Brazil Best of Brazil in 1 Month

Fly into multicultural metropolis São Paulo (2 days), where you can check out Neoclassical architecture, stroll through Parque do Ibirapuera on your way to the Museu da Arte Moderna, and spend a night barhopping in the student-filled Vila Madalena or bohemian Pinheiros. Continue your urban jaunt in Rio de Janeiro (5 days), the “Marvelous City” with its array of beaches, street samba parties, and the unforgettable view from Corcovado. Don’t miss a futebol match at Maracanã, the world’s biggest sta-dium. Take a ferry from nearby Angra dos Reis to spend a day unwinding on Ilha Grande (1 day), trekking through verdant forest to reach the island’s many beautiful secluded beaches. Head back through Rio en route to historic Ouro Preto (2 days), a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of gaudy gold-leaf churches and the works of Aleijadinho, Brazil’s most famous sculptor. Head east to laid-back Arraial d’Ajuda (2 days) to play in the sand and party nightly to reggae and forró before continuing north to Brazil’s most culturally vibrant city, Salvador (5 days). The streets are filled with the sights and sounds of capoeira and drum bands, while the air is thick with the smell of dendê oil and African-influenced cuisine. From here it’s an easy bus ride to Lençóis (2 days), the gateway to the waterfalls and hiking trails of the Chapada Diamantina. Then it’s north to cosmopolitan Recife (1 day) and neighboring relic Olinda (1 day) for beautiful beaches and rambling colonial centers. Pack light and head to Natal for a one-of-a-kind trip: the buggy ride to Fortaleza (3 days). Sample incredible seafood and dive in to the area’s traditional arts and crafts scene before making the long haul to distant Jericoacoara (2 days) for a couple of days relaxing or learning to windsurf. Spend your last few days getting back to nature: either head up the coast to Belém, sling a hammock on an Amazonian riverboat (5 days) to Manaus, or fly back to Rio or São Paulo and arrange an excursion to the Pantanal (5 days), where you’ll see some of Brazil’s most impressive wildlife.

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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.