There is a very fine line dividing the moment a trip is no longer a dream and turns into concrete plans for your future. It is extra special when it is your first time visiting a new place. If your destination is Brazil, then you are in for the experience of a lifetime.
You might already be thinking of staying in Rio de Janeiro and then going to Sao Paulo but they are just two of the best places to visit in Brazil. And because it is so easy to get lost in South America’s largest country, we are going over the best places to visit in Brazil together.
Also, if you would like to learn more about Brazil, later read our complete Guide to Brazil. Now, letโs get back into it.
Yes, I am incredibly biased when talking about my home country but is it not amazing how there is a destination for every kind of traveler?
For those who enjoy watching people like me, diving into local urban centers for a crash course on the ‘Brazil lifestyle’, there are major cities like my hometown of Rio de Janeiro or Sรฃo Paulo, the largest city in all of South America.
In case your ideal vacation involves exploring a national park, going on boat trips through calm rivers, you have the best places to visit in Brazil spread through two whole regions and many biomes to choose from.
Would you prefer to adventure into our worldwide famous beaches? There are literally over seven thousand kilometers, more than four and a half thousand miles, of Atlantic Ocean-bathed sands to pick from the best places to visit on Brazil’s coast.
This huge country is formally divided into five regions: North, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, and South. To help us navigate our list of best places to visit in Brazil, I went ahead and separated it into the same sections.
While most travelers stick to the usual big cities, a growing number of explorers are heading off the beaten path in Brazil. From remote canyons to quaint colonial villages, the country hides gems that locals love but few tourists ever discover.
The best places to visit in Brazil on your first trip here are entirely up to you, so follow along with a local to see what are your options!
Places to Visit in Brazil: North
Brazil’s northern region is perfect for nature lovers! With more than one UNESCO World Heritage site for you to visit, there are many wonders for you to see. There are a few international airports and many more regional ones in Northern states, so getting to your final destination will not be a problem.
Thankfully, the most beautiful places are not national secrets! I just recommend you hire professional guides, you can’t just follow anyone into unknown forests.
1. Meeting of the Waters (Amazonas)
The first stop in our list of best places to visit in Brazil is this one-of-a-kind natural phenomenon. This place is where Rio Negro, with its dark-colored waters, meets with Solimรตes River, the latter has a sandy shade all throughout its course.
The magical thing is that for six kilometers, almost four miles, these rivers run side by side without ever mixing and that creates a unique sight in South America.
One of the best places to stay, also one of the closest, is Manaus. From there you can also go to a national park called ‘Central Amazon Conservation Complex’, a UNESCO world heritage site. Staying there is probably your best bet since it will enable you to explore this important place in our history.
And whenever you want to see the Encontro das รguas there are two ways to go about it! Number one is booking a panoramic helicopter flight, it usually leaves from hangars in town so you can easily reach them by car or public transportation.
Your second option, and my personal favorite, is to take a boat. Sure, boat trips are not as convenient as the helicopter ride, you will have to drive a little to reach your meeting point. But it will be worth it when it gives you the chance of getting up close to this unique place.
2. Jalapรฃo Park (Tocantins)
This second addition to our list of best places to visit in Brazil is still more on the unknown side so it is your opportunity to visit natural wonders for one one-on-one time with nature. This state park is dedicated to preserving an area of natural life in the eastern part of Tocantins.
Nature lovers come here to enjoy clear waterfalls, warm river waters, and also Fervedouros, water mines that spout water with strength enough to prevent people from sinking.
As if that isn’t enough, Jalapรฃo has a lot of dunes perfect for watching the sunset from. Although this is easily one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, it is also quite undiscovered.
While that can be one of the best things for people hoping to have privacy, it does make accessing it a little difficult. I speak as your friend when I recommend you book a trustworthy tour to explore the park.
The closest city for you to stay at is called Sรฃo Felix do Tocantins. Because it is used to receiving people who want to visit Jalapรฃo, you should have no problem with going through your hotel’s reception to find good guides. But nature can be unpredictable so another important thing for your trip is getting good travel insurance.
3. Bonus: Jungle Excursions on the Amazon Rainforest
Our last northern stop on the list of places to visit in Brazil is not quite the Amazon Rainforest, I would say it is more of an activity everyone should do at least once in their lifetime.
There is a resort called Juma Amazon Lodge Hotel that helps guests create their own exploring itinerary based on how many days they will be staying there. Places like this are wonderful because you get to explore the Amazon Rainforest as safely as possible.
Just remember that the rainy season in the Amazon Rainforest lasts from December to May, so it would be best to avoid coming in these months. And jungle excursions don’t need to be your entire trip.
If you are anything like me, you will want to be in a concrete jungle soon enough. My tip is to book flights with a few days between them, that way you are able to discover a whole new world without breaking your budget.
Places to Visit in Brazil: Northeast
When we think about places to visit in Brazil to have tropical adventures, you may think that the best places to visit for beachgoing will be in Rio de Janeiro state. And while Rio de Janeiro does have some beautiful beaches with clear waters, our Northeastern region has plenty of brilliant beaches for you.
Just like the North region, the Northeast also has plenty of international airports for you to choose which works best for you.
4. Historic Downtown Neighborhood (Salvador)
While Salvador is not as big of a city as Sao Paulo, it has an equal amount of significance to our history as a country. It is so important that it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985!
The city which is Bahia’s capital nowadays, was the place where Europeans first arrived in South America once upon a time. Because of that, it would later become the first capital of Brazil until Rio de Janeiro took over the spot in 1763.
Every neighborhood in town has its charm, the historic center area will pull you in and back in time to Brazil’s first steps as a country. My first recommendation is that you bring your comfiest pair of sneakers, there will be plenty of walking while you see every iconic sight.
Bahia’s history can’t be told without the catholic church being cited which makes old churches turned into tourist attractions. One other place visitors generally go to as well is Jorge Amado’s house. He was one of Brazil’s best writers.
Speaking of cultural and historical aspects of Bahia, make sure to try as much food as you can. Salvador was deeply marked by the culture of African slaves that came into the country and local cuisine didn’t escape unscathed. Fair warning, comida baiana is known for its spiciness.
5. Jericoacoara (Cearรก)
We all know there are many famous beaches in Brazil, most of them in the Northeastern region if we stop to count. And I do think that Fernando de Noronha needs to be on everyone’s list of places to visit in Brazil, but so should Jericoacoara!
Jeri, as we locals call it, used to be a sleepy small town dedicated to fishing until people began flocking to it to access an ocean of calm blue waters. This is where you will find those famous hammocks set up right on top of the water.
Because Jeri is located within an area of permanent preservation, getting to it can be quite an adventure. There are no proper, paved roads leading to it.
So even if we get rental cars, those will be properly parked outside the village and we board quad vehicles to reach our final destination. Your best option will always be booking a transfer from wherever you are staying so they can take care of pesky details.
6. Lenรงรณis Maranhenses (Maranhรฃo)
Finishing up this leg on our list of places to visit in Brazil, we have a national park famous for its unique kind of natural beauty. It occupies over a hundred and fifty thousand hectares of land, making it the largest dune park in our country.
Although dunes aren’t that big of a deal, the magic here happens during the rainy season. When it rains enough, water will accumulate between dunes to form natural pools.
For nature lovers hoping to see that in person, come over anytime between April and October! You will get the best weather. As for where to stay, there are three options: Barreirinhas, Atins e Santo Amaro.
The last one is better for families since it is a more residential area with lots of locals around. Atins is great because you can easily access both beaches and pools without having to pay for an excursion.
But I would stay at Barreirinhas since it has the best structure all around and it also is a starting point for all excursions to the Lenรงรณis, including boat trips.
Places to Visit in Brazil: Midwest
The nice thing about living in such an enormous country is that there are almost too many places to visit in Brazil. The Midwest region is where nature lovers go for a different kind of adventure.
This isn’t the place where you find vegetation similar to the Amazon rainforest, here it’s all about hiking until you feel on top of the world. And you won’t be stranded in small regional airports since our national capital is in the area.
7. Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)
Bonito is an ideal place to practice eco-tourism in Brazil! Located about three hundred kilometers (about 186 miles) from the state capital, but lucky for us it has its municipal airport so it can be easily reached.
Every part of your visit here will be focused on preserving natural life! As for exploring activities, going into forests should be done in the company of a local guide, that way you will be safe and learn much more about what is surrounding you.
When the time comes to make a reservation, try to look for a hotel that has a pool available! Bonito is an inland city, so despite having plenty of rivers and waterfalls, it will get hot!
With a pool available, you can cool down after a hike without having to stand up in a shower. And when you are ready, there are infinite possibilities to keep on exploring.
You can take panoramic flights, go on a boat ride through crystalline waters, and much more! It doesn’t have to be all about hiking to chase waterfalls.
8. Parque Nacional Chapada Dos Guimarรฃes (Mato Grosso)
The Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park is a preservation area created to protect an immense number of species. Some sources of rivers that go on to form the Pantanal waters are located within the national park`s borders, especially streams and rivers of the Coxipo river basin, which in turn makes up a majority of the local population’s water supply.
Can you imagine just drinking water straight from the source?
Perhaps the most iconic sight in the many square miles is a waterfall called ‘Vรฉu de Noiva’, which looks very similar to the one in the movie UP by Pixar.
Chapada dos Guimarรฃes is an immensely beautiful place but it is not safe to go alone, so my recommendation is to either do some research to hire trustworthy local guides or book a hotel that offers tour services at an additional fee.
Even if it is a little more expensive, I want you to be safe so there are great stories to tell your friends back home.
9. Bonus: Pantanal Norte
As our second bonus on the list of places to visit in Brazil, the region of Pantanal Norte isn’t quite the lush rainforests of Brazil but it still should be on your radar. It is a unique scenery, mixing different biomes to create a landscape you will never forget.
Because there are very distinct dry and wet seasons, you will also never be able to see things the same way twice. Just as with the Amazon rainforest, there are resorts here that will give you quiet luxury and take care of organizing your nature adventures as well!
Places to Visit in Brazil: Southeast
The Southeast is where magic happens. Both of our most iconic cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are here in homonymous states! Sao Paulo is easily one of my favorite cities ever, full of life, and new things to do at each corner.
Rio de Janeiro is for travelers hoping to dip their toes in the sand while diving into Brazilian culture in a way you can only do in Rio de Janeiro. Between those two cities, you will have our two biggest airports so there is always somewhere new to go!
10. Sรฃo Paulo (Sรฃo Paulo)
Not to be biased from the first sentence, but Sao Paulo is one of my favorite cities in the whole world. There is something very comforting about getting lost in an enormous town with many new things waiting for you in each corner. The main attractions that have to be on your itinerary are three.
First is the Ibirapuera Park, kind of like a Brazilian version of Central Park and easily accessible in many ways. Number two is the Liberdade neighborhood, a place inhabited by people of all kinds of Asian descent but mostly Japanese.
There is an amazing street fair right next to the subway exit every weekend. I would say our third attraction is Paulista Avenue entirely just because many other iconic places are veering off its sidewalk.
My main tip for coming here other than pre-planning your itinerary is taking advantage of the subway system. You can literally go anywhere in it and if it doesn’t take you all the way there, then calling an Uber from stations is easy enough!
11. Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro)
Finally, our list of places to visit in Brazil has arrived at the marvelous city. Rio de Janeiro, the capital of a state with the same name, is one of those destinations perfect for people who want to get a lot of sightseeing done with the smallest amount of effort possible.
You can spend a week going to some of our best beaches, starting with Copacabana Beach of course. There is the cableway on Sugarloaf Mountain that takes you to an amazing view of town. And there is the Christ Redeemer statue which can be seen from nearly everywhere in town and up close for those willing to climb some stairs.
But we know Rio de Janeiro is famous for more than all that, it is famous because of its people. For an immersive experience in local culture, I suggest you add both the Gloria and the Lavradio street fairs to your itinerary.
Along with many unique souvenir options, you will be able to safely try traditional street food dishes with live music in the background. Lavradio Fair, my favorite, happens every Saturday at Lavradio Street and Gloria Fair happens at Avenida Augusto Severo on Sundays.
12. Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais)
Ouro Preto, a small city in the state of Minas Gerais, is possibly one of the most charming places you will ever visit. Leftover from another historical era, the colonial architecture transports visitors back in time to when Brazil’s main product was gold.
On top of that, Minas Gerais is also a great place for you to try some classic Brazilian food, including Pรฃo de Queijo. That along with Doce de Leite makes up about half of an imaginary list of things you should try. The other half are two drinks, Cachaรงa and Coffee.
Mineiro Coffee is largely considered Brazil’s best coffee so you need to take a moment to try it. As for Cachaรงa, it is a distilled alcoholic drink made to have many different flavors, my favorite is cinnamon! Neutral tasting Cachaรงa is used as a base to make our traditional caipirinha drinks.
When visiting this part of Minas Gerais, be mindful of how hilly terrain is. I don’t recommend driving here unless you’ve got a ton of experience under your belt. You would be safer by guaranteeing a spot on guided tours or hiring your local guide.
Places to Visit in Brazil: South
Unlike other parts of Brazil which are better for one specific type of trip, the South region has a bit of everything for all kinds of travelers. It is the perfect place for those who want to practice some water sports at beaches famous for surf championships.
Do you want to have the best time in nature without feeling too much heat or dry air? Or maybe visit Latin America’s version of Niagara Falls? Pick the airport closest to your destination and let’s go!
13. Iguazu Falls (Paranรก)
Most people tend to immediately compare the Iguazu Falls with the Niagara Falls. And while that may be an apt comparison to help people understand the grandiosity of both, itโs not good for much else. The Iguazu Falls National Park is located in a town called Foz do Iguaรงu, in the western tip of Paranรก.
To get there, you will probably land in Guarulhos and go through customs before getting on another plane to town. Their airport is international, though, so there might be better flights with no domestic connections if you look for it!
Besides the falls themselves, another reason I put this place on our list of places to visit in Brazil is that it is right on the border with two other South American countries.
The Triple Border is where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet, making it easy to visit other places during your trip. Just be mindful of what documentation is necessary to enter the respective countries so you can take advantage of this opportunity.
14. Serra Gaรบcha (Rio Grande do Sul)
No good southern local will tell you to come over and not make a stop somewhere along the Serra Gaรบcha. It is practically tradition for us to go there as soon as winter hits, meaning June through September.
Here is where you will find darling Gramado, with its delicious chocolate factories, charming municipal parks, and plenty of coffee shops for when being outside becomes too much. I say that because this is the kind of town you meet on foot.
Besides going through scenic towns with European-inspired architecture, there are other activities just as enjoyable. I highly recommend taking a moment to stop at the vineyards peppered between slopes. Besides tasting some of the best wine in the country, you will also have very privileged views from untouched nature as far as the eye goes.
I wouldnโt say it is a problem but you need to prepare for some driving when you come here! There are no airports directly in the Serra, the closest being Porto Alegreโs international airport about two hours away by car. If you would rather not be driving, it is possible to arrange for private transfers to your desired destinations so long as you have the budget for it.
15. Bonus: Santa Catarina’s Coast (Santa Catarina)
As someone who grew up literally across the street from Santa Catarinaโs chilly ocean, of course, I would tell you it is one of the best places to visit in Brazil.
There is a sprawling coast for you to explore but the reason why you should come here, more specifically to Florianรณpolis, is that there are beaches for everyone here even if our part of the Atlantic Ocean is a little bit colder than Rio de Janeiro.
To escape the thick of tourists who stop somewhere in the center of Brazil, along with the hassle of staying in a large city, you should stay at this lovely beach called Praia Brava.
For an experience similar to what Rio de Janeiro offers but on a smaller scale, Florianรณpolis is the place to go. Floripa, besides being a state capital, is partially an island so the ocean welcomes everyone. Just donโt forget that a safe trip will include good insurance just in case.
I know traveling to a new country can be intimidating, especially when it is the biggest country in Latin America, with a unique culture no matter where you end up. I do think everywhere is worth visiting, so good planning will be your best friend.
Once you figure out which place is your main destination, consider doing a deep dive into research on the area surrounding it. With a few clicks, you can turn a single destination into an adventure through all the best places in the area. For example, you can stretch your days in Rio de Janeiro to visit some smaller colonial-era towns in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Or maybe your week in Sao Paulo could also be your chance to also visit the Paulista coast in Santos. No matter what your final itinerary looks like, some things will always be true.
Like how choosing a good hotel can make a world of difference! Each of the spots in this list of places to visit in Brazil will have plenty of alternatives, you should pick the one with the best concierge service. It can sound silly but you will be thankful to have someone dealing with scheduling activities and experiences.
Because vacation trips are for you to relax and there is no place better than Brazil to do that!
