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.
Pantanal wildlife holiday in Brazil
Wildlife Safari in Brazil's stunning Northern Pantanal.
Brazil wildlife holiday, Amazon and Pantanal
Thrilling wildlife safari combining Pantanal and the Amazon
Southern Brazil holidays
Soak up the sights and spot wildlife in Southern Brazil
Tailor made holiday in Brazil
Green Coast, the Pantanal, and Iguaçu Falls
Rio to Iguazu Falls tour in Brazil
Fully escorted group journey of natural southern Brazil
Highlights of Brazil and Peru holiday
14 Days: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Iguazu, Rio
Small group tour in Brazil
An in depth discovery tour of Brazil including the Amazon
Brazil wildlife holiday, Pantanal & Rio
Wildlife & culture for couples or families, Private tour
Jaguar spotting holiday in Brazil
Jaguar spotting in the Pantanal of Brazil
South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
Buenos Aires to Rio via Iguazu Falls holiday
Fast paced adventure of Argentina and Brazil.
Brazil small group holiday, Pantanal explorer
Explore the biodiverse Pantanal region of Brazil
Wildlife holidays in Brazil, tailormade
From macaws to jaguars in the Pantanal and Amazon, plus Rio
Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil holiday
Travel to Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil on this adventure
Pantanal wildlife safari in Brazil
Two weeks exploring northern and southern Pantanal
Maned wolf watching holiday in Brazil
Track and observe the wonderful Maned Wolf in Brazil
Mammals of Brazil wildlife tour
Pantanal, Cerrado & Amazon in search of mammals
Harpy Eagle birdwatching tour in Brazil
The only specialist Harpy Eagle tour worldwide
Brazil classic tour
Experience the vibrant energy and natural beauty of Brazil
Colombia to Brazil overland tour
Spectacular overland adventure from Colombia to Brazil
Lima to Rio tour by overland truck
An epic overland expedition across South America
Buenos Aires to Rio small group tour
Experience two of South America's most captivating cities
Luxury holiday in Brazil & Argentina, private departure
Luxury Rio, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires and the Pampas
Wildlife of Brazil holiday
Jaguars, capybara & caiman: Brazil's ultimate wildlife tour
Jaguar watching safari of the Pantanal, Brazil
100% Record for Jaguars and we average 1.1 sightings per day
Off the beaten track Brazil tailor made tour
Explore Brazil and the Lençois Maranhenses National Park
Rio Carnival holiday in Brazil
Experience Brazil carnival in Rio in March 2019
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