For one of our first international trips since COVID, we had to send it back down to South America to soak in the glory that is Brazil. We skipped this country on our last South America trip because it is such a large country and they speak Portuguese, and we were really focusing on improving our Spanish at the time. Luckily, we were finally able to make our redemption trip to Brazil for two weeks in January of 2023. Here is everything you need to know!
Here is our 2-week Itinerary:
- 3 days in Copacabana
- 3 days in Lapa
- 3 days in Foz do Iguacu (Iguazu Falls)
- 5 days on Ilha Grande
Rio de Janeiro
We flew overnight from Denver, connecting in Houston, and landing in Rio de Janeiro early in the morning. Note that we flew into the GIG airport, as there are multiple airports in the city. Landing so early was also great because we flew through customs, as we were the first flight to land after they opened at 5 AM.
We stayed in Copacabana for 3 days, and it was the ultimate beach paradise. We enjoyed sitting in the sand, sipping caipirinhas, and exploring the numerous street vendors that line the beach each night. From here, we were also able to easily Uber to key sight seeing spots, including Christ the Redeemer and the cable cars to Sugarloaf Mountain.
We also stayed in Lapa for 3 days, which had a completely different vibe. Rather than the beachy lifestyle of Copacabana, Lapa has much more of a city feel. There are also key sightseeing spots here, including the Lapa steps and the arches which carry the oldest running tram in the world. There are also tons of samba clubs and street parties called “blocos” which involve live music, parades, dancers, and lots of food and drink vendors.
Iguazu Falls
The Iguazu Falls are a MUST SEE stop if you visit Brazil. We flew from the SDU airport in Rio (which is < 15 mins from Lapa) to the Iguazu airport (IGU) and stayed in Foz do Iguacu. We took public transportation to get to the national park that is home to the waterfalls (or cataratas). We again got there as early as possible to avoid the crowds, and we highly recommend you do the same. You can book your bus ticket that takes you from the national park entrance to the walking paths that wind along the falls ahead of time online.
Iguazu Falls borders Brazil and Argentina, so you can enjoy the views from both countries. We were short on time so only did the Brazil side this time around. However, we did not feel like we missed out at all, the views were seriously stunning. If you are interested in going to the Argentina side too, there is solid infrastructure to make the border crossing go smoothly and your hostel can help you book this trip.
Ilha Grande
After all the touristy stops, we wanted to get a little off the beaten path too. So we headed to Ilha Grande, an island off the coast of Brazil a few hours away from Rio. This island is super pristine, and there are no roads or cars on the island. Instead, you either have to navigate it on foot via the hiking trails that snake through the jungle landscape or by water taxi.
Expect this stay to be a bit more rugged, but it is also a complete paradise. The beaches are gorgeous, and there are far fewer people here than at the infamous Copacabana beach. You can also book boat tours around the island that include plenty of stops for swimming and snorkeling.
Budgeting for This Trip
We budgeted $6,000 for this two week trip, here is the breakdown:
- Flights (including roundtrip tickets and flights to Iguazu): $3,885
- Lodging: $1,300
- Everything else: $817
Because this was a shorter trip, we budgeted more than we would have when traveling full time with no jobs. We also ended up going about $200 over budget with all we spent on food, drinks, the many street vendors, and tickets for tourist attractions.
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Overall, we can’t recommend Brazil enough. Rio is our new favorite city in the world and Brazil seriously has something to offer any type of traveler from luxury to rugged. While Portuguese was difficult for us, we will keep practicing now that we’re back home so that our next visit to Brazil goes a bit more smoothly. Until then, obrigado e tchau!
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We hope this helps you get out there!
Summer & Jackson
OutThere Travels
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