Dear Fellow Travelers,

As an unexpected yet pleasant surprise, I need to use about a week and a half of unused vacation time (starting sometime this week, I know!) and due to lack of research time, I would love your input. Here are some of the details that may be helpful..

1. Brazil is a dream trip -- always wanted to go, but never got around to planning it
2. We will have anywhere between 8-12 days (there is some flexibility here, so +/- a day)
3. In case this is relevant, I'm in my early 30s and will be traveling with another person in same age range
4. We would like for this trip to be 50% leisure / 50% adventure...meaning, we definitely want to be stimulated by the sights, restaurants and nightlife; but also highly value native authenticity, privacy and lack of crowds. We realize that we will need to (and want to) go to Rio where some our preferences will be impossible (but we need not remain there our entire stay...2/3 nights in Rio should suffice).
5. Beach priority: clean and relatively clear water, secluded, devoid of merchants (this would not apply to Rio of course).
6. Aside from Rio, looking for tranquility...ideal day...we wake up and have breakfast on our balcony (overlooking the ocean), we then head out for the beach and bum around for a few hours before heading to lunch at a nice local, authentic restaurant with a great view (of the town, beach, whatever); going back to our room for a couple of hours to hang out / swim at the pool, and get ready for evening which could involve dinner at a fine restaurant (does not need to be highly expensive..priority is on quality of food and people), followed by a great live music/dance/performance/show/fill in the blanks...
7. We are not high maintenance and we do not expect "white glove treatment"...our only non-negotiables for this trip are: SAFETY and good/decent/honest service at hotels and restaurants.
8. Our goal is to spend about 2/3 days in a couple of different towns before ending in Rio
9. Our budget is not unlimited, but is comfortable (we think/hope)...we expect to pay about $300ish per night for hotels and spend about $300ish per day, combined for food and basic entertainment. (we expect to pay extra for any special excursions, day trips, shopping, etc). Again, we are not extravagant or lavish, so we are hoping this budget is realistic for Brazil.
10. Please do feel free to propose itineraries that you believe we would enjoy based on what has been mentioned...We are pretty open to traveling around the country, within reason, and again, Rio is a must (how can we make it to Brazil and not make it there!?)
11. We have started to look into flights right now and hope to depart by this coming Thursday, if possible. Any leads you can provide me with on flights from NY airports (or Newark, NJ) would be great (looking for direct flights only for time is of essence)...

We thank you SO much in advance for any thoughts/feedback/inspiration you may be able to provide!

Do you have a VISA to enter Brazil?

As mentioned many times before, in Rio I suggest staying in Ipanema! For a moderately priced hotel and one of the only hotels with small balconies, I suggest the Praia Ipanema Hotel. For an amazing beach scene, definitely head up to Bahia to the small village of Trancoso. There are quite a few options near the quadrado (village square) and just a short walk to the gorgeous beaches. You will love the atmosphere there. Feel free to check out my blog for more ideas...
www.SouthAmericanEscapes.com/blog -for places that have proven to be great escapes in Brazil.
It seems like you enjoy a good meal, please email me if you would like my Rio Restaurant list....
[email protected]

I have had a wonderful full up day at the river, in Amazónia. The day began with a tour of the meeting waters between the river Negro and river Solimões. It is really fantastic the straight line formed between the black (Negro) part of the water and the brown one, from Solimões river. After that we went to see the Victoria Regia plant, that green, circular and lovely plant that grows in Amazonia rivers. Fantastic. And at last but not the least we went to a float restaurant, just in the middle of the river next to the jungle where we had a wonderful lunch. The fishing of the “piranha” fish, after lunch, was very quit and peaceful just in a canoe in the middle of the river. And the best was when that guy next to me fished a very big “piranha”. It was really a fantastic day. All the guides were on time, and the guide of the piranha fishing was incredible.


Try to contact www.amazingtours.com.br
Email:[email protected]


Hope this can be helpfull!!!

I booked my trip for early April on AA.com - they are having a South American sale.

Hi Chrisher,

My husband and I are also travelling to Brazil in April. Our travel dates are April 10th - April 20th. We will be in Rio for 3 days and then heading on to Salvador for 2, Belo horizonte for 1 day. We then fly to Buenos Aires and then to Iguazu. In Rio I booked Promenade Visconti after reading several reviews and that was the cheapest hotel I found in Ipanema for about $160 a night. While in Rio I will be doing the usual touristy sites and 1 day trip to Petropolis or Buzios. Petropolis however is more doable.

As Chytown mentioned AA is having a sale for SA. You can get great prices right now. The most expensive thing I found was Internal flights which I booked through TAM. I got the South American airpass which came to about $1000 for the 5 destinations I am flying. If you book seperate tickets it's much more expensive.

You can also just do Rio, Iguassu and Amazon or the Pantanal.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and helpful links!!

I'd highly recommend a trip to Foz do Iguascu for at least 2 days; while there take in at least 3 or more special tours, esp. the safari where you board small boats and explore the falls. Stay in the one and only hotel in the park itself-- Tropical das Cataratas on the Brazilian side.

When I went there (solo), I flew from Rio and made tour arrangements while awaiting my baggage. Afterwards I checked into the hotel in the afternoon, walked to the falls on the Brazilian side, and explored the grounds of the hotel as well as the immediate area. ...took all of my meals at the hotel. ...excellent menu, variety, and superb staff and ambience.

The next day I began my tours. ... went to the Argentine side of the falls with a guide along with a couple from Israel (...only 3 of us on this tour with guide.) We explored the Sheraton Hotel on this side of the falls and walked and ate lunch somewhere in the vicinity (...can't recall the exact place now.) After my tour of the falls (in general), I went on the safari-- "a must. ...took other water-related tours alone but as one in small parties.

You might want to return to the hotel and and enjoy the environs and the ambience per se, but since you are in your thirties, you should have the stamina to do other things. I'd suggest that you partake in the cultural tour with din din.

Since I traveled solo, I had a seat which I really abhorred, but the meal as well as the show itself helped. The show itself is touristy, but it will enable you to get a capsule view of the history and culture of Brazil via music, dance, and some historical segments.

I am elated for you in that you'll not be traveling alone. Foz do Iguacu is to be experienced with a partner, lover, companion, or another.

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While you are in Rio, take a helicopter ride over this fabulous city if it's a sunny day. Get the helicopter in the Flamengo area; have lunch at the restaurant which is right there before or afterward your ride. ...have done this twice and hope to do it again. You'll get a different perspective from this experience.

Do hang guiding; my good friend did this, loved it, and plan to do it again.

(On this Saturday-- we had breakfast at the hotel then went hang gliding or whatever its name, had lunch and helicopter ride then back to hotel to rest a little.)

Walk along Av. Atlantica which is parallel to the beach. I think another friend and I had walked from the Military Museum to Copa before taking a taxi to get to Marius, a seafood restaurant in Leme. There are two restaurants, one seafood and the other, steak. I've gone to the seafood counterpart for dinner as well as for lunch. ...still think it is still worthwhile.

Spend at least 4 days in Rio de Janeiro itself. Although a magnificient city-- you can be in areas of quiet: the Botantical Gardens, the barrio of Santa Teresa which is reached via a bondi or tram type cable car, the major forest which is within the confines of the city itself yet distant.

If you like jazz-- go to Music Sound, a beautiful venue with a plethora of cds as well as a recommended cafe/ restaurant; during the afternoon as well as in the evening, there's a jam session.

I've been twice in two different years. ...had lunch as well as dinner, both with music. ... loved this experience and plan to do it again.

Go to the club/restaurant Vinicious where "The Girl from Ipanema" was written. ...again an experience.

If you're there on Sunday, do the Feira Hippie de Ipanema which has become part of life for the cariocas since 1968. You might want to purchase a few gifts here (handcrafted goods).

Do your planning in the hotel; write down where you plan to go in the city and hand to taxi drivers. You can have the hotel folks write it in Portuguese for you. Don't carry maps with you for all to see; ...

You do not tip taxi drivers unless they've gone out of their way to help. Have small bills while riding in METERED taxis only. If your change is miniscule-- let the driver keep it. You do not want a lot of coins.

Try to have R$s, RS10s, R$20s when doing transactions. Sometimes the places (grocery firms) will ask if you have smaller than R$50s.

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I'm excited for you! I've gone to Brazil 6Xs in 7 years 2002-2007 and love this country and Rio which is my favorite. My only drawback is not being able to speak either Espanol or Brazilian Portugese. I've been fortunate when I've had independent guides as well as with my traveling companion who speaks a little Spanish.

Enjoy! Bon voyage! Write about your experience when you return!