When to go to Brazil

Brazil is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on your interests -whether it’s relaxing on the beaches of the Green Coast, exploring Bahia, driving the Route of Emotions, or discovering Brazil’s wildlife in the Pantanal.

This guide breaks down the seasons to help you choose when to go to Brazil.

Spring in Brazil (September – November)

Spring offers warm temperatures, fewer crowds, and great visibility for nature. It’s one of the most balanced seasons for a Brazil holiday.

Most ideal places to visit in spring

• Rio de Janeiro – Perfect beach weather without summer crowds.

• Green Coast (Paraty & Ilha Grande) – Clear seas and lush rainforest; ideal for hikes and boat trips.

• Búzios – Warm, breezy, and calm before the holiday rush.

• Bahia (coast + Chapada Diamantina) – Sunny and pleasant across the state.

• Iguassu Falls – Beautiful flow and comfortable climate.

• Pantanal – reaching the end of its season, but it is still good to travel here before the rains.

Why spring is great: Reliable weather + fewer tourists + excellent mix of culture and nature + ideal shoulder season for most regions.

Suggested itinerary: Luxury Brazil holiday

Summer (December – February)

Summer is hot, lively, and ideal for travellers seeking beaches, festivals and a tropical atmosphere.

Most ideal places to visit in summer

• Rio de Janeiro – Peak beach season and full festival energy.

• Bahia – Brilliant for beach holidays, Afro-Brazilian culture, and summer nightlife.

• Northeast Brazil (Ceará, Alagoas, Pernambuco) – Consistent sun and trade winds, ideal for coastal itineraries.

• Green Coast & Búzios – Lush and vibrant, ideal for water sports and island hopping.

Why summer is great: Best for beach lovers, parties, warm seas and tropical landscapes.

(Pantanal is not ideal in summer due to rain; Amazon is fine to travel to but humid.)

Note: This is the most crowded and expensive period, so book early or avoid if you don’t like places to be too busy.

Suggested itinerary: Family adventure: Rio, waterfalls and islands

Autumn in Brazil (March – May)

Autumn is one of the best times to visit Brazil overall: stable weather in most places, fewer crowds, and excellent wildlife/nature conditions.

Most ideal places to visit in autumn

• Route of Emotions (Rota das Emoções) – Beginning of the dry season; perfect for Jeri, Parnaíba Delta and early lagoon formation in Lençóis.

• Amazon Rainforest – High-water season: best for canoeing, birdlife, and flooded forest exploration.

• Bahia – Warm, sunny and less humid across the coast and interior.

• Rio & Green Coast – Warm days with clearer skies; great for sightseeing and hiking.

• Iguassu Falls – Excellent water levels and mild temperatures.

Why autumn is great: Balanced climate + excellent for adventure travel + shoulder-season prices + good for wildlife + lower humidity across most of the country

Suggested itinerary: Brazil 14-day itinerary: Cerrado, waterfalls & coast

Winter in Brazil (June – August)

Brazilian winter is dry, sunny and ideal for wildlife and desert lagoons — one of the top periods for nature-focused travel.

Most ideal places to visit in winter

• Pantanal – Peak wildlife season, best time for jaguars, birds and clear sightings.

• Route of Emotions – Best time of the year for Lençóis Maranhenses: lagoons are full and the weather is dry.

• Amazon – Drier season begins, making forest walks and photography ideal.

• Cerrado (Chapadas) – Dry season, best trekking and waterfall conditions.

• Iguassu Falls – Pleasant temperatures, excellent for long walks and panoramic trails.

• Bahia (coast) – Warm and stable year-round.

Why winter is great: Ideal for nature lovers, wildlife, desert lagoons and scenic hiking.

Suggested itinerary: The Route of Emotions

Suggested itinerary:Brazil wildlife: the Pantanal and the Amazon

Val’s final notes

When planning a holiday to Brazil, especially a multi-centre itinerary, it’s important to remember that the country is enormous and home to a wide range of climates and biomes. Because of this, it’s very difficult to have perfect weather everywhere on the same trip. I’ll always advise you on the destinations that work best at the time of year you want to travel, and if somewhere simply isn’t a good option for that season, I’ll be honest and let you know.

Even in the “best” months, the weather in Brazil can be a little unpredictable. Tropical regions often bring the occasional rain shower or cloudy spell, even when conditions are generally favourable. With the right planning and realistic expectations, you can still enjoy a wonderful and varied Brazilian holiday, making the most of each destination at its ideal time.

Browse holiday inspiration: Brazil holidays

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's Cidade Maravilhosa, lives up to its name. Set in a truly stunning setting, it is an unforgettable city that will get under your skin and its friendly people will capture your heart.

The North Pantanal

The Pantanal is the world's largest wetland and Brazil's best place to get close and personal to an immense array of flora and fauna, including the jaguar. If you are a nature lover, this is the place you want to be at least once in your life!

The South Pantanal

The southern part of the Pantanal is less visited than the northern counterpart but it offers the same opportunities to get in close contact with nature. If you want to see the anteater, head here for you chance to see this wonderful mammal.

Iguaçu, Falls

A true spectacle of nature, the Iguaçu, falls will take your breath away with their visual majesty and the sound of their roar!

Buzios

Once a tranquil fishermen's village, Buzios is now an elegant resort with plenty of idyllic beaches and beautiful boutique hotels, perfect for a relaxing end to any Brazil holiday.

Paraty

Lovely colonial architecture, sandwiched between the blue Brazilian sea and the vibrant nature in the hills, Paraty in the Green Coast deserves a place as a must see destination in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.