{"id":122493,"date":"2019-10-08T15:48:06","date_gmt":"2019-10-08T15:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=122493"},"modified":"2026-09-18T12:54:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T12:54:35","slug":"backpacking-brazil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/backpacking-brazil\/","title":{"rendered":"Carnival, caipirinhas and curious hostels: the ultimate guide to backpacking Brazil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everything about Brazil<\/a> is big. Rio de Janeiro\u2019s Carnival is big. S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s skyline is big. The swimwear might be microscopic, but the golden beaches are big.<\/p>\n

The towering Igua\u00e7u Falls, the iconic Maracan\u00e3 football stadium, the epic wetlands of the Pantanal, the flavours in a steaming bowl of feijoada, the sand dunes sweeping Len\u00e7\u00f3is Maranhenses, the candy colours that plaster Salvador\u2019s colonial-era streets, the sheer size of the Amazon, the length of the marathon bus trips between cities\u2026 all big.<\/p>\n

This giant country covers half the South American continent and gives travellers a to-do list that\u2019s almost as massive. No idea where to start? Here\u2019s everything you need to know before backpacking Brazil.<\/p>\n

Jump straight to:<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. The best time to visit Brazil<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Brazil visa<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Travelling around Brazil<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Accommodation in Brazil<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Places to visit in Brazil<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Brazil backpacking itinerary<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Backpacking Brazil costs<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Brazil food<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. Brazil culture<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. Is Brazil safe?<\/a><\/li>\n
  11. Brazil travel advice<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Rio De Janeiro<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@agussdiaz28<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Best time to visit Brazil<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Brazil is a gigantic country with a diverse climate, but the weather can be summed up in one word: hot. You can break it up into three main regions \u2014 the south, the north-east and the interior \u2014 that each have their own weather, getting warmer the further north you go.<\/p>\n

    The south \u2014 including mega-cities Rio de Janeiro and S\u00e3o Paulo \u2014 sizzles over summer (December to March) before cooling down between June and August, although you\u2019d hardly call it a winter. The north-east \u2014 covering the coast between Salvador and S\u00e3o Lu\u00eds \u2014 swelters between 25 and 30 degrees year-round, but is particularly wet from April to July. The rain comes a little earlier in the Amazon and the Pantanal, where it belts down from December to March.<\/p>\n

    Down south, crowds swell between Christmas and Carnival season (anywhere between February and early March), when Rio\u2019s beaches are at their warmest, the city\u2019s nightlife is at its most hedonistic and hostel beds are at their most expensive. High-season prices return in July, when local schools and universities take their mid-year break, plus August, when Europeans travel on their summer holidays.<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s also busy further north, where it\u2019s not so rainy over the new-year period. In fact, that dry season (which runs from August to March, roughly) coincides with the best conditions for wind-surfing, which attracts plenty of travellers to the north-east coast around Fortaleza.<\/p>\n

    The wet weather poses more of a problem in the Pantanal, where rainfall routinely floods roads between December and March. Couple those biblical downpours with plagues of mosquitos and it\u2019s no mystery why many hostels in this part of the world close at this time of year. The best time to visit the Pantanal is September and October, when the water levels dip down to reveal grass poking through the marsh \u2014 perfect for bird watching and spotting jaguars.<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s a similar story up in the Amazon, where it\u2019s driest in July and August. The jungle is always sultry, but the water level is highest in the middle of the year, before it gets even hotter in September.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Maracaipe<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@ckturistando<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Best time to visit Rio de Janeiro<\/h3>\n

    From the moment fireworks explode over Copacabana to christen the new year to the weekend when 90,000 people pack into the Sambadrome for Carnival, Rio feels like one non-stop party. As the mercury soars to 30 degrees every day, so do the crowds, which means prices rocket too.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re planning to check out Carnival (or Carnaval, in Portuguese), you\u2019ll need to book a bed weeks or months in advance. The date changes each year \u2014 the six-day celebration begins the Friday before Ash Wednesday, which marks 40 days before Easter, to be precise \u2014 and kicks off on February 21st<\/sup> in 2020.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@andyfalconerphotography<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    When the humidity dials down in April and May, you\u2019ll enjoy clear views from Corcovado and Sugarloaf \u2014 as well as smaller crowds to contend with. Temperatures still hit 25 every day even in depths of \u2018winter\u2019 \u2014 easily warm enough to strip everything off on the sand \u2014 then start climbing again in September and October, which is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro in the spring sunshine.<\/p>\n

    Best time to visit S\u00e3o Paulo<\/h3>\n

    S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s weather is very similar to Rio\u2019s, only 400 or so kilometres away. Winter is a little cooler \u2014 it gets as frosty as 13 degrees overnight in July, with max temps in the low 20s during the day \u2014 and so is summer, but the humid conditions can feel more stifling surrounded by SP\u2019s concrete skyscrapers instead of Rio\u2019s ocean breeze. That\u2019s why so many Paulistas (S\u00e3o Paulo locals) escape to the coast to cool off at the beach around Christmas. The slightly chilly winter and sweltering summer make autumn (April-May) then spring (September-October) the best time to visit S\u00e3o Paulo, with mild weather and moderate prices.<\/p>\n

    Brazil winter<\/h3>\n

    Winter in Brazil is a bit like the tooth fairy or the flat earth conspiracy \u2014 it doesn\u2019t really exist, and only some people believe in it. OK, it gets a little chilly in cities like Belo Horizonte, S\u00e3o Paulo and Porto Alegre between June and September, but temperatures hit 20 degrees almost every day in most of the country. That\u2019s called summer in the UK.<\/p>\n

    Urupema \u2014 a little village 200 kilometres inland from Florian\u00f3polis \u2014 is famously Brazil\u2019s coldest place. Even though it snows there during winter, the coldest month (June) still has an average daily high above 15 degrees. When it dips below freezing anywhere else, it\u2019s big news.<\/p>\n

    One excellent reason to head south in winter is whale watching between July and November, particularly off the coast of Ilha de Santa Catarina. The middle of the year is also a great time to venture north \u2014 August, September and October give you drier and slightly cooler conditions to crawl along the coast of the north-east.<\/p>\n

    Brazil visa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Brazil visa requirements<\/b><\/h3>\n

    About half the nations on earth don\u2019t need a visa to enter Brazil as a tourist for 90 days. Citizens of neighbouring South American countries only need to flash their identity cards, while passport-holders from almost all the nations in Europe, North and Central America, plus Australia and New Zealand benefit from a visa exemption. That\u2019s news for Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States, who only received their visa waiver in June 2019.<\/p>\n

    On the other hand, citizens of most countries in Africa (with the exception of Morocco, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa and Tunisia), the Middle East (besides Israel and the UAE) and Asia (excluding Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand) need to obtain their visa in advance. The time it takes to process those applications depends on your country, the time of year, and sheer luck. Contact your nearest Brazilian embassy for details and give yourself at least two weeks.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re lucky enough to come from one of the countries that doesn\u2019t need to apply for a tourist visa, there are still a couple of boxes you need to tick to enter Brazil. Your passport must be valid for another six months after arrival, and you may have to provide proof of a return ticket, onward travel or sufficient funds. You don\u2019t need to prepare proof of your yellow fever vaccination if you\u2019re travelling to affected areas like the Amazon or the Pantanal, but you should get the jab anyway.<\/p>\n

    Other than that, customs is a straightforward process \u2014 just expect long queues at major airports like Guarulhos, and don\u2019t lose the stamped entry card the official gives you (it saves a headache upon exit). Some nationalities can also apply to extend their stay for another 90 days with the local Pol\u00edcia Federal once you\u2019re in.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Rio de Janeiro<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@romane_r<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Oh, and if you\u2019re a dual citizen belonging to Brazil and another nation, remember to travel on your Brazilian passport \u2014 otherwise you\u2019ll have to be processed as a foreigner then jump through a stack of bureaucratic hoops to extend your stay.<\/p>\n

    Travelling around Brazil<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Brazil buses<\/h3>\n

    Comfortable? Yes. Affordable? Reasonably. Quick? Not so much. But like Meat Loaf told us, two out of three ain\u2019t bad. Brazil buses are usually pretty plush \u2014 and they\u2019d better be, because most backpackers spend an awfully long time inside them as they cover the huge distances between destinations.<\/p>\n

    Coaches (called an \u00f4nibus in Portuguese) come in four classes \u2014 the basic convencional (often without even a toilet), the nice executivo (a solid, standard coach), the fancy semi-leito (with seats that recline a long way), and the luxe leito (with seats that recline even further). They depart from bus stations (called rodovi\u00e1rias) usually located on the outskirts of town. There\u2019s a secure luggage compartment underneath, and the driver gives you a ticket to collect your backpack at the other end, but you should carry your valuables on you inside the bus. Oh, and don\u2019t forget to pack a jumper (or a ski jacket) \u2014 Brazil buses are always air-conditioned to an Antarctic temperature. Although don\u2019t be so fussed about food, because you\u2019ll stop every two to three hours at tidy road stops offering warm meals and snacks on major routes.<\/p>\n

    The trip from Rio to Belo Horizonte takes seven hours and costs R$100, from Rio to Igua\u00e7u takes 24 hours and costs R$250, and from Rio to Salvador takes 32 hours and costs R$350. Tickets are pricier for semi-leito and leito services, which also go less frequently, but you\u2019ll never be gouged because of plenty of competition between operators. Busca Onibus<\/a> is your go-to website for Brazil buses. Always check what a flight costs for the same journey \u2014 you can often save hours (and occasionally even a few reais) by flying instead.<\/p>\n

    Rio to S\u00e3o Paulo bus<\/h3>\n

    While it\u2019s a good idea to book your seat in advance from a travel agent or the rodovi\u00e1ria itself for most routes, you can just rock up if you\u2019re hopping on a Rio to S\u00e3o Paulo bus. Between 6am and midnight, services go every 15 minutes or so (then a little less frequently overnight) \u2014 the journey takes six or seven hours and costs about R$100.<\/p>\n

    If you belt out that journey in one hit, though, you\u2019ll skip some of Brazil\u2019s most beautiful beaches along the Costa Verde. Paraty \u2014 a R$80, four-hour trip in either direction \u2014 is the perfect pitstop roughly halfway in between these two mammoth cities. Flying is also often a cheaper (and much quicker) option.<\/p>\n

    Brazil planes<\/h3>\n

    There are three big airlines in Brazil \u2014 Gol, LATAM and Azul \u2014 and competition between them means that flying can sometimes be affordable. Even when tickets are expensive though, they can be a valuable investment if they add remote, spectacular destinations like the Amazon, Pantanal and Igua\u00e7u to your trip.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019ve only got a couple of weeks and flexibility isn\u2019t so much of an issue, booking flights allows you to squeeze so much more into your Brazil backpacking itinerary. Scan the price comparison sites a couple of weeks before you travel and you\u2019ll spot seats from S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s Guarulhos airport to Salvador (two-and-a-half hours) for less than R$200, to Igua\u00e7u (one-and-a-half hours) for the same price, or all the way up north to Bel\u00e9m or Fortaleza (three-and-a-half hours) for around R$300.<\/p>\n

    Many airlines also offer air passes \u2014 multi-trip tickets that typically give you four flights in a 21-day period for about R$2000. But with so much red tape to wade through and little flexibility to change your plans \u2014 you must buy your air pass before you arrive in Brazil, and normally have to reserve all four trips at the same time \u2014 booking individual flights might be smarter.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd\u00a0S\u00e3o Paulo<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Trains in Brazil<\/h3>\n

    An extensive rail network covers Brazil\u2026 it just doesn\u2019t carry travellers. Even the few passenger trains that run alongside the cargo services are normally slower than the bus. Journeys from Curitiba to Morretes, Belo Horizonte to Vit\u00f3ria and Ouro Preto to Mariana are scenic trips that aren\u2019t well trodden by backpackers, while the north\u2019s only passenger route stretches from S\u00e3o Lu\u00eds to near the Parque Nacional Chapada das Mesas.<\/p>\n

    There are, however, metro systems in most major cities, including big networks in S\u00e3o Paulo and Rio, the latter revamped for the 2016 Olympics. Trains run from around 5am until midnight (7am to 11pm on Sunday), and a single fare costs R$4.60 in Rio and R$4.30 in SP (cheaper if you have one of their rechargeable travel cards). The metro is usually a safer and speedier alternative to local buses, which cost about R$3 to R$4.50.<\/p>\n

    And if you\u2019re searching for a S\u00e3o Paulo to Rio de Janeiro train, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. It doesn’t exist. The good news? Rio to SP is the fourth busiest air route on the planet, and the busiest in the Americas, with more than 100 flights a day making the short one-hour journey from as little as R$100. The \u00f4nibus is another dependable option, leaving every 15 minutes for a similar price, taking six or seven hours.<\/p>\n

    Brazil boats and ferries<\/h3>\n

    Brazil\u2019s coastline stretches more than 7000 kilometres, so you\u2019ll probably travel across the water at some stage. The crosstown commuter ferry from the Pra\u00e7a Quinze de Novembro to Niter\u00f3i is a quintessential Rio experience, while on the Costa Verde, a daily 80-minute ferry links Angra dos Reis with Ilha Grande. The two-hour catamaran from Salvador to Morro de S\u00e3o Paulo is a choppy but cheap (R$80) trip. Then there\u2019s the Amazon, where comfy ferries connect Bel\u00e9m with the river island of Maraj\u00f3, while spartan cruises spend five days chugging down the river towards Manaus. There are also plenty of coastal cruises, but they don\u2019t usually fit into a backpacker\u2019s bank account!<\/p>\n

    Brazil taxis<\/h3>\n

    Yellow or white licensed cabs are an affordable way to dash around the city. In Rio, for example, fares start at R$5.75 then add R$2.60 per kilometre, meaning the 10-kilometre journey from Lapa to Copacabana is a tick over R$30, plus a tip for good service. Metered cabs run at a more expensive rate on Sundays, nights and around airports and bus stations, which are also sometimes covered by a taxi co-operative, where you have to buy a coupon for your trip in advance. If the car doesn\u2019t have a meter, agree on a fare in advance to avoid getting ripped off. Uber operates in 125 cities and towns across the country as well.<\/p>\n

    Driving around Brazil<\/h3>\n

    Dodgem-car drivers, damaged roads and dangerous trucks make driving a nightmare in Brazil. The condition of roads is decent in the south, OK along the coast in the north and terrible in the interior, but street lights are uncommon and hazards are plentiful, so avoid driving at night if you do choose to jump behind the wheel. The government is clamping down on drink drivers and speeding with electronic speed traps and strict laws, but there\u2019s a long way to go. Car-jacking is another problem \u2014 more on that in the safety section below.<\/p>\n

    You can rent a car from any of the major chains from around $R100 a day, but there aren\u2019t many vehicles up to the task of tackling some of Brazil\u2019s dodgier roads. Your foreign licence is fine but an international driving permit is handy too. Plus, petrol isn\u2019t cheap \u2014 well over R$4 a litre \u2014 which is another reason why backpackers should park the car idea.<\/p>\n

    Accommodation in Brazil<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Hostels in Brazil<\/h3>\n

    From the sands of Rio to the banks of the Amazon, Brazil is blanketed with hundreds of high quality hostels, or pousadas, as budget accommodation in Brazil is often called. From as little as R$20 a night, you\u2019ll find pool parties, vegan bakeries and converted shipping containers at these top hostels in Brazil<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Hostels in Rio de Janeiro<\/h3>\n

    There are almost a hundred spectacular hostels in Rio de Janeiro, hugging the coast and hanging off the mountainside. Aquarela do Leme<\/a> delivers stunning seaside views, Discovery Hostel<\/a> fizzes with atmosphere, Books Hostel<\/a> offers budget beds in nightlife hub Lapa, Mambembe<\/a> has a chilled-out vibe, Che Lagarto Suites<\/a> gives a little extra luxury and El Misti<\/a> boasts locations just steps from the beach in Copacabana and Ipanema.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Discovery Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

    Down the Costa Verde, Mambembe<\/a> is also the top-rated hostel on Ilha Grande, while the treetop Remo Hostel<\/a> and the secluded Happy Hammock Eco<\/a> are the picks in Paraty. East of Rio, Yoho Hostel<\/a> puts on the best party in B\u00fazios.<\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Rio de Janeiro<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in S\u00e3o Paulo<\/h3>\n

    There\u2019s a forest of hostels amid the concrete jungle that is S\u00e3o Paulo, centred mainly on the artsy neighbourhood of Vila Madalena. \u00d4 de Casa<\/a>, Brazil Boutique Hostel<\/a> and Hostel Alice<\/a> \u2014 home to its very own on-site vegan bakery \u2014 are all stylish choices. Soul Hostel<\/a> is your best bet closer to the city\u2019s central spine, Avenida Paulista.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd O de Casa Hostel\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in S\u00e3o Paulo<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in Salvador<\/h3>\n

    Hostels in Salvador are split across two main locations. Some \u2014 like the pool parties at Galeria 13<\/a> and the family feeling of the Nega Maluca Guesthouse<\/a> \u2014 are set among the colourful colonial buildings of the Pelourinho, Salvador\u2019s historic centre. Others \u2014 such as the cosy T\u00f4 em Casa Hostel<\/a> and the modern Casar\u00e3o 65<\/a> \u2014 are closer to the sand in the beachy Barra district.<\/p>\n

    Sun-seekers should also hop across to Morro de S\u00e3o Paulo, checking into the super central Che Lagarto<\/a> hostel or the sustainable Universo Pol Bamboo Hostel<\/a> deep in the jungle.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Universo Pol Bamboo Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Salvador<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in Foz do Igua\u00e7u<\/h3>\n

    There are more than 20 hostels in the mist of these mighty waterfalls on the border with Argentina and Paraguay. Tetris Container Hostel<\/a> \u2014 made from 15 colourfully repurposed shipping containers, including one that\u2019s been transformed into a pool \u2014 is the one that pops off the page, but the Concept Design Hostel<\/a>, Pousada El Shaddai<\/a> and Hostel Poesia<\/a> also earn strong reviews.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Tetris Container Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Foz do Igua\u00e7u<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in Florian\u00f3polis<\/h3>\n

    Visitors to Florian\u00f3polis have a smorgasbord of seaside locations on Ilha de Santa Catarina to choose from, such as the lush Search House Beachfront Hostel<\/a> in Barra da Lagoa, the sun-drenched Floripa Surf Hostel<\/a> a stroll from Campeche beach and\u00a0Geckos Hostel<\/a> in Lagoa da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Gecko Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Florian\u00f3polis<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in the Pantanal<\/h3>\n

    There are two towns backpackers can stay in when they come to these vast wetlands. One is Bonito, where Papaya Hostel<\/a> is the top-rated option. The other is Campo Grande, home to the family-owned H Hostel Orla Morena<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Papaya Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Bonito<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Campo Grande<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in the north-east<\/h3>\n

    Stretching from Recife all the way to S\u00e3o Lu\u00eds via a string of stunning beaches, the north-east is linked by a chain of excellent pousadas. In Recife, Piratas da Praia<\/a> is just a stroll from the beaches and beaches of Pina and Boa Viagem, and beneath the colonial churches of Olinda, the HI hostel<\/a> is a reliable choice.<\/p>\n

    There\u2019s a handful of hostels in Natal, but backpackers should make a beeline to Pipa instead, where Lagarto na Banana<\/a>, Zicatela<\/a> and Hostel do Ceu<\/a> all rake in sky-high ratings.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Lagarto na Banana<\/em><\/p>\n

    Ref\u00fagio<\/a> is an urban oasis in Fortaleza, but to truly relax, leg it to Jericoacoara. Jeri Central Hostel<\/a> is the backpackers\u2019 favourite, whereas Villa Chic Hostel Pousada<\/a> is a little more upscale.<\/p>\n

    There are a few guesthouses in Barreirinhas before the trip into the sand dunes of Len\u00e7\u00f3is Maranhenses, then in steamy S\u00e3o Lu\u00eds, Tanan Hostel<\/a> is a laid-back property on the lagoon.<\/p>\n

    Hostels in the Amazon<\/h3>\n

    Bel\u00e9m Hostel<\/a> is the go-to budget option at the mouth of the Amazon, Bel\u00e9m. Down the river in Manaus, Local Hostel<\/a> and Hostel Manaus<\/a> are brilliant backpacker spots in the shadow of the iconic Teatro Amazonas and Palacio Rio Negro.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Local Hostel Manaus<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Bel\u00e9m<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Manaus <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in the south-west<\/h3>\n

    Although Curitiba won\u2019t appear on every Brazil backpacking itinerary, this tidy southern city is peppered with properties rated above nine by Hostelworld guests, including 1950s mansion Motter Home<\/a>, the homely Curitiba Casa Hostel<\/a>, the contemporary Social Hostel<\/a> and the welcoming Matilda<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Solar 63<\/a> provides the best backpacker beds further south in Porto Alegre, but it might be more fun to stay in the alpine resort towns of Gramado \u00a0\u2014 including the sweet-toothed Hostel Chocolatche<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Social Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Curitiba<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Porto Alegre <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in Belo Horizonte<\/h3>\n

    Bar-hopping in Belo Horizonte? Artsy hostels Savassi<\/a> and Samba Rooms<\/a> are budget-friendly boutique bases to crash at. And if you\u2019re heading to the quaint colonial town of Ouro Preto down the road, Freedom Hostel<\/a> headlines a small but excellent group of places to stay among the cobblestone streets.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Hostel Savassi<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Belo Horizonte<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Ouro Preto<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

    Hostels in Bras\u00edlia<\/h3>\n

    The modernist architecture that covers the capital isn\u2019t exactly full of budget accommodation, but Joy Hostel<\/a> \u2014 a homely guesthouse run by three childhood friends \u2014 is a terrific choice.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Joy Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover more hostels in Bras\u00edlia<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Places to visit in Brazil<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Christ the Redeemer, Igua\u00e7u Falls, the Amazon, Copacabana beach, Len\u00e7\u00f3is Maranhenses, the Pantanal, Sugarloaf Mountain \u2014 these are only a handful of famous places in Brazil that travellers flock to, and this is where you\u2019ll find them.<\/p>\n

    Brazil main cities<\/h3>\n

    You might imagine Brazil being all beaches and rainforest, but it\u2019s actually one of the most urbanised nations on earth. The country contains 28 cities with more than a million inhabitants \u2014 the United States only has 10, by comparison \u2014 including the 12 million Cariocas that squeeze into Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n

    Few cities on the planet boast the natural beauty of Rio, sandwiched between the mountains and the sea. The 30-metre-tall Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue claims the best view of it all, gazing down from the summit of Corcovado mountain, while the vistas from the cablecar sliding up to Sugarloaf Mountain (P\u00e3o de A\u00e7\u00facar) aren\u2019t too shabby, either. Curvaceous beaches like Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Leme snake along the sparkling coastline, and after Cariocas are finished letting it all hang out on the sand, they dive into some of South America<\/a>\u2019s liveliest nightlife, particularly around Lapa. The Cidade Maravilhosa (the Marvellous City) nickname is well earned.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Rio de Janeiro<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    S\u00e3o Paulo<\/a> can\u2019t match Rio for looks, but it certainly beats it for sheer size. A country famous for its rainforest also boasts this almighty concrete jungle \u2014 Brazil\u2019s biggest city is made up of almost 200 buildings soaring higher than 100 metres, helping house almost 22 million people. So many, in fact, that you could squish in every resident of Berlin, Sydney, Prague, Toronto and Vienna and you\u2019d still have space left over. You won\u2019t find any beaches in SP, nor much nature at all outside of Ibirapuera Park, but you will stumble upon loads of culture in this cosmopolitan melting pot, headlined by the S\u00e3o Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), the brilliant murals that cake Beco do Batman and the bars of Vila Madalena.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd S\u00e3o Paulo<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@ckturistando<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    So which of Brazil\u2019s two main cities is the capital? Neither, in fact. That title falls to Bras\u00edlia, a centrally planned capital like Australia\u2019s Canberra or Turkey\u2019s Ankara. Remember that old cartoon The Jetsons? That\u2019s pretty much what Bras\u00edlia feels like, minus the flying cars \u2014 the image of what someone in the 1950s thought the new millennium was going to look like. Founded in 1960 and carved out of the red dust that lies at the heart of the nation, Brazil basically handed a blank slate to legendary architect Oscar Niemeyer, who created a time capsule of mind-blowing modernist architecture. This zany collection of space-age buildings isn\u2019t worth adding to every backpacking itinerary, but architecture nerds and fans of the weird will love it.<\/p>\n

    The other big city in this corner of the country is Belo Horizonte \u2014 another town that\u2019s no backpacker hotspot, but perhaps it should be, because it claims to have the highest concentration of bars per capita in the world. Another hive of Niemeyer\u2019s architectural creations about six hours north of Rio, bars aren\u2019t the only reason to visit Belo Horizonte \u2014 the stunning colonial town of Ouro Preto (which means Black Gold) is just down the road, where gold plasters the baroque buildings and church towers pierce the lush countryside.<\/p>\n

    Salvador, Recife, Natal and Fortaleza are Brazil\u2019s main cities in the north, while Porto Alegre and Curitiba \u2014 as well as Rio and S\u00e3o Paulo, of course \u2014 dominate the south. More on them below.<\/p>\n

    Best beaches in Brazil<\/h3>\n

    Brazil has more than 7000 kilometres of coastline and most of it is covered by golden sand. Lots of the best beaches in Brazil are sitting just outside your hostel in Rio<\/a> \u2014 the iconic Copacabana, upscale Ipanema in the shadow of the Morro Dois Irm\u00e3os (Two Brothers Mountain), surf haven Prainha, and the lengthy Barra da Tijuca.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Ipanema<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    The road trip from Rio to SP via the Costa Verde also reveals some of the best beaches in Brazil. Plan pitstops on Ilha Grande \u2014 including Lopes Mendes Beach, flanked by Morro dos Castelhanos and Morro do Ferreira \u2014 plus Paraty, Ubatuba and S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o on the mainland, before making a beeline to Santos, the cradle of football demigod Pel\u00e9 and Paulistas\u2019 go-to seaside escape from the city. Sun worshippers should continue further south to Ilha de Santa Catarina, too. B\u00fazios is a more upmarket beach resort town three hours\u2019 east of Rio.<\/p>\n

    Up north, the turquoise water of Porto de Galinhas lures travellers south of Recife to snorkel among the tropical fish and sheltered reef pools, while the white sand of Praia dos Carneiros in nearby Tamandar\u00e9 is shaded by swaying palm trees. A sleepy fishing town that was discovered by surfers in the 1970s, the word is well and truly out about Pipa near Natal, and it\u2019s the same deal with Bahia beaches like Cara\u00edva and Taip\u00fas de Fora. And way up on the north coast, the hippie haven of Jericoacoara near Fortaleza is paradise on earth.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Pipa<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@_carol.urt<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Southern Brazil<\/h3>\n

    On top of Rio, S\u00e3o Paulo and the stunning Costa Verde, southern Brazil spills over with outdoor adventures. Foz do Igua\u00e7u \u2014 250 towering waterfalls that form the natural border with Spanish-speaking neighbours Argentina and Paraguay \u2014 sits at the top of the list. While the boardwalks winding through the Argentine side throw you right in to the thunder of the falls, the Brazilian chunk provides better panoramic vistas \u2014 especially the 80-metre Devils\u2019 Throat (Garganta do Diabo) \u2014 plus wildlife like ocelots (tiny, adorable wild cats) and capybaras (big-nosed rodents).<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Foz do Igua\u00e7u<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll spot even more animals in the Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the world. Jaguars, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, piranhas, green anacondas, macaws, vultures, tapirs, marsh deer – you name it. Hopping on a guided tour is the best way to conquer these rugged landscapes and the towns of Bonito and Campo Grande are good bases, depending on where else you\u2019re heading on your Brazil backpacking itinerary.<\/p>\n

    Curitiba \u2014 Brazil\u2019s eighth largest city, and a triumph of modern urban planning \u2014 isn’t particularly exciting, but it breaks up the road trip from S\u00e3o Paulo to Florian\u00f3polis, the gateway to Santa Catarina Island. Keep heading in the Uruguay direction and you hit the city of Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul \u2014 a state with a strong ga\u00facho culture, as well as German settlements like Gramado and Canela that could\u2019ve been transplanted straight out of Bavaria.<\/p>\n

    Brazilian islands<\/h3>\n

    The Costa Verde from Rio to S\u00e3o Paulo is also sprinkled with sun-drenched islands, starting with Ilha Grande. Only an hour from Rio, this pristine island housed a leper colony then a maximum-security prison until the jail was closed in 1962 and travellers began filling beds instead, flocking here for the beaches, waterfalls, reefs and laid-back lifestyle. There are no cars on the island, nor any lepers or convicts these days, either. Ilhabela \u2014 home to the Bonete and Ba\u00eda de Castelhanos beaches \u2014 is beautiful, too.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Ilha Grande<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@thifalcao<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    On the other side of S\u00e3o Paulo, the unspoiled Ilha do Cardoso and the sweetly named llha do Mel (Island of Honey) have hardly been touched by tourism. Ilha de Santa Catarina, though, is a favourite of travelling Argentines as well as backpackers treading the path from Rio to Buenos Aires, sunning themselves at the saltwater Lagoa da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o and the dazzling Praia do Campeche.<\/p>\n

    North Brazil also has its fair share of gorgeous islands \u2014 none more famous than Fernando de Noronha, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed archipelago 350 kilometres off the north-east coast. The 5000 inhabitants of these 21 islands are outnumbered by tropical fish, stingrays, turtles, sharks and dolphins, but not tourists, whose population is limited to less than 500 a day. That plus the flight takes some serious planning and savings, although the craggy coastline is worth the effort.<\/p>\n

    Ilha de Tinhar\u00e9 \u2014 particularly the village of Morro de S\u00e3o Paulo \u2014 is a touristy but postcard-perfect sojourn from the city of Salvador, while Ilha de Itamarac\u00e1 \u2014 with its 16th Century Dutch fort and acres of rainforest \u2014 sits on Recife\u2019s doorstep.<\/p>\n

    Perhaps the most unique Brazilian island is Ilha do Maraj\u00f3 \u2014 a chunk of land the size of Switzerland sitting at the mouth of the Amazon near the city of Bel\u00e9m. This enormous river island accommodates 400,000 people and an even larger number of domesticated water buffalo, including some horned beasts that the police ride to patrol the streets. True story.<\/p>\n

    North Brazil<\/h3>\n

    Curving around the Atlantic coast, Brazil\u2019s north-east is a buffet of quaint colonial towns, glittering beaches and otherworldly natural wonders.<\/p>\n

    Start in Salvador, the 16th Century colonial capital where Brazil\u2019s African influence shines brightest. One of the first slave ports in the Americas, Salvador pulses with the sound of drum groups, Candombl\u00e9 ceremonies and capoeira martial-arts displays, with the pastel-hued Pelourinho old town and gold-plated churches supplying a colourful backdrop to the Afro-Brazilian culture. Praia do Porto da Barra is a scenic city beach beneath a 16th Century fort, but sun-loving backpackers drift south to Trancoso and Porto Seguro plus Morro de S\u00e3o Paulo closer by, while adventurous types grab a guide to explore the dramatic cliffs and electric blue underwater pools of Chapada Diamantina.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Salvador<\/em><\/p>\n

    Further north is Recife, a gritty city generously nicknamed the Venice of Brazil for its network of peninsulas and islets. On the other hand, Recife\u2019s next-door neighbour Olinda is one of the most charming chapters of North Brazil \u2014 a UNESCO World Heritage-listed maze of convents, mansions and artists\u2019 studios clinging to a leafy hilltop. And Pernambuco\u2019s beaches are among the best in Brazil, too.<\/p>\n

    Next stop Natal, another nice enough city that caters more to package tourists than budget travellers. Backpackers<\/a> should stick to Pipa, an hour south of the city \u2014 a tiny town with a huge reputation for its buzzing nightlife and cliffside beach, always well populated by surfers, marine life and party people nursing hangovers.<\/p>\n

    Fortaleza \u2014 Brazil\u2019s fifth biggest metropolis \u2014 also offers a lively bar scene, beautiful weather and solid city beaches such as Iracema, Meireles, Mucuripe and the never-ending Praia do Futuro, crowded with beach bars (barracas) on the sand. The best beach, however, is an unpaved six-hour bus ride away \u2014 and it\u2019s worth every bump. Jericoacoara isn\u2019t the secret it once was, but this bohemian beach town is still one of Brazil\u2019s most enchanting destinations thanks to its phenomenal coastline, fabled sunsets and off-the-grid vibe \u2014 Jeri only got electricity two decades ago.<\/p>\n

    Another long, bumpy drive along the coast brings you to Len\u00e7\u00f3is Maranhenses \u2014 the stunning national park where freshwater lakes slither between sand dunes as far as the eye can see. S\u00e3o Lu\u00eds \u2014 another UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its colonial splendour and Afro-Brazilian culture \u2014 is the gateway to Len\u00e7\u00f3is, which means bed sheets in English, named after the dunes\u2019 resemblance to white linen rippling across the landscape.<\/p>\n

    North Brazil\u2019s most famous draw, of course, is the Amazon. This mammoth web of jungle, rivers, savanna and marshland is a miracle of nature, crawling with animals like pink dolphins and see-through frogs that you won\u2019t find anywhere else on earth. But to be completely honest, Amazon cruises don\u2019t earn rave reviews \u2014 the five-day trip between the cities of Bel\u00e9m and Manaus takes in a lot of brown water and not much else.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@entrycube<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Anyway, you can grab a lot of the highlights \u2014 such as the meeting of the tea-coloured Solim\u00f5es River and the coffee-coloured Negro River you\u2019ve probably seen on Instagram, or visiting an Indigenous Amazonian tribe, or spotting those weird river dolphins \u2014 on a day trip from Manaus, a city known for its opulent European architecture. And Bel\u00e9m \u2014 particularly the fried fish sizzling at the Ver-o-Peso market \u2014 dishes up another taste of the Amazon without having to lock yourself on an unglamorous boat for five days.<\/p>\n

    Brazil backpacking itinerary<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    In the 57 hours it takes to drive from Rio de Janeiro to Manaus in the heart of the Amazon, you could road-trip from London all the way to Azerbaijan, which underlines just how enormous Brazil is \u2014 and just how difficult it is to jam every Brazilian destination into a short stay. You could spend 12 months in the country and still not get around to every nook and cranny. Really, you could spend 12 months sunning yourself on Copacabana beach and not feel like coming home. But here\u2019s how to build a Brazil backpacking itinerary on a stricter timeline.<\/p>\n

    Backpacking Brazil 2 weeks<\/h3>\n

    If you\u2019ve only got two weeks backpacking Brazil, then Rio, S\u00e3o Paulo and the Costa Verde in between gives you the best bang for your buck. Most international flights jet in and out of these two mega-cities, so they\u2019re the logical start and end points to a short two-week stay.<\/p>\n

    You need at least four days \u2014 more, if you\u2019ve got time \u2014 to even scratch the surface of Rio de Janeiro. Slogging it to the top of Corcovado to see Christ the Redeemer can be an all-day activity, either queuing for the cog train in the Cosme Velho neighbourhood or an approved van into the national park, and Sugarloaf is worth plenty of time, too \u2014 take the cablecar at sunset for the best Instagram fodder. Culture vultures should swoop on the Museu Hist\u00f3rico Nacional, the Sambadrome and the street art tiling the Escadaria Selar\u00f3n in Lapa, where you\u2019ll also shimmy the night away sipping caipirinhas in a samba club. Oh, then there are the beaches: Copacabana, Ipanema, Prainha, Leme, S\u00e3o Conrado, Barra da Tijuca, Vermelha, the list goes on.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccdRio de Janeiro<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    More sun-kissed sand sits a five hour bus away in Paraty, where verdant jungle flows into a sheltered bay with an immaculately preserved, totally car-free, cobblestoned colonial town in between. Throw in a trip to the untouched Ilha Grande, a boat to the cannot-miss Trindade beach, a kayak through the Jabaquara mangroves, and plates full of ocean-fresh seafood and two days on the Costa Verde flies by.<\/p>\n

    Another six-hour bus and you\u2019re in Brazil\u2019s densest concrete jungle, where it\u2019s worth investing at least three nights. S\u00e3o Paulo is spilling over with culture \u2014 including world-class art museums like MASP and Pinacoteca, the iconic Catedral da S\u00e9 and Theatro Municipal, and the mouth-watering Mercado Municipal \u2014 but the city\u2019s favourite museum might be the Museu do Futebol inside the Pacaembu stadium, devoted to Brazil\u2019s national sporting obsession. A day strolling through the vast Parque Ibirapuera, the suffocating street art of Beco do Batman and the bohemian bars and eateries of Vila Madalena is also a must.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd\u00a0S\u00e3o Paulo<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    So that\u2019s nine days down, five to go. Where you go next depends on whether you want to delve into Brazil\u2019s awe-inspiring wilderness, or fly up north to the country\u2019s most colourful city. Outdoor adventurers will hop on a 16-hour overnight bus (or a much speedier 90-minute flight) to Igua\u00e7u \u2014 the natural wonder that\u2019s most accessible for budget travellers, as well as the one that\u2019s most likely to knock your socks off. Take one day to gawk at the roaring falls from the Brazilian side, and if your visa situation permits, spend the second on the Argentine side, wandering through the mist.<\/p>\n

    Then it\u2019s another long haul to Campo Grande where you\u2019ll have three nights to explore the rain-swept landscapes of the Pantanal, swarming with wildlife wherever you turn. Sit back and let the experts do the planning \u2014 the town has stacks of budget two-night tours from about R$800, but they\u2019re not luxurious nor necessarily the best value, so do your research into your tour operator if you\u2019re keen on this part of the itinerary.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re not, just add another couple of days on the beach in Rio or the Costa Verde, or substitute a totally different corner of the country. Salvador \u2014 an affordable flight from Igua\u00e7u via S\u00e3o Paulo when you book in advance, and even cheaper if you go direct from SP \u2014 is the first place you should check out in the north. This colourful colonial capital blends Brazil\u2019s strongest African influences, eye-popping colonial churches, non-stop nightlife, and idyllic beaches at nearby Morro de S\u00e3o Paulo to round off your two weeks backpacking Brazil.<\/p>\n

    Backpacking Brazil 3 weeks<\/h3>\n

    That two-week itinerary forms the foundation of a 21-day trip, too. Then you\u2019ve got a simple question when it comes to that extra week: north or south?<\/p>\n

    The north begins in kaleidoscopic Salvador \u2014 an intense city that easily soaks up two or three nights \u2014 before either continuing inland to the time-carved terrain of the Chapada Diamantina region, putting your feet up on Ilha de Tinhar\u00e9, or trekking it 10 hours down the coast to the beach towns of Trancoso and Porto Seguro. There might even be time to head further north to Recife and Olinda, Natal and Pipa, or Fortaleza and Jericoacoara if you\u2019re flying. Salvador plus a combination of those other options equals an extra week well spent.<\/p>\n

    The south makes more sense if you\u2019re on an epic backpacking trip that keeps going in the Argentina direction. With seven more days to play with, you can schedule a little more time to properly appreciate the Pantanal and Igua\u00e7u, adding sun-bathed Florian\u00f3polis after S\u00e3o Paulo (an 11-hour bus or one-hour flight). Practice your Spanish with all the Argentine travellers sunning themselves on Ilha de Santa Catarina \u2014 a treasure trove of pine forests, glassy lagoons and snow-white beaches \u2014 before trekking it to Campo Grande to explore the Pantanal or Igua\u00e7u, a neat entry point to Argentina.<\/p>\n

    And if the bars of Belo Horizonte (seven-hour bus or one-hour flight from Rio) and the modernist masterpieces of Bras\u00edlia (20-hour bus or two-hour flight from Rio) catch your eye, that double-header is another option for your third week, especially if you can nab a cheap flight. But if you\u2019re hopping on a plane, direct four-hour flights from SP to Manaus or Bel\u00e9m are a surprisingly affordable way to tick the Amazon off your bucket list.<\/p>\n

    Or, you know, there\u2019s always more beaches. You could put your feet up for seven more days relaxing along the Costa Verde \u2014 especially if all this talk of overnight buses is your idea of hell in a backpack \u2014 plus there\u2019s the swanky (read: expensive) B\u00fazios resort town east of Rio.<\/p>\n

    The rest of Brazil<\/h3>\n

    If you can afford to spend longer than three weeks backpacking Brazil, then swinging through Rio, Paraty, S\u00e3o Paulo, Florian\u00f3polis, Igua\u00e7u, the Pantanal, Bras\u00edlia and Salvador crams in most of the big guidebook highlights. But if you\u2019re hungry to gobble up every morsel that the Brazilian buffet plates up, there\u2019s still plenty more to add to your Brazil backpacking itinerary in the tropical north.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Paraty<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    From Salvador, the plan virtually writes itself: just hug the coast. When the ocean\u2019s on the right-hand side of the bus, you\u2019re moving in the right direction. First stop? Recife (14-hour bus or one-hour flight from Salvador) \u2014 the launch pad to the world-class beaches of Pernambuco and next-door neighbour to quaint, colonial Olinda. Then it\u2019s Pipa \u2014 a must for backpackers in this part of world \u2014 reachable via a three-hour taxi from Recife (not too pricey when you fill the car), a one-hour bus from Natal, or the spectacularly scenic coastal route from Natal on the back of a dune buggy.<\/p>\n

    Fortaleza is a lively city nine hours along the highway, but the real treat comes a bumpy six-hour bus trip later in Jericoacoara. This ultra-isolated beach town isn\u2019t easy to get to, but backpackers make the pilgrimage to tread its sandy streets and even sandier dunes. Private 4WDs link Jeri with the town of Barreirinhas \u2014 again, an affordable one-day trip when you split it with three or four passengers \u2014 from where you venture into Len\u00e7\u00f3is Maranhenses, the martian landscape of sand dunes punctuated by serene freshwater lakes.<\/p>\n

    S\u00e3o Lu\u00eds (five-hour bus from Barreirinhas) feels like a mini-Salvador, before Bel\u00e9m (13-hour bus or one-hour flight) throws you into the mouth of the Amazon. The long and not-so-luxurious five-day river cruise to Manaus isn\u2019t for everyone, but if conquering the Amazon is an itch you need to scratch, go for your life.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re heading the other way \u2014 snaking down from the Amazon to Salvador then onwards to the south by road \u2014 then the sands of Trancoso and Porto Seguro, hiking hotspots Parque Nacional de Capara\u00f3 and Parque Estadual da Pedra Azul, and the glam beaches of B\u00fazios are logical pitstops on the road to Rio.<\/p>\n

    You\u2019d be rushing such an epic trip in any less than two months, so take as much time as you can afford. You only really need one or two days to \u2018see\u2019 towns like Jeri and Pipa, but they\u2019re the sort of special places that suck you in to staying even longer.<\/p>\n

    Backpacking Brazil costs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Cost of living in Brazil<\/h3>\n

    If your backpacking trip winds through Peru and Bolivia before arriving in Brazil, your bank account might be in for a shock. Although it\u2019s cheaper than Western Europe or the United States, backpacking Brazil costs more than anywhere else in Latin America, especially in Rio de Janeiro and S\u00e3o Paulo. But don\u2019t let that put you off \u2014 the place is worth every real.<\/p>\n

    Hundreds of good-quality and great-value hostels and pousadas aren\u2019t the problem \u2014 you can sniff out a top-rated bunk in Rio for as little as R$40, and from R$20 in the rest of the country. Travelling the huge distances between destinations is what really adds up. Bus trips cost roughly R$10 for every hour you\u2019re on the road, while flights start at around R$100 for each hour you\u2019re in the air. That means you can grab a flight or a bus from Rio to SP for about R$100. In such an enormous country with so many irresistible places to visit, transport becomes the biggest strain on your credit card.<\/p>\n

    A bus or metro ticket goes for R$4, and the taxi meter ticks over at R$2.50 a kilometre. A beer in Rio will set you back R$10 or so \u2014 less in smaller towns \u2014 and a cheap caipirinha carries a similar price tag. A bottle of water is about R$5 and a cheap meal costs anywhere from R$20-40, plus there\u2019s loads of street food for a bargain. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory for taxi drivers and tour guides, and plenty of restaurants add a 10% service charge.<\/p>\n

    Brazil\u2019s big-ticket attractions also sit at the pricier end of the South American scale. The train up Corcovado to see Christ the Redeemer is R$65 in low season and R$79 in high season, the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain comes to R$116, and entrance to Igua\u00e7u national park asks R$70. All well and truly worth it, of course. But not dirt cheap.<\/p>\n

    Let\u2019s tally that all up. A nice hostel bed for R$50, one meal out plus groceries to cook in the hostel kitchen (R$50), a couple of metro tickets (R$10), a few beers at the beach as well as a cheeky cocktail (R$40), then some wiggle room for extras like a coffee, a cab or a bowl of a\u00e7a\u00ed, and R$200 a day is a comfortable backpacker\u2019s budget with some scope to splash out. Throw in the cost of travel, and estimating your trip at R$250 per night is about right.<\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll be able to stretch your savings a bit further by escaping the big cities and sitting on the beach in the north-east, but burn through them a little quicker buying bottomless caipirinhas in Lapa or jetting all over the place. If you can afford it, throwing a bit of extra dosh at flights can add so much to your itinerary, opening up far-flung gems like Igua\u00e7u and Salvador even on a limited timeline.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd\u00a0Foz do Igua\u00e7u<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    What is the currency in Brazil<\/h3>\n

    Brazil\u2019s currency has been on a steady decline since 2011. The Brazilian real \u2014 plural reais, pronounced he-ice \u2014 comes in notes of two, five, 10, 20, 50 and 100, plus coins worth five, 10, 25 and 50 centavos (cents) and one real. Australians will notice a southern cross on the shrapnel, but no, it\u2019s not a homage to all the Aussie backpackers flying halfway across the globe to swill cans of Brahma on Copacabana.<\/p>\n

    One Euro or British Pound buys about five reais, one US dollar buys four, and a Canadian or Australian dollar buys three. Easy maths and a decent exchange rate\u2026 win-win.<\/p>\n

    All the major high-street banks \u2014 you\u2019ll spot the names of Bradesco, Caixa, Ita\u00fa and Banrisul everywhere \u2014 have dependable ATMs, although they\u2019re locked at night, so plan ahead if you want to invest hundreds of reais in some Carioca nightclub. Some ATMs can be funny about foreign cards, and they\u2019re sometimes hard to find in remote locations like the Amazon.<\/p>\n

    Mastercard and Visa credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, but you\u2019ll also need to carry a decent amount of cash for street food, markets and beach vendors selling those woven friendship bracelets you\u2019ll inevitably wind up with an arm full of.<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s generally safe to use your credit card, taking all the regular precautions you normally would with your PIN. Keep your eyes peeled for skimmers. As with any international backpacking trip, use a card with no foreign transaction fees \u2014 3% every time adds up real quick.<\/p>\n

    Brazil food<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Brazilian food is much like the country itself \u2014 intense, colourful, and over-the-top. There\u2019s no single national cuisine \u2014 it\u2019s way too big of a country for that \u2014 but rather a buffet of dishes seasoned by flavours from Europe, Africa, South America, Japan and their own backyard. Brazil\u2019s coast, jungle and farmland produces plenty of fresh ingredients, including loads that are unique to this part of the world. Oh, and then there\u2019s the deep-frying. So. Much. Deep-frying. Hungry to try the famous food Brazil cooks up? This is what you\u2019ve got to sink your teeth into.<\/p>\n

    For meat-lovers:<\/b> Brazil and Argentina share a ferocious rivalry over football, as well one as that\u2019s almost as intense in the kitchen. The next-door neighbours both claim to be the South American champion of barbecued meat \u2014 asado in Argentina, or churrasco here in Brazil. Both countries\u2019 love affair with beef stems from gaucho culture, which thrives in southern Brazil. Brazil might just edge the battle though, because many churrascarias (steakhouses) are all-you-can-eat, where the waiters buzz around carving meat straight from the skewer to your plate. Picanha (rump cap or sirloin cap) is the most mouth-watering cut, served alongside queijo coalho (barbecued cheese on a stick), chicken hearts and any combination of pork, lamb and boar you can stuff on a sword and barbecue.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    One dish that\u2019s uniquely Brazilian \u2014 and one of the rare foods that\u2019s eaten right across the country \u2014 is feijoada, a stew of black beans, sausages and cuts of pork from the tail all the way down to the snout. When done properly, the production process takes a whole 24 hours to soak the beans, desalt the pork then pop it on the boil until the meat melts in your mouth. The juices are mopped up with rice and farofa \u2014 fried tapioca\/cassava flour that accompanies so many juicy Brazilian favourites.<\/p>\n

    Moqueca is one of these favourites, and there are two versions of this northern seafood stew \u2014 in Bahia they add palm oil, peppers and coconut milk to the base of fish, tomatoes, onions and coriander, while in neighbouring Esp\u00edrito Santo, they spice it up with annatto seeds. It\u2019s worth ordering for the theatre alone \u2014 moqueca is served in a clay pot that the waiter unlids at the table, releasing steam and a saliva-inducing aroma billowing into the air.<\/p>\n

    Down south in S\u00e3o Paulo, the city\u2019s dining scene has been shaped by their huge immigrant communities. SP is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, giving us a smorgasbord of Asian eateries in the Liberdade district. Plenty is traditional, plenty is not \u2014 try hot rolls, where sushi is breaded and deep-fried like so much finger-licking Brazilian fare. A big Italian influence also makes SP a legendary pizza destination, again blending the authentic with the imaginative. The bases are always doughy and well toasted, but some of the toppings \u2014 such as tuna, corn or crusts stuffed with requeij\u00e3o cheese \u2014 wouldn\u2019t go down well in Naples.<\/p>\n

    Pay-by-weight restaurants are particularly popular in SP and have spread throughout the country, providing a great budget option for backpackers wanting to sample a variety of Brazilian delicacies for cheap. These buffets \u2014 also called kilo restaurants \u2014 typically cost about R$5 per hundred grams.<\/p>\n

    For sweet-lovers:\u00a0<\/b>Brigadeiros are the sort of snack that parents make for a kids party but then gobble down themselves. These sickly sweet balls of goodness are made by mixing condensed milk with cocoa powder and butter before rolling them through chocolate sprinkles. Brazil\u2019s national dessert is traditionally milk chocolate flavoured, but you\u2019ll sometimes see them made of white chocolate or with a whole strawberry stuck in the middle. There\u2019s also a coconut version called the beijinho de coco, which literally means a little kiss of coconut. Aww, sweet.<\/p>\n

    A healthier alternative is a\u00e7a\u00ed, which has been scarfed down in the Amazon for centuries before it earned a reputation as a superfood in the west. This purple berry was traditionally used as an Amazonian sauce before it was imported to Rio in the 1980s as a frozen sorbet scooped on top of muesli, or fruit, or whatever other bits and bobs that calorie-conscious beachy types like to swirl around in a bowl. The taste of this purple paste isn\u2019t for everyone, and there\u2019s no shortage of a\u00e7a\u00ed joints on Rio street corners where you can try it for yourself. For a more authentic sample, head to Bel\u00e9m\u2019s Ver-o-Peso market gazing over the Amazon, where your fried fish is slathered in a\u00e7a\u00ed sauce with rice and beans on the side.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@bratpackerss<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Any list of Brazil famous food is littered with desserts. Sweet-tooths should also indulge in peanut-flavoured pa\u00e7oca, Bahia specialty quindim (flan with coconut on the bottom), moorish canjica (corn, coconut milk and condensed milk with cinnamon sprinkled on top) and the romantically named Romeu and Julieta (jelly-like guava paste sandwiched between two slices of white cheese, sometimes baked into a pastry).<\/p>\n

    For street-food lovers:\u00a0<\/b>Fans of deep-fried delicacies, get ready to drool. Brazil is brimming with oily, greasy, heavenly snacks, starting with Salvador\u2019s African-inspired favourite acaraj\u00e9. This patty of black-eyed peas and onions is fried in palm oil (dend\u00ea) then stuffed with vatap\u00e1 (a paste of prawns, vegetables, coconut milk, nuts and spices, also served as a dish on its own) then splashed with chilli.<\/p>\n

    P\u00e3o de queijo \u2014 cheese buns \u2014 are crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, and full of fluffy goodness. Made of cassava flour, eggs and grated cheese from the state of Minas Gerais, p\u00e3o de queijo is sometimes served with a smear of jam over breakfast, or stuffed with fillings like cream cheese and meat.<\/p>\n

    Speaking of stuffings, past\u00e9is are S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s street food of choice \u2014 rectangle-shaped bundles of\u00a0 pastry jammed full of minced beef, melty cheese or sometimes sweets like caramel or chocolate. Empadas \u2014 the Brazilian spin on their Argentine amigos\u2019 empanada \u2014 and kibe \u2014 Middle Eastern minced beef fried up by street vendors \u2014 are other street food faves.<\/p>\n

    For booze-lovers:\u00a0<\/b>Beer drinkers will love how icy one-litre cold bottles of Brahma or Skol are served, shielded from the heat by a giant insulated sleeve with a couple of tiny glasses so the drop never gets too warm. The perfect accompaniment? Any of those street foods, nicknamed salgadinhos (literally little salties), or more deliciously deep-fried dishes like coxinhas \u2014 little thighs, so called for their resemblance to a chicken leg \u2014 and bolinhos \u2014 little balls of fried fish. Coxhinhas \u2014 shredded chicken mixed with cheese then crumbed and fried \u2014 are Brazil\u2019s go-to boozy bar snack.<\/p>\n

    For a fancier tipple, the caipirinha is Brazil\u2019s national cocktail, based on a fermented sugarcane juice called cacha\u00e7a that varies in quality from home-made hooch to barrel-aged nectar. The caipirinha is traditionally made with lime, sugar and ice, but you\u2019ll spot bars mixing modern versions with kiwi fruit, pineapple, strawberry and other tropical fruits.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udcf7 @hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Then to sober up the next morning, a good Brazilian coffee is never far away. In fact, Brazil is the largest exporter of coffee on the planet, accounting for about a third of beans worldwide. The crop was brought in from Ethiopia in the 18th Century and flourished in the north, bumping sugarcane off the top of the country\u2019s export charts. The best stuff is still shipped overseas but there\u2019s a growing market in Brazil itself, usually served strong and black.<\/p>\n

    Brazil culture<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Brazil language<\/h3>\n

    Ninety-nine per cent of Brazilians speak Portuguese \u2014 the few exceptions being the handful of remote Indigenous groups that were untouched by Portugal\u2019s three centuries of intense colonial rule. Although the accent and vernacular you hear in Rio sounds very different to what you get in Lisbon \u2014 much like how Australian English or Quebecois French have diverged from their respective mother tongues \u2014 Brazilian Portuguese-speakers now outnumber those from Portugal 20 to one.<\/p>\n

    Finding Brazilians who speak English is hit-and-miss, especially outside Rio and S\u00e3o Paulo, but a combination of the locals\u2019 friendly attitude, some dodgy sign language and any Portuguese phrases you can cobble together usually gets you where you need to go. Speaking Spanish can help \u2014 the mongrel mix of Portuguese and Espa\u00f1ol is known as Portu\u00f1ol\/Portunhol \u2014 but you run the risk of looking like some dopey tourist who doesn\u2019t know that Brazil is one of the rare South American countries that doesn\u2019t speak Spanish. And even though the Brazilians can probably understand what you\u2019re blurting out in Spanish, you might not be able to figure out what they\u2019re saying back (which is probably a good thing if they\u2019re cursing you for being some language-mangling gringo).<\/p>\n

    Learning a few words of Portuguese is much appreciated \u2014 ol\u00e1 is hello, tchau (pronounced chow) is goodbye, obrigado (if you\u2019re a man) and obrigada (if you\u2019re a woman) is thanks, por favor is please, sim and n\u00e3o are yes and no. But if all that\u2019s too hard to remember, just keep this phrase on the tip of your tongue: voc\u00ea fala ingl\u00eas? (do you speak English?).<\/p>\n

    Brazil facts<\/h3>\n

    Brazil culture is never as colourfully on display as it is during Carnival, the six-day extravaganza in the lead-up to Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the 40-day fasting period of Lent. Events take place across the country but the biggest, of course, grips Rio, where the city\u2019s regional samba schools organise huge parades that shuffle through the Sambadrome in front of 90,000 party animals, and millions more flooding the streets.<\/p>\n

    Carnival has a distinctly different flavour in the north-east, where the Afro-Caribbean influence infuses the music, folklore and food in cities like Recife, Olinda, Salvador and Fortaleza. In Pernambuco, the music pulsing through the streets is called frevo \u2014 a name from the Portuguese word meaning boil, such is the effect the irresistible rhythm has on dancers. Steamy.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Carnival, Recife<\/em><\/p>\n

    Bumba Meu Boi might not be as famous overseas, but it\u2019s almost as big inside Brazil\u2019s borders. This tradition started in the 18th Century as a way for the poor to take the mickey out of the ruling class \u2014 a pageant involving a resurrected bull, cowboys, pregnant women, priests, bad guys and loads of audience involvement. In other words, the best pantomime you\u2019ve ever seen. Bumba Meu Boi is held across the country from June 13 to June 29, then Christmas to January 6, particularly in the north-east and the Amazon.<\/p>\n

    Carnival is the reason why African-inspired samba beats are Brazil\u2019s most well-known musical export, but the music scene is as diverse as the country itself. Bossa nova \u2014 a jazz-samba hybrid coming out of Rio in the 1950s \u2014 is also big, while ax\u00e9 in Bahia shares Samba\u2019s Afro-Brazilian roots. Forr\u00f3 in the north-east, sertanejo in the south and choro in Rio are other styles you\u2019ll find yourself clumsily shaking your hips to.<\/p>\n

    One thing that does bring the entire country together, though, is the canary-coloured shirt of the Sele\u00e7\u00e3o, Brazil\u2019s national football team \u2014 the only side to have competed at every single FIFA World Cup, as well as the only one to have hoisted the trophy five times. Santos legend Pel\u00e9 is often considered the greatest footballer ever to grace the planet \u2014 just don\u2019t mention that to any Argentines in your hostel, unless you feel like sitting through a lecture on how much better Maradona was.<\/p>\n

    Going to the stadium for a game is one of the greatest cultural experiences you can have in Brazil. The season starts with the regional championships (all the Rio teams playing each other, all the SP teams playing each other, etc.) between February and April, before the national league kicks off in May and runs until December, alongside knockout cups and continental competitions. Confused? Long story short, wherever you are at whatever time of year, there\u2019s probably a game on. Rio\u2019s Maracan\u00e3 \u2014 redeveloped for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics \u2014 is one of the most iconic footballing arenas on earth, while SP\u2019s Est\u00e1dio do Pacaembu is an Art Deco masterpiece that houses the brilliant Museu do Futebol (Museum of Football).<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd Maracan\u00e3 Stadium<\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Looking for a film to introduce you to Brazil culture? Cidade de Deus (City of God) is IMDB\u2019s top-rated Brazilian film for its evocative portrait of favela life, while Central do Brasil (Central Station) and Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad) are equally gritty yet classic Brazilian flicks.<\/p>\n

    Brazilian people<\/h3>\n

    Portugal\u2019s colonisation shaped so much of modern Brazil \u2014 the language, the religion, the food, the architecture \u2014 although the make-up of the Brazilian people has also been shaped by Indigenous peoples, African slaves, and waves of migration throughout the 20th Century. Europeans wiped out millions of Indigenous people and hundreds of different languages in what is now Brazil after first arriving in the year 1500, before bringing millions of slaves across the Atlantic to send gold, diamonds and sugarcane to Europe. Following independence in 1822 and the abolition of slavery in 1888, immigrants from every corner of the globe \u2014 particularly Italy, Japan, Germany and the Middle East, among others \u2014 were tossed into the melting pot, and today, the 210 million Brazilian people are roughly 50% white, 40% mixed race and 10% black.<\/p>\n

    Racial equality has taken giant strides since slaves were exploited to build the colonisers\u2019 riches, but race contributes to the stark inequality that exists in Brazil. Nowhere is this more obvious than Rio, where the favelas hanging off the sides of the mountains peer over million-dollar luxury apartments below. There are loads of favela tours on offer to backpackers \u2014 particularly in the colourful Santa Marta area \u2014 but there\u2019s a huge question mark hanging over whether it\u2019s ethical to gawk at poverty like an exhibit in a zoo. If you do book one, at least make sure your guide is a local and all the profits go back into the community.<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s no surprise that religion is pretty important to a country whose most recognisable attraction is a 38-metre-tall statue of Jesus Christ. About 80 per cent of Brazilian people consider themselves religious \u2014 the huge majority are Catholic thanks to zealous Portuguese missionaries, followed by a small portion of Protestants and some unique African traditions like Candombl\u00e9 and Umbanda in the north-east, once banned as cults before they were legalised in the late 19th Century. Gilt-edged colonial churches \u2014 such as S\u00e3o Francisco in Salvador and S\u00e3o Bento Monastery in Olinda \u2014 are some of the most stunning sights on any Brazilian itinerary.<\/p>\n

    Brazilian people are typically very laid-back \u2014 you\u2019d have to be to get away with some of the kit that struts its stuff on Ipanema beach. Expect a kiss on the cheek or a hug from strangers, and shorts and a t-shirt is almost considered formalwear in such heat. There are some touchy subjects that travellers should steer clear of, though, such as religion, poverty and government \u2014 modern Brazilian politics is a can of worms that I\u2019m not about to crack open.<\/p>\n

    Is Brazil safe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    When you tell your mum you\u2019ve booked a backpacking trip to Brazil, three words are guaranteed to come out of her mouth: is Brazil safe? And it\u2019s not easy to sugarcoat your answer, because the truth is that travelling in Brazil can be dangerous. That\u2019s not a reason to avoid this beautiful country \u2014 countless backpackers wind their way through Brazil without incident \u2014 but the risks are real.<\/p>\n

    Enormous inequality plus millions of tourists equals loads of petty theft, particularly in Rio. You can minimise the threat of being pick-pocketed or mugged by not being a soft target. Don\u2019t wear flashy jewellery. Don\u2019t whip out your DSLR camera in a crowded area. Don\u2019t leave your bulging wallet sitting on your towel at the beach, or your iPhone shining on a table as you sink your seventh Skol of the evening.<\/p>\n

    Muggers can be armed, and express kidnappings \u2014 where criminals bundle you away to an ATM for a whopping withdrawal before they let you go \u2014 also happen. If you\u2019re unlucky enough to find yourself tangled up in one of these situations, don\u2019t be a hero \u2014 just get out in one piece.<\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t venture into favelas \u2014 they\u2019re often ruled by drug gangs who aren\u2019t too keen on outsiders sniffing around. That also means you can\u2019t totally trust Google Maps to get you where you\u2019re going \u2014 Siri doesn\u2019t keep up to speed with which routes wind through favelas and which don\u2019t, nor the ever-changing security situation in the communities.<\/p>\n

    ATMs are another big target, particularly in the north-east. Don\u2019t stick your card in anything that looks tampered with, trust the major banks, and use machines that are inside rather than out on the street. And keep your wits about you for all the standard tourist scams, which are particularly well practiced around Carnival time.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd S\u00e3o Paulo<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hopewarrenx<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    The great outdoors pose their own set of problems. Know your limits when swimming at the beach, particularly around Recife, where the sharks are hungry. Look out for snakes, spiders and frogs in the Amazon, where zika virus, dengue fever, chikungunya, malaria and yellow fever are also a threat. Get all the vaccinations you can before flying.<\/p>\n

    Flying is another risk in rural areas, where safety standards are often terrifyingly low. If you\u2019re hopping in one of these aero-taxis through the Amazon and the carrier isn\u2019t called Gol, LATAM or Azul, do your research carefully, unless you fancy a game of roulette with dodgy airstrips, overloaded craft and unqualified pilots.<\/p>\n

    Tap water is normally OK to drink, although it might have a funny taste if you\u2019re gulping it down rather than just using it to brush your teeth. Plenty of places have a filter and bottled water is cheap anyway. Street food is also fine, so long as you\u2019re not dipping into some bucket of prawns that\u2019s been roasting in the sun all day.<\/p>\n

    Oh, and buy travel insurance. Duh.<\/p>\n

    Is Brazil safe to travel alone?<\/h3>\n

    Don\u2019t wander around with headphones in. Don\u2019t flash your iPhone around on a busy bus. Don\u2019t walk alone at night, particularly down empty streets or beaches. Don\u2019t fight if you find yourself in a mugger\u2019s crosshairs. Don\u2019t forget to keep most of your cash and cards locked up in your hostel, only carrying what you need. And don\u2019t accept free food or drink from strangers, especially if you\u2019re a woman, sadly.<\/p>\n

    Sorry for that naggy list of things not to do, so here\u2019s a piece of positive advice. If you\u2019re asking is Brazil safe to travel alone, stay at a hostel. Team up with some new friends from your dorm or on a free walking tour \u2014 bonus points if they look big and tough and un-muggable \u2014 for some safety in numbers against petty theft. The friendly faces on the hostel reception desk are often a great source of local safety tips too.<\/p>\n

    The risks of Brazil at night are cranked up from the risks of Brazil during the day, so don\u2019t plan any midnight strolls through a favela or leaving a wad of R$1000 sitting on the table while you\u2019re smashing eight or nine caipirinhas. Stick to registered, metered taxis \u2014 preferably pre-booked rather than flagged down off the street \u2014 for the safest path back to your hostel.<\/p>\n

    Is S\u00e3o Paulo safe?<\/h3>\n

    Although there are fewer pickpockets and petty criminals praying on tourists than there are prowling Rio, S\u00e3o Paulo isn\u2019t without risk. Pra\u00e7a de S\u00e9 next to the cathedral attracts some interesting characters, while the richer western chunk of the city is a hotspot for express kidnappings.<\/p>\n

    SP\u2019s most unique safety issue, though, is carjacking. While this won\u2019t be a problem for most backpackers in Brazil, if you do end up behind the wheel, keep your doors locked \u2014 especially at red lights. You\u2019ll spot locals speeding through stop signs just to avoid the threat of being robbed.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd S\u00e3o Paulo<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@andyfalconerphotography<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Brazil travel advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Brazil vaccinations<\/h3>\n

    The World Health Organisation<\/a> recommends vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.<\/p>\n

    Head spinning? Two months before you jet off, ask a travel doctor about all the Brazil vaccinations you need and they\u2019ll sort you out. The yellow fever vaccine is especially important if you\u2019re travelling to the Amazon, where you must bring netting and insect repellent, too \u2014 malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya and zika virus are all buzzing around in mosquitos and can\u2019t be immunised against.<\/p>\n

    Brazil packing list<\/h3>\n

    Brazilians dress casually \u2014 particularly in the heat \u2014 so shorts, T-shirts, summer dresses and your skimpiest Speedos or bikini make up the bulk of your Brazil packing list. Save some room for something a little nicer to go out in at night \u2014 although that really only means a pair of jeans for men and a slightly dressier dress for women \u2014 plus a jumper for winter (as well as those glacial bus trips) and a rain jacket for wet season.<\/p>\n

    Sunscreen and insect repellent are both absolute must-pack items, and don\u2019t forget a lock for the hostel. Power adaptors are a little tricky. Brazil used to use type C plugs \u2014 the two round pins, just like Europe \u2014 but has moved towards its own, called type N, with three round pins. You\u2019ll bump into both sockets, so a universal adaptor is handy.<\/p>\n

    One thing you don\u2019t need to pack? Havaianas, the iconic Brazilian flip-flops that are sold cheap all over the country, and make an authentic, practical souvenir to take home at the end of your trip.<\/p>\n

    \"backpacking<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udccd<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Rio de Janeiro<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0<\/span>@phaelnogueira<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Phew, we covered a lot of ground there – much like you will when you embark on your epic backpacking trip around one of the world’s biggest countries! Are you feeling ready to explore the behemoth that is Brazil? We think you’ll fall in love with this colourful, cultural nation… it’s impossible not to!<\/p>\n

    Don’t know where to begin? Browsing all of our hostels in Brazil<\/a> is a good start!<\/p>\n

    About the author:<\/h2>\n

    Tom Smith is an Australian writer living in Manchester. Obsessed with sport and travel, Tom has watched cricket in Cardiff, football in Fortaleza, baseball in the Bay Area, and there\u2019s still plenty more to tick off the bucket list yet. Read more of his work\u00a0here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

    Keep reading:\u00a0\u2b07\ufe0f<\/h2>\n

    \ud83c\udf1f\u00a0The 10 best things to do in S\u00e3o Paulo on a backpacker’s budget<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

    \ud83c\udf1f\u00a0The best hostels in Rio de Janeiro<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

    \ud83c\udf1f\u00a0The ultimate guide to backpacking South America<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Everything about Brazil is big. Rio de Janeiro\u2019s Carnival is big. S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s skyline is big. The swimwear might be microscopic, but the golden beaches are big. 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