10 Days in Brazil from Rio
TL;DR — 10 days in Brazil
The realistic Brazil-highlights loop: 3 nights Rio → 2 nights Paraty → 2 nights Iguaçu Falls → 3 nights Salvador. One international entry (GIG), one international exit (SSA direct to Lisbon or Miami), two internal flights, one bus. Skip any single stop and the trip loses the point.
Day-by-day plan
- Day 1
Rio de Janeiro
Arrive GIG, transfer to Ipanema/Leblon. Sunset caipirinha at Arpoador. Early dinner at a boteco (Jobi or Astor).
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Rio de Janeiro
Sunrise van to Christ the Redeemer, cable car up Sugarloaf in the afternoon, dinner in Urca.
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Rio de Janeiro
Santa Teresa tram + Escadaria Selarón, lunch at Aprazível, samba night in Lapa (Rio Scenarium).
- Day 4
Rio → Paraty
Comfort bus or private transfer 4 h to Paraty on the Costa Verde. Wander the cobblestone historic centre; sunset caipirinha on the pier.
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Paraty
Schooner day trip through Paraty Bay — 4 islands, snorkel stops, lunch on board. Evening cachaça tasting.
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Paraty → Iguaçu Falls
Fly Rio (GIG) → Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) — 2 h. Overnight Brazilian side (Belmond or Wish Foz). Sunset at the falls terrace.
- Day 7
Iguaçu Falls
Full day at the falls — Brazilian side in the morning (panorama), Argentine side in the afternoon (Devil's Throat catwalk). Bring passport for the border.
- Day 8
Iguaçu → Salvador
Fly IGU → Salvador (SSA) via São Paulo — 6 h with connection. Sunset in Pelourinho, dinner of moqueca at Maria Mata Mouro.
- Day 9
Salvador
Pelourinho walking tour (São Francisco church, Casa do Olodum), afternoon at Praia do Forte turtle sanctuary, capoeira roda in the evening.
- Day 10
Salvador → Home
Morning at Mercado Modelo for souvenirs and acarajé. Late-afternoon flight home from SSA (direct to Lisbon, Miami, São Paulo).
Costs and logistics
- Budget: USD $1,600–2,200 pp (hostels + buses where possible).
- Mid-range: USD $2,800–3,800 pp (4★ hotels + internal flights + all listed tours).
- Luxury: USD $6,500+ pp (Belmond Copacabana, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, Fasano Salvador).
- International flights: not included — expect USD $700–1,400 return from US/Europe.
Pre-book the two things that always sell out
Christ the Redeemer train and the Iguazu Falls both-sides tour sell out weeks ahead in Dec–Feb and Jul.
Before you go: the essentials
A well-placed base, travel insurance that covers Brazil's private hospitals, and an eSIM so Uber and Google Maps work the minute you land — worth sorting before a multi-city trip.
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Related itineraries
2 Weeks in Brazil from Rio
Add Amazon or Fernando de Noronha to this route.
10 Days in Rio only
Slower, city-and-Costa-Verde-focused alternative.
Best beaches in Brazil
If you'd swap a stop for a beach island.
Brazil visa requirements
2026 rules for US, Canada, Australia and EU.
FAQ — Brazil 10-day itinerary
Is 10 days enough to see Brazil?+
It's enough for a highlights loop — Rio, one Costa Verde escape (Paraty), Iguaçu Falls and Salvador. Brazil is bigger than the continental USA, so anything more requires 14–21 days. Skip anyone of those four and the itinerary gets thin.
Should I start in Rio or São Paulo?+
Rio — it's the visual, cultural and beach hero of Brazil. Save São Paulo for a business trip or a food-focused return trip. Every international flight that lands in São Paulo also connects to GIG (Rio) in under 90 min.
Can I do this itinerary in reverse?+
Yes — Salvador → Iguaçu → Paraty → Rio works well, especially if your return flight is easier from GIG. The only fixed rule: don't fly out of Iguaçu on your last day (limited international options).
Do I need visas for Brazil in 2026?+
Since April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa for Brazil (issued online in 3–5 days, ~USD $80). EU and UK do not. See our Brazil visa guide for the exact list.
How much does this 10-day trip cost?+
Mid-range: USD $2,800–3,800 per person excluding international flights (4★ hotels, mid-range meals, all listed tours, internal flights). Budget version (hostels, buses instead of flights where possible): USD $1,600–2,200. Luxury (Belmond Copacabana + Belmond Iguassu + Fasano Salvador): USD $6,500+.
What about the Amazon?+
The Amazon is 4+ days minimum and adds a full internal-flight leg (Manaus). Swap Salvador for Manaus/Amazon lodge if rainforest is a bucket-list must — but you'll lose the Bahia food and Afro-Brazilian culture layer. Better on a 14-day trip.
Is Brazil safe on this route?+
Yes — with the same rules that apply anywhere: Uber at night, no phone visible on the street, hotel safes for passports, don't wear jewellery. Paraty, Iguaçu (Brazilian side) and Salvador's Pelourinho by day are as safe as any tourist zone. Rio needs the most awareness — see our Rio safety guide.
Best time of year for this itinerary?+
May–October is the sweet spot — Rio and Paraty are dry and mild, Iguaçu is at peak flow, Salvador is dry. Avoid January–February unless you're chasing Carnaval (prices double and Iguaçu is very hot).