3 Weeks in Brazil - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Epic Tour Across Brazil: Urban Cities, Cultural Excursions, Beaches & Rainforest

This Brazil highlights itinerary offers a mix of historic tours, Amazon and South Pantanal adventures, and relaxing beach days. You'll hang-glide over Rio de Janeiro, take a boat tour of Iguaçu Falls, sleep in a hammock on an overnight camping trip in the jungle, admire Salvador's colonial architecture, experience Bahian food and live music in Bairro Bohemia, lounge on the beaches of Ilha Grande, and hike Parrot's Peak. 

See Rio de Janeiro from street level on a guided tour of Old Rio's historic structures, then get a birdseye view as you hang-glide over the city. Afterward, fly to Foz do Iguaçu and feel the splash of the falls on a boat tour of the Argentine side and soar over the Brazilian side in a helicopter. Next, you'll head to the South Pantanal wetlands for three days of outdoor adventures, including a nocturnal wildlife safari and piranha fishing. Your journey continues to Manuas for a tour of the city's colonial landmarks before boarding a speedboat and then a motorized canoe to reach Amazon Tupana Lodge.

Learn about medicinal plants and spot monkeys and other wildlife on a guided jungle walk, then on Day 13, tour the igapós (flooded forest) by canoe. Before departing for Salvador, you'll also have a chance to feast around a campfire and sleep in a hammock on an overnight jungle camping trip. Enjoy live music and Bahian street food on a night out in the Bairro Bohemia district, then spend a day swimming or surfing at Praia do Forte. Your final destination is Ilha Grande, an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, where you'll go beach-hopping on a full-day boat tour and end on a high note with a hike up Pico do Papagaio (Parrot's Peak). Learn more

Itinerary #2: Best of Brazil: City Culture, Remote Beaches & Active Adventures

Travelers keen on aquatic activities will enjoy this alternative highlights itinerary that focuses on the coast. You'll sail on a schooner in Rio, relax on the beaches of Búzios, swim in the natural lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, encounter capuchin monkeys on a speedboat tour of the Rio Preguiças Circuit, ride a dune buggy over the Jericoacoara dunes, swim at the freshwater lagoon of Lagoa do Amâncio, sunbathe and feast on Bahian fare at Guarajuba Beach, and kayak to Ilha do Caitá for some snorkeling.

Kick off your adventures in Rio de Janeiro with a visit to the 98-foot (30 m) Christ the Redeemer statue and a tour of the Tijuca urban rainforest. Then, sail across Sepetiba Bay on a schooner, keeping an eye out for dolphins. A hiking excursion to Pedra do Telégrafo the following day offers viewpoints and photo ops, including a popular spot where you can appear to be hanging off a dramatic cliffside (though the ground is just a few feet below you!). Next, you'll transfer to Búzios for a boat tour to Gruta Azul (Blue Grotto), a cave with unusual rock formations and blue-hued water, and the dune-like beaches of Cabo Frio.

On Day 9, catch a flight to Barreirinhas, the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, to hop into a 4WD vehicle and cross the iconic dunes to swim in a natural lagoon. Following this, you'll tour the Rio Preguiças Circuit by speedboat, passing palm trees and mangroves and pausing at Vassouras to see capuchin monkeys. In Jericoacoara, you'll join a dune buggy tour and swim at the freshwater lagoon of Lagoa do Amâncio. Wrap up your trip in Morro de São Paulo with a sunset tour of the 17th-century Fortaleza de Tapirandu, followed by a kayak or paddleboard excursion to Ilha do Caitá for some snorkeling. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Brazil's Ultimate Hidden Gems From Belém to Lençóis

This active Belém to Lençóis itinerary is best suited for culture and outdoor enthusiasts interested in going a little off the beaten track. Highlights include a tour of Belém's food and crafts markets, a day trip to engage with Ribeirinhos culture in Baixo Acara, a chocolate-making workshop in Ilha do Combú, the chance to witness turtle conservation efforts in Carocas, a percussion workshop and an African heritage tour in Salvador, snorkeling at Ilha dos Frades, and hikes to Cachoeira da Fumacinha falls and the Morro do Pai Inácio viewpoint.

Get your first taste of Brazil with a visit to Belém's markets, including Feira do Açaí, dedicated to the Amazonian fruit. Then, browse stalls full of Amazonian jewelry, Pará handicrafts, and Marajoara ceramics at Espaço São José Liberto. A day trip to Baixo Acara provides an opportunity to learn about artisanal crafts and traditional fishing techniques of the Ribeirinhos (river people). Afterward, you'll observe chocolate production and make your own sweet treat at a plantation on Ilha do Combú. Your next stop is Alter do Chão, where you'll cruise flooded forests and learn about turtle conservation at Carocas.

Continue to Salvador for a percussion workshop and an African heritage tour, followed by a moqueca (seafood stew) cooking demonstration. Then, sail to Ilha dos Frades for snorkeling and Ilha de Itaparica for a walk along the palm-fringed shores. Enjoy a VIP experience on the private beach of Praia das Tartarugas before heading to Chapada Diamantina National Park to see limestone caves full of stalactites and stalagmites. Cap off your trip with a hike to the 1,115-foot-tall (340 m) Cachoeira da Fumacinha falls and a quick but steep trek up Morro do Pai Inácio for views of the plateaus. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Cultural & Natural Wonders of Northeast Brazil

Pick up the pace and cover some ground on this Northeast Brazil trip. You'll visit Recife's landmarks on a walking tour, trek island Fernando de Noronha's volcanic landscapes, kayak through the Lagoa Guaraíras mangroves, admire the architecture of João Pessoa, shop handicrafts at Mercado de Artesanato Paraibano, try a mud bath on Ilha de Tinharé, scuba dive in Boipeba, and play percussion with local musicians in Salvador. You'll move at a quick pace, but the inclusion of free time and beach activities means there are ample opportunities to rest.

Hit the ground running with a walking tour of Recife's sites, such as the Embaixada dos Bonecos Gigantes, a cultural institution showcasing the art of giant puppets used in Carnival festivities. Then, you're off to the "Venice of Brazil" as you take a catamaran tour down the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers. Hop on a flight to Fernando de Noronha, a volcanic island where you'll trek along the Capim Açu Trail and swim in natural pools. Following this, you'll fly to Natal for a sunset catamaran ride and a city tour that includes a stop at Centro de Turismo de Natal, a former prison that now hosts artisanal shops.

In Praia da Pipa, a kayak excursion through the Lagoa Guaraíras mangroves and a bike ride along the coast awaits. Then, you'll return to Natal for a beach-hopping dune buggy tour before continuing to João Pessoa. Here, you'll check out colonial architecture and shop for handmade souvenirs at Mercado de Artesanato Paraibano. Enjoy free time on Ilha de Tinharé to swim or experience a therapeutic mud bath before boarding a boat to Ilha de Boipeba. Lastly, you'll scuba dive at the natural pools of Moreré and savor fresh oysters in Tapuias, then celebrate with a percussion workshop in Salvador on your final full day. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Explore Brazil's Coastal Cities & Waterfalls

This cities and natural wonders tour provides a nice balance of urban exploration and outdoor adventures via four locations. You'll see street art and sample street eats in São Paulo, experience Rio's nightlife on a boteco tour, hike in Tijuca Rainforest, sail on a schooner to Ilha de Itacuruçá, visit the Argentine and Brazilian sides of Iguaçu Falls, try sandboarding on Ilha de Santa Catarina, go bird-watching in Lagoa do Peri Park, learn about Azorean culture in Ribeirão da Ilha and German heritage in Blumenau, and hike through the Atlantic Forest on Ilha do Campeche. 

Start in São Paulo with a city tour that includes a stop in Vila Madalena to admire the street art. In the morning, you can visit the largest Buddhist temple in South America or sample Brazilian coffee and pastel (deep-fried pastries filled with sweet or savory ingredients) on a tasting tour. Next, you'll fly to Rio de Janeiro for eight nights and experience the city's nightlife on a barhopping tour around Lapa. A Jeep ride in Tijuca Rainforest offers the chance to hike to Vista Chinesa for views of famous Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach. Before leaving Rio, you'll sail on a schooner to Ilha de Itacuruçá and enjoy a swim in Sepetiba Bay. 

The second half of your trip takes you to Iguaçu for a boat tour to the Argentine side of the falls, followed by a rainforest walk on the Brazilian side to see the thundering Garganta do Diablo (Devil's Throat). Afterward, you'll fly to Ilha de Santa Catarina and try sandboarding at Joaquina Beach. Then, you'll head to Lagoa do Peri Park, one of the remaining sections of the Atlantic Forest, for a bird-watching walk. Take a day trip to Blumenau to experience its German heritage (yes, there's a biergarten!) before heading to Ilha do Campeche, accessible only by boat, for one last hike through the forest before departure. Learn more

More Great Brazil Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Brazil? Check out these other Brazil itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.