Overview & Route
Two weeks is the sweet spot for a first Brazil trip. It's enough time to feel the contrast between Brazil's very different regions — the sun-drenched beaches and mountain landscapes of Rio, the raw power of Iguaçu Falls, and the Afro-Brazilian heartbeat of Salvador — without feeling rushed. This itinerary is designed to minimize internal travel time while maximizing the quality of each experience.
The route: Rio de Janeiro (3 nights) → Iguaçu Falls (2 nights) → Salvador (3 nights) → Morro de São Paulo (2 nights) → Rio de Janeiro (2 nights) → Fly home. All connections by domestic flight except Morro de São Paulo (catamaran from Salvador).
Days 1–3: Rio de Janeiro
Day 1: Arrive, check in to Ipanema or Copacabana. Walk the beachfront, get your bearings over a cold chopp at a beachside boteco.
Day 2: Christ the Redeemer at sunrise (book ahead), then Sugarloaf Mountain for sunset. Dinner in Santa Teresa.
Day 3: Hang gliding tandem flight from Pedra Bonita ($120–150, book with Just Fly). Or a day trip to Ilha Grande or Paraty. Evening: Lapa arches and nightlife.
Days 4–5: Iguaçu Falls
Day 4: Morning flight Rio→Iguaçu (1.5 hrs). Brazilian side of the falls in the afternoon — panoramic walkway, Macuco Safari boat ride. Get soaked, it's mandatory.
Day 5: Argentine side — cross the border with passport. Upper and lower catwalks, Devil's Throat catwalk, all up close. Afternoon: evening flight Iguaçu→Salvador.
Days 6–8: Salvador & Bahia
Day 6: Arrive Salvador late evening. Stay in Barra neighborhood (safest, beach access).
Day 7: Pelourinho UNESCO district (morning), lunch of acarajé from a Baiana street vendor, capoeira show in the afternoon (Mestre Bimba Foundation, daily shows). Elevador Lacerda for free city views. Tuesday night: drums in the Pelourinho streets.
Day 8: Porto da Barra beach in the morning (city's best urban beach). Afternoon: day trip to Praia do Forte (1.5 hrs north) — picturesque village with Project TAMAR sea turtle conservation and beautiful beaches.
Days 9–10: Morro de São Paulo
Day 9: Morning catamaran from Salvador's Terminal Marítimo (2 hrs, R$130). Morro de São Paulo is a car-free island with four consecutive beaches stretching south. Check in to a pousada on Segunda Praia (2nd beach) — the most social and central.
Day 10: Walk all four beaches — each progressively wilder and more deserted. Terceira Praia for snorkeling, Quarta Praia for total solitude. Sunset drinks from the lighthouse hill. Return to Salvador by late catamaran or speedboat.
Days 11–14: Back to Rio or Extension
Option A — Return to Rio (2 nights): Fly Salvador→Rio. Use these days for anything you missed: Tijuca National Park, the Museum of Tomorrow, Niterói via ferry, or simply more beach time. Fly home from Galeão (GIG).
Option B — Add Florianópolis (2 nights): Fly Salvador→Florianópolis instead. Two days on the Island of 42 Beaches — Jurerê Internacional, Lagoa da Conceição, oysters at Ribeirão da Ilha. Then Floripa→home.
Budget Breakdown
| Expense | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| International flights | $600 | $1,100 |
| 3 domestic flights | $180 | $320 |
| 14 nights accommodation | $350 | $800 |
| Food (all meals) | $280 | $560 |
| Activities & entrance fees | $150 | $280 |
| Catamaran + transport | $80 | $150 |
| Total per person | $1,640 | $3,210 |
Internal Flights Guide
You need three internal flights for this itinerary. Book these through:
- Azul (azul.com.br) — best prices on most routes, excellent reliability
- LATAM (latam.com) — largest network, good for Salvador connections
- Gol (voegol.com.br) — often cheapest last-minute prices
- Google Flights — compare all three in one search