Brazil Adventure Travel Guide

Brazil is blessed with more than 8000km of stunning coastline, dense rainforests and pristine wetlands teeming with exotic wildlife, as well as some of the oldest and most exciting cities in the New World – just the perfect destination for anexciting outdoors adventure.

Things to do and see
Get wet at the famous Iguaçu Falls and gallop on horseback across the swampy grasslands of the Pantanal Biosphere, past giant caiman and yellow anacondas – just don’t fall off!

Fish for piranha along the Amazon River then head downstream to pick up some duty-free bargains in steamy Manaus or discover beautiful handicrafts in Belem’s Ver-o-Peso market.

Explore the maze of narrow cobbled streets crowded with pastel-coloured houses in 16th century Olinda, a UNESCO cultural heritage site. Climb the Corcovado in Rio for great views above the magnificent Baía de Guanabara then join the parade of scantily dressed bodies soaking up a tan on Copacabana or Ipanema Beach.

Later, savour a caipirinha (or two) and a dish of feijoada (the Brazilian national dish) at one of the many bars and restaurants in the cobblestone Arco do Teles district.

Then choose a nightclub and sway to the distinctive sensual rhythms of bossa nova and samba – try the Carioca da Gema, one of the hottest night spots in the Lapa district.

Best time to visit Brazil?
Anytime.
Rio is best between May and August, when the sky is clear, the beaches are cooled by trade winds and the average temperature hovers around 28°C with a high of 35°C. Summer, between December and March, is wet and humid with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 40°C. Winter temperatures average 23°C with a high of 30°C, but can drop to 15°C at night in July. Rio’s high season runs from December to March when Carnaval and New Year are in full party mode.

The Pantanal is best visited between September and November when water levels are low and you can see all the wildlife at its exuberant best. During the dry season (July to November) you can easily walk around; temperatures range between 26˚C and 40˚C. In the wet season (December to May), you can explore the flooded rainforest by boat but expect heavy rain with little sunshine, and temperatures ranging from 23˚C to 30˚C.

The Amazon is best visited during the dry season between May and November (with August the driest), when you can easily walk around. Or visit during the rainy season from February to April when the flooded rainforest can be explored by boat or canoe – flooding lifts boats some 6m closer to the jungle canopy. You can expect heavy rain and not too much sunshine from December to May, with light showers year round. Temperatures range from 23˚C to 30˚C. The dry season lasts from July to November and ranges between 26˚C and 40˚C.

Iguaçu Falls The Falls are spectacular anytime but with seasonal variations. For reasonable temperatures, lowest prices and the least crowds visit during September and October. To see the cascade at its fullest under blue skies visit in January or February. Summer (November to March) temperatures range from 23˚C to 32˚C with humidity above 90 per cent. Winter (April to September) temperatures range from 10˚C to 23˚C with humidity around 60 per cent.