2-Week Brazil Itinerary- Rio & Salvador

Aug 19

Brazil is one of the, if not, the most desired country to travel to in South America. Filled with incredible beaches, beautiful hikes, the Amazon rainforest, and an abundance of history and culture. Making this country a really unique place to visit and Brazil really does have something for everyone.

In this article we have outlined a detailed two week Brazil itinerary to ensure you can tick off as many of the best things to do in Brazil on your trip as possible.

On top of its many attractions, Brazil is cheap to travel and has great weather all year round, however the best months (the driest and warmest) are December through to March.

Making Brazil a great winter holiday destination. Average of 24C even in the winter months.

This specific Brazil itinerary will take you through the state Rio and Salvador, if you have even longer to explore check out our two week itinerary for north eastern Brazil.

Brazil Itinerary: Week 1 – Rio de Janeiro

The first week of your 2 weeks Brazil itinerary will be spent in the state of Rio, exploring the city of Rio de Janeiro and its surrounding beaches. Rio is busiest from November to February, with Brazil's famous Carnival falling in Feb. That’s when you will find the streets of Rio filled with parades, street parties and live events for a full week. If you decide to go during Brazil’s Carnival be warned, tickets sell out in minutes and you’ll have to budget much more per day, but it will be a once in a lifetime experience.

Travel Brazil: Day 1 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

If you arrive in Rio early and are staying in Copacabana, Ipanema, or Leblon then you’ll have time to relax by the beach with a Caipirinhas, and take in Brazil's beautiful coastal views.

Some beaches to consider are:

Copacabana Beach: A Sandy white beach that spans 4km. Famous for its buzzing atmosphere and streets lined with kiosks selling Caipirinhas

Ipanema Beach: A much calmer beach than Copacabana, with cleaner waters and sand. The beach is known for its rip currents, so be careful to swim only where the locals swim. Ipanema beach also has amazing views at sunset. Consider climbing to the top of Arpoador Rock for panoramic views of the beach, and join the locals in cheering as the sun sets.

Leblon Beach: A beach located in one of the most lavish areas of the city, and has a more sophisticated vibe than Ipanema beach. It’s lined with nice bars and gourmet restaurants if you are feeling like splashing the cash on your arrival.

If you arrive later in the day just spend some time settling into your hotel and getting ready for a day of exploring Rio tomorrow.

Travel Brazil: Day 2 - Rio de Janeiro

Wake up early and get ready for a day exploring Brazil's most iconic landmarks, Christ The Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue can be seen towering over the city of Rio De Janeiro, rising 30m tall and resting on the peak of Corcovado mountain. Christ the redeemers was built in 1931 and is now listed as one of the modern seven wonders of the world, and is an iconic symbol of Brazil. Spend some time taking in the view and getting lots of photos before heading for a spot of lunch.

Getting there:

You can either go by using the official shuttle provider Paineiras-Corcovado They depart every 30mins from 8:30-15:30, and will collect you from 4 locations in the city: Copacabana, Largo do Machado, Barra da Tijuca and Centro de Visitantes das Paineiras
- Price (inc return ticket + Entrance fee): 69 BRL (£10.50) (low season), 89,00 BRL (£13.50) (high season)
Take the Corcovado train for Cosme Velho.
- Price (in return ticket & entrance fee): 67 BRL (£10) (low season), 82 BRL (£12.50) (high season)

Next it's onto Sugarloaf Mountain. Sugarloaf mountain sits in the mouth of Guanabara Bay, and peaks out into the ocean offering incredible panoramic views of Rio city. It is considered one of the best hikes to do in Rio De Janeiro, and for good reason. To get to the top of Sugarloaf mountain you need to take two cable cars. You can opt to skip the first car and hike the lower section (Urca Mountain). This will only take about 25mins and involves an easy climb through the jungle. Sadly, only really experienced climbers with their own gear can ascend the second half of Sugarloaf, so at this point (unless you are), you’ll need to jump into a cable car. Ensure you buy your tickets in advance, else you can get stuck in long lines.

Aim for late afternoon as the mountain can often become very overcast during the middle of the day. Alternatively, head over first thing in the morning before Christ the Redeemer.

Price: 104 BRL (£15) OR 116 BRL (£17.50) at the ticket office. If you are in a rush you can opt for a ‘fat track’ ticket for around 200 BRL (£45)

Finally, finish off your first day in Rio at Mureta da Urca. A top thing to do in Brazil by locals, is to sit at Mureta da Urca and enjoy the sunset with some food and drink.

Travel Brazil, Day 3 - Rio de Janeiro

Today it’s time to explore the city of Rio. First take the metro to Uruguaiana Station and walk to the nearby Mauá Square. There you can see:

Museu do Amanhã (Museum) - A world famous science museum with a stunning architectural design.
- Tickets: 20 BRL (£4)
MAR (Rio Art Museum)
The largest street art mural in the world by Rio Pier

Once you’ve checked out the museums walk around the city and explore the views of the bay and graffiti on the mural.

Lunch suggestion: Casa Porto - They offer a delicious and authentic Brazilian menu with dishes from just 20 BRL (£3)

After lunch, head back to the Metro and get a train to Cinelandia station, arriving in Lapa. Brazil's most Bohemian suburb, famous for its vibrant bars and live music. Before getting your groove on, walk to the Escadaria Selarón (Selarón Stairs) to see the colorful stairs located in Santa Teresa. The Selarón Stairs are one of the most famous sets of stairs in the world, and were designed by Jorge Selarón, as a tribute to Brazilian culture.

From the stairs, make your way back to Lapa to see the Arcos da Lapa (Carioca Aqueduct). A picturesque Aqueduct that dates back to the 18th century and is a symbol of colonial architecture. Stop at one of the bars in the area and sip on Brazil’s famous caipirinha.

Bar Suggestion: Bar da Cachaça (try their specialty drink: ginger flavour, corn, mango, etc)

If you like clubbing spend the evening in Lapa and see if you can keep up with the dancers at a samba party. If not then walk over to Santa Teresa (next to Lapa) and head for dinner

Dinner suggestion: Restaurant Aprazível, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Travel Brazil - Day 4 - Rio de Janeiro

It’s day 4 of your two-week Brazil itinerary, and sadly already your last day to explore Rio.

Spend the morning at Parque Lage and Jardim Botânico. Parque Lage sits at the base of Corcovado mountain, with a great view up to Christ the Redeemer. The park has beautiful walking trails through a subtropical forest, with a cafe in the middle, so it’s great for a morning stroll and spot of breakfast. The cafe is housed in a converted mansion, with tables lining the ancient bath, and better yet, it does great food!

Once you’ve finished breakfast go on a short walk to Jardim Botânico. The gardens spans 1.5 square km and contain over 6,000 plant species. It’s divided into individual sections with their own unique species and designs, including an The Amazon rainforest and a Japanese garden.

Next go for a stroll around the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, a natural lake that connects to the atlantic ocean, and separates some of Rio's large suburbs. The lake is usually buzzing with activity , with a cycle path that follows its outskirts, and people participating in watersports on the lake. Grab a spot of lunch and take in the view.

For your last afternoon in Rio it’s time for a hike. Choose between Pedra Bonita or Morro Dois Irmãos. Pedra Bonita is one of Rio's easier hikes. It’s about 2.5km to the top and offers a steady climb to the peak. Once there the Pedra Bonita peak offers an incredible birds eye view of the city.

Morro Dois Irmãos on the other hand involves about 45mins of easy hiking through the forest, with multiple viewpoints along the way that you can stop at. It offers a truly striking view of llapa beach and Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, all in front of a beautiful backdrop of mountains. I guarantee you will struggle to match this view anywhere else in Rio.

Dinner Suggestion: Fogo de Chão Restaurant, the biggest and best steakhouse in the city .

Travel Brazil - Day 5 - Rio de Janeiro x Paraty

Today it’s time to leave Rio and head to Paraty City, the next destination on your Brazil itinerary. It’s 4 hours from the city and you can either take a bus, or opt for a hire car. Paraty City is where you’ll get to experience a small historical town while you travel Brazil. With cobbled streets, colonial architecture and brightly coloured windows and doors, you’ll feel like you are stepping back in time in this beautiful town.

If you decide to travel brazil in August, Paraty city has an awesome Cachaça Festival, which is a Brazilian spirit made from sugarcane.

Leave Rio early so you have time to spend the afternoon exploring the top things to do in Paraty city.

Casa da Cultura de Paraty - Stands for ‘house of culture’ and has regular exhibitions worth visiting
Pontal Beach - A beach better known for it’s bars and restaurants
Museum of Sacred Art Paraty
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e São Benedito - A Catholic church that is is asymbol of Afro-Brazilian culture.

Dinner suggestion: Sarau Paraty Restaurant and Bar, which often has live music.

Travel Brazil, Day 6 - Paraty

It’s time to go on one of the best tours in Paraty City, a boat tour of the cities surrounding islands and beaches. The tours often depart late morning and go on until about early evening (4-5hours)

There are multiple tours to choose from that cover the following beaches:

Praia Vermelha + Lagoa Azul + Ilha Comprida + Praia da Lula.
Ilha do Algodão + Ilha da Cotia + Saco da Velha + Praia da Conceição.
Praia do Jurumirim + Ilha do Mantimento + Ilha do Araújo + Ilha do Malvão.
Saco do Mamanguá

Next it’s time to add to the relaxation with a spot of dinner.

Dinner suggestion: Banana da Terra restaurant or Bartholomeu. Both in the city centre, where you can enjoy an evening stroll down through the quaint city streets, and offer a beautiful selection of dishes.

Brazil Itinerary: Day 7 - Paraty x Rio de Janeiro

Today is a day for travel, stroll through the streets of Paraty city, and soak up the last bits of culture from while you grab your morning coffee, then head back to Rio city and catch an early evening flight to Salvador.

Brazil Itinerary Week 2 – Salvador

For week 2 of this 2 week Brazil Itinerary you will be starting off in Salvador, a city located in the Northeastern region of Brazil. Salvador is renowned for its buzzing Afro-Brazilian culture, jaw dropping coastline and abundance of colourful colonial architecture. Here you will get to experience, some of the best of history Brazil has, as the old Capital of Brazil this city has so much to offer.

From Salvador you will travel onto Morro de São Paulo, a quaint seaside village just south of Salvador. Where you can relax and enjoy it’s palm lined beaches, restaurants offering fresh seafood and beautifully clear waters.

Travel Brazil - Day 8 - Salvador

Arrive in the capital of Bahia. Take the rest of the day for leisure.

Dinner Suggestion: Kimukeka Restaurant

Travel Brazil - Day 9 - Salvador

For your first day in Salvador, it’s time to go on a walking tour of the city and check out the top sites. You can either do this yourself and walk freely at your own pace, or you can take a bus tour, with a guide that will talk you through the history of the historical buildings you are going to visit. In the historical centre check out:

Pelourinho - A suburb of salvador lined with cobbled streets, colourful colonial buildings and a whole lot of history
Cathedral Basílica de Salvador - The Cathedral of Salvador
Elevador Lacerda - A stunning urban elevator that towers >70m above the city and overlooks Salvador's coastline.
Mercado Modelo: A Popular market with over 250 stalls and restaurants. Great for souvenir shopping and trying some local dishes.

In the afternoon after you’ve finished exploring the market and had lunch, head over to Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim. The most famous church in Salvador. Constructed in the early 18th Century, and the inner walls are lined with beautiful art.

In the evening go for dinner and drink in the suburb of Rio Vermelho, known for its vibrant atmosphere, and abundance of live music.

Travel Brazil: Day 9 - Salvador x Morro de São Paulo

The final destination on your 2-week Brazil itinerary is Morro de São Paulo, a beautiful coastal village south of Salvador. Use today to travel from Salvador to Morro de São Paulo, and the evening to explore and get your bearings.

You have 2 options on how to get there:

Flight - A flight will only take about 30mins, but the flights aren’t very regular in the low season, and this if of course a more expensive option
Ferry - The ferry takes about 2 hours and you’ll also need to get a bus, so the whole journey is just over 3hs. However it’s cheaper and also a really great way to enjoy the scenery on route.

Ensure you book your accommodation at Morro de São Paulo in advance as places can get booked up early. I’d suggest staying in the town centre, where you are close enough to the beaches and surrounding restaurants but it is usually quieter. The beaches in Morro de São Paulo are named in number order (nice and original), before you read ahead and get confused. Your time here is going to be all about relaxation, so it’s time for you to slow down and soak up the sun before finishing off your two weeks traveling Brazil.

Bar Suggestion: happy hour at Toca does Morcego to see the sunset.

Travel Brazil - Day 10 - Morro de São Paulo

Spend your first day at Second beach. Second beach is the most touristy of the beaches, with restaurants and bars lining the promenade and parties often going in the evening. Spend the day relaxing and then head up to some local bars for sunset.

Dinner suggestion: O Casarão restaurant.

Travel Brazil - Day 11 - Morro de São Paulo

Spend your second day in Morro de São Paulo at Third Beach. Third beach is much calmer than second beach, and great for shallow swims. Rocks just off the shore trap in warmer calm waters, that allow for a relaxing float in the sea.

Dinner suggestion: at Sabor da Terra in the center of the city. Perfect for trying some local dishes.

Day 12 - Morro de São Paulo, Brazil

Today, wake up early to do a boat tour to Boipeba. Boipeba is located on the island of Boipeba, and is a small quaint town located in the north.

Although only a stone throw from Morro de São Paulo, these places seem worlds apart. Boipeba is much calmer, and has a pristine coastline of deserted beaches, a real touch of paradise. Spend some time exploring Boipeba village and the nearby natural pools of Moreré.

Day 13 - Morro de São Paulo, Brazil

On your last day , go to the Fourth Beach. This long beach is great for beach walks, and a really calm beach, with clear waters for swimming. It’s also considered one of the best beaches for kids. A big plus you can also take a transfer to the Fifth beach, known also as Praia do Encanto.

Lunch Suggestion: Restaurant Pimenta Rosa

Go back to the center and get ready for your dinner at the Second Beach on the restaurant Buda Beach.

Day 14 - Morro de São Paulo x Salvador

Sadly it’s the last day of your 2-week Brazil itinerary, and time to make your way back home.

Ideally, grab a flight back to Salvador airport from Morro de São Paulo, then you are at Salvador airport ready for your next flight.

Thanks again for checking out our 2-week Brazil itinerary, and comment below if you have any questions, or extra tips for our readers on where to go.