Brazil is one of the world’s most captivating countries. It has powdery white-sand beaches, 60% of the Amazon jungle, and frenzied metropolises. Then there’s Brazil’s biodiversity. It’s got the largest collection of plant and animal species in the entire world.
Most of Brazil is situated to the south of the equator which means that visiting this big country is pretty much great any time of year as the weather is generally perfect. It’s got a predominately tropical climate with temperatures averaging above 25°C.
Brazil weather overview
- Brazil is warm and tropical overall. It’s a great place for those hoping to escape the cold of the Northern Hemisphere between November and March. (Brazil’s warmest months) November through March are also Brazil’s prime beach-going months.
- It rains in Brazil, but it is sunny around 300 days of the year, so odds are pretty good that you will have lots of sunny days.
- It’s worth noting that the northeastern coast experiences more rain in June and July, but usually in the form of quick afternoon showers.
- If you’re visiting the Pantanal, the driest months are between April and October and offer the best wildlife spotting opportunities, especially if you want to see jaguars. December through March is often the best time to observe migratory birds.
- June and July are the perfect months to visit the Green Coast that sits between Rio and Sao Paulo. You can enjoy cooler evenings and warm sea waters.
- The Amazon jungle will be hot and humid at any time of the year. whenever you decide to visit so consider if it’s the rainy season or not. From November to January, during the wet season, you’ll do more exploring by boat instead of on food.
The overall best time to visit Brazil
Overall, the months of September and October are the best times to vacation in Brazil as you can avoid the super busy season and dodge the chilly weather and rainy season of the jungle.
The worst time to visit Brazil
The high season in Brazil lasts from the week before Christmas until Carnaval (which falls sometime in Feb or early Mar, depending on the year). Flights and accommodations are more expensive and more likely to be full during this period.
Other busy times of the year include Easter week and the months of July when Brazilian schools and universities take their winter break, and August when most Europeans and North Americans visit during the summer vacation.
This is probably the worst time of year to travel; prices go up significantly, except for in the north and parts of the Northeast. The weather can be iffy and downright chilly from Rio de Janeiro southward.
Best time to visit based on where your going:
The Amazon
The Amazon, which takes up one-third of the entire country, is hot and muggy all year round. This region is wet and rainy and it lasts for about five months of the year. I’m talking about constant rainfall that sometimes causes flooding from January to May.
If you want to include the Amazon on your Brazilian tour, then the best time would be from June to September before the start of the rainy season, while the absolute best time is in July and August.
The Pantanal
The Pantanal region is a bird watchers paradise and the temperature remains pretty consistent.
It looks like an African savannah at the peak of the summer and a large lake during the rainy season. The best time to visit the Pantanal region to see the animals is during the winter months of July through September/October. This is also considered the dry season.
Rio De Janeiro
The best time to visit Rio is between December and March when the weather is warm and sunny enough to hit the beaches. The city’s seductive samba beat and incredible panoramic views last year-round, but arrive in February to experience Carnival
The best time to visit the electric city of Rio de Janeiro is in the summer months from December to March when the weather is warm and sunny enough to hit the beach.
The city’s samba music and views are always beautiful but February is when Carnival celebrations begin. Keep reading to find out more about these world-renowned celebrations.
São Paulo
Even though Sao Paulo is in the south of Brazil it has a similar climate to that of Rio de Janeiro, especially along the coast. The center section of Sao Paulo is on a plateau and it has nice temperatures and good weather in the summer, albeit it does get quite humid. The winters in Sao Paulo are cold so don’t expect to soak in the sun in Sao Paulo during wintertime.
Festivals
NYE
New Year’s Eve is an exciting time to find yourself in Brazil’s capital city. Copacabana beach is one of the world’s biggest beach parties. There are millions of people who head to the beach for New Years’ Eve celebrations. People come ready to spend the night partying and ringing in the new year.
There are dozens and dozens of restaurants very close to Copacabana Beach. Many of them offer “prix flixe” packages that include tickets to sit on their terrace to watch the world-renowned fireworks show. You will see all kinds of people at this NYE party. From kids and babies, seniors, foreigners, and locals alike, everyone comes to celebrate at Copacabana beach
Carnival
The second major festival is in February and it’s called Carnival. The entire month of February is filled with parades, samba dances, and Carnival balls that are so much to participate in or just watch. If you are planning your trip around Carnival, I would suggest booking accommodation well in advance as this festival draws in people from around the world.
To Sum Up
Brazil has so much diversity of people and of types of land. So what are the best and worst times to visit Brazil? Depends on where you want to go and what you want to do.
