ICONIC CITIES | beach towns | the Amazon
Brazil
While terms like “polar vortex” continue to describe weather in Canada, the prospect of a beach vacation is especially enticing. Though it may not be your first thought, a Brazil getaway has appeal that goes well beyond its 7,500 kilometres of coastline—and even beyond the fact that its summer (aka prime beach) season runs December through March.
South America’s largest country offers travellers much more than a warm-weather resort stay. Vibrant and diverse culture, festivals and cuisine; samba melodies punctuated by the lilting sound of Brazilian-Portuguese lyrics; and staggering scenery ranging from UNESCO-recognized waterfalls to the unmatched biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest are just the start of the list. And everyone receives a heartfelt welcome in Brazil, where the legendary warmth of its people and the country’s famously inclusive attitudes combine to create an inviting style of hospitality you won’t find elsewhere.
The trip of a lifetime in the South American tropics
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Museu Afro Brasil
Ilha Bela
Iconic cities
Culturally rich beach towns
Immersion in the Amazon
Jericoacoara
Búzios
Plan your trip
Iguazú Falls
Almécegas I Waterfall
Woman from Bahia offering a regional dish
Local musicians playing in Rio de Janeiro
Walking Tour of São Paula Negra (left); Food and Graffiti Tour São Paulo (right)
Ipanema Beach
Pelourinho, Salvador's historic center
Teatro Amazonas, Manaus
Hotel Anavilhanas
Manaus, capital of Amazonas
In the heart of the world's largest tropical rainforest, you'll find the city of Manaus—reachable via intra-country flights from Salvador, Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. It's home to attractions like the Amazonas Theatre, a stunning and still-operational colonial opera house erected during the rubber boom; and the Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market, a photogenic replica of the Parisian Les Halles market. Try the region's distinctive culinary specialties for a taste of the Amazon. Locally caught tambaqui fish and aromatic bowls of tacacá, a spicy soup made with shrimp, peppers and wild cassava root broth (tucupi) are must-try dishes, whether exploring on your own or via a guided gastronomic tour.
Manaus is also the gateway to innumerable adventures in the Amazon Rainforest. For example, take a boat tour to witness the Meeting of the Waters, a natural phenomenon whereby the dark waters of the Rio Negro and the sand-colored waters of the Amazon River flow side by side for about 6 kilometres before they finally converge.
Bahia
Take a quick flight from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo to Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia, on Brazil's northeastern coast. Known for its Afro-Brazilian culture, spicy and soulful cuisine, spiritual traditions and of course its paradisiacal beaches, Bahia offers a distinctive view into Brazil's multifaceted identity. Pelourinho, Salvador's historic center, is a UNESCO World Heritage site where cobblestone streets and pastel-coloured colonial buildings create a stirring ambiance. Once a major site of the transatlantic slave trade, the neighbourhood has transformed into a lively cultural and artistic center where capoeira demonstrations, samba and Afro-Brazilian music are part of daily life. Get in in-depth look at Bahia's African heritage with the Black Bahia Tour.
Outside the capital, you'll find a host of beaches, from the Costa dos Coqueiros (Coconut Coast) on the north side, with its oceanfront resorts and sea turtle conservation projects; to the Costa do Descobrimento (Discovery Coast) on the south side, where a historic port and seaside villages add to the charm.
More than beaches
Brazil's immense coastline is dotted with over 2,000 beaches—fringed by rainforest and mangroves in the tropical northern region of the country, and everything from mountains to modern skylines in the subtropical south. Wherever you choose to lay your beach towel, you'll be treated not only to some of the world's most coveted sands and surf, but also to the distinctive culture, tradition and ambiance of the accompanying beach towns. While all-inclusive resorts do exist, a culturally rich and immersive experience awaits those who dive into the local scene when they're not sunning, swimming or surfing.
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil's second-largest city is famous for its seductive resort beaches, its scenic coastline and its world-famous, electrifying Carnival (Feb. 13-Feb. 21, 2026). The city is home to countless memorable sights, from the Metropolitan Cathedral, a massive church modeled after a Mayan temple, to its famed Sugarloaf Mountain set across the water and reachable via a scenic cable car ride. (Fun fact: Said cable car had a starring role in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker).
People-watch, swim and soak in Rio's signature sunshine at its popular Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Presiding over it all is the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue at the summit of Mount Corcovado, extending his arms in a symbol of peace over the entire region. The 30-metre tall statue is recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
São Paulo
Because they're home to Brazil's best-connected airports, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the most likely starting points for Canadians' to explore "The Land of the Rising Sun," as Brazil is affectionately known. Those who touch down in São Paulo will find themselves instantly swept up in the city's vibrant buzz, walking among the nearly 12 million Paulistanos who make São Paulo the most populous city in the Southern hemisphere. Take a culinary journey amid the city's thousands of cafes, serving Brazil's legendary and potent home-grown brews, and restaurants that tempt with a tapestry of flavors to reflect the city's African, European and Asian influences. Explore over 100 museums, from the Museu Afro Brasil, showcasing works from Afro-Brazilian artists, to the newly expanded Museum of Art São Paulo, which houses works by European masters like Pierre-August Renoir and contemporary works from renowned international artists.
Specialized tours are the best way to experience the Amazon at its most authentic—from rare wildlife encounters to cultural exchange with Indigenous groups. The Indigenous Immersion in the Rio Negro tour, for example, allows travellers to participate in a tourism experience led by one of the communities that live along the banks of the Rio Negro. The experience involves ritualistic dance, guided rainforest walks and authentic cuisine, created with ingredients like tanajura ants, smoked fish and exotic fruits.
The Anavilhanas Itinerary, meanwhile, is a three-day experience in Novo Airão, a town about 180 kilometres west of Manaus. The holistic tour includes ancestral hunting lessons with Indigenous masters, canoe rides through igapós (blackwater-flooded forests), dining with a local Indigenous community and savouring sunrise vistas from a standup paddleboard on the Rio Negro.
Experiences in the Amazon
Its position between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro makes the quaint and historic colonial town of Paraty an easy and essential stop on your getaway. Set on the Bay of Ilha Grande, the town's idyllic beaches face calm waters dotted with tropical islands, while forests, mountains and waterfalls occupy the land to its west. The town itself is a charming journey back in time, with stone-paved streets, colonial-style architecture accented with colourful doors and window frames. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Paraty is home to sightseeing treasures like the 300-year-old, Baroque-style Church of Saint Rita of Cascia, and the Casa da Cultura de Paraty, a museum dedicated to preserving the heritage and culture of the town. The Fazenda Bananal: Immersion in Paraty experience allows travellers to explore a local farm, savour dishes created with its home-grown ingredients, take part in creative workshops and tour a historic mansion.
Paraty
Experiences in São Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Ribeirão da Ilha, Florianópolis
Florianópolis
While the world is beginning to catch on to Brazil’s star power as a vacation destination (about 9 million international visitors touched down in 2025), travelling beyond the typical tourist routes is both an easy and a rewarding way to experience authentic Brazil. With new Air Canada and Air Transat flights from Toronto to Rio de Janeiro coming online in December and March, respectively—adding to 17 existing weekly flights from Canada to Brazil—it’s never been easier to take the sunny, soulful Brazil getaway you didn’t know you needed. Here’s more on what your dreamy tropical trip could look like.
Brazilian Amazon
Experience more of Rio's culture, nature and beauty with expert-led tours. For example, the Sunrise at Parque Bondinho tour includes sunrise vistas from the cable cars and Sugarloaf Mountain (plus a delicious breakfast) before the park opens to the public.
Or explore glorious nature with an eco-friendly guided tour of 9,600-acre Tijuca National Park, just outside the city. There, you can hike rainforest trails to view and even splash in hidden waterfalls, plus witness caves and biodiverse flora and fauna with the help of a naturalist guide. Get a behind-the-scenes view of all that goes into creating the world's biggest Carnival celebration—and even try on some of the bold, glittering costumes—with the Carnaval Experience. Those looking to make a positive social impact with their trip will find ample opportunities in Rio, including the Solidarity Lunch at Refettorio Gastromotiva, a sustainably produced gourmet experience where every meal purchased ensures one is provided for someone in need. Tip: Whether you land in São Paulo or Rio, be sure to plan a day trip to see Iguazú Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world.
Experiences in Rio de Janeiro
The only challenge in planning a São Paulo trip is the incredible scope of available activities. Booking a tour or two is a fantastic way to simplify, and to absorb as much as possible on your trip.
The Food and Graffiti Tour in São Paulo appeals to a variety of interests, melding a sweeping tour of the Pinheiros neighborhood's global gastronomic scene with its impressive array of murals, created by renowned artists. Or take the Walking Tour of São Paulo Negra, offering an exploration of the city's rich Black history and culture through a visit to the Igreja Nossa Senhora Rosário dos Pretos, one of the first churches built by and for São Paulo's Black community—plus many other sites that are significant to the struggles and triumphs of the city's Black community. Experience a little bit of everything the city has to offer with the Wonders of São Paulo tour, or take your curiosity outside the city for the Boat Tour in the Alcatrazes Archipelago. Journey through the islands off the north coast of the São Paulo region, where you'll witness pristine marine ecosystems and epic biodiversity—from dolphins to sea turtles to hammerhead sharks. From May through August, you may even spy humpback whales.
Christ the Redeemer
Sunrise at Parque Bondinho tour
Boat tour in Paraty
Paraty's colonial-style architecture
Beach in Paraty
Church of Saint Rita of Cascia
Face painting with an Indigenous woman
Sunrise paddleboarding on the Rio Negro
São Paulo
