Brazil’s story is a kaleidoscope of cultures—Indigenous roots, Portuguese heritage, and African rhythms—spun into modern cities and wild frontiers. In 13 days, you’ll trace that tapestry from Rio de Janeiro’s beaches and samba halls to the rainforest roar of Iguaçu Falls and the cosmopolitan pulse of São Paulo.

Expect showstoppers: Christ the Redeemer watching over Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf gleaming at sunset, and the monumental arc of Iguaçu’s 275 cascades. Between icons, we’ll slip into neighborhood cafés, artist studios, and beloved botecos for feijoada, pão de queijo, and caipirinhas done right.

Practical notes: pack light layers and mosquito repellent, use rideshare or licensed taxis at night, and keep valuables tucked away. Check Brazil and Argentina entry requirements (visas can apply by nationality), carry a passport for the Iguaçu border day, and plan domestic flights in the morning to maximize sightseeing.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio dazzles with contrasts: rainforest ridgelines meet luminous beaches, colonial lanes give way to cutting-edge museums, and nights swing from live samba to sleek cocktail bars. It’s a city that rewards early starts and lingers long after sunset.

Getting there: Book international flights into GIG (Galeão) or SDU (Santos Dumont) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re flying from Europe, compare on Omio. GIG to Copacabana/Ipanema runs ~35–60 minutes by taxi/rideshare (about US$15–25 depending on traffic).

Days 1–5: Beaches, peaks, samba, and bay breezes

• Iconic Rio in one polished sweep. Maximize your first full day with a guided combo that pairs Corcovado’s Christ the Redeemer (via the forest train) and Sugarloaf’s cable cars, plus city photo stops and a hearty churrasco lunch: Full Day in Rio: Christ by Train, Sugarloaf, Selarón & Barbecue.

  

• Feel the wind over forest and sea. Tandem from Pedra Bonita in São Conrado, soaring above Tijuca Forest and the coastline with expert pilots: Experience Hang Gliding or Paragliding in Rio. Sunrise slots are sublime; weight/age guidelines apply.

  

• Rainforest within the city. Lace up for waterfalls, caves, and wildlife in Tijuca National Park—an easy way to taste the Atlantic Forest: Rainforest Hike in Rio: Tijuca Waterfalls, Wildlife & Caves.

  

• Golden hour on the water. Toast the skyline on a Guanabara Bay cruise that glides past islands, fortresses, and Niterói’s saucer-shaped museum: Rio de Janeiro Sunset Sailing Tour with Drinks.

  

• Neighborhood time. Wander Santa Teresa’s hilltop ateliers and café patios; descend to Lapa for the tiled Escadaria Selarón and late-night samba at Rio Scenarium. Between beach days, dip into the Museum of Tomorrow and the Botanic Garden’s imperial palms.

Eat & drink like a local: Breakfast at Confeitaria Colombo (belle-époque salon; try the flaky pastel de nata) or Talho Capixaba in Leblon. Lunch on the seawall at Bar Urca (moqueca, cold beer with a bay view) or Aconchego Carioca (legendary bolinho de feijoada). Sunset snacks at Arpoador; dinner at Aprazível (Brazilian staples in a garden aerie), Marius Degustare (legendary meat-and-seafood rodízio in Leme), or Zazá Bistrô Tropical (playful, produce-led plates). Cap your night with a classic caipirinha in Lapa.

Coffee breaks: Café do Alto (tapiocas and Northeastern flavors, Santa Teresa), Gringo Café (Ipanema), and The Slow Bakery (Botafogo) for sourdough and espresso.

Where to stay: Browse central beach neighborhoods via Hotels.com (Rio de Janeiro) or VRBO (Rio de Janeiro). Specific picks:

• Belmond Copacabana Palace – Rio’s grand dame on the beachfront, pool glamour and service to match.
• Windsor Barra Hotel – Big rooms and ocean views in Barra da Tijuca; good for families.
• Selina Lapa Rio de Janeiro – Stylish, social hub near Lapa’s nightlife.
• Ibis Rio de Janeiro Centro – Wallet-friendly base near downtown sights.

Next leg—morning flight to Foz do Iguaçu (Day 6): 2:00–2:15 hours nonstop; typical one-way US$80–160 to IGU. Book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. IGU airport to town is ~20–30 minutes by taxi/rideshare.

Foz do Iguaçu

At the tri-border of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, Iguaçu Falls thunders through subtropical forest in 275 distinct cascades. The Brazilian side delivers wide-angle views; the Argentine side gets you nose-to-spray with catwalks into the mist.

Days 6–8: Both sides of the Falls, birds, and big water

• Do both sides in a day (with border support). Let a guide handle logistics—Brazilian panoramas in the morning, Argentine walkways and Garganta del Diablo in the afternoon: Full Day Iguassu Falls Both Sides - Brazil and Argentina. Carry your passport; check Argentina entry rules for your nationality.

  

• See the arc from the air. A short scenic flight reveals the full horseshoe curve, rainforest canopy, and river confluence: Panoramic Helicopter Flight over Iguassu Falls.

  

• Wildlife & wings. Add Parque das Aves (Bird Park) to meet toucans and macaws up close, or visit the Itaipu Dam for an engineering giant at sunset. Best light for Brazil-side boardwalks is mid-to-late afternoon.

Where to stay: Explore options via Hotels.com (Foz do Iguaçu) or VRBO (Foz do Iguaçu). Specific picks:

• Belmond Hotel das Cataratas – Inside the national park; guests enjoy early/late access to falls paths.
• Vivaz Cataratas Hotel Resort – Pools and family-friendly facilities near the park road.
• Mabu Thermas Grand Resort – Thermo-mineral pools and resort amenities.
• Tetris Container Hostel – Design-forward budget base built from shipping containers.

Eat & drink: Start at Empório com Arte (crafts + café; great brigadeiros). For dinner, La Mafia Trattoria (homemade pasta) or Churrascaria Búfalo Branco (classic grill). Capitão Bar is a lively spot for cold draft beer and petiscos after a day among rainbows and spray.

Next leg—morning flight to São Paulo (Day 9): 1:40–1:55 hours nonstop from IGU to CGH/GRU; typical one-way US$70–150. Reserve through Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From CGH, you’re ~20–35 minutes by car to Paulista/Ibirapuera; from GRU, plan ~45–75 minutes depending on traffic.

São Paulo

Brazil’s creative engine is a swirl of galleries, gastronomy, street art, and skyscrapers. Come for the museums and markets, stay for the cafés in leafy neighborhoods and a food scene that rivals any global capital.

Days 9–13: Art, architecture, and unforgettable food

• Orientation with a pro. Cover Paulista Avenue, the historic center, and key neighborhoods with a private guide who tailors stops to your interests: Amazing São Paulo overview in 4 or 5 hours with a private guide.

  

• Museum-hop with purpose. At MASP, study European masters framed by Lina Bo Bardi’s famous glass easels; at Pinacoteca, dive into Brazilian art in a beautifully restored 1905 building. Stroll Ibirapuera Park’s Oscar Niemeyer pavilions between galleries.
• Street art & indie vibes. Explore Vila Madalena’s Beco do Batman for ever-changing murals, then linger in design shops and cafés. In Liberdade, the largest Japanese community outside Japan, sample torched sushi or a steamy bowl of lamen beneath red torii lamps.
• Market lunch, Paulistano style. At the Municipal Market, seek out the towering mortadella sandwich at Bar do Mané and pastel de bacalhau; then browse tropical fruit tastings (try jabuticaba and cupuaçu).

Where to stay: Compare areas and deals on Hotels.com (São Paulo) or VRBO (São Paulo). Editor’s picks:

• Hotel Unique – An architectural icon with a rooftop pool bar and skyline views near Ibirapuera.
• Hotel Fasano São Paulo – Classic service and white-tablecloth dining in leafy Jardins.
• Novotel São Paulo Morumbi – Good value for families; easy access to the south business district.
• Ibis Budget São Paulo Paulista – Simple, central, steps from the metro on Av. Paulista.

Eat & drink (specific, now-you-know): Coffee Lab (Vila Madalena; tasting “rituals” by champion roaster Isabela Raposeiras), Futuro Refeitório (industrial-chic brunch, seasonal plates), Padoca do Maní (butter-soft pão na chapa and cakes). Lunch at Mocotó (northeastern Brazilian comfort—sunny cassava purées, caldo de mocotó) or Casa do Porco (nose-to-tail pork tasting menu; arrive early or plan for the queue). Dinner at D.O.M. (Alex Atala’s Amazon-to-table landmark), Tordesilhas (regional Brazilian classics), or Bráz Pizzaria (São Paulo’s devotion to Neapolitan-style pies). For cocktails, SubAstor (under the lanes of Vila Madalena) or Bar dos Arcos (beneath the Theatro Municipal) deliver serious mixology with atmosphere.

Getting around: The metro is clean and extensive; buy a reloadable Bilhete Único and combine with app-based rides late at night. Distances are big—cluster museums in one day and street art/markets in another to cut transit time.

Logistics at a glance

• Best time: Rio is beach-friendly year-round; Iguaçu’s flow peaks roughly Dec–Mar; São Paulo is mild most months (pack a light jacket for evenings).
• Money & safety: Cards are widely accepted; carry a small stash of cash for markets and kiosks. Use ATMs in banks/malls by day and keep your phone zipped away in crowded areas.
• Visas & documents: Check Brazil and Argentina entry rules for your passport well before travel; carry your passport for the Iguaçu border crossing.

Homeward flight: Fly out of São Paulo (GRU has the widest international options). Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com (Europe-based travelers, also check Omio).

In 13 days you’ll have traced Brazil’s greatest hits—sugar-sand beaches, rainforest peaks, a world wonder waterfall, and a metropolis that eats brilliantly late into the night. It’s a trip that balances must-see icons with local flavor, leaving you sun-kissed, well-fed, and already plotting a return.