Brazil has more than a lot to offer, and from our three-month trip to Brazil in 2024, we gained enough insights to reveal 11 of the best things to do in Brazil, some of which you may already be aware of and some which may surprise you.
1. Dive into the magic of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s most famous city by far and was one of the highlights of our trip. This crazy city is packed with history, food, and unique Brazilian attractions.
We spent three weeks in Rio, beginning with Carnival season in February — more about that later — and every day was magical.
Want to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World? You’ve got Christ the Redeemer. Want incredible views of the city? Sugar Loaf Mountain offers sprawling views of the city from Niteroi to Leblon.
Whether you’re a family looking for family-friendly activities, Rio has something for everyone. On Monday night, we took an Uber to Pedra do Sal in downtown Rio and listened to some of Brazil’s best Samba music.
While Copacabana Beach is famous worldwide, Ipanema Beach was our favorite, with the clean white sands, calm waves, and incredible views of Morro Dois Irmãos.
Some other highlights for us were visiting the incredible Mural das Etnias by Eduardo Cobra, close to the Museum of Art of Rio and the Escadaria Selarón in Lapa.
2. Jump of a Cliff in Urubici with Salto de Pêndulo
On part of our trip to Brazil’s southern state of Santa Caterina, we took a three-hour drive from Florianopolis to the small, elevated town of Urubici.
In this town is a park called Parque Mundo Novo, which features a unique cliff-side pendulum jump through a canyon, which is offered by Salto de Pêndulo from Natural Extremo Eventos de Aventura.
It’s one of the most unique things you can do in Brazil, which you’ll notice by how few foreign tourists there are on the site, and the guys at Salto de Pêndulo offered excellent service, putting safety at the forefront.
We paid about USD 90 for the jump, and if you don’t have your own GoPro, you can add media packages starting from USD 30.
It took me a few seconds to gather the courage to take the leap, but once I did, it was one of the most exhilarating feelings I’ve felt in my entire life.
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3. Feel the power of Iguazu Falls up close
During our stay in Rio, we took a short side trip to Iguazu Falls in Foz do Iguaçu. It is, without question, one of the most jaw-dropping waterfalls I’ve ever seen. The waterfall system stretches for 1.7 miles, and it is bordered by three countries.
Foz do Iguaçu is the hub to visit Brazil’s size of Iguazu Falls; taking about 20 to 30 minutes to reach the site’s entrance from the center. The entrance fee for the falls works out to about USD 20 for foreign nationals. If you have a Brazilian passport you can enter for a cheaper rate.
You’ll take a short bus ride from the entrance and be greeted by the roaring noise of the fall, with a walking platform allowing you to get right up and close to it.
A trip to Iguazu Falls is best when combined with a day to the Argentinian side, which we did on our second day. Crossing the border into Argentina is couldn’t be more straightforward.
There’s a bus that runs from Foz do Iguaçu and across the border to the small Argentinian town of Puerto Iguazú. The bus stops at the border and allows passengers to get their passports stamped at the Brazilian immigration office as well as the Argentinian side.
The good thing about the option to visit the Brazilian and Argentinian sides of the Falls is that they both offer something completely different. Argentine’s side of Iguazu Falls is more of an adventure. It took us around 45 minutes to walk along the strategically placed platforms to reach “Devil’s Throat,” the most open part of the Falls.
Let me tell you, this experience was striking and daunting at the same time. I’ve never been so close to a natural wonder this powerful, and I have no doubt that you’ll feel the same. The entrance fee for the Brazilian side was about $43.
One question I hear all the time is “Which side of Iguazu Falls wins, Brazil or Argentina? In my opinion, Argentina’s side takes this prize. While they both offer something different, the trail to the Falls is magical, and the fact you can get closer to them makes it feel more special.
4. Meet two Rivers at the "Meeting of the Waters"
We played with the idea of heading to the Amazon as it’s relatively far from Rio and São Paulo, but we were yet to be disappointed with everywhere we’d been in Brazil up until that point, so we thought we’d throw a trip to Manaus and the Amazon Rainforest in our itinerary.
I hadn’t heard of the “Meeting of the Waters” before arriving in Brazil, but it was a super unique experience that didn’t take much effort or money.
Several tour companies online offer excursions to the location, but we went to Porto de Manaus and paid USD 20 per person for a local tour boat.
I don’t have the scientific knowledge to explain this natural phenomenon, but seeing how the waters met [no pun intended] yet flowed side-by-side without mixing was surreal. If you fly to the Amazon during your Brazil, a guided tour of “Meeting of the Waters” is a worthwhile addition to a list of top things to do in Brazil.
5. Sink Your Feet in the Dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses
Brazil is brimming with unique, natural wonders to explore, so the fact that Lençóis Maranhenses may top the list says a lot about how special it is. Located in the northern state of Maranhão, east of São Luís sits Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses.
You can reach the park from either São Luís, the state’s capital, or Parnaiba on the border of Ceará state. We flew to São Luís and took a transfer service to Barreirinhas. From there, we took a riverboat along the Preguiças River to Atins, one of the small towns bordering the national park.
Atins is a magical little fishing built entirely on sand. Even the streets are made of sand. It was the perfect gateway to visit the Lençóis Maranhenses as it sat right next to the park’s dunes and lagoons.
Some unofficial options to visit the park include ATV rides from locals, or you can book a tour with one of the park’s associated tour companies.
We used Atins 4×4 Adventure to get to the park, where we climbed the dunes and swam in the lagoons. Standing at the top of the dunes, they stretched as far as the eye could see, and the freshwater lagoons were crystal clear with no impurities.
6. Roam the scenic trails of Chapada Diamantina
Chapada Diamantina National Park is a hidden gem six hours by bus east of Salvador, Bahia state. The park covers an area of over 1,500 square meters, with several vantage points to explore it. We chose Lençóis as ours, which had lots of amazing places to visit.
When visiting Chapada Diamantina National Park, you can join one of several tours that offer multi-day tours to points of interest like Morro Do Pai Inacio, Pratinha, Gruta Lapa Doce, Poco Azul, and Cachoeira da Fumaca.
The tour we booked visited all these places over three separate day trips and cost us around USD 200 per person. The place that topped the list was Morro do Pai Inacio. It took a little hike to get to the top, but the views were stunning from all angles.
There’s also the option to buck full-day tours to visit the most popular spots. For many people, Brazil is all about the coast. Don’t get me wrong, the coast is beautiful, but seeing some of Brazil’s inland landscapes, such as Chapada Diamantina National Park, was special and one of the must-sees in Brazil.
7. Get a Bird's-Eye View of São Paulo at Sampa Sky
Few people outside Brazil are familiar with Sampa Sky, but it’s one of São Paulo’s must-visit attractions. Located right in the center of the city in São Paulo’s historical center, the Sampa Sky building offers a unique viewing experience of the city.
The building features a glass-floor Chigaco-style skydeck on the 42nd floor, which provides visitors with the sensation of floating above the metropolis. We paid BRL 165 (about USD 30) to access the Sampa Sky 360-degree deck.
8 Drift through the Azure-Blue Waters of Rio da Prata, Bonito
Located in the in-land state of Mato Grosso do Sul is a small town called Bonito. We flew from São Paulo to Campo Grande, the state’s capital, and rented a car for a four-hour drive to Bonito.
There are several amazing activities to do in and around Bonito, but the most memorable thing we did was float along Rio da Prata. Known as one of the world’s clearest rivers, it is one of the best experiences in the country due to its unparalleled water clarity, rich biodiversity, and immersive eco-adventure.
We were briefed at the park’s entrance before putting on wet suits and walking down to the river. The river’s blue shimmer hit is as soon as we reached its entry point. Gliding through the river felt hypnotic—the water so clear it felt unreal and we were surrounded by tropically colored fish.
We visited in the low season, so the price was about $70 per person. We saw that the high season price was about $90 to $95. A nice touch of the tour was that it included a delicious buffet with typical regional foods, such as arroz carreteiro, sopa paraguaia, and quebra-torto.
9. Savor the Culinary Delights of Minas Gerais
I will never forget our flavor-packed trip to Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais. From the moment I arrived, the air was filled with the smell of wood stoves and slow-cooked feijão tropeiro.
Every meal was like a warm hug–whether it was the state’s famous pão de queijo, which was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, or a plate of tutu de feijão with torresmo that had just the right amount of crunch.
We found ourselves in a tiny family-run restaurant in Ouro Preto called Restaurante Contos de Réis,, where a lovely Senhora served me a huge plate of tropeiro beans, sun-dried beef, and collard greens—each bite full of tradition.
And the cheese? Minas cheese is on another level. Combined with guava paste, it was even better. Every meal wasn’t just food—it was a story, a legacy, a piece of Minas in every bite.
10 Step into Brazil’s history at the Museu Afro Brasil
Visiting the Museu Afro Brasil was an eye-opening and deeply moving experience. Though American slavery is widely discussed worldwide, Brazil’s slave history remains largely overlooked outside the country.
As soon as we stepped inside, I felt like I was transported through the layers of Brazil’s rich and often untold history of its African descendants.
The museum’s stunning collection of artifacts, paintings, and sculptures told the powerful stories of Afro-Brazilian culture, from the struggles of enslaved African people to the profound impact African heritage has had on Brazil’s art, music, and traditions.
We were captivated by the vibrant artwork of Afro-Brazilian painters like Dalton Paula, each piece telling a different tale of resilience, joy, and pain. The museum’s exhibits brought black history to life in a way that was both educational and emotional.
Walking through the halls, I gained a deeper understanding of the complex cultural fabric that shapes modern Brazil and left feeling inspired and humbled by the stories of strength and perseverance.
11. Feel the Heat of Rio Carnival
Brazil is home to the world’s biggest party… Rio de Janeiro Carnival! It happens every year around the end of February or the beginning of March, and it’s an absolute blast of energy and culture—imagine the wildest party times ten.
We started our Rio Carnival journey with pre-carnival parties known as blocos. You can even download an app to find out all the locations, dates, and times of blocos happening in Rio leading up to the carnival. These street parties are free and take place throughout the day from about 7 AM to after midnight, so you’ll always fight one to fit your schedule.
The Sambadrome in Cidade Nova, downtown Rio, is where the real samba competition happens, with professional samba schools in amazing costumes and serious dance moves.
This isn’t a street party; it’s a big event, and tickets are required to get in. They sell out fast, so get your tickets early. Basic grandstand seats start at USD 30, or you can upgrade to a better view with front box tickets.
There are also packages that include round-trip transportation starting at USD 90. With Rio Carnival attracting hundreds of thousands of people annually, it’s best to book ahead to ensure you get the best accommodation, as many are triple or quadruple priced for carnival dates.
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Top Things to Do in Brazil
What activities is Brazil known for?
Popular activities that Brazil is known for include dancing samba at Rio Carnival, gazing at Christ the Redeemer, Jaguar tracking in the Pantanal, and island hopping in Paraty.
Is 7 days enough in Brazil?
Whether seven days is enough in Brazil depends on what you plan to do. Brazil is a large country, and traveling between states may eat up half a day or more. If you want to visit Rio de Janeiro on a Brazilian trip, seven days is enough to experience the best activities in Rio.
Why is Brazil worth visiting?
Brazil is more than worth visiting if you’re into cultural vibrance and a party atmosphere, festivals like carnival, jaw-dropping landscapes, pristine coastlines, and vast tropical rainforests.
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