Flights to Brazil

Getting around

Brazil is larger than the whole of Europe west of Russia, so domestic flights with LATAM, GOL and Azul are the practical way to link regions. Rio and São Paulo are about an hour apart by air, or six hours by road. Buses are comfortable for shorter hops, and traffic drives on the right.

History

Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral landed on the coast in 1500. Salvador was the first colonial capital, followed by Rio de Janeiro from 1763, and Brazil became an independent empire in 1822 before turning republic in 1889. The purpose-built capital, Brasília, opened in 1960. African, Indigenous and European traditions shape the country's food, music and festivals.

Falls, forest and coast

Iguaçu Falls, on the border with Argentina, is a horseshoe of around 275 cascades, and walkways on the Brazilian side give the wide panoramic view. Manaus is the gateway to the Amazon, with lodges reached by boat, while the Pantanal wetlands in the west offer good chances of seeing jaguars, caimans and giant otters. Salvador's Pelourinho quarter is a UNESCO-listed old town, and the dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses fill with rainwater lagoons from about June to September.

Entry, money and practical tips

British visitors do not need a visa for tourist stays. The currency is the real, and cards are widely accepted, including contactless payments. Portuguese is the main language, so a few phrases are useful. Rio and São Paulo are three hours behind the UK in winter and four in summer. Check current UK government travel advice and your insurance before you go.

When to go

Brazil is warm all year in the north and along most of the coast. Rio is hottest from December to March, which is also Carnival season, while May to September is drier for the Pantanal and the falls.

Planning a Brazil trip? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll help with your flights.