I am planning my first trip to South America in a couple of months with 2 grown daughters and wondering if anyone has driven from Sao Paulo to Rio? and if so were there any problems along the way? I do know that there are a couple of airlines that I could use, VASP and VARIG, however I would enjoy finding out the experiences of others. In Europe I use trains and drive which has always been enjoyable. Any assistance will greatly appreciated.. Thx

Your better off either taking the bus or the plane. I read many reports on other sites of Brazilian police pulling over foriegn drivers and shaking them down. The most recent post was for $500 they were paid and then they left the drivers alone otherwise they were being pulled in. Especially if you don't speak the language, you will get lost and then your problems will start.

Thank you for this information.

I am going back to see if I can find a inexpensive flight from Sao Paulo - Rio. The reason I was looking at driving was the experience of seeing the country, but I don't need a shake down, and VARIG's flights were over $200 rt. I tried to convert the VASP website to english, but no luck. Any suggestions or other airlines? Thx for the much needed help.

If you can afford the airfare then it is only a 40 minute flight otherwise the bus may be about 5 hours and cheap and safe from what I understand. You can look out the window and see the countryside and have the experience of driving but I think it is wise to leave the driving to others in this case. What I told you before is not even an isolated incident, it is common.

Hello kdm and Dondiega !
GOL http://www.voegol.com.br/index_ie.htm offers a round trip São Paulo (Congonhas airport) - Rio de Janeiro (Santos Dumont airpot) starting at R$ 326 (approx. US$ 110). GOL started offering round trip night flights São Paulo - Rio de Janeiro starting at R$ 100 (approx. US$ 34). These night flights serve Galeão airport in Rio de Janeiro and Guarulhos airport in São Paulo, both far away from downtown.
I have posted information on travel by bus in Brasil. It's a good bet to board a bus to Rio de Janeiro - the night "leito" bus is indeed very, very comfortable.
Dondiega, I beg your pardon, but the situation for foreign drivers being pulled by brazilian policemen seems to be rather ununsual.
I would advise kdm not to drive in Brasil for other more practical reasons: difficulties in getting your bearings, some roads in bad shape, and our sometimes too wild driving behaviour.
Otherwise, driving from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro along the coastal road "Rio-Santos" is very scenic, very nice indeed.

Dilermando, this experience has not happened to me but here is the post that I last read about the subject:

"Two of my friends that I normally travel to Rio with were held at gunpoint by the police and robbed.

After missing their puddle jumper to Florianopolis, they got the bright idea to rent a car and drive there from Copa. Needless to say, after driving along the coast probably past Rocreio, that had to stop and get directions. They asked a cop which way they should proceed. The cop pointed them to a turn to a side street and two cops pulled out pistols and made them get out of their car.

The cops told my friend (who speaks fluent Port) to leave the car and come with them. My friend told the cops he wasn't going to leave his belongings which included a guitar and a sax and go with them.

My friend asked the cops if there could be other arangements. The cop took half their cash and let them go to the tune of 500.00USD

I suppose they got lucky."

Thank you both (Dondiega & Dilermando) for this information. Since this my first trip, I think it best to play it safe and not drive. If it was just other drivers I had to worry about, well I grew up in LA but even thinking about not being able to trust local authorities would give me concern. Now this night trip for $34 is interesting but I can't find the english link so I need to wait for my daughter to log on. They do print in English they about Pay with American Express. You both have really helped me in laying this foundation, ie how to get to Rio. Thank you, Denise