Brazil
Federative Republic of Brazil
South America · BRA
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Brazil
Brazil rewards travelers who want scale, warm-weather variety, and routes that can combine major city energy with headline natural landscapes. It is strongest when you build around one or two regions such as Rio and the southeast, Lençóis Maranhenses, or Pantanal and the interior, rather than trying to make an all-Brazil first trip feel coherent.
Popular For
Things To See
- Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea
- Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
- Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity
- Pantanal Conservation Area
- Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves
- Pampulha Modern Ensemble
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- May, June, August, and September are the easiest broad months in the current brief.
- Brazil is too large for a one-route first trip, so most itineraries should stay centered on one region or one pairing of regions.
- Nature-heavy routes, coastal trips, and city-plus-culture itineraries all work here, but they usually need selective planning instead of one giant loop.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Brazil.
Guidebooks
Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Brazil.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Brasília
- Population
- 213,421,037
- Area
- 8,515,767 km²
- Region
- South America
Languages
- Portuguese
Currency
Brazilian real (R$)
BRL
1 USD = 4.91 BRL
Cost of Living (World Bank)
46.2
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 30.0
- Restaurants
- 26.0
- Rent
- 8.5
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Brasília (15.79°S, 47.88°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
71/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 90/100
- Lived safety
- 36/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.786
High human development
- 5-year change
- +0.012
- 10-year change
- +0.024
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 1.002
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.390
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.702
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (25)
- 🌿
Peruaçu River Canyon
Inscribed 2025
- 🌿
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Inscribed 2024
- 🏛️
Sítio Roberto Burle Marx
Inscribed 2021
- 🌍
Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity
Inscribed 2019
- 🏛️
Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site
Inscribed 2017
- 🏛️
Pampulha Modern Ensemble
Inscribed 2016
- 🏛️
Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea
Inscribed 2012
- 🏛️
São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão
Inscribed 2010
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás
Inscribed 2001
- 🌿
Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves
Inscribed 2001
- 🌿
Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks
Inscribed 2001
- 🌿
Central Amazon Conservation Complex
Inscribed 2000
- 🌿
Pantanal Conservation Area
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina
Inscribed 1999
- 🌿
Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves
Inscribed 1999
- 🌿
Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves
Inscribed 1999
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of São Luís
Inscribed 1997
- 🏛️
Serra da Capivara National Park
Inscribed 1991
- 🏛️
Brasilia
Inscribed 1987
- 🌿
Iguaçu National Park
Inscribed 1986
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia
Inscribed 1985
- 🏛️
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas
Inscribed 1985
- 🏛️
Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil)
Inscribed 1983
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda
Inscribed 1982
- 🏛️
Historic Town of Ouro Preto
Inscribed 1980
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 30.6%
- Forest cover
- 59.0%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 97
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 155
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
61/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
87/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated to add risk indicator for kidnapping. Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do not travel to these areas due to crime: Anywhere within 160 km/100 miles of Brazil’s land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This restriction does not apply to the Foz do Iguacu National Park or Pantanal National Park. Informal housing developments, such as favelas, vilas, comunidades, or conglomerados, at any time. Brasilia’s “Satellite Cities” at night. This includes Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa. Country Summary: Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, can occur in urban areas, day and night. There was a kidnapping for ransom of U.S. travelers. Gang activity and organized crime are widespread and often tied to the recreational drug trade. Assaults, including with sedatives and drugs placed in drinks, are common, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Criminals target foreigners through dating apps or at bars before drugging and robbing their victims. U.S. government employees are advised not to use municipal buses in Brazil because of a serious risk of robbery and assault, especially at night. If you decide to travel to Brazil: Stay aware of your surroundings. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Do not accept food or drinks from strangers and always watch your drinks. Use caution when walking or driving at night. Avoid going to bars or nightclubs alone. Avoid walking on beaches after dark. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Be alert to date drug scams. Stay alert when visiting banks or ATMs. Be careful at major transportation centers or on public transport, especially at night. Passengers are at higher risk of robbery or assault when using public buses in Brazil. Use increased caution when hiking in isolated areas. Develop a communication plan with family, employer, or host organization so they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. Specify how you'll confirm you're safe (text, calls, etc.), how often, and who you'll contact first to share the information. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Brazil. Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. International Borders – Level 4: Do Not Travel Given security risks, U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel within 160 km/100 miles of the international land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Travel to the Foz do Iguacu National Park and Pantanal National Park is allowed. Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Informal Housing Developments (commonly known as favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados) – Level 4: Do Not Travel Given crime concerns, U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel to informal housing developments in Brazil. Do not travel to informal housing developments, even on guided tours. Neither tour companies nor police can guarantee your safety when entering these communities. Even in areas that police or local governments deem safe, the situation can change quickly. While some informal housing developments have clear boundaries, other such areas may be less obvious, and may be identified by crowded quarters, impoverished conditions, or irregular construction. Exercise caution near these communities as gang fighting and police clashes sometimes move beyond the confines of these areas. Check the Safety and Security Section on the country information page and consult the maps on the Embassy’s website for details about favelas. Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Visit our website for Travel High-Risk Areas. Brasilia’s “Satellite Cities” – Level 4: Do Not Travel Given crime risks, U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel to Brasilia’s Administrative Regions of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data