Campo Grande

I flew from campo grande to Salvador beofre making my way to Rio. It was going to be expensive but then i found out that it was something silly like a third of the price if i fly at night compared to flying during the day. Flight had a stop over in Sao Paulo but it was definatly worth it for the money off. Also i buy using the great british pound which does help. I only booked it 5days before i flew, i think with TAM.

If you havnt been there salvador is great. Make sure your there for the night they have street parties (i think its a tues/thurs). Other popular places in Bahia include Lencois (especially for trekking), Itacare (especially for surfing) and Porto seguro.

Dan

Faced with the same problem, I took a plane to Rio and then flew to the Nordeste. This was hideously expensive and with hindsight I would have preferred to do it by bus. This would be much longer of course, but you can make some stops on the way, eg in Brasilia, or at the hot springs in Goias (I think). If you have time, that would be an option. Definitely a lot cheaper, unless you find some crazy offer for a flight. Oh, for Manaus the bus wouldn't work.

Otherwise, if you haven't got much time, why go so far North? What about Salvador and surroundings as #1 suggested?

Plan your own routing/connections, and purchase each leg as a separate one-way (use www.voegol.com.br).<BR><BR>For example, I'm flying from Campo Grande to Manaus in May, and punching that itinerary into GOL's site tells me the trip will cost at least R$910. But for a one-way from Campo Grande to Sao Paulo (GRU), and then another from GRU to Manaus, the total price is only R$528. Try different "hubs" and see what you can work out (try routing through Brasilia, both airports in Sao Paulo, both in Rio...).

This still may not be cheap, but it's a nice improvement.