3 weeks is enough time for the ultimate Brazilian adventure. Dive into everything that Brazil has to offer, explore the depths of the Amazon jungle, feel the sand between your toes on the gorgeous beaches, shake your hips to Samba and feel the history of the colonial architecture. Here is a suggested itinerary for 3 weeks in Brazil.
Week 1 Day 1 – Rio/Manaus
Fly into Brazil. If you can get a direct flight to Manaus that would be better, but most international flights will have to arrive at Rio de Janeiro first. Spend your night on the Copacabana and take in a brief breath of the city’s air before your next flight
Week 1 Day 2 – Manaus
Fly from Rio de Janeiro to Manaus. This will be a 4 hour flight. Arrive at your hotel and unwind. If you have time, visit the Teatro Amazonas or the Mercado Municipal, a theater and a market modeled after buildings in France.
Week 1 Day 3-7 – Amazon Rainforest
Have a 5 day river tour through the Amazon rainforest. Make sure to book your tour in advance with Rainforest Cruises or a tour company of your choice. Rainforest Cruises can be contacted at [email protected] or on their website.
Week 2 Day 1 – Rio de Janeiro
From Manaus take a flight back to Rio de Janeiro. Spend the rest of the day resting, have dinner at one of Brazil’s famed barbeque spots, Churrascaria Palace, Rua Rodolfo Dantas, 16, Copacabana.
Week 2 Day 2 – Rio de Janeiro
Start your day by visiting the Cristo Redentor statue. It can be reached by tram from Cosme Velho. Afterwards head down to Santa Teresa, the winding streets have many small cafes to have lunch in. After lunch explore the shops and stalls in the area. In the evening, head north to the bar district of Lapa. Have dinner at one of the many restaurants, but be sure to go to Rio Scenarium, a samba bar located at R. do Lavradio, 20, Centro.
Week 2 Day 3 – Rio de Janeiro
See Sugar Loaf Mountain. There is a cable car at Praia Vermelha that will take you all the way to the summit to enjoy the views. Spend the night at Ipanema Beach and Leblon areas. There are many bars and restaurants to experience. Be sure to grab a drink at Academia da Cachaça, a bar that has over 2,000 different examples of the Brazilian liquor Cachaça. It is located at Rua Conde Bernadotte 26, Shop G.
Week 2 Day 4 – (Recife – Salvador)/Fernando de Noronha
Take a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Fernando de Noronha; direct flights are rare so you may have to stop at Recife or Salvador. If you have time check out the Boa Viagem beach in Recife or the Elevador Lacerda in Salvador. Then take your connecting flight to Fernando de Noronha.
Week 2 Day 5-7 – Fernando de Noronha
Enjoy the idyllic paradise of Fernando de Noronha at your leisure. The two must visit beaches are Praia do Leão and Baía do Sancho. They both offer crystal clear waters for swimming and snorkeling. If you would like to go diving, Atlantis Divers located on the island offers equipment rentals. They can be contacted at [email protected].
Week 3 Day 1 – (Recife – Salvador)/ São Paulo
Take a flight down to São Paulo; again, connecting through Recife or Salvador may be necessary. When you arrive in São Paulo, drop your things off at your hotel and head to Paulista Avenue for the rest of your day and evening. Explore the many large name brand shops, and be sure to check out the Conjunto Nacional at the junction of Paulista and Augusta, it is one of the most traditional buildings in the city. Go to Templo Da Carne Marcos Bassi for dinner. This is one of the best Brazilian style restaurants in São Paulo. They are located at Rua Treze de Maio, 668.
Week 3 Day 2,3 – São Paulo
Explore São Paulo. If you are into museums, there are many great art Galleries such as MASP, toted as the cities best art museum located at Av. Paulista, 1578. São Paulo also has great parks to enjoy; Ibirapuera Park is beautiful and located at Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, Vila Mariana. If you want to see a little bit of history, check out the Museu Paulista built in 1895 to preserve 400 years of Brazilian History, holding artifacts from the past. It is located at Parque da Independência, Ipiranga. For food, the Japanese cuisine at São Paulo has started to garner a world famous reputation, see what it is all about at Temakeria Paulista, Rua Serra do Japi, 1436 | Vila Gomes Cardim.
Week 3 Day 4,5 – Iguaçu Falls
Fly into Foz do Iguaçu and start your tour of the thundering Iguaçu Falls. This can be done by oneself, by simply flying to the city and arranging your own accommodation and then making your way to the very close Iguaçu Falls Park, or you can book a package with a guided tour and private transportation at Iguassu Falls Tours. Contact them at [email protected] or at their website.
Week 3 Day 6 – Rio de Janeiro
Fly back to Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy your last full day. Visit the beach again and have a good plate of Brazil’s national dish, feijoada at Casa da Feijoada, Rua Prudente de Morais 10. Do some last minute shopping at the shops and stalls in Santa Teresa, and enjoy a final drink near Lapa or Ipanema.
Week 3 Day 7 – Rio de Janeiro
Get ready to head home.
What a whirlwind trip! If you do not feel like going to the resort at Fernando de Noronha, you can swap it out for a Patanal safari adventure. Or maybe swap it for a historical tour of the gold trail near Ouro Petro and Paraty. All these tours can be booked with Amazon Adventures on their website or contact them at [email protected].
Have a fun and safe trip in Brazil!