Do I need a visa for Brazil in 2026? +
No visa for EU citizens (French, Belgian, Swiss) and Canadians for tourist stays under 90 days, renewable once on site. Passport valid 6 months after return. Brazil announced in 2024 the reintroduction of an e-visa for Americans, Canadians and Australians starting April 2025, finally pushed to April 2026: Canadian and US travelers should check the status on the official itamaraty.gov.br before departure. EU citizens are not affected.
How many days do you need in Brazil? +
Minimum 10 days for Rio + Iguazu, the most time-efficient combo. 14 days to add Salvador and the Amazon. 3 weeks lets you cover Rio + Iguazu + Salvador + Lençóis Maranhenses + Amazon or Pantanal. Internal distances are huge (Rio-Manaus = 4h flight), budget 3 to 5 domestic flights for a comfort circuit.
When is the Rio Carnival 2026? +
Official Carnival 2026 runs from Friday 13 to Tuesday 17 February 2026 (Mardi Gras = 17 February). Sambódromo parades on Sunday 15 and Monday 16, with the Champions parade the following Saturday. Free street blocos start late January and last 3 weeks. Book flights and hotels 9-12 months ahead: prices triple in Rio during this period.
When to go to the Pantanal for jaguars? +
June to October, dry season. Rivers drop, animals concentrate around waterholes and trails become passable. Peak jaguar sightings: July-September at Porto Jofre (north Pantanal), with a success rate above 90% over 3 days of river safari. In wet season (December-March), the Pantanal floods and animals scatter.
Is Brazil safe in 2026? Should I avoid Rio and São Paulo? +
Elevated urban risk, but most tourists encounter no incident if they follow a few rules: no jewelry, no smartphone in hand on the street, Uber over street taxis, never enter a favela without a serious local guide, watch ATMs. Rio and São Paulo concentrate the crime but also 90% of organized tourist security. The Nordeste, the South (Floripa) and natural regions (Pantanal, Lençóis, Noronha) are notably calmer.
How to get around Brazil? Are domestic flights necessary? +
Yes, distances are continental. Rio-Manaus = 4h flight, Rio-Salvador = 2h30. LATAM, GOL and Azul airlines, domestic flights often from €80-150 if booked 2-3 months ahead. Comfortable long-distance buses (Cometa, Util) for short trips (Rio-Paraty 4h, São Paulo-Rio 6h). No tourist rail network. Rental car useful for the Nordeste and the South.
Do I need to speak Portuguese to travel in Brazil? +
Strongly recommended. English is limited outside upscale hotels, tourist agencies and big southern cities (Floripa). Brazilian Portuguese differs from European Portuguese: more melodic accent, specific vocabulary, almost no formal 'vous'. Learning 50 words and phrases (ordering, asking a price, taking an Uber) radically changes the experience. Spanish gets you partway but irritates Brazilians proud of their language.
Iguazu from the Brazilian or Argentine side? +
Both ideally, in 2 days. Brazilian side (Foz do Iguaçu): panoramic frontal view of 80% of the falls in half a day. Argentine side (Puerto Iguazú): walk over Garganta del Diablo, more trails, a full day. Border crossable by taxi or bus in 1h. If you must choose one, take the Argentine side (more immersive); but the Brazilian side gives the postcard shot.
Amazon or Pantanal for wildlife? +
Pantanal to see animals: wide open spaces, jaguars, capybaras, caimans, jabirus, anacondas. Very high sighting rate in dry season. Amazon for the jungle immersion experience: dense canopy, hidden wildlife, native peoples, rio Negro cruises from Manaus. If it's your first time and you want to see animals, choose the Pantanal. If you want to live the jungle, the Amazon.
