The Best Time to Travel to Brazil

Home to some of the most spectacular habitats on the planet and world-famous cultural exports like soccer and samba, Brazil enthralls travelers long before they reach her shores. The world’s fifth-largest country offers a kaleidoscopic range of experiences from tracking jaguars across mirror-like wetlands to strolling cobblestone streets where the buildings feel locked in time, unchanged for centuries. If you’re ready to make your visions of sitting on a beach with your toes in the sand sipping caipirinhas, swaying to dreamy Bossa Nova, and canoeing piranha-filled rivers deep in the rainforest a reality, we’re here to help.

Your first question might be “What are the best things to do in Brazil?” promptly followed by, “When is the best time to travel to Brazil?” Let’s find out, so you can answer the siren call and see why the country’s heady mix of wild nature, dazzling culture, and a rich zest for life enchant all who visit. 

When is the Best Time to Travel to Brazil?

Brazil is a year-round travel destination with diverse regions that can be enjoyed in each calendar month. There is no bad time to travel, just busy times. November through March attracts the most visitors, thanks to drier, warm weather, and a host of holidays that include Christmas, Carnival, and Easter.

Keep in mind that Brazil is located in the southern hemisphere and experiences seasons that are opposite to the United States.

Brazil Climate & Weather Guide

A word about weather: Bear in mind that this guide is founded on historical “norms” and trends based on our cumulative travel expertise. Weather patterns, average temperatures, rainfall, and the natural phenomena that react to seasonal changes are becoming less easy to predict as the climate warms.

One of the reasons answering the question, “When is the best time to visit Brazil?” is not straightforward is because Brazil is big. Accounting for nearly half of South America’s land mass, this vast country is the continent’s largest nation. It’s so big that it takes four hours to fly from the Brazilian Amazon to major cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.  

Stretching 2,732 miles from the Equator in the north to its southern tip, and spanning nearly the same distance east to west, Brazil encompasses a diverse collection of landscapes, from the rainforests of the Amazon to the savannahs of the Cerrado to the breezy grasslands of the southern Pampas.

Brazil generally has an equatorial tropical climate. This means travelers can expect year-round warm or hot temperatures along with humidity and rain. However, different regions will have variable weather or even micro-climates. In a single trip, you can go from the steaming rainforests of Iguaçu Falls to the dry heat of the Cerrado savannah—which is why it’s important to do your research and pack accordingly. Or, save yourself the time and work with a knowledgeable Extraordinary Journeys Brazil Specialist.

But the forecast isn’t the only thing to consider. Festivals, holidays, and peak wildlife viewing can influence your decision. Taking into account factors like weather and festivities, we’ve broken down everything you should know about contemplating the best time to visit Brazil to help you make an informed decision about when and where to travel.  

Brazil Travel: Where to Go When

Best Time to Travel to the Pantanal 

The world’s largest tropical wetland and flooded grassland, the Pantanal of southwestern Brazil has a long rainy season which generally lasts from November through April (late spring, summer, and early fall.) Although this time of year boasts the most lush flora and good migratory birdwatching, we don’t recommend it.  

We advise travelers to plan a Pantanal safari between May and October. Spanning late fall, winter, and early spring, the region’s dry season offers tolerable temperatures, fair weather, and the best wildlife viewing at a time when animals are drawn to water holes. Although July, August, and September is peak season, the ecosystem spans more than 42 million acres, so we can find you plenty of room to roam, crowd-free. 

Best Time to Travel to the Amazon Rainforest 

The best time to visit the Amazon rainforest depends on how you want to experience it.  

During the rainy season from January to June, water levels will be at their highest, flooding low-lying areas and making it more difficult to hike and explore on land. Instead, this is the prime time to visit for aquatic adventures like boat rides through flooded forests, as well as spying water-dwelling wildlife like giant otters and river dolphins. A few considerations for this season might give some travelers pause, though. Humidity levels are at their highest and more standing water gives rise to mosquitoes and bugs. 

Conversely, the dry season, from July to December, offers lower humidity, less precipitation, and more generous opportunities to explore terra firma on foot. This is the time of year to visit for guided hiking and spotting wildlife like monkeys, sloths, capybaras, and tapirs. With less swollen waterways, it’s easier to get around both on dry land and by boat, and less water also means fewer mosquitos. 

Whichever season you visit the Amazon in will leave you in awe of this vast, unique, and humbling ecosystem.  

Best Time to Travel to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo & Brazil’s Green Coast 

Nestled in the crook of southeastern Brazil’s curving Atlantic coastline, the lush Green Coast is where you’ll find some of the country’s most popular cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, as well as tropical island escapes, dreamy beaches, and thick, Atlantic rainforest teeming with life.

Summers (November/December/January) here are humid and hot, with highs in the 90s and 100s and average temperatures in the 80s. Due to the warm weather and school holidays, summertime is when the cities, beaches, and getaway destinations—like the popular Búzios resort peninsula or Paraty—will be at their busiest. Summer is also the rainiest time of the year, which is something to keep in mind if you want to hit the beaches to earn a tan.  

With temperatures averaging in the 80s to 90s, spring (September to November) or fall (mid-March to May) is generally considered the best time to visit Brazil’s Green Coast, Rio, and São Paulo. During either of these two shoulder seasons, sites will be less crowded, high-season rates will have softened, and the weather is pleasant. (Since this area is subtropical, even winter is a fine time to visit.) Temperatures usually run from the high 50s to the low 80s, although some inland regions like Ouro Preto and cities further south along the coast, like São Paulo, can be a bit colder. 

Best Time to Travel to Bahia 

Home to historic cities like Salvador, charming coastal towns, and rugged inland national parks like Chapada Diamantina, the state of Bahia introduces visitors to Brazilian culture and nature in equal measure. Located just south of the equator, temperatures here are hot and stable throughout the year, with some wintertime rain in June and July and cooling oceanic breezes along the coast. 

Best Time to Travel to Lençóis Maranhenses 

Situated along Brazil’s sunny northeastern Atlantic Coast, there is no bad time to visit this dune-covered national park, which is most famous for its turquoise lagoons. However, the rainwater pools aren’t a year-round feature; they’re present only during the rainy season from June to September. Visiting Lencóis Maranhenses beyond these months, you run the risk of missing the lagoons. Although you might experience some temperamental weather (or not), it’s worth it to experience the thrill of swimming in the mesmerizing lagoons. Dunes aside, traveling Brazil’s Northeast Coast outside of the rainy season is still an epic adventure for its pristine sandy landscapes, picturesque coastline, and castaway, kitesurfing villages. 

Best Time to Travel to Iguaçu Falls 

Swathed in the balmy, subtropical Atlantic rainforests of southern Brazil, Iguaçu Falls’ warm weather means that it can be visited any time of the year. However, the Falls’ rainforest location means that some seasons are more tolerable than others.  

The climate at Iguaçu Falls is hot and humid, with precipitation throughout the year. Visiting from April to May during fall, or September and October in the spring, you avoid the worst of the sticky, sweltering summer heat and get the least rain. Heading from spring to summer (October to December), rainfall will be at its heaviest, but it’s also when the falls will be at their fullest and most impressive.

One of the most famous waterfalls in the world, Iguaçu sees a healthy stream of tourists throughout the year. Some of the heaviest crowds visit during the Easter holidays and throughout July when school is out for winter break and temperatures are a bit cooler. If you want to visit Iguaçu Falls at a time when there are fewer people around to distract from the experience, avoiding those two times of year is best. 

When is Carnival in Brazil?  

Renowned for extravagant parades, embellished costumes, and music-filled parties, Carnival is one of Brazil’s biggest and most popular annual events. Held before Lent toward the middle of the Brazilian summer, the exact dates of the raucous four-day celebration vary by year, but it often takes place in February or early March.  

While the festivities in Rio de Janeiro are the most famous, Carnival is celebrated in cities and towns around the country (and continent). Unless you want to visit specifically for Carnival, it’s best to avoid travel during this timeframe. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with massive crowds and high prices, especially in big cities like Rio where each day of Carnival draws around two million people to the streets. What’s more, hotels often implement a minimum stay of five-plus nights—so you can’t exactly nip in for just a few nights. 

Brazil Travel During the Holidays 

Home to 215 million people, domestic tourism is huge in Brazil. The school year dictates that popular destinations get busier during summer (January to February), and winter break (July and August), 

As a largely Catholic and Protestant, many people also travel for the Christian holidays. During Easter, prices rise, and travel can be congested. Christmas is taken very seriously as a family holiday, with plenty of restaurants, services, and sites closing for the occasion. You may struggle to find places that are open for meals or shopping.

If holidays are your only opportunity to travel to Brazil, worry not. An Extraordinary Journeys Brazil specialist can help curate the best possible experience.