bb3644

Hi, I'm planning to go to Brazil in December - January for 2 weeks. As it will be my first time to south America, so really need some help on the planning.

I'm interested in the history, culture, art, hiking, adventure and of course the Amazon. I'm a Chinese girl, speaking English but not Spanish. I will be traveling by myself, so there is some concern about the safety. I don't drive either...

I will be traveling on a budget but don't mind spending some money for the Amazon cruise. heard there is one called " Amazon Mystery Tours". Kayaking sounds really interesting. Wondering if it's a good tour.

Any tips would be helpful! Thanks!

Equestrian

Well, Brazilians don't speak Spanish either, and few speak English.
Safety, simply because you are solo, or because you are female, is not an issue.
The long-distance bus system in Brazil is very good. You should not even be thinking about driving anyway. Some flights can be about as cheap as the bus fare.
Reveillon (New Year's Eve) is a big holiday, with huge increases in prices for hotels/pousadas/hostels, and if you don't already have accomodations booked, you may have a hard time finding something.

RodrigoPintoSP

I have previously worked for a Brazilian tour operator and some clients of mine have had problems with this kayaking tour and we stopped selling that activity. I would rather do a more standard tour on Clipper that uses local regional boats with 2 cruise options (3 or 4 nights). They fill up fast, so maybe they're already fully booked by now. If you can't find a spot of them, you can head to a jungle lodge. A more budget option is Amazon Ecopark and the more upscale Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge.

If you planning to visit many destinations to far apart from each other, consider looking into a Brazilian Air Pass to fly everywhere to save both money and time.

Equestrian

"clients of mine have had problems with this kayaking tour "
Can you be more specific? What kind of problems? (Otherwise it justs sounds like spam, smearing another company.)

RodrigoPintoSP

@Equestrian: I don't do spam, but I'll give this in to you.

I used to work for Blumar Turismo, the largest incoming tour operator in Brazil - it just doesn't appear to travelers as it deals only with foreign operators/travel agencies. The foreign client was Brazil Nuts tours and their client insisted in including this kayaking trip in their Brazil itinerary and had all sort of problems (kayaking flipping over in a stream part of the river that wasn't suited for beginners, lack of a spare kayak - one of them eventually went downstream not to be found, etc etc). I am not saying it's a bad company: that happened some 2 years ago and by them they hadn't thought their logistics out too well - it may have changed now, but I think it's good for the OP to know.

Satisfied?

OregonMaiden

As a local told me when we were planning our first trip to Brazil "You cannot believe how BIG Brazil is." This translates into keeping things in perspective as to what you can see in two weeks.Travel between areas takes almost a whole day each way.

As "equestrian" pointed out---Brazilians speak Portuguese, and relatively few people outside major tourist areas speak much English at all. Be prepared to smile and play charades

Also correct is that you will not be driving. Aside from never knowing when bribes are appropriate ;-) the roads can be a little nutsy.

My advice would be to pick three areas maximum to explore---we've had great luck with the airpasses but I might recommend you track down a local travel agent in Rio (or wherever) to assist you in that regard since many sites are not translated into English.Several TAs are based in the US.I echo the earlier advice to BOOK ASAP if you're planning on visiting during New Year's. Copacabana Beach in Rio is one of the more amazing celebrations I've ever witnessed---wear white!

In my experience, Brazilians are a fun-loving group. Have a great time.
Diane

Equestrian

@rodrigo--You know, sometimes with folks who aren't first language speakers of English, no matter how good, the precise meaning gets somewhat lost in the attempt at translation. To me, a native English speaker, "clients of mine have had problems" implies that the problems happened on more than one excursion to more than one group of clients. That's what I wished to clarify. So when you are pressed to explain, it apparently turns out that there was one incident on one single tour, (and although it can be said to be an error in judgement that anything untoward happened to a tourist in their care) the type of thing that can and does happen with adventure sports. Personally I understand kayaking to be an adventure sport with risks, wherever it is undertaken. IMO as long as the potential client/adventurer is aware that there is a risk and chooses to undertake this adventure, why not just describe the potential risk accurately and let them make that informed choice?

bb3644

@RodrigoPintoSP Thanks! I'm trying to book the Brazil pass now. but everything seems have to go to San Paulo... I'm planning to go to Rio - Manaus -- Foz Igasu then San Paulo (have to fly back to Santiago Chile) does this make sense?

RodrigoPintoSP

@equestrian "clients of mine" was meant to be a group of 4 or 5 people to whom I "sold" the tour. I also agree that adventure sports with potential risks, but the clients were very honest to point out that they felt that the company did not have all the risks foreseen with planned measures to minimize them or solve problems that could appear during the trip. I sincerely hope they have a better logistics now!

@bb3644 if you're coming straight from China, chances are you will have to go through SP (as a side note, Air China flies from Beijing to GRU airport via Madrid). I would plan the itinerary a little differently: arrive in SP, fly to Iguassu, from there to Manaus (via GRU, RIO or Brasilia), fly to Rio, from Rio to Santiago de Chile.

You'll have a breathtaking impact right away at Iguassu, take the longest flight all at once (IGU-MAO), enjoy the Amazon, arrive in Rio after being already more used to the way of things in the country ("Brazil is not for beginners", as Tom Jobim once said) and save another connection at GRU by flying straight from Rio.

bb3644

@RodrigoPintoSP Thanks! My plan has changed slightly and now I'm flying back from SP directly back home. I arrive from Santiago. So guess have to be a beginner in Rio...one itinerary I found is " 3 days in Rio, then Salvador, The Amazon then Iguassu fall, then SP. the only thing bothers me is from Manaus to Iguassu fall will still have to go through Sao Paulo. Would it make sense to fly from Rio to Iguassu then to Manaus via Brasillia, then back to SP? if I have limited time, would it worth it to spend one day at Brasillia or maybe just focus on Amazon and the fall?

Sorry about all these questions. the more I read, the more confused I am....

Eddwarm

International travelers are obligated to purchase the Brasil Air Pass in their country of origin. I obtained mine through www.brol.com which is a travel agency in Florida although I live in California. I traveled to four places in 2006 that way: Manaus (the Amazon), Foz do Iguassu, Salvador (Bahia), and I think I went to Sao Paulo that year, too, for the first time (...been there 3Xs.) For each hit I had to come into a major airport; I think it was Rio's GIG or perhaps its domestic terminal; I can't remember.

ever_wanderlusty

Using an airpass, we were routed on every flight through Brasilia. Do keep in mind that, as OregonMaiden says, travel takes a long time between destinations; it's not being pessimistic to set aside most of a day for each time you change locales.

The Amazon is an incomparable place to explore, but look for ecolodges that get you upriver from Manaus, as you won't see much on day trips close to the city other than the meeting of the waters. (On the other hand, there's little in this world as interesting as standing dockside in this incredible port and watching everything from people to housewares to manioc to live poultry, so include a little time for that!) It's very hard to get away from a touristy experience at these lodges, but the experience of hiking, boating, piranha fishing and nighttime caiman watching in the Amazonian tributaries is lots of fun and totally worth it, and you'll see lots of wildlife.

Have you considered going to the Pantanal? It's a fantastic choice if you love wildlife; the birding alone will knock you over, and there are plenty of mammals and reptiles, too. There are lots of well-priced and wonderfully run pousadas whether you fly into Cuiaba or Campo Grande.

ever_wanderlusty

Sorry, that was supposed to be: "There's little in this world as interesting as standing dockside in this incredible port and watching everything from people to housewares to manioc to live poultry go on and off of sailing vessels of all shapes and sizes, so include a little time for that!"

sebran

"I'm interested in the history, culture, art, hiking, adventure..."
Hi, I've just signed up to Fodor's only to comment here.
Since you're staying only 2 weeks here, I recommend you spend some days knowing the historical towns of Minas Gerais state.
You may find a high grade on all the above interests you manifested.
Hope you have a nice trip!
(I can't advise on trip details as I don't work with this)
http://www.braziltravelblog.com/2007...-minas-gerais/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minas_Gerais
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe2Q603jaNU