7 Amazing Days in Brazil

Perfect time to visit Brazil

Brazil is an all-year-round destination, and the best time to hit Brazil depends mainly on where you aim to go and what you plan to do.

The months of April to June are the superb time to visit the country as the weather remains gratifying and sunsets are more tranquil along with mild showers in a few parts of the country.

While the months of August to October are a humongous time to discover Rio. Tourist season is at its peak on November to March. People commonly evade Brazil during the wet season, which is considered as the Off-season for travelers.

What to expect

LANGUAGE. Portuguese is their national language and the most spoken by far. While English language is not their thing, Spanish is the utmost frequently spoken sub-language in the country, so you may want to grab a Portuguese-Spanish travel phrasebook before visiting Brazil.

MONEY. The currency of Brazil is Real (BRL). 1 USD is equivalent to 3.84 BRL.

Where to stay

RITZ COPACABANA BOUTIQUE HOTEL. Located in the Copacabana district in Rio de Janeiro, 80 meters from Copacabana Beach, Ritz Copacabana Boutique Hotel features an outdoor pool and views of the city. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar.

• Every room at this hotel is air-conditioned and has a flat-screen TV. Each room comes with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer.
• You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property.
• The hotel also offers bike hire and car hire. The famous Sugarloaf Mountain is 7 km from Ritz Copacabana Boutique Hotel, while Cantagalo Metro Station is 350 meters away. The nearest airport is Santos Dumont Airport, 8 km from the property.

POUSADA RECREIO DE PRAIA. Located in the oceanfront to Abraão Beach, Recreio da Praia features scenic views of Ferreira and Papagaio peaks. It offers a pool with cascade surrounded by a tropical garden.

• Rooms have charming colonial-style doors and windows. They are equipped with air conditioning, an LCD TV and a mini-bar.
• Guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast each morning or relax in the sauna.
• Due to its central location, the guest house is within walking distance of bars and restaurants. The Church Square and Cais da Vila Pier are within 100 m. Preta Beach is 0.6 mi away.

POUSADA DO PRINCIPE. The traditional colonial-style Pousada do Príncipe features colonial-style architecture, enhanced by Paraty´s natural beauty. It is a 3-minute walk from Paraty historical center and Pontal Beach. It offers an outdoor pool, breakfast, and free WiFi.

• Spacious leisure areas and exotic plants surround Príncipe Pousada, which offers rooms with air conditioning, a telephone, LCD TV, a minibar, and mosquito netting on the windows.
• The spacious central living room provides a TV is an ideal place to relax or guests can enjoy a drink at the English-style bar or by the garden.
• The area is popular for horse riding and snorkeling. The guest house also offers bike hire. Paraty Bus station is 700 m from Pousada do Príncipe, while Paraty Airport is 1.4 km from the property.

Places to visit

SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN. Pao de Acucar known as Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the most iconic and popular landmarks of Rio de Janeiro and the top attraction you must visit while discovering this spectacular South American city.

Vertical on the top of the massive 396 meters high mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro, its famous beaches, historical center, modern skyscrapers, Tiuna National Park with the Christ the Redeemer Statue, and the harbor will leave you astonished. That is exactly the word describing how we felt.

We always think about Rio de Janeiro to be one of the most thrilling towns in the world, and we always wanted to visit it to immerse in the atmosphere and explore it.

The perfect time to visit Sugarloaf Mountain and avoid crowds is early in the morning or late in the afternoon to catch the sunset.

Sugarloaf Mountain is crowded from 10 AM to 3 PM, during this period there's a high chance you will wait for the cable car for 30 minutes or more.

CHRIST THE REDEEMER (CORCOVADO). You have possibly grasped that depiction a million times. A giant concrete white statue of Christ the Redeemer with its hands spread, overlooking the mountainous landscape and beaches of Brazilian most exciting city, Rio de Janeiro.

The sight is striking in photos, but the reality is even better. The statue has been guarding Rio de Janeiro already for more than 90 years (although the idea to place it there was even older) and nowadays, probably no one can imagine Rio's cityscape without the statue towering on Corcovado Mountain.

Tourists of all religions are driven to visit the most sought-after and iconic attraction of Rio, Christ the Redeemer, closely followed by another exceptional landmark, Sugarloaf Mountain.

The idea of constructing the statue overlooking on Corcovado Mountain emerged in 1920, after World War I when representatives of the Brazilian republic felt that the country needs a symbol to strengthen their faith again. The construction of Christ the Redeemer was finished in 1931.

The statue is 30 meters high standing on 8 meters high pedestal and weighs 635 tons. The arms of Christ the Redeemer stretch 28 meters wide.

But unlike Sugarloaf Mountain, the statue of Jesus made it on the list of New 7Wonders of the World in 2007, and since then its star shines brightly. Enough said, Christ the Redeemer is a must-visit place while exploring Rio de Janeiro.

COPACABANA BEACH. Is the most in-demand beach in Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana is the go-to beach for walks and other physical activities.

Copacabana, the very name itself inspires images of magnificence, sand, and ocean. The wonderful jungle-clad mountains rise from the ocean and seem to blend into the beautiful bend of Copacabana Beach, now a world-renowned hotspot for tourists from around the world.

Copa (short for Copacabana) is a paradise with spectacular beaches, sparkling streets, where the party never seems to stop. Apart from being Rio’s unrestricted and extensive neighborhood, romance and glamour are its obvious trademarks.

The Copacabana Beach stretches for over 5 kilometers and signals one and all to its alluring waters. Sun, sea and beautiful bodies are what represent the pleasure-seeking side of the neighborhood. The magnificent Sugar Loaf Mountain and Morro do Leme look resplendent in the background presenting a picture-perfect landscape that lures tourists from all over the globe. As far as hospitality goes, you can always expect the very best at Copacabana, with hotels, bars and restaurants are known for their exemplary service.

METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF APARECIDA. Is the Roman Catholic cathedral serving Brasília, Brazil, and serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Brasília. It was designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and projected by Brazilian structural engineer Joaquim Cardozo, and was completed and dedicated on May 31, 1970.

The Cathedral of Brasilia was the first monument built in the city and its cornerstone was set in September 1958. The structure was completed by 1960, a time when only the circular area was visible, measuring 70 meters of diameter and working as the foundation for 16 concrete columns weighing 90 tons.

The church has a strange beauty. Held by 16 arched pillars that form a thorn crown, the central nave is covered by an immense stained glass panel projected by Marianne Peretti, made out of glass fiber pieces in blue, green, white, and brown.

Inside the church, three huge angel sculptures by Alfredo Ceschiatti float from the ceiling suspended by steel cables. The baptistery is enclosed in tiles painted by Athos Bulcão. The Via Sacra is a piece of work by Di Cavalcanti and the image of Our Lady Aparecida is a replica of the original, this one located in Aparecida, in the state of Sao Paulo.

There are four bronze statues in front of the church, each one three meters high: The Evangelists, by Alfredo Ceschiatti and Dante Croce. Beside it is the Steeple, with a set of bells donated by the Spanish.

ILLHA GRANDE. So near to Rio de Janeiro, yet so diverse, Ilha Grande is Brazil’s relaxing, undeveloped paradise. Stepping off the ferry to the island is to disconnect from the outside world. No cars, no banks (bring your money!), no cellphone signal. It’s all about calming in the sun, sailing, swimming, disappearing into spas, and resurfacing for fresh seafood at one of the 30 small restaurants.

The island is part of a 187 island cluster and is the largest of the State's coast. There, you will find 192 km ² of lush vegetation, typical of the Atlantic forest, guarded by the Environmental Protection Area of the Tamoios and other three protected areas: the Parque Estadual Marinho do Aventureiro, Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande and the Reserva Biológica da Praia do Sul.