Brazil travel advice

Pantanal tips
Guy Marks, from our supplier Tribes Travel, shares his Brazil travel advice:“People are often a bit put out when they discover that the Pantanal is actually an agricultural area with vast cattle ranches. If people haven’t been made aware that they’re going to an area that’s agricultural, they arrive and go ‘what have I been brought to a ranch for?’ But if you think about wildlife in the UK – you’re going to see it on farmland. There is no real conflict between agriculture and conservation if it’s properly managed. You could be stood there looking at a massive herd of cattle, but they’ve got capybaras walking round their feet. That’s not uncommon; you shouldn’t be put off by the fact that it’s agricultural land. 20 percent of it is put aside for conservation by law.”
Our Brazil Holidays
Brazil wildlife tour, jaguars and waterfalls
Jaguar spotting 100% success rate, Iguacu waterfalls & Rio.
Brazil wildlife holiday, Amazon and Pantanal
Thrilling wildlife safari combining Pantanal and the Amazon
Small group tour in Brazil
An in depth discovery tour of Brazil including the Amazon
Rio to Iguazu Falls tour in Brazil
Fully escorted group journey of natural southern Brazil
Wildlife holidays in Brazil, tailormade
From macaws to jaguars in the Pantanal and Amazon, plus Rio
Iguazu Falls tour, self guided
Discover Iguazu Falls at your own pace.
Rio to Buenos Aires holiday
Venture off in Brazil Argentina & Uruguay
Amazon river cruise, small group
Explore an ecosystem teaming with wildlife
Pantanal tour in Brazil, Caiman EcoLodge
Explore Pantanal with a stay at the Caiman Ecological Refuge
Buenos Aires to Rio via Iguazu Falls holiday
Fast paced adventure of Argentina and Brazil.
Rio Carnival holiday, Brazil
Join the the greatest party on earth at the Rio Carnaval
Jaguar spotting holiday in Brazil
Jaguar spotting in the Pantanal of Brazil
Brazil wildlife holiday, Pantanal & Rio
Wildlife & culture for couples or families, Private tour
Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires tour, Iguazu Falls
South American spirit & dizzying heights of Iguazu Falls
South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
Brazil walking holiday, tailormade
Peaceful hiking through stunning mountains in eastern Brazil
Southern Brazil holidays
Soak up the sights and spot wildlife in Southen Brazil.
Lima to Rio tour by overland truck
An epic overland expedition across South America
Amazon jaguar research expedition, Brazil
Help wildlife researchers track unique tree-dwelling jaguars
Brazil family holiday
Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana beach, TAMAR sea turtle project
South America coast to coast tour
A varied and adventurous tour across South America
Brazil nature tour, tailor made
Wild biodiversity: Iguacu, Pantanal, the Amazon rainforest
Argentina & Brazil holiday, 12 day itinerary
Travel to Argentina's newest and best hidden hotspot
Argentina tour, Iguazu Falls full moon & culture
This trip is dynamic immersion into Argentina’s culture
Highlights of Brazil and Peru holiday
14 Days: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Iguazu, Rio
Maned wolf watching holiday in Brazil
Track and observe the wonderful Maned Wolf in Brazil
South America highlights tour, Peru, Argentina & Brazil
Explore South America in an amazing 12 day journey
Brazil beach hopping holiday, tailor made
Discover the spectacular beaches of Brazil's north east coastline
Brazil classic tour
Experience the vibrant energy and natural beauty of Brazil
Planning tips
Anna Scrivens, from our supplier Audley Travel, shares her Brazil travel advice:“It's difficult to plan a holiday to Brazil because there is so much and you can’t see it all. People want to go to the big highlights so they end up flying all over the place. I really like staying around the Green Coast which is just south of Rio – but a lot of people fly around a lot on their trips rather than just focusing on one area. So my advice is to plan early! That’s the only way you can coordinate all the different flights – especially if you want to be travelling across a lot of the country.”

Beach tips
Guy Marks, from our supplier Tribes Travel, explains where to take a beach break, in his Brazil travel advice: “Copacabana is a city beach, and that’s what people forget. It’s a bit like New York’s Central Park; great for locals, but if you want countryside, you wouldn’t go there. So if you want a beach, don’t go to the beach in the middle of Rio. For a beach holiday, head south – around Paraty and Ilha Grande, or to the northeast around Bahia and Salvador. But Copacabana Beach and Ipanema are still such iconic places. As you walk down you see different things going on; the different classes and social structures hang out on different parts of the beaches. So they’re great for people watching!”Wildlife watching tips
Anna Scrivens, from our supplier Audley Travel, shares her Brazil travel advice:"We’re very careful with how we describe the Amazon because some people go there expecting to see a lot of wildlife. But really you don’t because the rainforest is so dense. So people can be disappointed if they have the wrong expectations. The Amazon is not really about the wildlife; it’s more of a jungle experience. If it’s wildlife you’re interested in then you need to go to the Pantanal. It’s not as famous as the Amazon, but the wildlife is much better. It feels much less like a jungle because the vegetation is so dense - but that’s why you see more wildlife."
Our top Brazil Holiday
Brazil wildlife tour, jaguars and waterfalls
Jaguar spotting 100% success rate, Iguacu waterfalls & Rio.
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Health & safety in Brazil
HEALTH
SAFETY
Zika virus in Brazil
Zika virus remains a threat for anyone travelling to Brazil. However, the main travel warnings are for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, and anyone with severe, chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems. These people are being advised to reconsider their travel plans.For most adults, Zika virus is not dangerous, and hospitalisation is extremely rare. Most people who are infected will not go on to develop any symptoms; those that do become ill (around one in five) may experience a fever, joint pain and headaches, similar to dengue fever, and lasting up to a week. There is no specific medication for Zika, only to relieve the symptoms.
For more information on symptoms, treatment and avoiding further infection, refer to the CDC website.
Brazil tips from our travellers
We have selected some of the most useful Brazil travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.


When taking the boat trip at Iguazu Falls you're going to be wet all over. Nobody told us and we didn't have any changing clothes with us. So the rest of the tour we had to proceed in wet clothes which made it a little awkward. Also if you go to Paraty: prepare yourself for mosquitos!!! - Nadja Weidmann
If you want to see Rio then make sure you book some extra days before or after the tour. If you don't, you'll get virtually no time in this amazing place. - Carol Clutton
Travelling in the Amazon, unfortunately they had the worst floods in 60 years which made getting ashore more difficult but exciting!! - Clive Pagett


(Porto de Pedras trip) An unexpected but totally delightful encounter with a sea cow in the shallows off the beach. He nibbled my toes and allowed me to stroke him. Magical! - Beverley Whatford
The whole experience of Brazil, the colours the beaches, the food, the people, the weather. It was all magnificent and thoroughly enjoyable was superb accommodation and the hosts could not have been more friendly. - Donald Dunlop