Brazil at a Glance: Best Time to Visit
Recommended time to visit: Brazil is massive, with a varied climate largely driven by the Amazon Rainforest. June - December is the best time to visit the jungle, with less rainfall. Similarly, if you're heading south to Rio then June - September is your window for the driest weather. Brazil can largely be visited all year round and November - March is also a popular time to explore.
Less popular time to visit: As mentioned, there really is no bad time to visit. However, July sees prices rocket as Brazilians head on their domestic holidays to places such as Rio, with accommodation booking up fast. The south is also experiencing its slightly colder winter at this time.
Best time to visit the Amazon: The Amazon "dry season" still sees plenty of rainfall, just less than the wet season. June - December are considered the best months to visit, with the most hospitable conditions.
Best time to visit Iguazu Falls: December - February sees the falls at their biggest, but the weather is less pleasant. During March and April the weather brightens up, with warmer, sunnier days and less rainfall, whilst the falls themselves are still in great shape as the dry season only just begins to take hold.
Best time to party: You'll want to head to Rio in February to join in the celebrations for Carnival, one of the biggest events in the Brazilian calendar. Expect parades, dancing, music and more.
Best time to visit Iguazu Falls in Brazil
With the temperature at Iguazu Falls remaining reasonable throughout the year (reaching a maximum of around 30°C and a minimum of about 10°C), the main factor that decides when people should travel is rain. From December to March, the weather is at its hottest and rain falls pretty consistently. This shows the falls at their most majestic but grey skies and suffocating humidity might hamper the experience somewhat.
During the winter months the falls are blessed with bright blue sky and much milder temperatures, which make a big difference when visiting from the Brazilian side. Seeing the falls from this side is less about getting up close and personal with the water and more about breathtaking panoramic views of the falls. For photographers, the Brazilian side offers some truly spectacular Kodak moments that are best snapped with blue skies. The lower water level that comes with the dry season also means that trails and activities are likely to functioning and open as normal.
Generally, people agree that the shoulder months of March, April and September are the best times to visit because, although the falls aren’t at peak flow, they are more aesthetically pleasing thanks to the clear skies and rocks peeking through the cascades.
Climate | Rio de Janeiro
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp Min °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Temp Max °C | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 114 | 105 | 103 | 137 | 85 | 80 | 56 | 50 | 87 | 88 | 95 | 169 |
Climate | Iguazu Falls
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp Min °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
| Temp Max °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 25 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 168 | 114 | 90 | 111 | 144 | 111 | 93 | 138 | 132 | 144 | 135 | 132 |
Festivals and Events
Home to the one of the biggest and most popular parties in the world, Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval, Brazil is well used to pulling out all the stops when it comes to festivals. Flamboyant costumes covered in feathers and sequins, and barely covering the glistening bodies of dancers parading down streets, drumbeats filling the airwaves and caipirinhas flowing freely are all staples as Brazil shows the world the true meaning of the word fiesta.
What happens during Rio Carnival?
Known around the world as one of the best parties in existence, Rio Carnival will leave travellers breathless, speechless and exhausted as they dance and shimmy until the sun comes back up. Samba music accompanies the sight of sequins as the main parade makes its way through the city of Rio. This is surely one of the most colourful festivals in the world and one that everyone should experience at least once in their life. Booking early is essential and travellers should be aware that prices can sometimes triple during this period.
What is Lollapalooza?
The sloping fields of Sao Paulo are never as packed out as they are during Lollapalooza, one of Brazil’s biggest music festivals. Taking place over two days, the impressive line-up has seen all kinds of big names in the past, including Skrillex, Alt-J and Marina and the Diamonds. The festival usually sees somewhere around 150,000 screaming and dancing fans every year. The atmosphere is always electric, making this festival a must for music-lovers from all walks of life.
What is Reveillon?
There is no better way to see in the New Year than joining two million other people on the world famous Copacabana Beach for Reveillon. Fireworks light up the sky over the water as the religious and secular join hands and delight in this mind-blowing pyrotechnic performance. Before the clock strikes midnight, the festival is more of a family affair as parents, grandparents and children feast on tasty street snacks and sip refreshing beverages together. Once the twelfth chime has rung out, the real partying begins.
Recommended tours
See Also
For more information to help plan your trip to Brazil, see the following:
Best Places to Visit - our top 10 destinations in Brazil
Top Travel Tips - covering everything from money to health, food to shopping
Tourist Visas - know what visa you need prior to travel
