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Sabbatical & Experiential Travel to Brazil

Holidays & Sabbaticals to Brazil – In a Nutshell

Enormous in size, Brazil borders every South American country except Ecuador and Chile. It is legendary for its two types of jungle, natural and urban! The dense Amazon rainforest is the largest on the planet, whilst 12 of its cities have over a million inhabitants each. The diverse ecosystems host 20% of the world’s biodiversity. Endemic wildlife includes tapir and jaguarundi; our favourites are spectacled caiman and laid-back capybara. Don’t miss a trip to the breathtaking Pantanal where you may spot the elusive jaguar. Culture lovers can eat in world-class restaurants, learn to samba in Rio nightclubs, admire colonial architecture in Salvador and marvel at Brasilia, aka Fantasy Island. It’s a beach-lover’s paradise, too, with hundreds of miles of tropical coastline. See and be seen on Rio’s golden shores (Speedos are de rigeur) or escape to under-the-radar Jericoacoara. There’s fabulous surfing in Itacare, and world-class snorkelling in the pristine Fernando de Noronha. And then there’s Carnival, celebrated by every place in Brazil, big and small. In Rio that means exuberant floats and hedonistic revelry; in Salvador you’ll sway to the beats of a thousand drums. This is a country with enormous energy and a real zest for life. Visiting feels like a party and an adventure all rolled into one.

How to Get to Brazil

There are 500+ airports in Brazil. Unless you come overland, you’ll likely fly into Rio, Sao Paolo, Salvador or Foz do Iguaçu. There are direct flights from the UK, but many go via Europe or US. Direct flights from the UK take approx. 12 hours; from the US they range from 9-12 hours. Once here, zip about between domestic hubs by plane (all cities have airports and all towns have at least an airstrip), or travel by private transfer or luxury coach (leitos), but be warned, distances are enormous.

When & Weather – Brazil

The weather is diverse, as there are 5 climatic regions: equatorial, tropical, semi-arid, highland tropical and subtropical. In general, the north is warm and humid; the south dryer, with an average daytime temperature of 25°C across the country. The so-called ‘Rainy Season’ is November to May and ‘Dry Season’ June to October, but it’s really a year-round destination and you’re likely to experience all weathers over a 2-week period. Temperatures range between 22°C (72°F) and 26°C (79°F).

Who will Brazil Appeal To?

The country’s cultural attractions, wildlife, joie de vivre and stunning natural landscapes are best suited to:

  • Adventure seekers
  • Active travellers
  • Wildlife enthusiasts
  • Beach lovers
  • Solo travellers
  • Photographers
  • Honeymooners
  • Culture Vultures
  • Families

Accommodation

We can arrange stays in luxury city hotels, beachside villas, friendly guesthouses, eco jungle lodges and boutique B&Bs.

Off The Beaten Path

  • Head to quaint and colonial Olinda for Carnival, where you’ll be swept up in an effervescent whirl of frevo music and bonecos (enormous papier mache figures)
  • Admire the modernist architecture in Unesco-listed Brasilia, designed in the 1960s as a utopian city
  • Jericoacoara’s virgin beaches are world-class in their beauty with incredible kite-surfing opportunities
  • Kayak through flooded forests in the Amazon, admire 7ft-wide water lilies and watch ‘the Meeting of Waters’, an incredible natural phenomenon
  • Snorkel through turquoise sea over a rainbow of corals at Parrachos de Maracajaú
  • Learn to surf and spend time on the ocean whale-watching around Florianopolis

Wildlife

Listen for howler monkeys and spot rare golden lion tamarins and bald uakari in the Amazon

Watch pink river dolphins leap as you zip along the Rio Solimoes from Manaus

The iconic capybara lives in the Pantanal wetlands, along with spectacled caiman, hyacinth macaw and jaguar

  • Humpback and southern right whales migrate up the coast from Antarctica between July and November every year. You’ll likely see spinner dolphins too
  • Rare hawksbill turtles hatch on the Praia do Forte in Bahia
  • Dive with manta rays off Boipeba – if you’re lucky, you’ll see humpback whales around the Abrolhos archipelago
  • Iguaçu’s Bird Park is home to thousands of species, many endangered or endemic to the country – we love the bare-faced curassow and white-bearded manakins

Brazil Experiences you shouldn’t miss:

  • Rio. Corcovado, Sugar Loaf Mountain, cool Copacabana and hip Ipanema: it’s deservedly the stuff of legend
  • Take a boat trip past the Devil’s Throat, the largest of the Iguazu Falls
  • >Bask on Bahia’s white-sand beaches, a 400-mile tropical stretch
  • Cycle and ride horses along Ibitipoca’s glorious trails
  • Standup Paddle Board off the ‘Green Coast’ of colonial Paraty
  • Fly over the water-filled dunes of Lencois Maranhenses
  • Explore Sao Paolo’s museums, galleries and theatres
  • Hike the table-top mountains of Chapada Diamantina

Giving back

For travellers who seek meaningful education, social and cultural immersion in their travels, there is no other place like Reserva do Ibitipoca. Ibitipoca is part luxury lodge, art gallery, conservation project, rewilding initiative, adventure centre, organic farm, historic preservation site and model community. Visitors to Ibitipoca can get involved with the myriad of initiatives Comuna do Ibitipoca is undertaking.

Start Planning

Our experienced team will guide you through a number of ideas based on how you would like to experience Brazil.

Consider visiting Brazil in combination with its neighbouring countries as part of a wider South American itinerary.

Browse our gallery for inspiration and read the sample itinerary below to whet your appetite.

No matter how long you wish to travel, we’ll guide you through the planning process to ensure a trip is carefully pieced together to suit your interests, pace of travel and budget.

Contact us to start planning a holiday or sabbatical to Brazil.

Signature Sabbatical Itinerary – Intrepid Brazil

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