December-March in Brazil

Vast Brazil stretches across half of South America’s landmass, with regional climates varying from equatorial in the north to a true southern hemisphere climate (hot summers and cooler winters) in the south.

Summery weather combined with the trinity of seasonal holidays—Christmas, New Year, and Carnival—draws visitors to Brazil during December, February, and March. This is also the most popular time of year for Brazilians to travel within their home country, and as such, you can expect crowded beaches and peak season prices. But the longer daylight hours and festive atmosphere make this a great time of year to visit Brazil.

Those seeking adventures in nature will also enjoy traveling in Brazil’s summer months: Heavy rainfalls across southern Brazil and the rain forest swell the Amazon River, creating the perfect conditions to explore the rain forest by boat, and make Iguassu particularly lush. 

Holidays & Events

• December 31: New Year’s Eve in Brazil is known as Reveillon, a night of dancing on the beach to ring in the new year. Brazilians dress in all white and wear flower garlands for the Reveillon celebrations, which last until dawn and feature live music performances and firework displays at the stroke of midnight.
• Mid-January: Lavagem do Bonfim is a popular festival in Salvador, the capital city of Brazil’s northeastern Bahia state, and is held on the Thursday after Three Kings Day each year. It is a festival of cleansing after the holiday period, when baianas, or women dressed in traditional full skirts, wash the steps of the Church of Senhor do Bonfim.

Must See

Known throughout the world for its extravagant street parades, glittering performers, and wild partying, Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival sets the bar for all other carnivals. More than two million people take to the streets of Rio each day to witness the spectacle, which keeps the city up all night for five days before the start of the Lenten season. 

April-May in Brazil

April and May mark the beginning of Brazil’s low season, when the heat and humidity of summer are replaced by warmer, more pleasant weather, and Brazilians’ summer holidays draw to a close. Water levels are still high in the Amazon, bringing you closer to the canopy wildlife, while roaring Iguassu remains verdant from its bountiful mist. 

Holidays & Events

Late March-mid April: Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is celebrated with aplomb in this Catholic nation. Brazilians throughout the country celebrate the week leading up to Easter with elaborate religious processions, featuring costumed penitents and heavy floats.

June-July in Brazil

Winter comes to Brazil in June and July, though its equatorial position means temperatures remain mild throughout much of the country. Head south for more traditional signs of the season: Snow can be spotted in the southern mountain ranges.

Winter is also the start of Brazil’s dry season, making it a great time of year to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking. While the Amazon rain forest is hot and steamy with the possibility of rain showers year-round, visitors during the dry season will experience significantly less rainfall; for this reason, June through November are considered the best months to visit. And at Iguassu, water levels lower throughout the season, offering a different view of this natural wonder. 

Holidays & Events

• Late June: Celebrated throughout Brazil, Festa Junina blends Catholic celebrations with seasonal traditions. The festival marks the harvest time and the transition into winter, and also honors the feast days of St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist, and St. Peter with street parades and music performances.
• Late June: Boi Bumpá, also known as the Parintins Folklore Festival, is a lively festival held each year on the island of Paratins in the Brazilian Amazon. Rival teams don colorful costumes and tails, and compete in live performances of traditional folk stories, complete with musical interludes, dancing, and puppetry. 

Brazil in August-November

For many, Brazil’s springtime offers ideal weather conditions: clear blue skies, rising—but still pleasant—temperatures, and little rain. Temperatures increase throughout October, and summer begins to settle in by November, but it is not yet too hot or humid. This is generally considered the best time to visit Rio and the tropical beaches of the north, and tourists from the Northern Hemisphere take full advantage; expect lots of international visitors, especially during August. 

Holidays & Events

• Mid-August: The Festa do Peao, or Festival of the Cowboy, is a 10-day celebration of all things rodeo. Held each year in the  city of Barretos, located in the state of São Paulo, this annual event features rodeo competitions, open-air concerts, typical “cowboy food” like braised meats and beans, and a larger-than-life metal cowboy statue.
• October 12: Dia das Criancas, or Children’s Day, is an annual highlight for many Brazilian children. On this day, children receive gifts and candy from their parents. Children’s Day also coincides with the feast day of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil.
• Late November-early January: Natal Luz, which means “Christmas of Lights” is an annual Christmastime festival featuring elaborate light displays. It is celebrated in the southern Brazil mountain town of Gramado, whose alpine-style architecture offers a festive backdrop for the holiday decorations. 

Must See

Perhaps surprisingly, the world’s second largest Oktoberfest is held each year in the southern Brazilian city of Blumenau. Founded by German settlers who brought with them their love of beer and alpine architecture, Blumenau is best known in Brazil for its raucous beer-drinking extravaganza. In fact, Blumenau’s Oktoberfest is one of Brazil’s largest street party, second only to Rio’s Carnival.