Hi there,

I’m planning a trip to Brazil in October and decided to go through an agency to organize our itinerary. I asked two agencies to put together a circuit with transfers, hotels, organized visits, and one domestic flight. I don’t speak Spanish or Portuguese. 6 nights in Rio 3 nights on Ilha Grande 3 nights in Paraty Domestic flight to Salvador for 3 nights 3 nights in Morro de São Paulo 1 night in Salvador before flying back to France. For this itinerary, I’m going with Tourlane, but I’m still waiting on the second quote from Comptoir des Voyages. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the itinerary and especially on these agencies—thanks for any feedback! 😊

Bonjour je recherche des renseignements sur ce trajet: Le pont entre Oyapock et la ville opposée est-il désormais ouvert ? Quelle compagnie de bus choisir pour le trajet Oiapoque Macapa ? Que pensez vous d'un séjour de quelques jours à Oiapoque ? La ville , ses environs, le fleuve.... Macapa présente t-elle un intérêt ? Je recherche des activités simples , et surtout de m, imprégner un peu de la vie dans de petites ou moyennes villes Bésilliennes. Merci à l, avance.

Bonjour, Je regarde à aller au Brésil et on voudrait faire Rio-Salvador-Recife en voiture avec des arrêts entre ces villes. Louer une voiture au Brésil vaut t'il le coup pour faire ce trajet ? Le prix du carburant est bon marché ? Conduire au Brésil est comme ici ou dangereux ?

Merci

Hi everyone,

Next April, I’m planning a trip (the 1st) to Brazil. I’ll have 12 days there (not counting the 13th day for the return). I’ll arrive on 22/04 in the early evening in Rio de Janeiro. The return flight is from São Paulo on 04/05 in the afternoon. I know 12 days is very little for such a big country, which is why I’ll focus on a relatively small area: the southeast (though "small" is relative!). I’ve started mapping out the main stops for my trip, which would be: - Rio de Janeiro: 4 to 5 days? - Ilha Grande and maybe Paraty: 2 to 3 days - Iguazu Falls: Brazilian and Argentinian sides: 2 days - São Paulo: 1 to 2 days

What do you think? Is this reasonable? There are about 250/260 km between Rio and Paraty. I’d like to make the trip by rental car. What do you think? A car is definitely much more practical and faster than the bus. 12/13 days is short—I can’t afford to lose too much time in transit. To get to Ilha Grande, I understand there’s a ferry that shuttles between the mainland and the island. From which city can you take the ferry? Mangaratiba? Conceição de Jacareí? Angra dos Reis? If I arrive by rental car, where can I park it? I think cars are banned on the island, right? That’s where I’m at with my planning. So many questions! 😕 A big thank you to anyone who takes the time to read my post and shares their valuable tips! 🙂

Good evening, We’d love to go in November to enjoy some beautiful beaches for about two weeks, preferably around Bahia, as November/December seems like a great time. We’ve already traveled to Brazil several times and know the south of Rio as well as the region between São Luís and Fortaleza, and Chapada Diamantina... What advice would you give us: the south with Itaparica, Morro de São Paulo, Boipeba, Barra Grande—or all four? Or maybe the north? Thanks in advance for your help

Bonjour à tous avec ma copine nous partons pour 1 mois au Brésil et nous souhaitons visiter le Pantanal. Nous avons contacté 3 agences avec 3 prix différents allant du simple au double. Nous voulons savoir si l’un d’entre vous est allé au Pantanal? Qu’en avez vous pensé et quelle agence avez vous pris. Ce que nous voulons vraiment pas c’est être trimballé dans un 4x4 toute la journée avec des activités sans grandes intérêts montées pour les touristes. Merci d’avance pour vos réponses.

Hi everyone, My partner and I are planning a trip to Brazil in October for 15 to 20 days. I spent some time in Brazil years ago while collaborating with the University of Lavras (MG). Now, I’d love to introduce my partner to the country. My initial plan is Rio (4 days), Bahia—which I’ve never visited—(4 days), Belo Horizonte to catch up with old friends and explore the surrounding areas (Tiradentes and Ouro Preto), then... and back. I’m really counting on your advice to help shape this trip. We’re not backpackers anymore! Thanks in advance. Best regards, Serge Rambal - Montpellier

Good evening, We're leaving from January 26 to February 7 with our two kids, aged 23 and 27. I'm hoping to visit Iguazu, Rio, Ilha Grande, or Cabo Frio. I have a few questions. - Should we visit Rio with a guide, considering we want to explore favelas and hike to reach the main sites? And how many days should we plan for it? - How many days for Ilha Grande, and is the weather favorable during this period? Is it a must-see? - What do you think of Cabo Frio? In terms of organization, is it better to visit Iguazu at the beginning, middle, or end of our stay, departing from São Paulo or Rio? We haven’t bought our flight tickets yet, so I can arrange to arrive or depart from Rio/São Paulo. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and opinions!

Bonjour à vous, j'ai une simple question. Je voudrais annuler mon vol intérieur avec la compagnie GOL. J’ai un numéro de contact sur leur site internet, c'est le 0300 115 2121. J'ai essayé d'appeler depuis un téléphone fixe de France au 00 55 300 115 2121, 00 55 00 115 2121... mais ça ne marche pas. Pouvez m'éclairer pour trouver le bon numéro. Merci à vous d’avance.

Bonjour

Je vais arriver de la Paz à Iguaçu, côté brésilien, avent de partir pour Buenos Aires. Comment passer des chutes d'Iguaçu côté brésilien au côté argentin ?

Merci !

Bonjour à tous, Nous envisageons un voyage au Brésil fin novembre pour 15 jours environ sur place. Après 3 jours à Rio, nous souhaitons ( avec mon mari) visiter le Minas Gerais sur 4 jours . Nous n'avons pas l'habitude de louer une voiture dans les pays étrangers, nous faisons toujours appel à des chauffeurs locaux. Les bus sont trop longs pour parcourir le MG en 4 jours. Est-ce que quelqu’ un connaîtrait une personne fiable ou un chauffeur pour un prix raisonnable pour aller de Rio à Ouro Preto via Mariana, Cogonhas, Tiradentes etc...AR ? Ou doit-on zapper par peur de la fatigue , de la conduite sur des routes que nous ne connaissons pas? Nous avons l'intention de faire appel à Easy transfers pour aller de Rio à Paraty et de Paraty à Ilha Grande, savez vous s'il existe ce genre de prestation pour le MG?

Merci pour tous vos conseils .

Bonjour à tous, je vais avoir une journée de libre le 8 décembre prochain, pour aller à Sao-polo, depuis Santos où je logerai. Est-ce judicieux pour un temps si court de faire ce déplacement, si oui, quoi voir absolument ? merci d'avance. jean-paul

Bon, quelques données positives à Salvador da Bahia 😎

Depuis une dizaine de jours maintenant le commerce à été partiellement ouvert dans ce qu'on appelle ici la "fase 1", cad. tout les commerces de vente sont autorisé à ouvrir leur établissement. Sont encore exempt : les bars et restaurants, les transports inter-urbains publics. Les plages sont encore fermé au public. Par contre à Praia do Forte et Imbassai on vient d'ouvrir les restaurants le weekend passé. Tout selon une interminable liste de mesures de sécurité.

Voici une liste (de l'association des hoteliers de Bahia) d'hôtels ouvert en ce moment :

- ALAH MAR HOTEL - https://alah-mar-br.book.direct/ - AMERICA TOWER - https://www.americatowers.ammihotels.com.br/pt-br/ - BAHIA SOL E MAR - https://bahiasolemar.com.br/ - BAHIAMAR HOTEL - https://bahiamar.com.br/ - CATUSSABA RESORT - http://www.catussaba.com.br/ - FIESTA BAHIA HOTEL - https://www.fiestahotel.com.br - GRANDE HOTEL DA BARRA - https://www.grandehoteldabarra.com.br/pt-br/ - HIT HOTEL - https://www.hithotel.com.br/pt-br/ - HOTEL BAHIA DO SOL - https://www.bahiadosol.com.br/ - HOTEL BOM GOSTO - https://bom-gosto.hotelsinsalvador.com/pt/ - HOTEL COLONIAL CHILE - https://www.colonialchilehotel.com.br/pt-br/ - HOTEL PRAIA DA SEREIA - https://praiadasereia.com.br/ - HOTEL POUSADA DA MANGUEIRA - https://www.pousadadamangueira.com.br/pt-br - HOTEL SEMPRE OGUNJA - https://www.bahia.hotelsempre.com.br/pt-br/ - IBIS SALVADOR HANGAR PARK - https://all.accor.com/hotel/8181/index.pt-br.shtml - INTERCITY SALVADOR AEROPORTO - https://www.intercityhoteis.com.br/hotel-salvador/hotel-intercity-salvador-aeroporto/44/ - MAIS HOTEL AEROPORTO SALVADOR - https://maishotelbahia.com.br/ - MALIBU PLAZA HOTEL - https://malibuplaza.com.br/ - MAR BRASIL HOTEL - https://www.marbrasilhotel.com.br/ - MARANO HOTEL - http://maranohotel.com.br/ - MERCURE SALVADOR BOULEVARD - https://all.accor.com/hotel/7361/index.pt-br.shtml - MERCURE SALVADOR PITUBA - https://all.accor.com/hotel/8930/index.pt-br.shtml - MERCURE SALVADOR RIO VERMELHO - https://all.accor.com/hotel/5182/index.pt-br.shtml?utm_campaign=seo+maps&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps - ONIX PIATÃ - http://onixhoteis.com.br/ - ONIX AEROPORTO - http://onixhoteis.com.br/ - POUSADA SOLAR DAS ARTES – SALVADOR - https://pousadasolardasartes.com.br/ - PISA PLAZA HOTEL - https://pisaplaza.com.br/ - POUSADA SALVADOR - https://www.hotelsone.com/salvador-hotels-br/pousada-salvador.pt.html - SALVADOR MAR HOTEL - http://salvadormarhotel.com.br/ - QUALITY HOTEL SÃO SALVADOR - https://www.atlanticahotels.com.br/hotel/quality-hotel-suites-sao-salvador/ - VERDEMAR HOTEL - http://verdemar.com.br/ - MOTEL DECAMERON - https://www.decameron.com.br/pt-br/nossas-suites - MOTEL DEL REY - http://www.moteldelrey.com.br/ - MOTEL KAMASUTRA - https://motelkamasutra.com.br/

Les hôtels suivant parlent d'une ouverture possible plustard dans l'année : - Wish Hotel da Bahia (Campo Grande à Salvador) vers le 12 octobre - Fera Palace (Rua de Chili à Salvador) vers début décembre - Monte Pascoal Praia Hotel (Barra, Salvador) vers octobre/novembre - Grand Palladium, le 6 aout - Deville Prime, le 1 septembre - Pousada Reino de Aruanda, 1 novembre - Pousada da Mangueira, septembre

Si vous avez des questions spécifiques n'hésitez pas à les poser ici 😉

Le bonjour tropical de Salvador da Bahia

Ivan Bahia Guide

Bonjour,

Je cherche un moyen de transport depuis le port de croisière de Santos où l'on arrive le 13 décembre jusqu'à l'aéroport international Viracopos (à Campinas) on a trouvé le site gettransfert mais on ne sait pas très bien quoi en penser après les avis qu'on a lu sur ce site... Merci d'avance à ceux qui me répondront!

Here’s what a lot of you are looking for: the full lineup for the Salvador da Bahia Carnival 2026:

Salvador Carnival 2026 Schedule

(turn on your Goggol auto-translate 😁)

Tropical greetings from Salvador,

@ivanbahiaguide

Loyal member of the French-Speaking Brazil Forums for over 15 years now 😆🇧🇷

I’ve seen some info about this route, but not nearly enough, so I thought I’d share what I did for anyone interested.

Cayenne - Saint-Georges: From Cayenne’s bus station, the TIG No. 8 bus goes to Saint-Georges. It’s a minibus run by a contractor you can call ahead to reserve a seat. I managed to get a spot the same day. It was parked on the other side of the river, across from the main bus stops. Price: 40 €, departures at 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, and 3 PM except Sundays, depending on driver availability.

Saint-Georges - Oiapoque: Once in Saint-Georges, cross the river by canoe for 10 €. The canoe made a first stop on the opposite bank, then a second in the center of Oiapoque. To enter Brazil, you’ll need to get your passport stamped. This can be done at the federal police station, less than 1 km from the dock, heading into Oiapoque.

Oiapoque - Macapá: From Oiapoque, there are buses or taxis. Not knowing when the next bus would come, I didn’t want to wait, so I went back to the dock and took a 4x4, a kind of shared taxi, for 250 reals. I left around 4 PM and arrived at 2 AM in Macapá. If I had to do it again, I’d take the bus—apparently, it has reclining seats and travels overnight to arrive the next morning.

Macapá - Santana You need to get to Santana to take the ferry to Belém—tricky on a Sunday... After waiting for a bus that was taking forever, I took a *carretera pirata* (unofficial taxi) on the advice of a local Brazilian. It took me to Santana for 10 reals (vs. 5 for the bus). The ride takes about 15 minutes from Macapá to Santana’s port. You can do this the same morning.

Santana - Belém I bought tickets directly at the port when I arrived from one of the many agencies. I slept in a no-frills little hotel right by the port, run by a charming elderly couple, and boarded the next day at 9 AM. You’ll need a hammock to sleep if you’re not taking a cabin. The fare is 250 reals—it’s listed as 300, but they gave me a "discount" without me even asking. The trip takes 24 hours to Belém. There’s a small snack bar for those who didn’t have time to pack food.

Article on the topic (in French): https://la1ere.franceinfo.fr/guyane/macapa-belem-au-fil-de-l-amazone-1302076.html

Hope this helps someone avoid some of the hassle I went through!

Hi everyone,

I’d love to see jaguars in the wild in Brazil. I’ve heard it’s possible in the Pantanal. Do you know any local agencies that offer this kind of excursion, or can we go on our own? I’d also like to get an idea of the price, since French tour operators charge a fortune. Could you share any tips or your own experiences? Thanks in advance!

Hello, We're a family with three boys aged 8 to 14, and we'll be in Brazil next April. We land at GRU around 4 PM on a Saturday and want to head straight to Paraty. I've seen several options:

Private taxi: Do you have any contacts for private drivers or companies that could transport all five of us directly from the airport and that I can book in advance? I’ve already reached out to a few, but the rates are really high.

Uber: I tested the app from France, but it doesn’t offer vehicles for 5 people (Uber XL). Is that the case locally too, or is it because I’m testing from France?

99app: I couldn’t install the app from France to test it.

Bus: Take a bus from the bus station, either directly in the evening (departures around 9 PM and 10:30 PM—7-hour trip) or the next morning. This isn’t my preferred option because I’d either have to take a late bus right after we arrive (and I’m not sure how safe the area is at night, based on what I’ve read) or book a hotel to go the next morning and lose a night.

Thanks for your help.

Bonjour,

En 2011-2012, je cherche une destination romantique, sensuellle , relaxante et exotique pour nos 10 ans de mariage . On avait jamais osé le Brésil , qui nous tente beaucoup , mais qui nous retenais à cause du prix, l’insécurité, les formalités ( visa ) etc.. Depuis , le vol est moins cher, il n’y a plus de visa demandé aux canadiens et les élections sont terminées . Que pensez -vous, de la Costa Verde, Ubatuba à Rio de Janeiro ..? Deux semaines ou trois semaines , c’est à voir. Je me demande qu’elle période de l’année est la meilleure ? J’aimerais avoir des recommandations . Chauffeur? Voiture de location ? Transport en commun ?

Bonsoir à tous, Quel quartier de São Paulo privilégier pour un séjour de quelques jours (2 adultes) en janvier ou février 2020, Pinheiros, Alto de Boa vista ? Merci d'avance pour vos réponses.

IMPORTANT NOTICE for those planning to take a bus to another city, state, or destination from Salvador!

Starting January 20, 2026, the intercity bus station Rodoviária is changing its address! The Rodoviária is leaving the Iguatemi area and will now be located in ÁGUAS CLARAS (about twenty kilometers from downtown Salvador).

A brand-new station (the most modern in Brazil) has just been set up there, accessible by car/taxi/Uber/metro. Allow for much more transfer time (especially during rush hours), so leave early if you're heading to Chapada Diamantina or other Brazilian cities by bus.

Remember, there are also private transfers (even French-speaking ones) that can take you directly from your hotel in Salvador to your hotel in Chapada. Sure, it’ll be more expensive, but you’ll save on transfer time and comfort.

Tropical greetings from Salvador,

@ivanbahiaguide

Loyal member of the French-Speaking Brazil Forums for over 15 years already 😊 🇧🇷

Hi there, we’ll have 15 days total, which means 13 days of travel on the ground. We’re planning to visit Brazil during the second half of July. I’m not naive enough to think we can see a huge chunk of Brazil in such a short time, so I’m focusing on a specific area to make it relaxed and enjoyable.

We’re flying out of Madrid. I was thinking of spending 3 or 4 days in Rio, 3 days in Iguazu (I initially thought one day would be enough, but I’ve read it’s highly recommended to visit the Argentine side as well), 3 or 4 days on Ilha Grande, and 3 days in Paraty. I’m not entirely sure about Ilha Grande in July, but I’m looking for a place to unwind and enjoy the sea (if the water’s good then).

I’ve noticed a lot of people fly into Madrid and return from São Paulo (or vice versa). What’s the advantage of that? It doesn’t seem problematic (based on Google Maps, though I’m no expert) to navigate from Rio. Is there a more efficient order for visits to minimize travel time?

As you can tell, I’m just starting to plan, but I’ll need to book the international flights soon. I’ll probably have more questions for those of you who are patient enough to help! ;)

Thanks!!

Hi there, I’m planning a road trip in a rental car in Paraguay. During this trip, I’d also like to cross the border to visit Iguazu Falls (both the Argentine and Brazilian sides), which are just a few kilometers from the Paraguayan border. The issue is that rental car agencies don’t allow crossing borders. So my question is: is it easy, possible, and safe to leave the rental car for 2 or 3 days in Paraguay and cross the border from Ciudad del Este? What’s the best way to get around (bus, taxi)? Thanks for your help

Hi, We’re considering a discovery trip to Brazil in summer 2025 for a maximum of 3 weeks, transport included. Since the must-see sites are very far apart, we’ve selected the ones that seemed the most spectacular and have little or no equivalent elsewhere in the world. Here’s what we’re thinking: Outbound: 1 day Paris → São Paulo Iguaçu: 2 days Transfer: 1 day via São Paulo or Rio and São Luís Lençóis National Park: 3 days Transfer: 1 day via São Luís Salvador de Bahia: 2 days Transfer: 1 day via Rio Rio: 4 days Return: 1 day What do you think? I was thinking of adding a stop that’s easily accessible without flying from one of the places above. Ilha Grande? Tinharé Island? Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance for your tips! Virginie

Nous allons passer 1 semaine en mars à Rio, quels sont les quartiers les + agréables pour y loger? J'hésite entre Ipanema (qu'on me conseille, cf plage et sécurité) et Botafogo, voire d'autres, qui seraient plus "carioca"...! Sachant que nous aimons plutôt les quartiers populaires (au bon sens du terme, et je sais qu'Ipanema c'est autre-chose) et gentiment animés!Merci d'avance.

Bonjour à tous, Je suis à la recherche d'un restaurant à Rio proposant un diner spectacle pour une soirée festive musicale. Avez-vous une recommandation ? Merci à vous.

Bonjour à tous Tout est dans le titre, je n’arrive pas à trancher pour la fin de mon séjour au Brésil en cette fin d’année.... Votre avis ? Forcément personnel mais ça peut m’aider ... Merci !

Bonsoir à tous,

Je pars dans 10 jours au Bresil, j'arriverais le matin à l'aéroport de Sao Paulo, est il possible de ramener des canneĺés et macarons bordelais à une copine brésilienne sur place ?

Est ce autorisée au niveau de la douane ?

Merci de votre aide

Hi everyone,

We’re making a family dream come true: spending a month in Brazil from July 19 to August 20. We’ll land in Rio and spend 6 days there (we’ve finalized a home exchange for a lovely apartment in the Copacabana neighborhood). After that, we’re heading to Minas Gerais by rental car for 11 days (Tiradentes, Ouro Preto, and the Inhotim Institute), then the Costa Verde, and finally 2 days in São Paulo.

We’ll be traveling with our three kids, ages 17, 14, and 9, who are real travelers and good hikers. Goes hand in hand, right? 😄

For now, we’ve planned to visit Ilha Grande (4 days) and then Paraty and its surroundings (3 days). What do you think? Ilha Grande appealed to us for its hikes and beaches, but couldn’t we do that along Paraty’s coast? I’ve read mixed reviews about Ilha Grande...

Thanks for your tips, opinions, and anything else! !

Hello,

We’re thinking about our next destination for June 2026, and northern Brazil seems like a great option for that time of year.

We were considering a 15-day trip from Fortaleza to São Luís (or the other way around), but I’m worried it might not offer enough variety in terms of sights and landscapes. We were thinking of doing a trek in Lençóis Park, visiting Jericoacoara, the Parnaíba Delta, etc.).

The other option would be to take a domestic flight and add the Salvador de Bahia region and Chapada Diamantina, but that would require about 3 weeks.

Do you think exploring the coast between Fortaleza and São Luís is enough for a trip if we don’t kitesurf? Or is it better to combine this part of the country with another region (Salvador? The Amazon?)?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Have a great day