro, home of the legendary Copacabana, Botafogo and Flamengo beaches, and of course, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

10 days  / from 1700 USD

Blissful Brazil

Welcome to a lavish journey that marries adventure with style, featuring stays in carefully chosen four-star hotels. This reinvigorating trip will have you sightseeing in São Paulo, gazing at the spectacular Foz do Iguaçu falls and relaxing on Rio's finest beaches before you know it.

10 days  / from 2683 USD

Breathtaking Brazil: Rio, Beaches and Waterfalls

Explore the lively city of Rio de Janeiro, home to Ipanema and Copacabana beaches; experience the stunning Foz do Iguaçu National Park and see the world’s largest waterfalls system; immerse yourself in cultural Salvador, the magnificent former capital of Portugal’s New World colony.

Despite the immense expanses of the interior, roughly two-thirds of Brazil’s population live on or near the coast and well over half live in cities – even in the Amazon. In Rio and São Paulo, Brazil has two of the world’s great metropolises, and ten other cities have over a million inhabitants. Yet Brazil still thinks of itself as a frontier country, and certainly the deeper into the interior you go, the thinner the population becomes.

Other South Americans regard Brazilians as a race apart, and language has a lot to do with it – Brazilians understand Spanish, just about, but Spanish-speakers won’t understand Portuguese. Brazilians also look different. In the extreme south German and eastern European immigration has left distinctive traces; São Paulo has the world’s largest Japanese community outside Japan; slavery lies behind a large Afro-Brazilian population concentrated in Rio, Salvador and São Luís; while the Indian influence is still very visible in the Amazon. Italian and Portuguese immigration has been so great that its influence is felt across the entire country.

Brazil is a land of profound economic contradictions. Rapid post-war industrialization made it one of the world’s ten largest economies by the 1990s and it is misleading to think of Brazil as a developing country; it is quickly becoming the world’s leading agricultural exporter and has several home-grown multinationals competing successfully in world markets. The last decade has seen millions of Brazilians haul their way into the country’s expanding middle class, and across-the-board improvements in social indicators like life expectancy and basic education. But yawning social divides are still a fact of life in Brazil. The cities are dotted with favelas , shantytowns that crowd around the skyscrapers, and there are wide regional differences , too: Brazilians talk of a “Switzerland” in the South, centred on the Rio–São Paulo axis, and an “India” above it, and although this is a simplification the level of economic development does fall the further north or east you go. Brazil has enormous natural resources but their exploitation has benefited fewer than it should. Institutionalized corruption, a bloated and inefficient public sector and the reluctance of the country’s middle class to do anything that might jeopardize its comfortable lifestyle are a big part of the problem. Levels of violence that would be considered a public emergency in most countries are fatalistically accepted in Brazil – an average of seventeen murders per day in the city of Rio de Janeiro, for example.

These difficulties, however, don’t overshadow everyday life in Brazil, and violence rarely affects tourists. It’s fair to say that nowhere in the world do people enjoy themselves more – most famously in the annual orgiastic celebrations of Carnaval , but reflected, too, in the lively year-round nightlife that you’ll find in any decent-sized town. This national hedonism also manifests itself in Brazil’s highly developed beach culture , superb music and dancing, rich regional cuisines and the most relaxed and tolerant attitude to sexuality – gay and straight – that you’ll find anywhere in South America.

• By far the largest country in South America, Brazil covers nearly half the continent and is only slightly smaller than the US, with an area of just over 8.5 million square kilometres. It shares a frontier with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
• Brazil has around 200 million inhabitants, making it the fifth most populous country in the world.
• Almost ninety percent of Brazil’s electricity is generated from hydropower, about six percent from fossil fuels and six percent from nuclear power. Brazil is becoming an important oil exporter, with new reserves recently discovered offshore from Rio.
• Brazilian exports consist mainly of manufactured products (including automobiles, machinery and footwear), minerals and foodstuffs as varied as coffee, beef and orange juice. But only thirteen percent of GDP comes from exports: Brazil‘s growing domestic economy is the powerhouse of its development.

The most heavily populated part of the country is the Southeast, where the three largest cities – São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte – form a triangle around which the economy pivots. All are worth visiting but Rio, which really is as beautiful as it seems in pictures, is the one essential destination. The South, encompassing the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, is the most economically advanced part of the country and includes much of the enormous Paraná river system. The spectacular Iguaçu Falls on the border with Argentina is one of the great natural wonders of South America.

Central Brazil is dominated by an enormous plateau of savanna and rock escarpments, the Planalto Central. In the middle stands Brasília, the country’s space-age capital, built from scratch in the late 1950s and still developing today. The capital is the gateway to a vast interior, Mato Grosso, only fully charted and settled over the last fifty years; it includes the Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the world and the richest wildlife reserve anywhere in the Americas. North and west Mato Grosso shades into the Amazon, the world’s largest river basin and a mosaic of jungle, rivers, savanna and marshland that also contains two major cities – Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon itself, and Manaus, some 1600km upstream. The tributaries of the Amazon, rivers like the Tapajós, the Xingú, the Negro, the Araguaia or the Tocantins, are virtually unknown outside Brazil, but each is a huge river system in its own right.

The other major sub-region of Brazil is the Northeast, the part of the country that curves out into the Atlantic Ocean. This was the first part of Brazil to be settled by the Portuguese and colonial remains are thicker on the ground here than anywhere else in the country – notably in the cities of Salvador and São Luís and the lovely town of Olinda. It’s a region of dramatic contrasts: a lush tropical coastline with the best beaches in Brazil quickly gives way to the sertão, a semi-arid interior plagued by drought and grinding poverty. All the major cities of the Northeast are on the coast; the two largest are sprawling Recife and Salvador, Brazil’s most heavily Afro-Brazilian city and a fascinating place to visit. The coast of the Northeast is developing rapidly these days, taking advantage of proximity to Europe to attract package tourists and holiday-home buyers. But it is big enough for it still to be possible to get away from it all.

Discover more places in Brazil

• Mato Grosso Travel Guide
• Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo Travel Guide
• The Northeast Travel Guide
• São Paulo Travel Guide
• Brazil South Travel Guide

Carnaval is the most important festival in Brazil, but there are other parties, too, from saints’ days to celebrations based around elections or the World Cup.

When Carnaval comes, the country gets down to some of the most serious partying in the world. A Caribbean carnival might prepare you a little, but what happens in Brazil is more spectacular, goes on longer and is on a far larger scale. Every place in Brazil, large or small, has some form of Carnaval, and in three places especially – Rio, Salvador and Olinda, just outside Recife – Carnaval has become a mass event, involving seemingly the entire populations of the cities and drawing visitors from all over the world.

When exactly Carnaval begins depends on the ecclesiastical calendar: it starts at midnight of the Friday before Ash Wednesday and ends on the Wednesday night, though effectively people start partying on Friday afternoon – over four days of continuous, determined celebration. It usually happens in the middle of February, although very occasionally it can be early March. But in effect, the entire period from Christmas is a kind of run-up to Carnaval. People start working on costumes, songs are composed and rehearsals staged in school playgrounds and backyards, so that Carnaval comes as a culmination rather than a sudden burst of excitement and colour.

During the couple of weekends immediately before Carnaval proper, there are carnival balls (bailes carnavalescos), which get pretty wild. Don’t expect to find many things open or to get much done in the week before Carnaval, or the week after it, when the country takes a few days off to shake off its enormous collective hangover. During Carnaval itself, stores open briefly on Monday and Tuesday mornings, but banks and offices stay closed. Domestic airlines, local and inter-city buses run a Sunday service during the period.

The most familiar and most spectacular Carnaval is in Rio, dominated by samba and the parade of samba schools down the enormous concrete expanse of the gloriously named Sambódromo. One of the world’s great sights, and televised live to the whole country, Rio’s Carnaval has its critics. It is certainly less participatory than Olinda or Salvador, with people crammed into grandstands watching, rather than down following the schools.

Salvador is, in many ways, the antithesis of Rio, with several focuses around the old city centre: the parade is only one of a number of things going on, and people follow parading schools and the trio elétrico, groups playing on top of trucks wired for sound. Samba is only one of several types of music being played; indeed, if it’s music you’re interested in, Salvador is the best place to hear and see it.

Olinda, in a magical colonial setting just outside Recife, has a character all its own, less frantic than Rio and Salvador; musically, it’s dominated by frevo, the fast, whirling beat of Pernambuco, and is in some ways the most distinctive visually, with its bonecos, large papier-mâché figures that are the centrepiece of the Olinda street parades.

Some places you would expect to be large enough to have an impressive Carnaval are in fact notoriously bad at it: cities in this category are São Paulo, Brasília and Belo Horizonte. On the other hand, there are also places that have much better Carnavals than you would imagine: the one in Belém is very distinctive, with the Amazonian food and rhythms of the carimbó, and Fortaleza also has a good reputation. The South, usually written off by most people as far as Carnaval is concerned, has major events in Florianópolis, primarily aimed at attracting Argentine and São Paulo tourists, and the smaller but more distinctive Carnaval in Laguna. For full details of the events, music and happenings at each of the main Carnavals, see under the relevant sections of the Guide.

Other festivals

The third week in June has festas juninas, geared mainly towards children, who dress up in straw hats and checked shirts and release paper balloons with candles attached (to provide the hot air), causing anything from a fright to a major conflagration when they land.

Elections and the World Cup are usually excuses for impromptu celebrations, while official celebrations, with military parades and patriotic speeches, take place on September 7 (Independence Day) and November 15, the anniversary of the declaration of the Republic.

In towns and rural areas, you may well stumble across a dia de festa, the day of the local patron saint, a very simple event in which the image of the saint is paraded through the town, with a band and firecrackers, a thanksgiving Mass is celebrated, and then everyone turns to the secular pleasures of the fair, the market and the bottle. In Belém, this tradition reaches its zenith in the annual Cirio on the second Sunday of October, when crowds of over a million follow the procession of the image of Nossa Senhora de Nazaré, but most festas are small-scale, small-town events.

In recent years, many towns have created new festivals, usually glorified industrial fairs or agricultural shows. Often these events are named after the local area’s most important product, such as the Festa Nacional do Frango e do Peru (chickens and turkeys) in Chapecó. Occasionally, these local government creations can be worth attending as some promote local popular culture as well as industry. One of the best is Pomerode’s annual Festa Pomerana, which takes place in the first half of January and has done much to encourage the promotion of local German traditions.

Football in Brazil

Going to a football match in Brazil is something even those bored by the game will enjoy as spectacle: the stadiums are sights in themselves and big matches are watched behind a screen of tickertape and waving flags, huge banners, massed drums, fireworks and firecrackers, to the chants, roars and whistling of the world’s most passionate football supporters.

Brazil’s major teams are concentrated in Rio and São Paulo. In Rio, Flamengo is the best-supported team in the country, and its distinctive shirt of red and black hoops is seen everywhere. Its clashes with perennial Rio rival Fluminense (maroon, green and white stripes) is one of the most intense matches in Brazilian club football, rivalled only by the games between São Paulo’s two leading teams, São Paulo (white with red and black hoops) and Coríntians (white). In Rio, Botafogo (black and white stripes with the famous white-star badge) and Vasco (white with black diagonal stripe) vie with Fla-Flu for dominance, while Palmeiras (green) and Santos (white) make up the big four in São Paulo. The only teams that consistently live with the best of Rio and São Paulo are Internacional (red) and Grêmio (blue, white and black stripes) from Porto Alegre, and Atlético Mineiro (white) and Cruzeiro (dark blue) from Belo Horizonte.

Brazilian stadiums tend to be enormous, concrete, and with a few exceptions rather dingy and lacking in character: they are rarely full save for clássicos, matches between major teams, and rely on the supporters rather than their architecture for colour and feeling. Most pitches are separated from supporters by a wide running track and sometimes even a moat, which puts the play further from the terraces than British fans will be used to. But some stadiums are worth going out of your way for: the Maracanã in Rio, it goes without saying, but also the beautiful Art Deco Pacaembú in São Paulo. No football fan should visit Rio without leaving a morning for the excellent tour of the Maracanã, or miss the superb new Museu de Futbol when in São Paulo.

Tickets are very cheap by European standards; good seats at a clássico will cost no more than R$50, but an ordinary match will be half that or less – the issue is availability rather than price. For clássicos, hotels often have packages that include transport, tickets and a guide for around R$100 all in, an expensive way of doing it but often the only practical option if you can’t get a ticket a few days in advance. For ordinary matches, you can almost always turn up half an hour beforehand and look for the bilheteria, the ticket office, which usually only takes cash. All stadiums are two-deckers, most are now all-seaters but a few still have terracing on the lower deck: upper-deck seats are arquibancada, lower-deck geral. There is not as much of a problem with crowd violence in Brazil as in many European countries, but don’t wear a Brazilian club shirt just to be on the safe side: non-Brazilian shirts are no problem (except for Argentinian ones – the two countries don’t get on well in footballing terms), and Brazilian fans are extremely friendly to foreigners. December is the off season; otherwise, a mixture of state and national championships ensures constant football.

Learning some Portuguese before you go to Brazil is an extremely good idea. Although many well-educated Brazilians speak English, and it’s now the main second language taught in schools, this hasn’t filtered through to most of the population. If you know Spanish you’re halfway there: there are obvious similarities in the grammar and vocabulary, so you should be able to make yourself understood if you speak slowly, and reading won’t present you with too many problems. However, Portuguese pronunciation is utterly different and much less straightforward than Spanish, so unless you take the trouble to learn a bit about it you won’t have a clue what Brazilians are talking about. And contrary to what you might expect, very few Brazilians speak Spanish themselves.

Unfortunately, far too many people – especially Spanish-speakers – are put off going to Brazil precisely by the language, but in reality this should be one of your main reasons for going. Brazilian Portuguese is a colourful, sensual language full of wonderfully rude and exotic vowel sounds, swooping intonation and hilarious idiomatic expressions. You’ll also find that Brazilians will greatly appreciate even your most rudimentary efforts, and every small improvement in your Portuguese will make your stay in Brazil ten times more enjoyable.

People who have learned their Portuguese in Portugal or in Lusophone Africa won’t have any real problems with the language in Brazil, but there are some quite big differences. There are many variations in vocabulary, and Brazilians take more liberties with the language, but the most notable differences are in pronunciation: Brazilian Portuguese is spoken more slowly and clearly; the neutral vowels so characteristic of European Portuguese tend to be sounded in full; in much of Brazil outside Rio the slushy “sh” sound doesn’t exist; and the “de” and “te” endings of words like cidade and diferente are palatalized so they end up sounding like “sidadgee” and “djiferentchee”.

Carnaval plunges Brazil into the most serious partying in the world. Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Notting Hill in London are not even close; nothing approaches the sheer scale and spectacle of Carnaval in Rio, Salvador and Olinda, just outside Recife. But Carnaval also speaks to the streak of melancholy that is the other side of the stereotype of fun-loving Brazil.

Part of the reason is Carnaval’s origins at the time when Brazil was still the largest slaveholding country in the Americas. The celebrations just before Lent acquired a kind of “world turned upside down” character, with slaveowners ceremonially serving their slaves food and allowing them time off work – giving a particularly double-edged feel to Carnaval as servitude reasserted itself come Ash Wedneday. Brazil has come a long way since then, but the traditional freedom to transgress that comes with Carnaval gives its partying an edge that deepens in the small hours, as alcohol and crowds generate their usual tensions – the already high murder rate hits its peak over the festival and traffic deaths are also at their annual high. There is a big difference between day and night. Carnaval during the day is for families, and you can relax along with the Pierrots, masks and brass bands that ply the streets and squares: if you travel with children they will remember a good Carnaval for the rest of their lives. Carnaval at night is memorably spectacular in Rio and the biggest street party you will ever see in Salvador and Olinda, but it’s best to keep your wits about you and your head clear. For more information, see Carnaval dates and the relevant sections of the guide for more information.

Travel advice for Brazil

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Brazil

• Eating and drinking in Brazil
• How to get to Brazil
• Getting around Brazil: Transportation Tips
• Travel Tips Brazil for planning and on the go

The Rough Guides to Brazil and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Find even more inspiration here

Planning your own trip? Prepare for your trip

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates

written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 26.04.2021

Ready to travel and discover Brazil?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Travel advice

Our Guides for Your Brazil Trip

Alexandre - Guide in Rio de Janeiro

Pedro - Guide in Rio de Janeiro

Rainer - Guide in Nova Friburgo and Organ Mountains

Leandro - Guide in Foz do Iguaçu

Julierton - Guide in Foz do Iguaçu

Edemir - Guide in Bonito and South Pantanal

Vitinho - Guide in South Pantanal

Lela - Guide in South Pantanal

Marcio - Guide North Pantanal

Roberto - Guide in North Pantanal

Arnaldo - Guide in Florianópolis

Sabina - Guide in Fernando de Noronha

RIO DE JANEIRO TOUR GUIDE – PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS OF RIO

THE Rio de Janeiro private tour guide: experienced, professional and fluent in English.

Join the thousands of satisfied visitors who had me as their rio de janeiro private guide..

“ Madson was the first one we read about in our search and we booked without even looking into anyone else. We made an excellent decision! Our five hour tour was packed with interesting information about Rio and Brazil and Madson’s outgoing personality made us feel that we were taking the tour with someone we knew.” Priscilla J., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Here’s what you might experience by hiring me as your private guide in Rio de Janeiro

Imagine you wake up in your hotel room in Rio de Janeiro and think to yourself, “I can’t believe I’m in Brazil!”. Then, you go have a delicious breakfast and then proceed to the lobby to meet your tour guide. He arrives right on time, smiles at you and gives you a warm ‘Welcome to Rio’. Your Rio de Janeiro private tour is about to start and you feel reassured that you are in good hands.

Your tour guide breaks the ice and walks you to his minivan. You get in and realize that his vehicle features what was stated on his website — comfortable, clean, air-conditioned, and with plenty of room for your legs.

Your private guide heads straight to Corcovado. He knows you can hardly wait to see Christ the Redeemer statue up close and personal as well as the breath-taking vistas of Rio de Janeiro . On the way, your tour guide slows down and even stops wherever there is an interesting site for you to take a picture of. By the way, on a half-day guided tour you can easily take 50 photos of Rio de Janeiro. Charge your phone’s batteries!

You then visit other sites according to the program as well as some hidden treasures that only a local tour guide who has guided 8,000+ visitors in Rio de Janeiro can take you to.

Time flies and at the end of your Rio private tour your guide drops you off back at your hotel. You feel great, you had a wonderful day , you laughed, learned, and had a great time as a vacationer must do. Yes, your day was fascinating mainly because you wisely decided to hire a reputable, experienced, English-speaking tour guide in Rio de Janeiro !

What can I do for you as your private tour guide in Rio de Janeiro?

• I will prioritize your safety above all and by all means;
• I will organize the tour itinerary to avoid time-consuming hassles, queues, and traffic;
• I will offer you a “seriously entertaining” tour of Rio — enjoyably informative but never pedantic.

“ Third trip to Rio and the first with my wife. Madson customized each visit based on our interests and I always feel like a local. We’ve been fortunate to visit 70 countries and Brazil is at the top, because of his company. His personality distinguishes him from other guides. We’re looking forward to returning for Carnival 2014!” Jerry Davanon, Scottsdale, AZ .

8,000+ visitors have embarked on a private tour of Rio de Janeiro with me

Discover Rio de Janeiro on a Memorable Private Guided Tour!

Christ the Redeemer Statue Guided Tour (Corcovado)

Hassle-free Christ the Redeemer tour. Christ Statue is Rio’s most visited monument, situated at 710 meters (2,329 feet) above sea level on the top of Corcovado mountain. From there one can have a 360-degree view of the city. This famous tourist attractions is one of the 7 new wonders of the world.

Sugar Loaf Mountain Guided Tour

Visit with your top-rated private tour guide Rio’s second most visited monument: Sugar Loaf . It is a 396-meter (1,299 feet) high one-block stone from where you can have a panoramic view over Copacabana, Botafogo and Flamengo beaches besides downtown, Rio-Niteroi bridge, Guanabara Bay, and more.

Rio de Janeiro Downtown Guided Tour

Guided tour of Rio de Janeiro Downtown. It includes a short stroll in Centro (downtown) and a drive in Lapa neighborhood (including its arches), a stop at Colombo Café (established in 1894!); a comprehensive visit to Sélaron steps, a quick visit to Rio’s modern cathedral (a church different from all the others you have seen), and a few other attractions along the way.

“My Rio de Janeiro” Guided Tour

This is my favorite tour. It’s a selection of neighborhoods, streets, sidewalks, squares, beaches, overlooks, and hidden spots. Some of these are not even known by the locals in the know! I strongly recommend this private tour IF you are interested in seeing sites other than the popular Rio de Janeiro tourist attractions .

10 reasons to hire me as your Rio de Janeiro tour guide

1. experience: i am a proud tour guide since 2004..

I took a tour guide course in 2004 in Rio de Janeiro, and since then I have been working in the field. At some point in time, I have specialized in private city tours, covering the major attractions as well as the lesser-known sites. I have guided more than eight thousands visitors (!), from forty-five nationalities and from all walks of life. If you think a bit about it, those are huge numbers considering that private tours have on average between two and four people.

I have guided solo travelers (male and female), couples, families, groups of friends, co-workers. My tour guide service past clientele includes tourists on vacation in Rio de Janeiro as well as business people who managed to make space in their calendar to visit at least the two major attractions: Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugar Loaf. Many of those visitors had already taken private guided tours in other cities and knew the benefits of them, but some had decided to take their very first private tour in their lives in Rio de Janeiro, and apparently, they did not regret it.

2. Knowledge: I know Rio de Janeiro tourist attractions inside out.

On my records as a private tour guide in Rio de Janeiro , all my figures are either in the thousands or in the hundreds. In other words, I have guided people thousands of times to some attractions, and hundreds of times to others. The overwhelming majority of these visitors have taken my very own private guided tours.

Christ the Redeemer statue? I have guided visitors there thousands of times! Sugar Loaf Mountain? I have guided tourists there thousands of time! Sélaron steps? I have guided foreign visitors there hundreds of times (maybe thousands). Downtown Rio? Thousands of times! Maracana stadium? Hundreds of times! Favelas? Hundreds of times (when I used to do it). Panoramic beach tour? Hundreds of time. Guiding visitors to other tourist and non-tourist sites? Many dozens or hundreds of times! With all modesty aside, I am an expert in guiding visitors on private tours to a number of attractions in Rio de Janeiro. That is to say, I am a professional private tour guide .

I have guided, visited and seen these attractions in all conditions imaginable: crowded, empty, hot as hell, on cold days, raining cats and dogs, in a quick way, slowly, on foot, by car, towed (!), flying over, during major strikes and protests, on holidays, on weekdays, on weekends, early, late, during the day, at night, you name it! No wonder I have perfected my tours to a standard of excellence that I am proud of today. I know most Rio de Janeiro attractions worth visiting as the palm of my hand. I know the when’s and the how’s by heart.

3. Professionalism: I take my job as a private tour guide very seriously.

I am a professional private tour guide specialized in Rio de Janeiro . That’s my job. I was born to be a tour guide. Quality guiding services (more specifically, guided private tours) is what I offer to visitors who include Rio on their trip to Brazil.

Guiding is NOT something I do here and there, from time to time, as a side job. On the contrary, I am a dedicated private tour guide always aiming at providing a high standard of service. I take my duties very seriously and I keep myself updated on what’s going on in Rio de Janeiro and at the tourist attractions.

I know that for many visitors, a trip to Rio de Janeiro is a dream coming true and I understand that my responsibility during my private guided tours is high. I know that in many cases there is a lot of expectation behind that tour. Sightseeing is an important part of your trip to Rio de Janeiro and should be done in a proper way i.e. ideally handled by a professional. That’s how I think and I act accordingly.

4. Punctuality: The guided tours I provide start on time.

Rio de Janeiro is not world-famous for punctuality. Rio is famous for Carnival, New Year’s Eve fireworks, great beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema, breath-taking vistas, iconic tourist attractions, beautiful women, and more, but not for punctuality.

There is a laid-back atmosphere in Rio de Janeiro, and for many locals (if not for most of them), “on time” may mean several minutes late. However, despite of being a local of Rio, I am always on time. In other words, the time that your Rio private tour is scheduled to start is the time that I will pick you up in the lobby of your hotel.

5. Safety first: I take all the precautions to provide a safe private tour of Rio.

I am very safety-oriented. That’s good news for you because in a large and sometimes chaotic city like Rio de Janeiro, being guided by a private tour guide who is safety-conscious is a plus.

My motto as a professional private tour guide is: I only take visitors to areas or sites of Rio de Janeiro that I feel safe. If by any chance I no longer feel safe to visit a certain attraction, I exclude it from my guided tours. In other words, I prefer to have a smaller tour package but that I feel are safe, than have a larger menu including some not-so-safe areas.

You will probably feel safe in Rio de Janeiro (as most tourist do), and you might feel even safer if you choose to visit the city on a private guided tour led by a professional and experienced tour guide.

6. English fluency: No risk of misunderstanding .

The overwhelming majority of the population in Rio de Janeiro does not speak English. The lack of locals fluent in English can be surprising, even in tourist areas such as Copacabana, or at businesses with an influx of foreign tourists such as certain cafés, restaurants, shops, and even at some tourist attractions.

Not all tour guides in Rio de Janeiro speak English. In fact, many guides work for agencies and tour operators that provide excursions only to Brazilians (i.e. guided tours and excursions to Rio de Janeiro City and Rio de Janeiro State, as well as to other destinations in Brazil). The bottom line is that considering the number of tour guides in Brazil, few can speak English very fluently. In my case, my guiding services grew in a way that I specialized in private tours for foreigners visiting Rio de Janeiro , and English is nowadays my second language.

I can assure you that I am proficient in English, which means that I am able to understand 99.99% of what you say without effort, and speak it in a way that you will totally understand me (great diction, pronunciation and grammar guaranteed).

One of the reasons for hiring a Rio de Janeiro private tour guide is to be able to make questions about a wide variety of subjects related to the local culture, the attractions, the people, Brazil, and much more. So, you can rest assured that our conversation will be smooth, with no misunderstandings that could in a way or another affect your Rio private tour, and as a result, your experience.

7. Efficiency: An unrushed yet efficient private tour .

I am, in a way, obsessed with efficiency and good time management. Bear in mind that time management it is not a quality that all tour guides possess. In spite of the fact that private tours are more flexible and customizable, Rio de Janeiro is a big city and a mindset towards good time management and efficiency is essential.

I am often praised by the end of the tour for how much I was able to pack in a few hours without necessarily rushing the group. To achieve that, I use a number of tricks, techniques and strategies to gain time, some of which are the result of trial and error in the past, but that today, leads to an unrushed yet efficient private tour of Rio de Janeiro.

8. Personality: A sense of humor to brighten up your tour.

I have heard from past clients several stories about unfriendly private tour guides they have hired on other trips around the world. Fortunately, Brazilians are, in general, friendly. So are Cariocas (residents of Rio de Janeiro). That is to say, the chances of hiring a reputable yet unfriendly private tour guide in Rio de Janeiro are rather low. However, better safe than sorry.

According to the hundreds of 5-star reviews I have received on my guiding services , many of them (if not the majority) mention my great sense of humor. With all modesty aside, I am proud of that. It is great to show Rio de Janeiro around and at the same time hear a laugh here and there along the way.

9. Own vehicle: Comfortable enough for a private city tour of Rio de Janeiro .

Not all tour guides in Rio de Janeiro have a private car and not all private guides have comfortable cars. In fact, Brazilian cars are of rather small size, compared to, for example, cars marketed in the United States. However, there are a number of SUV’s and minivans models in the Brazilian market, and I own one of them. Actually, it is already the 3 rd car I have of the very same model since I started working as a private tour guide in Rio de Janeiro. It is comfortable for three large adults, or for four regular-size adults, or for a couple with up to four kids/young teenagers, as it is a 7-seat vehicle.

I shall mention that people say I am skillful driver.

10. Passion: I love Rio de Janeiro and guiding.

I have lived in Rio de Janeiro most of my life and I love the city (I am from Rio, but I have lived in different countries for some time in the past). You can easily feel that I love Rio on a private tour with me. I am passionate about the major tourist attractions as well as about the lesser-known spots that I go by myself in my free time.

Book Madson as your Rio de Janeiro tour guide

19 years of experience Absolutely fluent in English Well-organized guided tour Private air-conditioned vehicle

“ You will not be disappointed – this is a top notch tour guide!” — John M., San Francisco, California.

Brazil Travel Guide

Your complete brazil travel guide, with our tips, ideas on things to do, and best things to see in brazil. great for first-time travelers..

Brazil is the largest country in South America and a top tourist destination. In fact, Brazil has its own Ministry of Tourism, which ensures touring is as easy as possible for visitors.

It is a fun, vibrant country and home to iconic landmarks, including Iguazu Falls and the towering Christ the Redeemer statue.

Explore the Amazon Rainforest, go to one of many (over 2,000) beaches, meet friendly and diverse locals, or try some authentic Brazilian cuisine. There is a lot to see and do here.

This Brazil travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.

Popular Guides

• Rio de Janeiro
• Iguassu Falls
• Brazil Cuisine

Our Highlight

Table of contents

Table of Contents

Fast Facts about Brazil

• Power voltage  is 127V- 220V at 60 Hz depending on location. About 60% of households use 127V. Plug C and N. 
• Brazil’s currency  is the Brazilian Real (R$) and 1 R$ is equal to 0.26 USD. 
• Traveling by bus  is considered the best way to get around Brazil. 
• You no longer need a tourist visa, just a valid US passport. 
• The most popular  cellular networks  in Brazil are Vivo, TIM, and Oi. You can purchase a prepaid SIM card through these networks. 
• VAT:  The state average value-added tax (VAT) comes at 17%, though it goes 18% in São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Paraná, and 19% in Rio de Janeiro.
• Language:  Remember Brazilians do not speak Spanish, they speak Portuguese. Try to avoid speaking to Brazilians in Spanish as its not the same language and they won’t necessarily understand what you are saying. Furthermore, English is not widely spoken, even in tourist cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, so brush up on some basic Portuguese words and sayings before you go. Remember it’s not Gracias but Obrigado | Obrigada. 

Things to See and Do in Brazil

• Fly ov e r Rio de Janeiro:   Rio needs to be seen from a helicopter to truly take in the scope of its beauty. Helisul is the premier helicopter tour operator in the city, and we can understand why, these guys were friendly, welcoming and top-notch.
• Go See Iguassu Falls : Iguassu Falls is one of the must-see natural wonders on earth. As a matter of fact, it was recently named one of the new 7 Natural Wonders in the world.
• Sandboard in Floripa: Sandboarding at the dunes of the famous Joaquina beach, one of the most famous beaches of Florianopolis.
• Visit the Ecotourism capital of Brazil:  if you are craving an adventure, than Bonito in Mato Grosso do Sul is the just the place for you. Our recommendation? Abismo Anhumas a huge, stalactite-covered cavern that offers abseiling and diving in an underground lake.
• Visit the Amazon and stay at the  Uakari Lodge :  the lodge is managed by shared management among Mamirauá Institute and the communities from Mamirauá Reserve. The enterprise’s aim is to generate income for the local people and to contribute to natural resources’ preservation. Ten communities from the reserve act managing the Lodge, the employees, the contractors, and the salespeople.
• Visit Copacabana and Ipanema Beach:  While in Rio, we tried three different hotels on three different beaches. If you are going to stay in Rio, you may be interested in one of these three Rio hotels.
• See Christ the Redeemer:  One of the most iconic things to do in Rio de Janeiro is to visit Christ the Redeemer. It’s one of the most recognized in the world. When picturing Rio, this is what everyone envisions. Christo Redentor stands proudly over the city at the top of Corcovado Mountain.
• Visit Jericoacoara:  Jeri is a very special fishing village on the northeast coast of Brazil in Ceara, 330 kilometers northwest of Fortaleza. It was once hailed as having one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world by the Washington Post. Jericoacoara is surrounded by dunes, freshwater lagoons and set in a national park.  The only way to get to Jeri is a 4×4 Jardineira vehicle or buggy. It is known as the perfect place for kitesurfers and surfers. Paradise is waiting.
• Take a Favela Tour:   If you want to learn more about Rio culture, take a favela tour to visit local communities. There are 800 favelas in Rio and nearly 1.5 million people inhabit these communities.
• Explore the Downtown of Rio de Janeiro:   Downtown Rio is definitely worth spending a day to explore. The alleyways are charming mazes filled with cafés and stores. There’s markets, cathedrals, museums, and monasteries. If you get a chance, be sure to take a Rio City tour.
• See the Museum of Tomorrow:  Opening in December 2015, it is one of the world’s most extraordinary architectural designs.
• Go on on an  Afro-Walking Tour:   Did you know that Rio was the largest slave port in history? It is also the birthplace of samba. Learn about the rich history of Rio de Janeiro on this incredibly informative walking tour.

Brazil Travel Guides

• Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
• Things to do in Iguassu Falls
• Top Brazil Cuisine

Accommodation

Budget:  Brazil offers many hostels in the range of 50-100 Brazilian Reals per night. 

Mid-Range:  For mid-range hotels, expect to pay around 190-260 Brazilian Reals per night. 

High-End:  Upscale hotels will cost 350-750 Brazilian Reals per night. 

Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com , Tripadvisor and VRBO for the best deals on accommodation.

Brazil offers many exciting options for food. Bolinhos de bacalhau (codfish balls) and pastels (deep-fried stuffed pastries) are some of the things you can find when in Brazil. Expect to pay around R$15 for a meal, or R$55 total per day. 

Food:  If you’re hungry, we would highly recommend visiting a por kilo restaurant. The concept is just like a buffet but in the end, you weigh your food and pay in terms of weight. The por kilo restaurants have a huge variety of delicious food, including some Brazilian favorites like farofa [a toasted cassava flour mixture], feijão, pastel [think deep-fried empanadas] and of course grilled-to-order meat [with garlic sauce!]. Yum!

Drinks:  Make sure to drink a Caipirinha! It Brazil’s national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar, and lime. They also make fruit caipirinhas, we would recommend the maracujá [passion fruit] caipirinha.

The tap water in Brazil is increasingly safe to drink. However, as a result of the treatment process, it still doesn’t taste great. To be on the safe side, drink bottled or filtered water (most Brazilians do). All brands are reliable; ask for agua sem gas for still water and agua com gas for carbonated water.

Water:  If you ask for water in a restaurant, you will be served with a bottle of water (charged to your account) unless you specifically request água da casa [water of the house].

The Best Ways to Get Around Brazil

Getting to brazil:.

Getting to Brazil:  If going to Rio de Janeiro, the Galeão Airport is one of the best and is located just 12 miles from the city center. For those traveling to São Paulo, São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport is the best. 

You can check for the best flights on Skyscanner .

Transportation:

Bus:  Buses are a cheap way to get around Brazil, as well as the preferred way to travel locals. Fares are 3 to 4 Brazilian Reals for one way. 

Train:  Trains are rarely used in Brazil except for cargo, though there are a few train rides made for tourists. To learn more,  click here.  

Renting a car:   To rent a car in Brazil, you must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license and passport. Prices start around 8 Brazilian Reals per day. Check out  Rentlcars.com  to compare the best rates

When to go To Brazil

As the temperature is great year-round (an average of 80s degrees Fahrenheit), the best time to visit depends on what you want to do.

If you want to see as many animals in the Amazon as you can, going between April to October is your best bet.

If traveling to Rio, December to March is the driest season and is also the season when popular events like the New Year’s Eve celebration (Réveillon) and the Fat Tuesday festival occurs.

For the cheapest flights, go in March.

Where to Stay in Brazil

Hilton Barra Rio de Janeiro:   This 5-star hotel is bus accessible and a short walk to the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center, Citibank Hall, and the beach. The Hilton provides a full range of services, including babysitting, laundry, room service, bicycle rentals, a fitness room, outdoor pool and lounge area, and wheelchair ramps, as well as gorgeous views of Rio de Janeiro. 

Hotel Nacional Inn Campos do Jordão:   This three-star hotel is located in the entertainment center of Sao Paulo. Whether traveling alone, with a partner, or with a family, this hotel has multiple options for rooms, including a Quadruple room for up to 4 guests, and a romantic room complete with complimentary rose petals. Free high-speed Wi-Fi, a fitness room, minibars, sport court, and game room, and breakfast are also included. 

Sol Bahia:   Right by the water, this casual hotel offers beautiful ocean and beach views from the hotel. It’s just a few miles from Salvador shopping. The hotel also comes with a children’s play area, restaurant and bar, an outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, single and family rooms, and LCD TVs with cable, among other things. 

Read our recommendations at Three Great Hotels in Rio on the Best of the City’s Beaches

Brazil Accommodation Guides

• Three Great Hotels in Rio on the Best of the City’s Beaches
• The Top 18 Most Excellent Things to do in Rio de Janeiro
• Ultimate Iguazu Falls Tour

What to Pack for Brazil

Packing for Brazil can be tricky depending on the areas that you will be visiting and the time of year.

Temperatures below the equator are high and there is very little seasonal variation, although at times it can get cool enough to wear a jacket.

If visitors venture more South, especially during Brazil’s winter months [June – September], expect much colder temperature with the possibility of frost or even snow [although rare].

The cities of Belo Horizonte and Brasília have moderate temperatures, usually between 15 and 30 °C (59 and 86 °F). Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Salvador on the coast have warm climates, with average temperatures of each month ranging from 23 to 27 °C (73 to 81 °F), but enjoy constant trade winds.

Winter in Rio de Janeiro can be chilly. The cities of São Paulo, Curitiba, Florianópolis and Porto Alegre have a subtropical climate similar to that of the southern United States, and temperatures can fall below freezing in winter.

• Leave your valuables at home  – New Apple watch? Expensive diamond earrings? Gold chain? Leave all your shiny, expensive valuables at home.
• Classic Basic items – You do not need to be a fashionista to blend in. The key is in embracing neutrally toned items that can be mixed and matched easily. Avoid logos, baseball caps, shorts, hoodies, flip-flops, and running shoes as these items scream  tourist!
• Personal Safety products  – Certain areas in Brazil are known as pickpocket hotspots; before leaving for your trip, make sure to pack some  personal safety products , like money belts and locks, so that you can keep
• Get Medical Insurance  – adventure and eco-travel is common in Brazil; if you plan on trekking in the Amazon; paragliding and/or hiking, make sure to be  covered just in case .
• Bug Spray! –  As of April 2017, the World Health Organization has updated their yellow fever vaccination recommendations in terms of Brazil as the yellow fever virus transmission continues to expand towards the Atlantic coast of Brazil in areas not deemed to be a risk for yellow fever transmission prior to the review risk assessment.
• As a result of this make sure to cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE, also called para-menthane-diol [PMD]), IR3535, or 2-undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone)(Always use as directed)  OR  Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). 
• Lastly, if you are traveling from Brazil to another country make sure to check if you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate or might be denied entry.
• Rain gear –  if you plan on visiting São Paulo and/or Rio in the wintertime, be prepared for rain; make sure to bring along an umbrella and/or a raincoat.

Brazil Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources

Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.

We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.

• Booking.com : This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
• Trip Advisor :  What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
• VRBO : is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
• Hostelworld :  With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
• Skyscanner : This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
• Rome 2 Rio :  If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
• Get Your Guide:  For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
• World Nomads Insurance:  When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.

Brazil Travel Guide: Related Articles

18 Fun and Interesting Facts about Brazil

Where to stay in Rio De Janeiro In 2024 – The Best Hotels and Neighborhoods

28 Best Things to Do in Rio De Janeiro in 2024

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Guarulhos International Airport Guide

Public Transportation

Best Hotels

Top Things to Do

Coolest Attractions

Best Museums

Where to Shop

Sao Paulo's Architecture

Food to Try

Best Restaurants

Nightlife Guide

Your Trip to Sao Paulo: The Complete Guide

On the Brazilian landscape, one city stands above the rest in gastronomy, shopping, nightlife, street art, and museum offerings: Sao Paulo. Here foodies come to try all the flavors of the regions of Brazil, dishes of its diasporas, and experimental projects by Michelin-starred chefs. Over 50 shopping malls, the most famous high fashion street in South America, and 60 specialized shopping streets for everything from electronics to wedding dresses draw enthusiastic buyers to its stores every day. Paulistinos (the city’s residents) party literally until dawn in its baladas (dance bars) and along the Baixo Augusta. During the day, world-famous museums like the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo opens its doors, while cultural centers like the SESC Pompéia offer free activities for residents and tourists alike. Stroll through the graffiti art of Beco do Batman or see Niemeyer’s massive Modernist building Edifício Copan. Everything can be found here, except a beach, but even those aren't too far away.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time to Visit : Come to Sao Paulo in the spring (September to November). During this shoulder season, days are long, nights are cool, and the city hosts weeks-long events focused on food, art, and entertainment.
• Language: Portuguese  
• Currency: Brazilian real  
• Getting Around : The Metro, Sao Paulo’s public transit system, will be the easiest and one of the cheapest ways to travel throughout the city; download the Moovit app for simple navigation in English. Avoid renting a car as traffic can be horrendous—especially for those not familiar with the roads. Instead, take an Uber or taxi, both of which are plentiful.
• Travel Tip: Most businesses accept credit and debit cards. Except for buying tickets to ride the Metro and in certain markets, you won’t need cash unless you prefer using it over your card.

TripSavvy / Jamie Ditaranto

Things to Do

Sao Paulo has bangin’ nightlife, world-class shopping and museums, and live music throughout its streets. See art and learn the history of Brazil, soccer, and the Portuguese language in the city's museums, or cozy up with a good read in one of its many bookstores. Behold the structures of Modernist architects like the massive Edifício Copan and drum-factory-turned-cultural center SESC Pompéia, or walk down Paulista Avenue on a Sunday afternoon when it becomes a giant pedestrian thoroughfare. Sao Paulo has the largest city helicopter fleet in the world, so hire a chopper for an aerial view.

• Wander Mercado Municipal sampling mangosteen, persimmon, dragon fruit, and other exotic produce from its 300 stalls. (Samples are free with no obligation to buy.) Afterwards, climb the stairs to the restaurant portion of the market and order a mortadella sandwich.
• Spend the day at Ibirapuera Park museum hopping between the Afro Brasil Museum , Museum of Modern Art , and Museum of Contemporary Art . Walk along the park paths, rent a bike, or sunbathe with Paulistinos in its extensive green fields. See buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer, like the Oca, and visit the spaceship-shaped planetarium. 
• Visit the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo (MASP) to see the genius of architect Lina Bo Bardi and art work spanning continents and centuries. Works by Picasso and Candido Portinari hang in glass frames in an open floor plan, removing any barriers from the viewers and the art. Check out what’s happening in the pavilion beneath the museum, which acts as a meeting point for impromptu concerts, fairs, and protests.

Explore more attractions with our full-length articles on the top things to do in Sao Paulo , important places to visit in Sao Paulo , and Sao Paulo's best museums .

Where to Eat and Drink

Sao Paulo has one of the most famous (and delicious) gastronomy scenes in the world, known for both its fine dining and street food. Regional dishes from all over Brazil, from the moqueca (seafood stew) of the north to the meaty farofa-topped barreado of the south, can be found here. Bite into a warm, crunchy coxinha full of shredded chicken; pop a cheesy, chewy pão de queijo; or try a flakey pastel. Order a mini-feast of feijoada from any neighborhood restaurant on a weekend, and after you’ve slept it off, refresh your pallet with an ice-cold açai bowl. In addition to offering food from all over the world due to its strong immigrant population, the city is also home to A Casa do Porco , an experimental pork restaurant with onsite butcher shop, and D.O.M ., which highlights regional ingredients from throughout Brazil using French, Italian, and Indigenous cooking methods.

Paulistinos love a cold, creamy chopp (draft beer), especially on weekend afternoons at botecas (neighborhood bars), which are plentiful in the Vila Madelena neighborhood. For something harder, the national liquor is cachaça, a sweet spirit made from sugarcane juice and the base ingredient in another famous Brazilian beverage: the caipirinha. Most bars will have these drinks, but to check out the microbrewery scene, head to a craft beer bar like Emporio Alto dos Pinheiros , one of the pioneers of the craft beer movement in Brazil.

According to Sao Paulo Turismo S/A, the official tourism and events company of the city of Sao Paulo, the tap water is drinkable  . However, it’s recommended to have filtered water instead. You can easily find mineral water at supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.

Explore our articles on the best restaurants in Sao Paulo , the top foods to try in Sao Paulo , and nightlife in Sao Paulo .

Where to Stay

The art-filled Vila Madelena neighborhood offers well-priced Airbnbs and hostels, colorful streets of graffiti murals, third wave coffee shops, local bars, and friendly bohemian artists. Staying along Avenida Paulista in neighborhoods like Bela Vista will give you easy access to the MASP and the city’s best nightlife strip on Baixo Augusta. Centro might be a little rough, but bursts with personality and contains historic sites like Edifício Copan, Mercado Municipal, and Cathedral Sé. Stylish and LGBTQ-friendly Higienópolis is food heaven with swanky hotels and one of the city’s best malls, all only a mile or two from Avenida Paulista. Further out, Brooklin Novo offers luxury hotels and shopping, good for business travelers wanting to relax. Pinheiros has cultural centers with fascinating free activities, art galleries, funky boutiques, and a park great for midday lounging.

Check out our recommendations of the best hotels in Sao Paulo .

Getting There

Sao Paulo’s main airport is Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) , where most international flights will land. Two other airports service the city: Viracopos Airport (VCP) in Campinas for flights in Latin America and Congonhas Airport (CGH) for domestic flights. The Tietê Bus Terminal links Sao Paulo with all major cities in Brazil via clean, comfortable, and cheap long-distance buses.

Culture and Customs

Pickpocketing is a problem in Sao Paulo, especially in crowded, touristy areas. Be aware of your belongings, especially if going to large markets or festivals. While some areas are fine to walk at night, others are not. Check with your accommodation about the safety of where you are staying, and when in doubt, this issue is easily remedied by calling an Uber. Walking during the day throughout most of the city is safe.

This is not the laid-back beach side Brazil you would find in Rio or Florianopolis. Sao Paulo is the financial center of Brazil and one of the largest cities in the world. Expect a much faster pace of life, and people letting loose at night and on the weekends after long work days. When dining out, service will generally be fast, and the tip is already included.

Money Saving Tips

• If you want quick, cheap food with lots of variety, go to a comida por quilo restaurant. Fill your plate from the buffet, then take it to the cashier to weigh it before you eat. You pay by weight rather than a set price, and it usually ends up costing the equivalent of a few dollars.
• Go to the top of Edifício Copan for free by lining up outside gate F any day at 1:30 p.m. You’ll be let in at 2 p.m. to head to the roof where you can see panoramic views of Sao Paulo.
• Take the Metro or a bus to the airport instead of an Uber or taxi. Give yourself a time cushion in case the transfers take a while.
• The 99 Taxi app is usually a little cheaper than Uber and just as reliable.
• Many of the museums like MASP and Pinoteca have free admission days. Others, like MIS and the Museu Afro Brasil, are fee all the time.
• For free, quality entertainment, go to a centro culturai (cultural center). Sao Paulo contains about 40 cultural centers showcasing exhibitions, theater, art, concerts, debates, and more.
• Check out Mamba Negra free music parties in abandoned buildings throughout the city.
• Visit outside of high season (December to March) for cheaper accommodation.

São Paulo Turismo S/A. "FAQ: What is the language that the people of São Paulo (Paulistanos) speak?"

São Paulo Turismo S/A. "Practical Guide: Currency and Exchange."

São Paulo Turismo S/A. "FAQ: Is Tap Water Drinkable?"

Nightlife in Sao Paulo: The Best Bars, Clubs, & More

5 Best Art Museums in Brazil

A Complete Guide to the Architecture in Sao Paulo

15 Top Things to Do in São Paulo, Brazil

The Top 10 Museums in Sao Paulo

The Best Time to Visit Sao Paulo

Important Places to Visit in São Paulo, Brazil

Cairo Guide: Planning Your Trip

Your Trip to Shanghai: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to Mexico City: The Complete Guide

New York City Guide: Planning Your Trip

Your Trip to Buenos Aires: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to Edinburgh: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to New York State: The Complete Guide

The 9 Best Places to Shop in Sao Paulo

Paris Guide: Planning Your Trip

Here’s What Happened at Karol G’s ‘Mañana Será Bonito’ Show in Brazil

Karol G wrapped up the Latin American leg of her Mañana Será Bonito Tour on Friday night (May 10). The Colombian superstar brought out a few of the country’s top artists as her special guests. 

Back in February, Karol G kicked off the Latin American leg of her tour in Mexico City. Since then, she has performed in stadiums in countries like Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina. Karol G was originally scheduled to perform in Brazil on May 9 at the Espaço Unimed. Due to high demand to see her live, she moved the date to May 10 and changed the location to the massive Centro Esportivo Tietê.

Karol G, Dennis y Kevin O Chris cantando TA OK Remix en Brasil🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/1sEHTJPSdM — marti🎀 (@minajxbichota) May 11, 2024

During her concert in Brazil, Karol G donned a green and yellow outfit, which are the colors of the country’s flag. Throughout the tour’s run, she performed “Tá OK,” the Brazilian funk banger by DJ Dennis and Kevin O Chris. Last year, DJ Dennis released a remix of the song featuring Karol G and Maluma. While singing “Tá OK” live this time, Karol G brought out DJ Dennis and Kevin O Chris to join her onstage. 

Pabllo Vittar e Karol G cantando “Sua Cara” na “Mañana Será Bonito Tour” em São Paulo. pic.twitter.com/4gclH6LLBf — aiTunes (@aiTunesOF) May 11, 2024

Another special guest for Karol G’s concert in Brazil was Pabllo Vittar . She brought out the Brazilian drag pop star to perform the Major Lazer hit “Sua Cara,” which originally featured Vittar and Anitta. In Instagram stories leading up to her Brazil concert, Karol G revealed she was practicing the Portuguese language. She put her skills to work when singing “Sua Cara” live with Vittar and having a blast while doing it.

On June 8, Karol G will launch the European and U.K. leg of her Mañana Será Bonito Tour. Her first stop will be the Hallenstadion in Zürich, Switzerland. Earlier this month, Madonna brought out Pabllo Vittar as a special guest for her record-breaking concert in Brazil. 

• Share full article

For more audio journalism and storytelling, download New York Times Audio , a new iOS app available for news subscribers.

A Plan to Remake the Middle East

While talks for a cease-fire between israel and hamas continue, another set of negotiations is happening behind the scenes..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From New York Times, I’m Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Today, if and when Israel and Hamas reach a deal for a ceasefire fire, the United States will immediately turn to a different set of negotiations over a grand diplomatic bargain that it believes could rebuild Gaza and remake the Middle East. My colleague Michael Crowley has been reporting on that plan and explains why those involved in it believe they have so little time left to get it done.

It’s Wednesday, May 8.

Michael, I want to start with what feels like a pretty dizzying set of developments in this conflict over the past few days. Just walk us through them?

Well, over the weekend, there was an intense round of negotiations in an effort, backed by the United States, to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza war.

The latest ceasefire proposal would reportedly see as many as 33 Israeli hostages released in exchange for potentially hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

US officials were very eager to get this deal.

Pressure for a ceasefire has been building ahead of a threatened Israeli assault on Rafah.

Because Israel has been threatening a military offensive in the Southern Palestinian city of Rafah, where a huge number of people are crowded.

Fleeing the violence to the North. And now they’re packed into Rafah. Exposed and vulnerable, they need to be protected.

And the US says it would be a humanitarian catastrophe on top of the emergency that’s already underway.

Breaking news this hour — very important breaking news. An official Hamas source has told The BBC that it does accept a proposal for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

And for a few hours on Monday, it looked like there might have been a major breakthrough when Hamas put out a statement saying that it had accepted a negotiating proposal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ceasefire proposal does not meet his country’s requirements. But Netanyahu says he will send a delegation of mediators to continue those talks. Now, the terms —

But those hopes were dashed pretty quickly when the Israelis took a look at what Hamas was saying and said that it was not a proposal that they had agreed to. It had been modified.

And overnight —

Israeli troops stormed into Rafah. Video showing tanks crashing over a sign at the entrance of the city.

— the Israelis launched a partial invasion of Rafah.

It says Hamas used the area to launch a deadly attack on Israeli troops over the weekend.

And they have now secured a border crossing at the Southern end of Gaza and are conducting targeted strikes. This is not yet the full scale invasion that President Biden has adamantly warned Israel against undertaking, but it is an escalation by Israel.

So while all that drama might suggest that these talks are in big trouble, these talks are very much still alive and ongoing and there is still a possibility of a ceasefire deal.

And the reason that’s so important is not just to stop the fighting in Gaza and relieve the suffering there, but a ceasefire also opens the door to a grand diplomatic bargain, one that involves Israel and its Arab neighbors and the Palestinians, and would have very far-reaching implications.

And what is that grand bargain. Describe what you’re talking about?

Well, it’s incredibly ambitious. It would reshape Israel’s relationship with its Arab neighbors, principally Saudi Arabia. But it’s important to understand that this is a vision that has actually been around since well before October 7. This was a diplomatic project that President Biden had been investing in and negotiating actually in a very real and tangible way long before the Hamas attacks and the Gaza war.

And President Biden was looking to build on something that President Trump had done, which was a series of agreements that the Trump administration struck in which Israel and some of its Arab neighbors agreed to have normal diplomatic relations for the first time.

Right, they’re called the Abraham Accords.

That’s right. And, you know, Biden doesn’t like a lot of things, most things that Trump did. But he actually likes this, because the idea is that they contribute to stability and economic integration in the Middle East, the US likes Israel having friends and likes having a tight-knit alliance against Iran.

President Biden agrees with the Saudis and with the Israelis, that Iran is really the top threat to everybody here. So, how can you build on this? How can you expand it? Well, the next and biggest step would be normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

And the Saudis have made clear that they want to do this and that they’re ready to do this. They weren’t ready to do it in the Trump years. But Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, has made clear he wants to do it now.

So this kind of triangular deal began to take shape before October 7, in which the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia would enter this three way agreement in which everyone would get something that they wanted.

And just walk through what each side gets in this pre-October 7th version of these negotiations?

So for Israel, you get normalized ties with its most important Arab neighbor and really the country that sets the tone for the whole Muslim world, which is Saudi Arabia of course. It makes Israel feel safer and more secure. Again, it helps to build this alliance against Iran, which Israel considers its greatest threat, and it comes with benefits like economic ties and travel and tourism. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been very open, at least before October 7th, that this was his highest diplomatic and foreign policy priority.

For the Saudis, the rationale is similar when it comes to Israel. They think that it will bring stability. They like having a more explicitly close ally against Iran. There are economic and cultural benefits. Saudi Arabia is opening itself up in general, encouraging more tourism.

But I think that what’s most important to the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is what he can get from the United States. And what he has been asking for are a couple of essential things. One is a security agreement whose details have always been a little bit vague, but I think essentially come down to reliable arms supplies from the United States that are not going to be cut off or paused on a whim, as he felt happened when President Biden stopped arms deliveries in 2021 because of how Saudi was conducting its war in Yemen. The Saudis were furious about that.

Saudi Arabia also wants to start a domestic nuclear power program. They are planning for a very long-term future, possibly a post-oil future. And they need help getting a nuclear program off the ground.

And they want that from the US?

And they want that from the US.

Now, those are big asks from the us. But from the perspective of President Biden, there are some really enticing things about this possible agreement. One is that it will hopefully produce more stability in the region. Again, the US likes having a tight-knit alliance against Iran.

The US also wants to have a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia. You know, despite the anger at Mohammed bin Salman over the murder of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, the Biden administration recognizes that given the Saudis control over global oil production and their strategic importance in the Middle East, they need to have a good relationship with them. And the administration has been worried about the influence of China in the region and with the Saudis in particular.

So this is an opportunity for the US to draw the Saudis closer. Whatever our moral qualms might be about bin Salman and the Saudi government, this is an opportunity to bring the Saudis closer, which is something the Biden administration sees as a strategic benefit.

All three of these countries — big, disparate countries that normally don’t see eye-to-eye, this was a win-win-win on a military, economic, and strategic front.

That’s right. But there was one important actor in the region that did not see itself as winning, and that was the Palestinians.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

First, it’s important to understand that the Palestinians have always expected that the Arab countries in the Middle East would insist that Israel recognize a Palestinian state before those countries were willing to essentially make total peace and have normal relations with Israel.

So when the Abraham Accords happened in the Trump administration, the Palestinians felt like they’d been thrown under the bus because the Abraham Accords gave them virtually nothing. But the Palestinians did still hold out hope that Saudi Arabia would be their savior. And for years, Saudi Arabia has said that Israel must give the Palestinians a state if there’s going to be a normal relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Now the Palestinians see the Saudis in discussions with the US and Israel about a normalization agreement, and there appears to be very little on offer for the Palestinians. And they are feeling like they’re going to be left out in the cold here.

Right. And in the minds of the Palestinians, having already been essentially sold out by all their other Arab neighbors, the prospect that Saudi Arabia, of all countries, the most important Muslim Arab country in the region, would sell them out, had to be extremely painful.

It was a nightmare scenario for them. And in the minds of many analysts and US officials, this was a factor, one of many, in Hamas’s decision to stage the October 7th attacks.

Hamas, like other Palestinian leaders, was seeing the prospect that the Middle East was moving on and essentially, in their view, giving up on the Palestinian cause, and that Israel would be able to have friendly, normal relations with Arab countries around the region, and that it could continue with hardline policies toward the Palestinians and a refusal, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said publicly, to accept a Palestinian state.

Right. So Michael, once Hamas carries out the October 7th attacks in an effort to destroy a status quo that it thinks is leaving them less and less relevant, more and more hopeless, including potentially this prospect that Saudi Arabia is going to normalize relations with Israel, what happens to these pre-October 7th negotiations between the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel?

Well, I think there was a snap assumption that these talks were dead and buried. That they couldn’t possibly survive a cataclysm like this.

But then something surprising happened. It became clear that all the parties were still determined to pull-off the normalization.

And most surprisingly of all, perhaps, was the continued eagerness of Saudi Arabia, which publicly was professing outrage over the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks, but privately was still very much engaged in these conversations and trying to move them forward.

And in fact, what has happened is that the scope of this effort has grown substantially. October 7th didn’t kill these talks. It actually made them bigger, more complicated, and some people would argue, more important than ever.

We’ll be right back.

Michael, walk us through what exactly happens to these three-way negotiations after October 7th that ends up making them, as you just said, more complicated and more important than ever?

Well, it’s more important than ever because of the incredible need in Gaza. And it’s going to take a deal like this and the approval of Saudi Arabia to unlock the kind of massive reconstruction project required to essentially rebuild Gaza from the rubble. Saudi Arabia and its Arab friends are also going to be instrumental in figuring out how Gaza is governed, and they might even provide troops to help secure it. None of those things are going to happen without a deal like this.

Fascinating.

But this is all much more complicated now because the price for a deal like this has gone up.

And by price, you mean?

What Israel would have to give up. [MUSIC PLAYING]

From Saudi Arabia’s perspective, you have an Arab population that is furious at Israel. It now feels like a really hard time to do a normalization deal with the Israelis. It was never going to be easy, but this is about as bad a time to do it as there has been in a generation at least. And I think that President Biden and the people around him understand that the status quo between Israel and the Palestinians is intolerable and it is going to lead to chaos and violence indefinitely.

So now you have two of the three parties to this agreement, the Saudis and the Americans, basically asking a new price after October 7th, and saying to the Israelis, if we’re going to do this deal, it has to not only do something for the Palestinians, it has to do something really big. You have to commit to the creation of a Palestinian state. Now, I’ll be specific and say that what you hear the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, say is that the agreement has to include an irreversible time-bound path to a Palestinian state.

We don’t know exactly what that looks like, but it’s some kind of a firm commitment, the likes of which the world and certainly the Israelis have not made before.

Something that was very much not present in the pre-October 7th vision of this negotiation. So much so that, as we just talked about, the Palestinians were left feeling completely out in the cold and furious at it.

That’s right. There was no sign that people were thinking that ambitiously about the Palestinians in this deal before October 7th. And the Palestinians certainly felt like they weren’t going to get much out of it. And that has completely changed now.

So, Michael, once this big new dimension after October 7th, which is the insistence by Saudi Arabia and the US that there be a Palestinian state or a path to a Palestinian state, what is the reaction specifically from Israel, which is, of course, the third major party to this entire conversation?

Well, Israel, or at least its political leadership, hates it. You know, this is just an extremely tough sell in Israel. It would have been a tough sell before October 7th. It’s even harder now.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is completely unrepentantly open in saying that there’s not going to be a Palestinian state on his watch. He won’t accept it. He says that it’s a strategic risk to his country. He says that it would, in effect, reward Hamas.

His argument is that terrorism has forced a conversation about statehood onto the table that wasn’t there before October 7th. Sure, it’s always in the background. It’s a perennial issue in global affairs, but it was not something certainly that the US and Israel’s Arab neighbors were actively pushing. Netanyahu also has — you know, he governs with the support of very right-wing members of a political coalition that he has cobbled together. And that coalition is quite likely to fall apart if he does embrace a Palestinian state or a path to a Palestinian state.

Now, he might be able to cobble together some sort of alternative, but it creates a political crisis for him.

And finally, you know, I think in any conversation about Israel, it’s worth bearing in mind something you hear from senior US officials these days, which is that although there is often finger pointing at Netanyahu and a desire to blame Netanyahu as this obstructionist who won’t agree to deals, what they say is Netanyahu is largely reflecting his population and the political establishment of his country, not just the right-wingers in his coalition who are clearly extremist.

But actually the prevailing views of the Israeli public. And the Israeli public and their political leaders across the spectrum right now with few exceptions, are not interested in talking about a Palestinian state when there are still dozens and dozens of Israeli hostages in tunnels beneath Gaza.

So it very much looks like this giant agreement that once seemed doable before October 7th might be more important to everyone involved than ever, given that it’s a plan for rebuilding Gaza and potentially preventing future October 7th’s from happening, but because of this higher price that Israel would have to pay, which is the acceptance of a Palestinian state, it seems from everything you’re saying, that this is more and more out of reach than ever before and hard to imagine happening in the immediate future. So if the people negotiating it are being honest, Michael, are they ready to acknowledge that it doesn’t look like this is going to happen?

Well, not quite yet. As time goes by, they certainly say it’s getting harder and harder, but they’re still trying, and they still think there’s a chance. But both the Saudis and the Biden administration understand that there’s very little time left to do this.

Well, what do you mean there’s very little time left? It would seem like time might benefit this negotiation in that it might give Israel distance from October 7th to think potentially differently about a Palestinian state?

Potentially. But Saudi Arabia wants to get this deal done in the Biden administration because Mohammed bin Salman has concluded this has to be done under a Democratic president.

Because Democrats in Congress are going to be very reluctant to approve a security agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

It’s important to understand that if there is a security agreement, that’s something Congress is going to have to approve. And you’re just not going to get enough Democrats in Congress to support a deal with Saudi Arabia, who a lot of Democrats don’t like to begin with, because they see them as human rights abusers.

But if a Democratic president is asking them to do it, they’re much more likely to go along.

Right. So Saudi Arabia fears that if Biden loses and Trump is president, that those same Democrats would balk at this deal in a way that they wouldn’t if it were being negotiated under President Biden?

Exactly. Now, from President Biden’s perspective, politically, think about a president who’s running for re-election, who is presiding right now over chaos in the Middle East, who doesn’t seem to have good answers for the Israeli-Palestinian question, this is an opportunity for President Biden to deliver what could be at least what he would present as a diplomatic masterstroke that does multiple things at once, including creating a new pathway for Israel and the Palestinians to coexist, to break through the logjam, even as he is also improving Israel’s relations with Saudi Arabia.

So Biden and the Crown Prince hope that they can somehow persuade Bibi Netanyahu that in spite of all the reasons that he thinks this is a terrible idea, that this is a bet worth taking on Israel’s and the region’s long-term security and future?

That’s right. Now, no one has explained very clearly exactly how this is going to work, and it’s probably going to require artful diplomacy, possibly even a scenario where the Israelis would agree to something that maybe means one thing to them and means something else to other people. But Biden officials refuse to say that it’s hopeless and they refuse to essentially take Netanyahu’s preliminary no’s for an answer. And they still see some way that they can thread this incredibly narrow needle.

Michael, I’m curious about a constituency that we haven’t been talking about because they’re not at the table in these discussions that we are talking about here. And that would be Hamas. How does Hamas feel about the prospect of such a deal like this ever taking shape. Do they see it as any kind of a victory and vindication for what they did on October 7th?

So it’s hard to know exactly what Hamas’s leadership is thinking. I think they can feel two things. I think they can feel on the one hand, that they have established themselves as the champions of the Palestinian people who struck a blow against Israel and against a diplomatic process that was potentially going to leave the Palestinians out in the cold.

At the same time, Hamas has no interest in the kind of two-state solution that the US is trying to promote. They think Israel should be destroyed. They think the Palestinian state should cover the entire geography of what is now Israel, and they want to lead a state like that. And that’s not something that the US, Saudi Arabia, or anyone else is going to tolerate.

So what Hamas wants is to fight, to be the leader of the Palestinian people, and to destroy Israel. And they’re not interested in any sort of a peace process or statehood process.

It seems very clear from everything you’ve said here that neither Israel nor Hamas is ready to have the conversation about a grand bargain diplomatic program. And I wonder if that inevitably has any bearing on the ceasefire negotiations that are going on right now between the two of them that are supposed to bring this conflict to some sort of an end, even if it’s just temporary?

Because if, as you said, Michael, a ceasefire opens the door to this larger diplomatic solution, and these two players don’t necessarily want that larger diplomatic solution, doesn’t that inevitably impact their enthusiasm for even reaching a ceasefire?

Well, it certainly doesn’t help. You know, this is such a hellish problem. And of course, you first have the question of whether Israel and Hamas can make a deal on these immediate issues, including the hostages, Palestinian prisoners, and what the Israeli military is going to do, how long a ceasefire might last.

But on top of that, you have these much bigger diplomatic questions that are looming over them. And it’s not clear that either side is ready to turn and face those bigger questions.

So while for the Biden administration and for Saudi Arabia, this is a way out of this crisis, these larger diplomatic solutions, it’s not clear that it’s a conversation that the two parties that are actually at war here are prepared to start having.

Well, Michael, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

On Tuesday afternoon, under intense pressure from the US, delegations from Israel and Hamas arrived in Cairo to resume negotiations over a potential ceasefire. But in a statement, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that even with the talks underway, his government would, quote, “continue to wage war against Hamas.”

Here’s what else you need to know today. In a dramatic day of testimony, Stormy Daniels offered explicit details about an alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump that ultimately led to the hush money payment at the center of his trial. Daniels testified that Trump answered the door in pajamas, that he told her not to worry that he was married, and that he did not use a condom when they had sex.

That prompted lawyers for Trump to seek a mistrial based on what they called prejudicial testimony. But the judge in the case rejected that request. And,

We’ve seen a ferocious surge of anti-Semitism in America and around the world.

In a speech on Tuesday honoring victims of the Holocaust, President Biden condemned what he said was the alarming rise of anti-Semitism in the United States after the October 7th attacks on Israel. And he expressed worry that too many Americans were already forgetting the horrors of that attack.

The Jewish community, I want you to know I see your fear, your hurt, and your pain. Let me reassure you, as your president, you’re not alone. You belong. You always have and you always will.

Today’s episode was produced by Nina Feldman, Clare Toeniskoetter, and Rikki Novetsky. It was edited by Liz O. Baylen, contains original music by Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for The Daily. I’m Michael Barbaro. See you tomorrow.

• May 14, 2024   •   35:20 Voters Want Change. In Our Poll, They See It in Trump.
• May 13, 2024   •   27:46 How Biden Adopted Trump’s Trade War With China
• May 10, 2024   •   27:42 Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand
• May 9, 2024   •   34:42 One Strongman, One Billion Voters, and the Future of India
• May 8, 2024   •   28:28 A Plan to Remake the Middle East
• May 7, 2024   •   27:43 How Changing Ocean Temperatures Could Upend Life on Earth
• May 6, 2024   •   29:23 R.F.K. Jr.’s Battle to Get on the Ballot
• May 3, 2024   •   25:33 The Protesters and the President
• May 2, 2024   •   29:13 Biden Loosens Up on Weed
• May 1, 2024   •   35:16 The New Abortion Fight Before the Supreme Court
• April 30, 2024   •   27:40 The Secret Push That Could Ban TikTok
• April 29, 2024   •   47:53 Trump 2.0: What a Second Trump Presidency Would Bring

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Michael Crowley

Produced by Nina Feldman ,  Clare Toeniskoetter and Rikki Novetsky

Edited by Liz O. Baylen

Original music by Marion Lozano ,  Elisheba Ittoop and Dan Powell

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

If and when Israel and Hamas reach a deal for a cease-fire, the United States will immediately turn to a different set of negotiations over a grand diplomatic bargain that it believes could rebuild Gaza and remake the Middle East.

Michael Crowley, who covers the State Department and U.S. foreign policy for The Times, explains why those involved in this plan believe they have so little time left to get it done.

On today’s episode

Michael Crowley , a reporter covering the State Department and U.S. foreign policy for The New York Times.

Background reading :

Talks on a cease-fire in the Gaza war are once again at an uncertain stage .

Here’s how the push for a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia looked before Oct. 7 .

From early in the war, President Biden has said that a lasting resolution requires a “real” Palestinian state .

Here’s what Israeli officials are discussing about postwar Gaza.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Michael Crowley covers the State Department and U.S. foreign policy for The Times. He has reported from nearly three dozen countries and often travels with the secretary of state. More about Michael Crowley

Advertisement