The best time to visit Brazil

This is a fabulous time for visiting the beaches in the south, Bahia or Rio de Janeiro, although expect beach resorts to be busy. January is rainy in the Amazon and Pantanal; it’s not the best time for these regions, but it can still be a popular month. Water levels are high enough for canoeing through the Amazon and you may be able to reach areas you wouldn’t in the dry season.

This is a popular time for Brazilians to travel as Rio Carnival often falls in February. Expect coastal and beach destinations to be busy, with high hotel prices. If you’re looking to get a flavour of the cultural side of Brazil, this is a great time to visit with festivals, music and events happening throughout the month. Book well in advance to avoid high prices.

Music, festivals and events are still happening across Brazil and it’s still an excellent time for a stay in one of the southern beach resorts around Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. It rains a lot more in the north of Brazil, like Bahia and Recife. March isn’t a great time to go to the Amazon, Pantanal or the historical cities of Minas Gerais. It’s also a fab month for visiting Iguazu Falls.

April is a transition month for many regions of Brazil. It’s still a good time to visit the southern coastal regions like Sao Paulo, but the northern beaches of Bahia and Recife experience high levels of rainfall and humidity. The Pantanal and Amazon are still fairly rainy.

May is typically an off peak month for Brazil, with fewer festivals and crowds but lower prices. If May has been particularly rainy, this can be a good time to visit Iguazu Falls but if May has experienced particularly dry conditions then it may be in low flow. This is the last month that’s good for visiting the south coast of Brazil before the winter months. The weather in the north starts to transition and becomes less wet. It’s still not the best time to visit the Pantanal and the Amazon, but it’s generally less rainy than previous months.

This is still a good month to visit if you want to dodge the crowds in the Amazon and Pantanal. June is relatively dry with pleasant temperatures in the north, great for visiting Manaus near the Amazon rainforest. Evenings are fresh and the sea is warm along the Green Coast between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are dry with pleasant temperatures, as well as inland cities like Brasilia; perfect for exploring without the crowds. Water levels at Iguazu may be low but it’s a good time to visit with fewer visitors.

July is an incredible time to explore the river and rainforest of the Amazon, as well as the wetlands of the Pantanal. The rain in Bahia has now eased off, combined with warm air and sea water temperatures, makes for some fabulous beach days in the north. Temperatures hover around 19°C, making it a pleasant time to discover everything Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have to offer.

This is one of the peak months for visiting the Amazon and Pantanal. It’s also a good time to visit Brazil’s tropical beaches, with pleasant temperatures. Spring starts to arrive in Rio de Janeiro; with temperatures on the rise this can be a lovely time to explore. Take a tour of Salvador da Bahia and get a feel for the city’s Afro-Brazilian culture.

It’s a relatively dry month for the Amazon and the Pantanal. The rains of the summer are due which will make these regions inaccessible for the most part. September is the last month of the year where it’s best to visit Lencois Maranhenses, near the mouth of the Amazon. If you want fewer crowds and lower prices, this is a good time to visit Recife, Bahia and Fortaleza. Despite it being low season here, rainfall is at its lowest and seawater temperatures are warm.

October is the month of transition for climates across the entirety of Brazil. Being a shoulder month, the country isn’t quite in its peak season yet but temperatures and precipitation are on the rise. Rain can become a problem in some regions, like the Pantanal. This is also the last reasonable month to go to the Amazon or the historic cities before it becomes too rainy. Temperatures around the coast in the south are now warm, meaning it’s a fantastic month for some beach time and water-based activities. If you’re not interested in experiencing the events and festivals that happen in Brazil’s summer months, then this is a good month to experience Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

Brazil starts to creep into summer. November is a great month for visiting the south of Brazil, but not so much the north. The lagoons in Sao Luis do Maranhao are now largely dry and the Pantanal is mostly flooded. Fernando do Noronha is wonderful to visit at this time of year and provides a fabulous opportunity for diving. Prices are lower and there are fewer crowds than in the summer months. Perfect for a winter escape.

Rio de Janeiro is hot, dry and busy; visitors descend on the city to celebrate Christmas and New Year. This is one of the peak season months, so you can expect festivals and events from mid-December in the main cities. Hotel prices will be slightly better than in the coming months. Temperatures are high along the Brazilian coast and it rains more than in previous months.