Brazil itineray:
the small tour

It’s the ideal route if you want to see a variety of places without spending too much time on the road. Great for the holidaymaker on a tight schedule.

  • Rio de Janeiro (3 days)

    Land in the capital of Samba and enjoy a few days visiting the city and beaches. 

    Things to do:
    Check the full guide for Rio here

    Stay:
    I loved the historical part of town, Santa Theresa is a beautiful and safe neighbourhood to stay in. You’re also close to Lapa where you’ll find the best nightlife in the city. If you’d rather stay by the beach I would recommend Leblon or Ipanema over Copacabana. As the latter is very touristy and, in my opinion, a little rundown. I also really liked staying in Lemme at Aquarela do Lemme hostel & guest house. The views are beautiful from there.

  • Ihla Grande (3 days)

    Travel:
    2.5h to 4h from Rio. You can get a private transfer or else get a bus from Rio Novo station to Conceição de Jacareí, then a boat from there directly to Ihla Grande

    Things to do:
    This beautiful island has gorgeous beaches made of fine white sand and clear blue waters. You can chill, go on hikes to remote beaches or even go on a boat tour around the island. We did the boat tour and found it a bit too touristy for our liking. Also, it was all in Portuguese so we didn’t get any insights from the guide. If you’re after some peace and quiet by the beach, I would recommend doing one of the hikes instead.

  • Paraty (3 days)

    Travel:
    4h drive from Rio, count about 6h+ by bus


    Things to do:
    It’s a marvellous old colonial town with a rich history. I would recommend, first and foremost, to do the walking tour. You can then do a jeep tour around the nearby waterfalls and cachaca distillery. The local alcohol of Brazil used in Caipirinhas comes from Paraty so it’s a great place to try and buy Cachaca. Lastly, I would recommend doing a boat trip on the river. You can either book in advance or show up at the pier and negotiate directly with one of the local sailers.

  • Rio De Janeiro (1 day)

    Travel:
    Get a bus back to Rio, should take about 4h.

    Things to do:
    Wind down before your flight in one of the most beautiful cities in Brazil. You can never get bored in Rio, there’s always something to do there!