Weekend trips from Sao Paulo & tips for 1 mth holiday & more questions

Hi everyone,

I might get the chance to work in Sao Paulo for 6 months starting in October. I've never been to South America and don't speak Portugese (yet ;)), but I am really excited about going there. As I'll be in Brazil for Carneval 2014, I think I'll take the chance and go to Rio to see the parade.

It would be great if you could help me with a few questions. I have done some research, but would like to hear your thoughts without pointing you into a specific direction yet. I'll ask some more specific questions about specific locations later on.

1. Which weekend trips can you recommend from Sao Paulo? When is the best time to visit the places you recommend? Do I have enough to see both the Brazilian and the Argentinian side of the Iguazu Falls if I leave Sao Paulo on Friday night or early Saturday morning and need to be back in Sao Paulo by Sunday night?

2. What would be a nice trip for Christmas / NYE in your opinion? I'm not too much into really crowded places so I guess the famous beaches won't be my destination of choice during holiday time...

3. After finishing my job assignment probably around Easter 2014, I'll have about a month to travel within Brazil. Assuming I already visited Rio (probably for Carneval and maybe another trip for a few days), which destinations (and activities) would you recommend and how long would you stay there?

4. I would love to see marine sea turtles, ideally either little ones hatching or mums coming to the beach and laying their eggs. Is that at all possible, if yes at what time of the year? I know I might see them in Fernando de Noronha, but it seems to be quite expensive to get there and also to stay there. Has anybody been there? Is it worth the price and how much did you spend for plane tickets and accommodation? Any good alternatives?

5. When should I start planning my trip to Rip for Carneval? Can you recommend somewhat affordable and safe places to stay?

6. Regarding my stay in Sao Paulo, I would like to know whether you have any suggestions about where to live in a somewhat safe neighbourhood (my employer has an office within the main business district) and whether you by any chance know somebody that might be interested to teach me Portugese (on a flexible schedule) while I'm in Sao Paulo?

Some facts about me: I am into photography and would love to see nature, wildlife and some nice cities, maybe also spend a few days or a weekend on a nice beach to relax. I don't mind getting up early or staying out late if sunrises / sunsets are spectacular or if I can only see some wildlife during specific times of the day. I don't need to go partying during my weekend trips / final 1 month long trip as I'll probably do enough of that in Sao Paulo (and Rio) before ;) I'm a 28 year old female travelling either alone or sometimes with a friend. I'm a budget traveller and don't need fancy hotels but am happy with hostel dorms - however I can afford to splurge a little if it is really necessary or recommended, i.e. I know that accommodation in Rio during Carneval can get costly and I'm willing to spend some money on good tours / guides e.g. in the Amazon region / Pantanal if it really improves my experience as I'm not sure when I'll be back and want to make the most of my time in this wonderful country!

Thank you very much in advance for your help, it's very much appreciated!