Best Brazil Travel Guide

Brazil is the largest country in South America and home to some of the world’s most metropolitan cities, but this is just the beginning. The world famous Carnival takes place every year where millions dance, samba, and party the days away. Wildlife fans will enjoy exploring the wetlands of the Pantanal and the Amazon rainforest, while those who enjoy colonial architecture and historic cities will revel in the chance to visit Salvador. Throw in beaches, soccer, beautiful people, and cheap prices, and it’s pretty easy to convince someone this is a country worth seeing. Brazil sells itself and this travel guide can help you plan your trip there.

Typical Costs

Accommodation – Accommodation in Brazil can be extremely cheap. Starting price for a dorm room in a hostel is between 15-30 BRL. Private rooms are about upwards of 40 BRL. Small, family owned budget hotels are also widely abundant and starting costs are between 70-100 BRL. Your own room in a homestay can cost as little as 35-50 BRL.

Food – Food is affordable. Small, locally owned restaurants here cost 14 BRL for a meal that includes a couple of courses and a drink. Nicer meals at a more casual restaurant with a nicer décor will cost around 35 BRL. Grocery shopping is very cheap, just about 103 BRL per week. All prices are higher in Rio.

Transportation – Long-distance buses are a convenient, economical, and comfortable way to travel between regions. Bus tickets cost about 8-10 BRL per hour of travel. Check travel distance and times online—going from Rio de Janeiro to the south region could take more than 24 hours, so it may worth going by plane if you can afford it. Train service is limited to the tourist oriented steam train that offers transport in between two important Brazilian tourist towns, Sao Jao del Rei and Tiradentes.

Activities – Attractions are reasonably affordable. Prices for football matches cost upwards of 35 BRL per ticket, depending on where you’re seated and entrance to Iguazu Falls is about 42 BRL. Amazon river cruises cost a few hundred dollars to thousands depending on how long and luxurious they are.

Money Saving Tips

Go off season – Around the Rio Carnival, accommodation prices triple. December to March is also a pretty busy time as people from the Northern hemisphere escape the winter. Try to avoid these dates if you want to keep prices low.

Buddy up – In Brazil, you’ll pay a premium for a single room, almost twice the cost of a double. Pair up with a friend to halve the cost of your accommodation if you’re not keen on staying in a dorm.