Things to do in 

Brazil

Curious about Brazil’s quiet corners, you can find alternative things to do by slipping into small markets, slow trails, and river towns that locals love beyond the regular circuit.

Cultural Activities: In Salvador’s Pelourinho, cook moqueca with a Bahian chef, then sit in on an Olodum percussion rehearsal to feel how the rhythms come together. In Manaus, explore Mercado Adolpho Lisboa with a guide to sample tucupi and cupuaçu before meeting Indigenous artisans selling basketry along the riverfront.

Day Trip Ideas: From Rio de Janeiro, slip into Guapimirim’s mangroves by kayak to watch herons and visit a tiny oyster farm inside the protected bay. From Salvador, spend a day in Cachoeira in the Recôncavo Baiano, tour a small cigar workshop, and visit a terreiro that welcomes respectful visitors to learn about Candomblé heritage. From São Paulo, take the weekend tourist train to Paranapiacaba, hike Atlantic Forest trails to stone viewpoints, and finish with bolinho de bacalhau in a village bar.

Less Crowded Views: In Minas Gerais’ Serra do Cipó National Park, follow the Cânion das Bandeirinhas trail to broad rock terraces where the river braids below and crowds thin outside holidays. Along Santa Catarina’s Serra do Rio do Rastro, pull off at a secondary mirante after midday when the fog lifts for sweeping switchback views without the bus-stop bustle.

Explore Brazil's Regions: In Bahia, balance Afro-Brazilian Salvador with quiet days on Chapada Diamantina trails and nights in Vale do Capão guesthouses. In the Amazon around Manaus and Novo Airão, drift blackwater channels in Anavilhanas and visit community projects focused on river dolphins and craft traditions. In Minas Gerais, pair Ouro Preto’s steep lanes and cheese shops with a day at Inhotim in Brumadinho, while in the Pantanal you can boat at dawn from Porto Jofre to watch giant otters.

Give yourself 5 to 7 days to dig into one region at a relaxed pace, and 10 to 14 days for a multi-stop trip linking places like Bahia, Minas, and the Amazon; for ideas, browse ToursByLocals Brazil.

More places to see in Brazil

Beyond Rio, you’ll find places that feel personal and full of daily life. Spend time in coastal neighborhoods known for music and food, wander streets built during the gold rush, track wildlife in vast wetlands, and hike table-top mountains to clear-water pools. The mix makes the country feel new with every stop.

Salvador: Step into the Museu Afro-Brasileiro in Pelourinho to see carvings and drums that tell the city’s story, then cross the square to the gilded Igreja de São Francisco. Ride the Elevador Lacerda down to Mercado Modelo, browse the stalls, and try a moqueca at Casa de Tereza in Rio Vermelho. End your day by the Farol da Barra as locals gather along the seawall for sunset and acarajé fresh from a street stand.

Minas Gerais: In Ouro Preto, walk Rua Direita to the Igreja de São Francisco de Assis and the Museu da Inconfidência, then refuel with warm pão de queijo from a corner bakery. Base a night in Tiradentes and ride the Maria Fumaça steam train to São João del-Rei on a weekend, returning for a slow lunch on Largo das Forras. Soapstone workshops sit just off the main lanes, where you can watch carving and pick up a pan made for feijão.

Pantanal: Start in Poconé and follow the Transpantaneira toward Porto Jofre, stopping on wooden bridges to watch jabiru storks and caimans below. Take a small boat on the Rio Cuiabá with a local pilot to look for giant river otters and, if luck holds, a jaguar on the bank. Stay at a simple fazenda along the road, where capybaras graze by the ponds and guides lead late-afternoon drives when the heat eases.

Chapada Diamantina: Base yourself in Lençóis and walk old stone paths to the lookout above Cachoeira da Fumaça, where the valley opens wide beneath you. Float in the clear blue of Poço Azul when the sun cuts into the cave, then share a plate of carne de sol with beans on Rua das Pedras. Climb Morro do Pai Inácio near sunset for a slow view over tabletop ridges before heading back for a cold cerveja on the square.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Expect warming days and lighter crowds across Brazil. Wander Rio’s Jardim Botânico in bloom, feel Iguazu’s fuller flow, or snorkel Bonito’s crystal rivers, with milder temps suiting families and seniors. Couples and luxury travellers slip away to quiet beach pousadas along Bahia’s coast.

Summer: Tropical heat and sudden showers set the rhythm from the Amazon to the beaches. Claim early-morning sands in Rio or Florianópolis, join Carnival street blocos in February, then cool off with a museum afternoon or a sunset caipirinha, easy for couples while kids nap.

Fall: Softer light and calmer cities arrive after Carnival. Track wildlife as the Pantanal dries, hike Chapada Diamantina’s trails, or stroll baroque towns in Minas Gerais at an easy pace appreciated by seniors and multigenerational groups.

Winter: Dry, clear days make June to August prime for Pantanal safaris and for crisp hikes in the Serra regions. Watch southern right whales along the Santa Catarina coast, pair mild Rio afternoons with gallery stops, or cosy up in Gramado’s cafés, a simple pleasure for couples and slower travellers.

From January’s Lavagem do Bonfim in Salvador and February’s Carnival street parties to June’s São João bonfires and forró across the Northeast, Brazil’s calendar keeps the streets lively. See Bumba Meu Boi in São Luís and the Parintins Folklore Festival light up the Amazon in late June, then look to October’s Círio de Nazaré in Belém before closing the year with Réveillon fireworks on Copacabana.