South America
Brazil
Our notebook to help you plan your trip to Brazil: the right season, where to stay and our ideas to make the most of it.
From Rio's legendary beaches to Iguazu Falls and the colourful streets of Salvador: Brazil means energy, music and vast nature.
Best weatherDuring the southern summer: heat and beach days, with showers late in the day. The southern winter is milder and drier, ideal for sightseeing.
A question?
Wéa answers about this destination: neighbourhoods, seasons, ideas.
When to go
Every season has its charm. Here's how to choose yours, depending on what you want to experience.
Southern summer
Hot and humid, with showers late in the day. It's beach season, with New Year's Eve on Copacabana beach and Carnival, in February or early March.
Southern autumn
Still warm, with less rain and fewer crowds: a good time to enjoy Rio at an easier pace.
Southern winter
In Rio it's mild and drier: ideal for sightseeing and hiking. The sea is cooler.
Southern spring
The heat comes back and the days get longer, before the summer crowds.
Where to stay
The right neighbourhood depends on what you're after. Here are our favourite places to stay.
Copacabana
Rio's most famous neighbourhood: the long beach, its wave-patterned promenade and plenty of hotels.
Ipanema and Leblon
More upmarket and quieter: lovely beaches, restaurants and shops below the Two Brothers peaks.
Santa Teresa
Up in the hills of Rio: cobbled lanes, colourful houses and artists' studios.
Salvador da Bahia
The Pelourinho, a historic centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Afro-Brazilian culture.
Foz do Iguaçu
The gateway to Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side.
Our favourites
What we love there: its history, its landscapes, its flavours and its festivals. Take your time, it's all there to enjoy.
Christ the Redeemer
At the top of Corcovado, the statue watches over Rio. Go up early in the morning to avoid the crowds and enjoy the view of the bay.
Ideal for a first trip to Rio
Sugarloaf Mountain
Two cable cars take you to the top. At sunset, the view over Copacabana and Christ the Redeemer is unforgettable.
Ideal for couples
Copacabana and Ipanema
Volleyball, beach vendors, sunsets: the beach is the heart of life in Rio.
Ideal for beach lovers
Carnival
In February or early March, Rio moves to the rhythm of samba, the Sambadrome parades and street blocos.
Ideal for the atmosphere
Iguazu Falls
More than 250 waterfalls between Brazil and Argentina, in a park listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ideal for nature lovers