2 weeks in Brazil itinerary

Welcome to our 2 weeks in Brazil itinerary.

One of the most diverse countries you can visit in Latin America, Brazil really is the gift that keeps on giving!

From its world-class beaches and pumping cities of Rio and Salvador, to the vast Amazon Jungle, it’s no wonder that most travelers keep on coming back for more.

2 weeks in Brazil Itinerary

In this guide, we’ll explore Brazil, which includes the very best things to see. We’ll also include our very own customized 2 week Itinerary for those who are keen to get the most out of their trip here.

From visiting the wonders of Rio de Janeiro to hiking deep into the rainforest, let’s now see what’s in store for us on this two week itinerary.

Getting to Brazil

The cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro serve as the best points of entry into Brazil. São Paulo is more connected, however Rio also has many direct flights arriving from across the globe.

And given we’ve started our itinerary in Rio, you’ll first need to make your way here (you can always take a domestic flight from São Paulo to Rio also).

The other main way of getting into Brazil is by bus from the many neighboring countries. These include Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to the south, Bolivia to the west, as well as Venezuela and Guyana to the north.

You can also make your way in from Peru and Colombia, however, you’ll need to travel by boat to Manaus (which in itself is a pretty memorable experience).

Other Things to know: Travel Tips

When traveling on our itinerary through Brazil, we recommend a minimum daily budget of $30 per day. With this budget, you’ll stay in a comfortable and air-conditioned dorm room, where you’ll also eat in local restaurants too.

It’s important to remember that Brazil is more expensive than other Latin American nations, so try not to be too shocked once you arrive.

Other costs such as international flights, travel insurance or long-distance buses are not included in this budget.

Many people heading to Brazil are quite fearful of the safety situation, so here’s our two cents having spent a while here.

Cities like São Paulo and Rio are safe as long as you stick to the more touristy areas (Vila Madalena and Ipanema respectively, we’ll cover these in more detail later) and also leave valuables locked away in your accommodation.

Other parts can be dodgy and we’ll list tips for each city later on in this guide. Wearing a secure Money Belt is a very good idea when exploring the big cities.

Brazil is a massive country, and as such travel distances are going to be very big. You’ll need to use flights to get around, which is definitely the case for getting to Manaus.

Those who have more time can take buses between Salvador and Rio, given there are lots of nice places like Itacaré to see in between.

It’s better to use a bus between São Paulo and Rio to save, but those with shorter on time can easily hop on one of the main flights between these two major cities.

Brazil Itinerary (2 Week)

Now let’s explore our personalized 2 weeks in Brazil itinerary.

Here we’ll give you a full breakdown of how to arrange your days so you can get the very most out of a trip here.

Days 1-4: Rio

Kicking off our itinerary, we head to arguably one of the most vibrant cities in all of Latin America.

Rio de Janeiro is known for its bustling atmosphere and party vibes, and those looking to throw down will love the district of Lapa where there’s some kind of party on every night of the week.

Ipanema and Copacabana are also known for their beaches and amenities, although you’ll want to be careful when walking alone at night in these areas (especially the beach where muggings are common).

One of the best things to do in Rio is to head up to Christ the Redeemer, which has solidified its place as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. You’ll also want to head on a day trip to Rocinha (one of Rio’s most famous favelas) and also take the cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain.

We recommend joining this all-action day tour, where you’ll visit the 6 best sites of Rio (including Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and the Maracanã.

Days 5-6: São Paulo

From Rio we’ll now take the 6 hour bus over to the sprawling city of São Paulo.

The largest city in all of Latin America, this beast can be quite intimidating for a first-timer. That’s why we recommend staying within the lively and safe district of Vila Madalena. Here it feels much more chic, with lots of great restaurants and nightlife along its main street.

Whilst in this barrio you’ll want to explore Beco do Batman, which is famous for its artsy streets and impressive murals. Ibirapuera Park is another must-visit, where you’ll have many forested paths and a massive lake to explore.

Other worthwhile things to see in São Paulo include the Sé Cathedral, the Museu do Futebol as well as the Japanese neighborhood of Liberdade.

There are also many hidden secrets to explore in São Paulo (which is natural given its massive size), which are best explored with this walking tour.

Days 7-10: Manaus

Having spent a week exploring the colourful big cities of Brazil, it’s now time to head into the uncharted region of the Amazon. The world’s largest rainforest, over 60% of it lies within Brazil, and Manaus is the perfect base camp for those looking to trek deeper into the region.

Once you’ve arrived with your flight here (it’s the only feasible way given our timeframe), you’ll want to head on a jungle tour asap.

The city of Manaus itself really isn’t anything special, so it’s best to use your days within the jungle (George, unfortunately, got stuck in Manaus for days on end, and also thinks the city just isn’t worth it).

The best way to explore the Amazon Jungle is with this highly-rated, multi-day tour. Here you’ll spend as many as 4 days within a jungle lodge (you can customise the amount of days), where you’ll spend your time fishing for pirañas, swimming with pink river Dolphins as well as heading on wildlife tours through the dense rainforest.

Days 11-14: Salvador

Last but not least, we now take a short flight over from Manaus to Salvador. Located on the Atlantic coast, this city is known for its Bahian culture, beaches and colorful architecture.

There’s two main areas to stay in. Barra is best for those who want to be near the beach and is overall one of the safest districts (along with many restaurants and amenities along the coast). The other is Pelourinho, which is where the majority of the must-see sites are located.

One of the best things to do in Salvador is to enjoy the unique culture that’s found in this region of Brazil. With strong Afro roots, you can learn more through the food, dance (there are many awesome places to head out to within Barra and Rio Vermelho) as well as from the landmarks.

Some of these include the Barra lighthouse, Lacerda Elevator, Convent of São Francisco as well as the stunning Portuguese architecture found in Pelourinho.

As you can imagine, with such a diverse city the cuisine is going to be top-notch too, such as dishes like Moqueca and Vatapá.

We recommend joining this authentic cooking class, where you’ll learn to make several Bahian dishes, as well as getting to mix with locals too.

From Salvador, you can easily catch a flight back to either Rio or São Paulo for your international flight out of Brazil.

Best time to visit Brazil

Given how massive and diverse Brazil is, it’s not surprising to hear that the climates can vary drastically between regions.

What is usually straightforward is the fact that it’s going to be hot in most places. So you’ll want to pack mostly lighter clothes and garments.

Within the Amazon rainforest you can expect rain regardless of when you visit, so be sure to bring a quality rain jacket or poncho with you.

Overall, we’ve found (through our experience) that the months of November until February are the best time to visit Brazil. This is the summer season, which is nice and hot most days. It will be wetter during this time in the Amazon Jungle, however to be honest you’re going to get wet here regardless of when you visit!

Brazil Backpacking Tips

Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for Brazil:

2 Weeks in Brazil Itinerary

Brazil is one of the best countries you can explore in Latin America. Not only is it full of incredible destinations that range from the Amazon Jungle to remote Atlantic beaches, it’s also home to some of the most fun and welcoming people on earth!

In this itinerary, we’ve covered all you need to know about Brazil. This includes the very best destinations to visit, our top recommendations as well as our customized 2 week Brazil itinerary for you to use when heading here.

Be sure to come back to this article whenever you need help planning, or even to suggest your own tips once you’ve completed the adventure yourself.

See our full backpacking Brazil guide for more tips.

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

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