8 days
 

I'm looking for help on planning a 8 day trip in Brazil (heading to Peru afterwards). I will be meeting my girlfriend who will already be in Rio. We would like to do Pantanal then perhaps Salvador. Is this too much for 8 days...if so what do you reccommend, Pantanal or Salvador??? Also what would be the best way to fly to Peru afterwards, we want to go to Cuzco. Looking for help...Thanks

LAN

www.lan.com

or the Brazilian airline GOL

www.voegol.com.br

fly between Sao Paulo and Lima.

You didn't say when you were planning to go to the Pantanal. Timing is kind of important, as there is a wet and a dry season and transitional times in-between.
Were you planning to do Rio with your girlfriend, then Pantanal?
If you go to Pantanal, will you go to the area around Mato Grosso/Cuiaba or Mato Grosso do Sul/Campo Grande?
With such little time, I suggest you choose one of these destinations. If you go to Mato Grosso/Cuiaba then you can combine a trip to the Pantanal with a short trip to Chapada dos Guimaraes. If you go to Mato Grosso do Sul/Campo Grande, then you can combine a trip to the Pantanal with a short trip to Bonito.
I don't think you should attempt to go to both the Pantanal and Salvador if you only have 8 days, particularly if you are spending a day or two in Rio first.
Also, keep in mind the time and expense spent in traveling around from city to city in Brazil. Flights between cities are expensive and not necessarily direct. You could easily spend an entire day traveling from one city to the other, especially if you try to go from the Pantanal to Salvador.
Both the Pantanal and Salvador are worth visiting: Pantanal for wildlife and landscapes, to view the pantaneiro lifestyle, etc. Salvador for amazingly rich Afro-Brazilian culture (music, old architecture, food, capoeira, and so much more) plus beaches, etc. Again, when you go is important. I spent a week in Salvador many years ago and it rained like crazy every single day! It was definitely not beach weather, but I still found it interesting.

We are planning the trip for the middle of August.

Good timing for Pantanal!

I've been to the Pantanal, the northern part, flying to Cuiaba. I spent 5 nights along the Transpantaneira Highway, then 5 nts on the Paraguay River. 4-5 nts along the Hwy would be fine unless you are really into wildlife and nature, then you could easily spend your whole trip there. The word highway is a misnomer. It is a dirt road without a lot of traffic.


These are photos from the land portion of the trip along the highway.
Even though it was land based, there were 2 morning trips on the Pixiam River.
118 photos total, the first 95 are scenery and wildlife sightings, the next 18 are of 4 different accommodations, the last 5 are of our vehicle and some others we encountered.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=uo6uvo


Here is a link to my Brazil report.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35068062

If you scroll to this part, THE NORTHERN PANTANAL—LAND PORTION
it tells about what we did on that part of the trip.


One thing to consider:
I was given advice from reliable sources who work in the Pantanal to avoid a trip during the full moon if seeing mammals is a goal. Bird watching is unaffected by the moon.