Travel Guide: Cheap flights to Brazil
Brazil Airlines and Airports
Airline and airport information plus insider tips for Brazil
Exciting and intoxicating, the vast South American country of Brazil is filled with energy and colour, epitomised by the annual Carnaval in the streets of its fabulous coastal city, Rio de Janeiro. Luckily, travelling to beautiful cities like Rio De Janeiro has never been easier, as there are now a wide variety of cheap flights to Brazil.
From impenetrable Amazon rain forests to mountain villages and concrete urban jungles, Brazil exudes a passion for life that is as evident in the sunny smiles of its people as it is in the Latin American samba beat.Care-free exuberance is, however, not a true reflection of all conditions in this country of contrasts. Behind the glittering facade of expensive malls and skyscrapers, there stretches miles of shanty towns (known as favelas), where much of the population lives in poverty. Favela tours with locals can be organised for tourists who want to see the living conditions of the majority of Brazilians.
Thanks to the money you may have saved on your cheap flights to Brazil, you'll be able to afford a bit of luxury on your holiday, so treat yourself by staying in one of the glitzy five-star hotels in world-renowned beach resorts like Copacabana and Ipanema, While the cities, especially Rio and the megalopolis of Sao Paulo, are exciting places to be, the real delights in Brazil are the ever-growing list of fascinating eco-tourism options. By staying at one of these greener options, you and your travelling companions could go some way to offsetting the carbon emissions from your Brazil flights.
In a vast country that spans 8.5 million square kilometres there are natural parks, biosphere reserves, environmental protection areas and dozens more natural paradises to discover. There are archaeological treasures too, like the pre-historic paintings of the Capivara Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Cultural Treasure.
It's hard to believe all this stunning natural beauty, culture and exoticism is just one short journey away. Flights to Brazil take approximately 11 hours from London.
Find the best flight prices to Brazil
When to fly to Brazil
Peak season:
Since Brazil is in the Southern Hemisphere its summer is December through to March. The best time to visit is from December until Carnaval season; usually in February. However this is also when prices for accommodation and flights are at their peak, so you could find it difficult getting cheap flights to Brazil. Another popular time to visit is the week of Easter.
Off season:
May to October is the winter season, but if you're looking for discount flights to Brazil and economical accommodation then it's probably the best time to visit - prices are lower and temperatures are in the upper 20s; much cooler than in summer.
Getting Around
Once you've stepped off your cheap flights to Brazil, there are many ways to get around the vast country. Flights are the easiest option (though certainly not the cheapest). Visitors who plan on taking Brazil flights to see a few different regions or cities should invest in a Brazil Air Pass which can be bought before arriving in the country through airlines, travel agents or the tourist office.
In the major cities the best, and safest, way to get around is by taxi.
For long-distance travel buses are a good, reliable option and all major cities are linked by bus routes.
Rental cars are available at the airport although driving can be rather frustrating and dangerous at times.
Flying to Brazil
Major airports in Brazil include:
Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB)
Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG)
Sao Paulo (GRU) (Guarulhos)
Airlines offering cheap flights to Brazil include:
British Airways
Gol
TAM (KK)
VARIG
Find flight durations
In-flight Reading
Eleven Minutes
By Paulo Coelho
A beautifully written story about a young girl living in a Brazilian village who experiences sorrow and heartache and moves to Geneva where her life takes a dramatic turn.
The Healer
By Amber Hayward
This is the story of a psychic healer in Brazil who tries to cure a deaf-blind boy, but fails. He does, however, teach him to communicate telepathically.
Samba
By Alma Guillermoprieto
After living in the Mangueira favela, famous for its samba school, award-winning journalist Alma Guillermoprieto's vivid book portrays the life and music of Brazil.
The Silence Of The Rain
Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza
A gripping novel that takes place in Rio de Janeiro about a young businessman who's found dead and the detective who tries to solve this puzzling crime.
Dona Flor And Her Two Husbands
By Jorge Amado
Written by renowned Brazilian author Jorge Amado, this is a decadent tale of a young cooking teacher who's haunted by the premature death of her promiscuous husband.
Insider Information on Brazil
Take a cable car up 396 metres (1300 feet) to Pão de Açúcar or Sugarloaf Mountain and see the most breathtaking views of the entire city beneath you. Then head up Corcovado Mountain and visit the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer.
If you're a football fan then you can't miss a game at the football mecca of the world: Maracanã Stadium. With 100,000 passionate fans screaming, dancing and singing, it'll definitely be a game you'll never forget. You may even want to consider finding cheap flights to Brazil the next time your team is playing.
Once you and your travelling companions have recovered from your low-cost flights to Brazil, you should think about leaving the big cities to enjoy the serenity of kayaking in the Amazon. You can take a guided tour and explore the rainforest, then stop for a meal prepared by the tour's chef. But if you'd rather get your adrenaline pumping then try hang gliding at 780 metres (2,624 feet) above the city of Rio.
Invite yourself to the wildest party in the world - Carnaval. Each year the city turns into one big party with thousands participating in the samba parade and dancing till the early hours of the morning. But be warned: cheap flights to Brazil are difficult to come by around Carnaval time.
Travel Tips
- Finding Cheap FlightsOur golden rules for finding a cheap flight
- Airlines with low-cost ticketsAn essential guide to how the main carriers operate
- Before You GoAdvice on everything you need to do before you set off
- Regional UK and Irish AirportsFlying from the four corners of the UK and Ireland
- Glossary of Flying TermsAn A-Z of common terms you’ll need to know
- Travel Sickness and DVTHow to stay happy and healthy in the air
Travel links
- Currency converterFind the current exchange rate
- WeatherThe weather in Brazil today
- Destination GuideLonely Planet's guide to Brazil