Brazil welcomed KJT Travel Coordinator Camila with rhythm, adventure, and the most iconic views. From Rio’s city glow to Lençóis’ rain-fed lagoons, this is a country of contrast and ease. We’ll show you when to go, where to stay, and how to make the most of it during your visit.
When is the best time to visit?
Beaches & buzz: December–March (peak summer; festive energy).
Wildlife & nature highlights: July–September (Pantanal & Lençóis at their best).
Culture without crowds: April–June, September–November (shoulder sweet spot).
Iconic events: Carnival (Feb/March) and New Year’s Eve (Dec 31 on Copacabana).
Rio de Janeiro in Motion
Start your day like a Carioca: jog the curve of Ipanema, jump into an easy game of futevôlei (footvolley), then cool down with fresh coconut water and a beachside breakfast. When the swell is right, book a surf lesson with Dois Irmãos peaks framing the skyline. Simple, alive, unmistakably Rio.
If you’re in town on a match day, make time for Maracanã Stadium. The anthems and chants are part of the city’s soundtrack, and even casual fans get swept up fast. After dark, skip the stage show and try a beginner samba class awkward for five minutes, electric after ten.
For a citywide perspective, ride the cable car to Sugarloaf at golden hour. The sunset threads light between Rio’s uneven peaks, painting the bay and beaches in layered color. Keep an eye out: Christ the Redeemer appears and disappears from view all day, your quiet compass as you move through the city.
Want more dramatic views? A quick helicopter circuit brings you eye-to-eye with the statue and traces the shoreline in one sweep memorable, crowd-free, and worth planning ahead for.
Slow the tempo at the Jardim Botânico, where imperial palms line a grand avenue and orchids edge shaded paths. It’s equal parts living museum and classic photo stop.
If your trip doesn’t hit Carnival, go behind the scenes at the City of Samba. Workshops hum year-round as schools design, stitch, weld, and rehearse for this important event. This is a smart way to understand the craft and discipline behind Rio’s biggest party.
Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro
Fasano — The Style Icon of Ipanema (Camila’s take on location: Best all-around)
Elegant, modern, and unmistakably Carioca. Italian roots show in detail-driven service and Gero’s refined menu, while interiors blend sleek lines, warm woods, and a touch of retro Bossa Nova. The rooftop infinity pool and bar serve postcard views of Ipanema and the Dois Irmãos peaks, an all-day perch you’ll struggle to leave, plus a buzzy scene where stylish locals and travelers mingle.
Best for: Couples, stylish travelers, and anyone wanting Rio’s fashionable social life. Not strongly family-oriented (though rooms can host families).
Janeiro Hotel — The Laid-Back Jet-Set in Leblon (Camila’s take on location: Most exclusive & secure)
At Janeiro, the view is the headline: an intimate rooftop infinity pool that seems to float above Leblon Beach, with an unbroken sightline to Dois Irmãos, quintessential Rio. The mood is laid-back and beachy yet impeccably polished, with minimalist lines and natural textures. Set in Leblon, Rio’s most upscale and stylish (and notably secure) neighborhood, the hotel feels like a refined haven, and every suite faces the Atlantic, so sunrise over the ocean is a given.
Best for: Couples; younger upscale travelers; style-conscious guests who want exclusivity and safety in Rio’s most polished neighborhood.
Fairmont Rio — The Cosmopolitan Classic (Camila’s take on location: Balanced & central, great for families)
Perfectly positioned on Copacabana for quick hops to Ipanema, Leblon, and the city’s main highlights, with a sociable yet sophisticated vibe. Two pools keep everyone happy (an infinity pool with daily live music and the classic Copacabana-and-Sugarloaf view, plus a quieter option for adults), while the Gold Lounge adds an exclusive layer of privacy and service—making this a versatile base for families, couples, and business travelers. On the sand, Tropik Beach Club is the signature move: breakfast by the shore, fresh coconuts and cocktails through the afternoon, and loungers with attentive service.
Best for: Families; business/leisure blends; couples who want polished service and social spaces.
Lençóis Maranhenses
If you’re chasing landscapes that feel almost impossible, set your compass for Lençóis Maranhenses in Brazil’s far north. Spreading across nearly 600 square miles, this otherworldly national park looks like a sea of white dunes, until the rains arrive. From December to July, thousands of rain-fed lagoons gather between the sand ridges, turning the park into a mosaic of glassy blues and greens. The best window is August–September, when pools are at their clearest and the skies tend to be bright and cloudless.
Days here move to a gentle rhythm: 4x4s cross the dunes toward hidden lagoons where the water is warm, shallow, and irresistibly swimmable natural jacuzzis scattered as far as you can wander. Sunset pours gold over the sand. With almost no light pollution, night flips the scene into a planetarium; stargazing feels close and unhurried.
Getting There
Fly into São Luís, a colonial city known for its Portuguese tiles and colorful facades. From there, it’s roughly a four-hour drive to Barreirinhas, the park’s main gateway. Prefer seamless hops? Private charters can link Lençóis to Brazil’s greatest hits (from the Amazon’s flooded forests to Rio’s urban beaches), building an itinerary that shows the country’s range in one sweep.
Where to Stay in Lençóis Maranhenses
Rustic-chic is the mood, with boutique lodges and private homes that lean into place rather than overpower it. A standout for privacy and style is OIA Casa Lençóis, a serene villa near Santo Amaro and Barreirinhas. Sand-and-wood tones echo the dunes outside; open-air living rooms pull in breeze and light. An infinity pool appears to spill into the river; shaded verandas invite long, lazy mornings. The team can arrange sunrise breakfasts beside the dunes, private 4x4 and boat excursions, and chef-prepared dinners under the stars, every detail smoothed out so you can simply look up and exhale.
Make It a Journey: The Rota das Emoções
For travelers who love variety, the Rota das Emoções (Route of Emotions) strings together three distinct ecosystems along Brazil’s northeast coast (dunes, delta, and beach) over 7–10 days (stretchable to 12–14 with a slower, luxury pace). Most travelers start east to west (São Luís - Jericoacoara), though either direction works.
Lençóis Maranhenses: Desert-white dunes interrupted by rain-fed lagoons
Parnaíba Delta: A labyrinth of islands and mangroves teeming with wildlife and river life
Jericoacoara: Boho-luxe beach town energy
You can also widen the lens.
Brazil plays well with neighbors and contrasts: Buenos Aires for European-inflected city life, Iguazu Falls for jungle drama, São Paulo for gastronomic deep dives. Feeling truly adventurous? Add the Pantanal, one of the richest wildlife regions on earth, where sightings can include jaguars, giant river otters, capybaras, caimans, tapirs, hyacinth macaws, and a birder’s dream list.
Brazil has a way of feeling genuine. Sugarloaf at sunset, unexpected street parties, the energy everywhere you go and Lençóis under the stars.
When you’re ready, let’s start planning those “I can’t believe this is real” moments.