South of Brazil and RJ - 10 days
Replies: 11 - Last Post: Jul 7, 2012 5:31 PM Last Post By: stellar0201
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South of Brazil and RJ - 10 days
Hello,Can you guys help me plan my itinerary to the places below? What to visit and what would be my best route etc? I was in Brazil last year but stayed only in the NorthEast. Planning to return in September for a quick trip, I would like to visit the Southern part region of the country and RJ and Brasilia if time will still permits me.
I'll be arriving in Sao Paulo and would like to visit the places below for 10 days.
Paraná
-Curitiba
-Foz do Iguaçu - if possible.
Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)
Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul)
Gramado/Canela
Rio de Janeiro -
(end of 10 days trip)
I thought of taking planes because it's faster, but if taking bus won't take much of the time (especially if the bus trip will be at night, then it should be fine). I haven't check how much the airfare and bus fare in between those cities and how long each trip takes. if the fare differences are not much, I'd rather take planes ofcourse.
After RJ, I planned to go to Fortaleza/Ceara - 1 week. This is planned already and can't be changed.
and then I plan to visit Brasilia (for 1 day or 1 and half) before going back to Sao Paulo for my international flight.
BTW: I plan to purchase a Brazil Airpass as I thought it will have me save for my 4 flights (Sao Paulo to South, South to RJ, RJ to Fortaleza, Fortaleza to Brasilia)
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
:)
1
Not sure why you would visit Curitiba anyway but given you probably intend on the standard 2 days at the cataratas you really don't have enough time to do the rest of it justice.You will want to fly, taking the bus will cut off more time and it's cheaper to fly anyway.
Not sure why you would want to go to Fortaleza for that matter unless you are using it as a gateway to somewhere else but perhaps you have your own reasons.
2
I assume he is using Fortaleza to get to Jericoacoara or Canoa Quebrada. Or he might have work there.Now onto your pressing itinerary. Given you have 10 days, and 8 places that you want to visit. You really don't have the time to do any of those places justice. You need to be strict and cut out some of the places. Consider that Rio will need at least 4-5 days. So half your trip already gone.
So it leaves you with 5-6 days for the rest..Not great.
Just a suggestion, have you thought about heading to Paraty and Ilha Grande. Closer cities/islands which means less time moving about equals more time enjoying the good life.
3
Hello, I plan to stay for about 3 weeks in Brazil (stretching it to 4 weeks might aswell be possible later) I thought of using my first 10 days in the south before heading to Ceara for a week (I stayed 4 months there last year, the family and friends that I have met and stayed around with made me feel like it's a second home, so I really need to pay visit :)I thought 2 whole day tour on each places in the south might be enough to know the city and culture? and then at least 3 days in RJ. (I also thought of travelling/transfering to other places by night/dawn so I can just sleep/rest a bit while on the bus or plane).
But given that I want to visit the places in the south that I listed, how many days do I need and which places/attractions should I check out?
4
Sao Paulo - 3-4 daysIguazu - 2 full days. 1 day for each side of the falls.
Florianopolis - 4-5 days. Its a big island and traffic can make it hard to move around.
Rio - 4 days. Minimum. I'd go with 5 at the very least.
And I can't comment on the rest as I have not yet visited them.
Even if you were going to spend 2 days in each place. Your 10 days would be up by the time you get to Florianopolis. Night buses would help but the bus ride from Florianopolis to Rio is nearly 18 hours. So not really saving time - flying is best.
You will have to cut a lot of those places out. For 10 days - I wouldn't really go over 3 towns/cities.
5
Hello,Thanks for the suggestion. The thing that complicates my itinerary actually is my trip to the northeast as I want to be there on a weekend so I can travel with some friends - for which they can't travel just any day because of work =/
I'll be travelling alone before heading to the northeast (but hopefully find some other people or group to go along with).
I also plan to stay for a couple of days in Sao Paulo to meet a few friends (and if possible, do skydiving in boituva! we planned this last year but was not able to. boo :(
should I just fly from Sao Paulo to Iguazu right away?
Sao Paulo to Iguazu - 2-3days
Iguazu to Florianópolis - 2 days (can just skip this if 2 days is not really a good idea)
Gramado/Canela - 2-3days
then off to RJ - 3 days.
Is Brasilia worth visiting? or just visit Salvador instead before going back to Sao Paulo?
Thank you for all the help! I really appreciate :)
6
Its alright that you have commitments elsewhere. I personally think your trying to fit too much in. With 10 days you'd want to keep it to 3-4 places. I rate Sao Paulo as a city - others don't. I really enjoyed it there.Rio in 3 days seems too small. You need at least 4 days there. 2 FULL days for Iguazu (one for Brasilian side and one for the Argentine side). Floripa really needs 4-5 days. Sao Paulo at leas 3 days. I would skip Gramado/Canela.
Also 2 days is never enough to actually get to know a place - work on the minimum of 3 days in each place. A city like Rio, well need more as there are more things to do here than say Paraty.
I can't tell you if brasillia is worth visiting, if its like Canberra (my capital) I wouldn't want to visit. But I can't discuss that as I have not been there.
7
Decided to make my trip a little longer to make the most out of this short (expensive airfare) trip hehehe.I'd really love to visit Gramado/Canela. I'm a big fan of cold weather/climate. (I know, if I'm looking for cold places to visit, Brazil is definitely not the place hehehe but I love the culture, people and the food! I guess that's more than enough reason for me to keep visiting Brazil :)
In Rio, I thought of taking the helicopter tour, and meet some friends too who might be able to show me around. The architectures in Brasilia interests me, but then saw some people suggesting a day is already enough as there is not really much to see, same in Curitiba. And since I'm already planning to make my trip a little longer, I might as-well include Salvador later.
Have a question about visiting Iguazu also (I saw your site btw and saw you visited both sides of the falls :)
I need visa to Argentina, if I only want to see the other side of the falls which is in Argentina and go back to Brazil side at the same day too, do you think I will still need to show a visa? I read sometime ago that I don't need if that's the only reason, but do they still check it?
Thanks :)
8
How much longer do you have?Helicopter tours might be fun but really expensive.
I visited both, but I didn't need a visa for Argentina, just Brasil. Which I already had. Though they never stamped my passport on the way to the falls.
However, its entering Argentina, where everyone gets the passport stamped. If you are going to Igauzu to see the falls, You kind of have to go see the Argentine side. Its definitely more worthwhile than the Brasilian side.Though contact an tour agency in Foz or your hotel/hostel and they might be able to get you over for the day without a visa/stamp. Not entirely sure but.
9
Hi, sounds like a great trip and I agree that 3 days in a city is great, but 2 is sufficient as well - just have to not spend much time sleeping in from your night out on the town :)For Iguazu Falls you should not have to worry about crossing from the Brazil side to Argentina - or vice versa - if visiting just for the day. Folks do it all the time, Immigrations are used to it as well. Just stay on the bus when you cross from one to the other (no need to go into Immigrations at all if you are not transferring to the next country) while other folks get their paperwork done, and then do the same on your return.
No big deal. I have travel guide that covers both towns here: http://www.southamericaliving.com/travel-guide-to-puerto-iguazu-argentina-foz-de-iguacu-brazil/
Have fun, Molly
Travel South America
10
but 2 is sufficient as wellAbide by the rule of 3's. Most destinations that are worth going to require a minimum 3 full days. So that means 4 nights staying somewhere.
2 days in Rio - you're dead set crazy. How is one meant to enjoy all the good things in Rio, when your running around like a chook with no head. Silly.
Re: Iguazu - there might be folks doing it all the time (I actually went Argentina to Brazil side without having my passport checked at Brazil immigration). But that doesn't mean you will get through. Some days you do. Some days you dont.
11
Hi trent, apologize for not getting back on you on this thread. The trip is gonna be as long as I want it to be! :) Decided to make this SA trip instead of just Brazil. So I hope to travel by months in SA :) and I thought of staying for a week or 2 in Rio! :) I will also get a visa to Argentina as I want to visit the country aswell :) Thanks for all the suggestions, I really appreciate :)
