Jovial

Hello,

We're hoping to spend 21+ days (max 27/28 days) in Brazil over the end of Dec/start of Jan period.

We were hoping to fly into Sao Paulo then spend New Year/Revellion in Paraty (and spend approx 3-4 days there) and then we are free to spend of the rest of the time traveling about. We definitely want to go to the Amazon but don't know whether to travel up the North coast through Salvador (and visit the lovely colonial towns/beaches etc there), or to go to the Patanal (however, I've been told this is not at it's best in Dec) and the falls.

I would really love to hear your suggestions of must sees in Brazil (we love culture, food, people, nature, beaches, animals - most things really, and would prefer to stay in cool little guesthouses rather than big corporate hotels). We are also hoping to buy a flight pass to make traveling around easier.

Any suggested towns/sights/guesthouses/itineraries etc would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

TCCG

As you like food...
You can visit Belém do Pará, near Manaus, and taste açai, tacacá, maniçoba (all indian foods), and the delicious ice creams: graviola, tapioca, cupuaçu, bacuri, etc, etc.
Visit there: Mercado do Ver-o-peso, Mangal das Garças, Teatro da Paz and Estação das Docas, where every friday, at 6pm, there's a show of carimbó, a regional dance.
Then, you can visit Lençois Maranhenses, at Maranhão, another state. Google it. It's beautiful. There are 2 lagoons and a fishmen colony that you must see.
Near Maranhão, you will find Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Recife, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, all of them have beautiful beaches, such as Porto de Galinha,Jericoacoara,Porto Seguro, etc. And if you visit Natal, don't miss Fernando de Noronha, a beautiful archipelago. Then, you can stop at Serras Gaúchas to rest in a small town named Gramado, with a germany culture and end your trip visitin the National Park of Iguaçu.

tengohambre

As you know, Brazil is huge. Unless you want to spend days of your trip traveling, I would focus on a few discrete areas and explore those, rather than trying to cover as much ground as you can. You will likely need to fly between some of your destinations. Look at GOL Brazil airlines for flight and route options. It is the Brazilian JetBlue or SouthWest. Good friendly website. A TAM airpass may also be an option, but you need to fly TAM to Brazil to take advantage of it. With all you want to cover, you may also want to speak to a Brazilan travel agency, both for some ideas and perhaps some good deals. Yet, January is high season in much of Brazil. BACC travel, in NYC, is well known and could book many legs of the trip if you so choose. Their website is pretty good too.

If you want incredible beaches, after Rio and its areas, head north. Maybe fly to Salvador, spend a few days around that area, then rent a car and drive north, to Maceio/Recife area. Recife you will want to skip but the beaches between Salvador and Maceio/Recife, are beautiful. Many small great pousadas. Great seaffod. Or, you can fly further north, to Natal, and explore the areas there.

For hotels, simply look for good pousadas. Large corporate hotels are few and far between in Brazil, except in the major cities. Also, learn some basic Portuguese, it will help immensely. Outside of the major cities, and even in the cities, few people you will meet in shops/restaurants, etc., speak English. Yet, the people couldn't be nicer and you will have a great time. Spanish helps a lot too.

For a good idea of where to stay, below is a link to a Brazilian group of hotels, all of which range from very nice to deluxe. Even if you don't choose one of them, their locations are all well situated and they will give you good ideas where to look for alternative options. Have fun.

http://www.roteirosdecharme.com.br/ing/index2.php

Lilica

Sao Paulo - Parati - Rio - Buzios - Salvador - Recife/Olinda -then Amazon. You can fly into Sao Paulo and fly back to your country from Manaus.

Amil

I agree with tengohambre. Stream line your itinerary. Brazil is huge so at least here small is better. What ever destinations you choose, chances are, you will want to stay much longer than you have time for. So with that in mind keep it simple. As for my recommendation the amazon requires its own vacation. By the way, if your there to see animals you will be disappointed. For that you must go to the Patanal but again a quick visit will be a waste of time and money. The Brazil that most people know is along its vast coast. If that's where your heart is at then spend revellion in Rio not SP and then head north to Canoa Quebrada in Ceare as I did. Years ago a friend told me it was the "craziest beach in Brazil". After my visit earlier this year I have to agree. If your into nature Canoa sits on top of a huge sand dune with the ocean on one side and the forest on another creating three ecosystems. I stayed at Pousada Iguana but there are many small Inns to choose from.