Brazil: The Perfect 2-Week Itinerary
Detailed 14-day itinerary for traveling around Brazil, the largest country in South America. Tips on the best things to do, must-visit places, how to get around, when to visit, where to stay, and safety advice. Explore in two weeks Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Iguazu Falls, Florianopolis, Paraty, Ouro Preto, Brasilia, and much more.
Let's be honest, having two weeks to explore Brazil, the world's fifth-largest country, and the largest country in South America, is barely enough to scratch the surface.
On the other hand, you still will be able to see some of the best things Brazil has to offer, and you will have a reason why to come back one day.
Our perfect two-week itinerary includes the famous waterfalls Iguazu, beautiful colonial cities such as Paraty and Ouro Preto, stunning beaches, must-visit places such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
This itinerary will also take you away from the main backpacker's trail to the capital city of Brazil, Brasilia, and the superb outdoor museum, Inhotim.
Although creating the perfect Brazil itinerary can feel intimidating and overwhelming at times, the most important thing is to realize that you won't be able to see it all.
And rather than nervously jumping from one place to another, it is much better to stay put for a couple of days at one place, and enjoy the vibrating atmosphere and culture Brazil is famous for.
DAY 1: FOZ DO IGUAZU
Iguazu Falls are one of the most jaw-dropping and powerful waterfalls in the world.
It is actually the biggest waterfall system located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, and despite its remote position, this attraction is a must-visit place when in Brazil or overall in South America.
Simply put, people fly across the world to witness this natural wonder only for a couple of hours, and after we had seen Iguazu Falls ourselves, we understand it completely.
It is possible to visit Iguazu Falls, from either Brazilian side or Argentinian side, but if you are a hardcore traveler, and you decide to spend more than one day in the area, you can see the falls from both sides as each side offers a different experience.
We decided to see Iguazu Falls only from the Brazilian side which is famous for the best panoramic views, but if you want to get closer to every single waterfall and get wetter, visit the falls from Argentina.
If your itinerary is tight and you cannot afford one more night in Foz do Iguazu, no worries, it is doable to fly in the city and go straight from the airport to the falls (it is possible to leave your suitcase in a locker by the entrance).
You can either rent a car at the airport, or travel by bus which runs between the city and the falls, and stops at the airport which is in the middle as well.
It is possible to buy your Iguazu Falls ticket in advance or on the spot.
In case you arrived at Foz do Iguazu early, you can either relax in your hotel in the afternoon or visit Itaipu Dam, the world's second-biggest hydroelectric plant in the world.
Or you can cross borders to Paraguay and explore the city right behind borders, Ciudad del Este.
To get to Iguazu Falls, you can either fly directly from Rio de Janeiro or whatever city is your first destination in Brazil or you can cross borders via land from either Paraguay or Argentina.
Where to stay in Foz do Iguazu: Budget: Suite Cardoso | Mid-range: CLH Suites Foz do Iguazu | Luxury: Continental Inn Hotel
Packing Essentials: Rain Poncho | Dry Sack | GoPro | Mosquito Repellent
Tours: Boat Tour | Iguazu Falls with Itaipu Dam
DAY 2 - 4: FLORIANOPOLIS
From Foz do Iguazu, take an overnight bus or drive to Florianopolis Island.
It is not possible to travel to Brazil and not to spend some time on a beach (although Brazil has so many beaches it can be quite hard to choose the right destination).
We must admit that at the beginning we were a bit skeptical about Florianopolis because we were worried that the island is too commercialized and well-accessible and that it's magic has faded away, but at the end, we gave it a chance, and from our first day we could not believe how splendid beaches the Florianopolis island has.
There is no need to stay in the large city of Florianopolis, head straight away to the island, and enjoy one of many sandy beaches, hiking trails with perfect views and lagoons.
We based ourselves near Lagoa de Conceicao, and from here we easily visited many beaches on the island by public transport, even our favorite Laguna do Leste trailhead.
Florianopolis has a developed tourist infrastructure, so you can rent a car here to get around the island more easily, and there are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores.
We were pleasantly surprised how Florianopolis is clean, and the island is also considered to be one of the safest destinations in Brazil, so it is a perfect stop on your itinerary where you can unwind.
Where to stay on Florianopolis: Lagoa de Conceicao: Mama Africa Hostel | Florianopolis City: The Bridge Hostel Florianópolis | North: Hotel Sete Ilhas
Packing Essentials: Swimsuit for Him & for Her | Water Shoes for Him & for Her | Mask & Snorkel | Sunscreen
Tours: If you want to explore both beaches and see the best the city of Florianopolis has to offer, you can take this guided Floripa Tour.
DAY 5: SAO PAULO
Sao Paulo is a megapolis in the true sense of the word.
It is South America's largest city, and you can feel the vibrating atmosphere wherever you go. Although the city is so big, and it sprawls quickly, it is doable to see the best the city has to offer in only one day.
We were able to get to every place we wanted by public transport, which is one of the most efficient transport systems in South America.
Even though Sao Paulo is Brazil's economic center and it is one of the most important cities in the country for economic growth, it also shows a reverse side to the coin as not all people living in Sao Paulo are successful, and we saw in the city terrible poverty and homeless people on every step.
We did not experience any problem when walking the streets of Sao Paulo, but keep an eye on your valuables.
Sao Paulo is much more relaxed than you would have expected. It is the city with a strong international presence and with a well-established LGBT community.
Among the best things to do in Sao Paulo, you should put on your itinerary, is visiting Ibirapuera Park, Avenida Paulista, museums, Cathedral Metropolitana or Sao Paulo's downtown.
Where to stay in Sao Paulo | Budget: Balcony Hostel Hotel | Mid-range: Hotel Boulevard Inn Sao Paulo | Luxury: Tivoli Moffarej Sao Paulo
Packing Essentials: Anti-Theft Daypack | Travel Pouch | Sneakers for Him & for Her | Jeans for Him & for Her
If you have feeling that one day in the city is not enough and you are worried you won't be able to see it all when getting around the city on own, take this Sao Paulo City Tour.
DAY 6 - 7: PARATY
Only six hours drive from Sao Paulo lies a small city Paraty, another must-stop on your itinerary.
Paraty could not be more different from Sao Paulo. Its laidback atmosphere and cobblestone streets are welcoming, and it is easy to get used to the slower pace and seeing the beautiful colonial architecture at almost every turn.
Paraty is a UNESCO city with hard to beat location.
It is a coastal city, so apart from wandering around the colonial streets, you can also take a one-day island-hopping boat tour, and it lies in the middle between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, which makes it a convenient stop on your Brazil itinerary.
Paraty is a popular gateway for local tourists arriving especially on weekends, so if you want to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and take advantage of lower prices, plan your visit between Monday and Friday.
It is amazing to walk the postcard-perfect streets of Paraty, but there is an incredible number of things to do in the city.
Except for enjoying the sunshine, spending your time on a boat, and eating in fancy restaurants in the evening you can visit waterfalls in the surroundings, admire the pretty hilly landscape or taste a distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice called cachaca.
Two days is a bare minimum for Paraty, and if time allows, you won't make a mistake if you decide to spend here at least one extra day.
Does the weather forecast show rain when you are traveling to Paraty?
It is absolutely fine, as during rainy times you can get those stunning photos of colorful buildings with their reflections.
Also, once in a month during full moon night, the city floods and makes from Paraty a little version of Venice.
Where to stay in Paraty | Budget: Breda Hostel LTDA | Mid-range: Pousada Praia do Jabaquara | Luxury: Pousada Literaria de Parati
Packing Essentials: Tank Top for Him & for Her | Casual Wear for Him & for Her | Water Bottle | SteriPen
Tours: Bike Rental | Horseback Riding | City Tour | Boat Tour
DAY 8 - 11: RIO DE JANEIRO
No matter if you decide on following our itinerary strictly, or you create your own itinerary only inspired by this post, Rio de Janeiro must be undoubtedly on your list of must-visit places.
Rio de Janeiro is a crown jewel of Brazil, and we must add that its position is well deserved and rightful as we've never seen a city set in such a beautiful landscape.
Green hills, famous beaches, sparkling sea, and Christ the Redeemer overlooking it all are exactly the reasons why people are driven to visit Rio de Janeiro.
Four days in Rio de Janeiro is the right amount of time to have enough time to relax on the world's most famous beach Copacabana closely followed by Ipanema beach, take a cog train to one of the world's wonders Christ the Redeemer, walk the historic center of the city, admire the stunning landscape, take a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, visit one or two museums, check out Rio's street art, or enjoy views of the large tourist boats in the port.
Despite Rio's safety reputation, we really enjoyed our time here.
It was the first city on the continent where we got around mostly by taxi than by public transport, we avoided walking the city center on Sunday as it was empty, did not go out after dark, and kept an eye on our valuables when taking a dip in the sea, and it paid off.
Before traveling to Rio de Janeiro, it is worth it to read our post on How to Stay Safe in South America.
Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro | Budget: Hotel Belas Artes | Mid-range: Ibis Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont | Luxury: Miramar Hotel by Windsor
Packing Essentials: Flip-flops for Him & for Her | Luggage | Moneybelt | Sunglasses for Him & for Her
Tours: Favela Walking Tour | Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Mountain | Gliding Adventure
DAY 12 - 13: BELO HORIZONTE
Yet another overnight bus took us to Belo Horizonte, the capital city of often-overlooked Minas Gerais state.
Although the city itself usually does not make it on every travel itinerary, we wanted to get to the city because of two one-day trips which are doable from Belo Horizonte.
The first day we recommend you to visit one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Brazil, Ouro Preto.
The former gold mine city still keeps its charm, and many churches, cobblestone streets, and colonial buildings reminded us of the city's past grandeur.
When walking around Ouro Preto, it is hard to imagine that in the 18th century, during the Gold Rush era it was the most populated city in the Americas.
When traveling from Rio de Janeiro, you can take a direct bus to Ouro Preto first, spend here a night and then carry on to Belo Horizonte, but we preferred to stay put for two nights at one place.
The other worthwhile destination to visit from Belo Horizonte is Inhotim Museum, one of the world's largest outdoor museums.
Reserve a full day to visit the museum, as it is absolutely outstanding. Imagine a large botanical garden full of different kind of art surrounded by greenery, plus twenty-three indoor exhibitions containing mostly contemporary art.
Even though you are not a museum enthusiast, this is a must-do.
When creating your itinerary, do not forget that the museum is closed on Mondays.
Where to stay in Belo Horizonte | Budget: Br Hostel | Mid-range: Hotel Financial | Luxury: Hotel Fasano Belo Horizonte
Packing Essentials: Umbrella | Fleece Jacket for Him & for Her | Daypack for Him & for Her
Tours: Explore Belo Horizonte | Ouro Preto
DAY 14: BRASILIA
The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia, was the last stop on our two weeks itinerary.
Not only we could take a flight from here to Panama, but we also had a full day to explore Brazil's futuristic city which was built from scratch between 1956 and 1960.
If you are interested in architecture, we would say that visiting Brasilia is almost your duty.
The modern futuristic architecture is absolutely outstanding and exploring the streets of Brasilia is like walking in an outdoor museum of architecture and admiring an open exhibition of Brazil's most famous architect Oscar Niemeyer.
Although you can see several Niemeyer's buildings in other Brazilian cities, the capital has for sure the largest concentration of his iconic white curvy architectural gems.
If you have more time and do not want to finish your Brazil adventure, instead of flying out of the country, you can take a long bus to Salvador.
Where to stay in Brasilia: Budget: Sateltour Apart Hotel GY | Mid-range : Nobile Suites Monumental | Luxury: Cullinan Hplus Premium
Packing Essentials: Short-Sleeved T-Shirt for Him & for Her | Shorts for Him & for Her | Filtered Water Bottle
Tours: If you want to know more about Brasilia's interesting history, reserve a guided Brasilia Tour.
PLACES WE DID NOT VISIT IN BRAZIL
Like we said before, creating the perfect itinerary for such a huge country as Brazil is not an easy task.
You will always miss something, and before your visit, it is necessary to figure out if you want to jump from one place to another and travel by air, or if you rather slow down and explore one or two regions thoroughly.
As we traveled around South America for eight months, and Brazil was the last country on the continent we had planned to visit, we chose to follow the itinerary we've written above for several reasons.
For instance, we didn't visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, because we had already explored it in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve in Peru.
But there are for sure other worthwhile places in Brazil you can incorporate to your itinerary such as Amazon, Chapada Diamantina, Salvador and beaches around.
HOW TO STAY SAFE IN BRAZIL
Indeed, Brazil does not have the best reputation when it comes to safety, but if you'll follow your common sense and won't wander off the well-trodden backpacker's trail, you should not experience any problems.
Pickpockets are common in bigger cities and places with a larger concentration of tourists, and you can hear quite a lot about credit card scams, so always withdraw money in the bank rather than in a no-name ATM on the street.
It is always better to ask a receptionist in your hotel to call you a cab (or use Uber), and in case you are mugged, never fight back as attackers are often armed.
Do not forget that quite a lot of people in Brazil live in poverty, so do not show off your phone, camera and valuables unless you want to get into trouble.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
HOW TO GET AROUND BRAZIL
Always, when planning your perfect itinerary, do not forget to incorporate realistic travel times in it, because distances in Brazil are vast.
We found public transport in Brazil reliable, we never experienced an issue, and almost every time arrived on time (which is not a rule in South America).
To save time and money, we mostly traveled by overnight buses when it was possible, and although we had heard about robberies which can from time to time happen on the roads, we were lucky.
We always reserved our seats to the next destination when we arrived at a bus station, and we recommend you do the same, especially when traveling from popular tourist places such as Foz do Iguazu or Rio de Janeiro.
As it is hard to cover Brazil only via land, most of the cities have a domestic airport, so when short on time you can travel from one destination to another by plane.
Renting a car is also quite a popular way how to explore the country, but again, if your itinerary is packed to the brim, make sure you have time for rest, or it is always better to travel with someone to share the time behind the wheel.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
