Brazil, the largest country in South America, is a land of stunning diversity and vibrant culture. Known for its lush Amazon rainforest, sprawling beaches, and lively cities, Brazil offers an experience like no other. From the rhythmic beats of samba to the awe-inspiring views of Iguazu Falls, every corner of the country has something unique to offer. Its rich history, influenced by indigenous, African, and European cultures, shines through its art, music, and cuisine. Whether you are exploring the colorful streets of Rio de Janeiro, venturing into the depths of the Amazon, or enjoying the flavors of Brazilian barbecue, this country promises unforgettable moments and adventures.
As the holidays approach, I find myself reflecting on the past year with a sense of nostalgia—a year filled with hurdles, opportunities, lessons learned, and countless moments to be grateful for. Our trip to Brazil stands out as one of the most transformative experiences of the year. That’s what I love about traveling: it reminds me of the beauty in our world, the importance of living in the moment, and how deeply we are all connected.
Last Christmas, we embarked on a trip of a lifetime to Brazil. Adventure travel and exploring new places are our passions, and the holidays are often the perfect time to get away. Both of our workloads slow considerably over Christmas, making it the easiest time to travel. I know this sounds very Todd-and-Margo-ish, but I promise we see our families on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
Back to Christmas morning: by the time family jokes start wearing thin, everyone has hit their sausage ball quota, and things are getting a little stinky, we’re usually running out the door for the airport. Packing a few days early has become a necessity for us, especially with the chaos leading up to Christmas. It’s a stress-saver—most of the time. (Except the time I forgot my brand-new, carefully selected swimsuits for a trip to Costa Rica. Let’s just say finding anything resembling a swimsuit that actually covered my body was quite the challenge… but that’s a story for another day!)
Getting there
We’ve gotten pretty savvy with choosing the best flights for our international trips. Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greensboro offer a variety of convenient flight options, and we always look for manageable layovers and reasonable travel times. For this trip, we flew out of Charlotte in the afternoon, with a brief layover in Miami—just enough time to grab a Christmas cocktail and stretch our legs—before boarding our final flight to Rio de Janeiro. The last leg of the journey clocked in at just over 8 hours.
When it comes to comfort, we’ve learned a few tricks. We always prioritize seats with extra legroom, but we rarely book first class (we’d rather splurge on food and fun once we arrive). That said, we’ve discovered that airlines sometimes offer last-minute seat upgrades via email for a fraction of the usual cost. For this flight, we received an upgrade offer to sleeping pods for about $300 per person. It felt like a no-brainer. These seats were worth every penny—fully equipped with cozy blankets, pillows, Bose headphones, and, most importantly, upgraded food and drinks. It was the perfect way to start our adventure feeling refreshed and ready to explore Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro
We decided to spend our first day relaxing in Rio de Janeiro, the majority of which was spent at the luxurious Copacabana Palace. Known as one of the most iconic hotels in South America, the Copacabana Palace has been a symbol of elegance and sophistication since opening its doors in 1923. Overlooking the famous Copacabana Beach, the hotel offers lovely views of the Atlantic Ocean and an atmosphere of old-world charm blended with modern luxury.
A Belmond Hotel, the Copacabana Palace has hosted countless celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries over the decades, earning its reputation as a must-visit destination (hello, Princess Diana & Mick Jagger!). The grand architecture, adorned with marble floors, chandeliers, and art deco details, immediately transports you to another era. We booked our room through our American Express Platinum, which included an upgrade to a beautifully appointed suite—complete with high ceilings, luxurious linens, a living room, and a balcony with breathtaking views of the ocean… oh, and complimentary his-and-hers Havaianas! After exploring a bit of Copacabana Beach, we knew the pool was in our future. A destination in itself, the pool is the perfect place to relax, people watch, sip a caipirinha, and soak up the sun. Tapas are available by the pool, and we had lunch at the adjacent Pérgula restaurant. That night, we treated ourselves to dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred Pan-Asian Mee Restaurant. It was amazing!
Overall, our stay at the Copacabana Palace offered a seamless blend of luxury, history, and relaxation that set the perfect tone for the rest of our Brazilian adventure.
Búzios
On day two, we headed to Búzios! We pre-booked a private car transfer on Viator before arriving in Brazil to make sure we wouldn’t have any issues getting around. There was a good bit of traffic on the way. The holidays are always a busy time for travel and everyone was headed for the beach!
Búzios, often called the “Saint-Tropez of Brazil,” is a charming coastal town located about 2.5 hours northeast of Rio de Janeiro. Known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and laid-back atmosphere, Búzios is the perfect getaway to relax and unwind. Originally a small fishing village, it gained international fame in the 1960s when French actress Brigitte Bardot visited, putting it on the map as a chic and luxurious destination.
The town boasts over 20 beaches, each offering something unique—whether it’s the calm waters of Ferradura Beach, perfect for swimming, or the lively atmosphere of Geribá Beach, a hotspot for socializing. The cobblestone streets of Rua das Pedras, the main area of town, are lined with boutique shops, vibrant bars, and restaurants offering fresh seafood and great vibes (with a view!).
We stayed in João Fernandes Beach. One of Búzios’ most popular spots, João Fernandes Beach is known for its calm, clear waters and picturesque views. The beachfront atmosphere is very vibrant. In fact, I’ve never seen a more crowded beach. As soon as we walked over the access point and saw the masses, we both busted out laughing. The beach was littered with beautiful bodies, skimpy swimwear, and lively music. After our long ride, we decided the safest spot for us was to set up at a beachside restaurant, Âncoras, to enjoy the local scenery.
We stayed at the Rio Búzios Boutique Hotel, just steps from João Fernandes Beach. The hotel had a relaxed, boho vibe. Our room featured a nice balcony overlooking the beautiful pool and beach. We spent the next few days exploring the area, taking long walks, and even treated ourselves to a massage at the hotel during our stay.
One of our favorite activities in Búzios was walking around the peninsula. It’s the best way to discover the town’s many beaches and hidden coves, all while taking in breathtaking views of the coastline. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both, Búzios offers an unforgettable escape in one of Brazil’s most picturesque settings.
After two nights at the beach, it was time for our next adventure. Back to Rio for New Year’s Eve!
Rio, round two
This go-round, we stayed at the Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro on Botafogo Beach. Centrally located between Copacabana and downtown Rio, Botafogo made it easy to explore both the beaches and the cultural attractions. It also offers incredible views of Sugarloaf Mountain and has a more local, laid-back vibe compared to the busier tourist areas.
Yoo2 Rio was our home for the next 3 nights, which gave us plenty of time to explore all the sights. We found some great little areas with restaurants and bars close to our hotel. The Botafogo Praia Shopping Mall offered a nice break from the heat, with eight floors to explore and a rooftop brewery restaurant.
We booked a full day private tour of Rio with Tour Guide Gus via Tripadvisor. It was the absolute best way to cover ground around the city. Our guide scooped us from the hotel and showed us all the sights for the next eight hours – including a gondola ride at Sugarloaf Mountain, lunch at a Brazilian Steakhouse in Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, Sambodromo da Marques de Sapucai (home to Rio’s Carnivale!), Christ the Redeemer and the Escadaria Selarón, locally known as the ‘Lapa Steps.’
Our guide gave us helpful suggestions on what to do for the rest of our time in Rio, including a visit to my favorite spot – Feira Hippie de Ipanema aka “The Hippie Market.” Anyone who knows me knows I love to shop. And even Jeff enjoys perusing a good flea market. Well, the Hippie Market checks all those boxes! We ventured there during the day on New Year’s Eve and I found jewelry, a purse, and we bought an incredible piece of local art (and miraculously got it home unscathed).
On New Year’s Eve, Rio comes alive with a massive celebration on Copacabana Beach, where millions of people gather to watch the dazzling fireworks display at midnight. The atmosphere is electric, with live music, people dressed in white for good luck (news to us!), and the tradition of tossing flowers into the ocean as an offering to Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea. Even during the day you could feel the energy building up in anticipation of the celebration. We decided to venture back to our hotel before dark, where we rang in the new year at their rooftop party. A Brazilian DJ, great food, endless drinks and a view of the fireworks made our new year’s one to remember!
The next morning, we woke up ready (after copious amounts of water and coffee) for our last leg of the trip – back to the Rio airport for an easy two hour flight to Iguazu Falls via Latam Air. As you can see, for most of our travel, we are on the go. It’s common for us to clock in 20,000 steps per day, and rare for us (JEFF) to slow down. Well, if there was ever a place to take a deep breath and relax, it was the incredible Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, at Iguazu Falls.
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls, located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, is one of the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world. The Brazilian side offers panoramic views of the cascading waterfalls, with well-maintained walkways and viewpoints that bring you incredibly close to the thundering water. The highlight is the Devil’s Throat, a massive U-shaped cascade that immerses you in a misty, unforgettable experience. Walking along the trails surrounded by lush rainforest, we were in constant awe of the sheer power and beauty of the falls. Plus, we saw multiple rainbows every day!
One of the things that was so special about our stay at the Hotel das Cataratas was its unbeatable location inside Iguazu National Park. With exclusive access to the falls before and after the park opens to the public, we were able to enjoy the magical setting in total tranquility. The hotel itself exudes colonial charm with a traditional, timeless and romantic vibe. Oh, and the exterior walls are pink!
We had daily early morning hikes down to the Devil’s Throat – including one private, guided nature tour with a delightful lady who then led us in an impromptu session of Tai Chi (much to Jeff’s dismay). One day we opted for a boat ride into the falls themselves, offering a real modern-day waterboarding, only good for the hardcore adventure seekers. Besides that, we spent our time dining at the hotel restaurants, by the pool, or enjoying afternoon cocktails on the veranda overlooking the falls. It was the ultimate in relaxation. Staying at the Hotel das Cataratas was definitely a splurge, but completely worth it for the beautiful setting, service and park access/proximity. It is absolutely my favorite resort experience to date. After three nights of complete bliss, it was time to venture back home.
Ultimately, our trip to Brazil was one for the books. Ten days of fun, adventure, and beauty. The warmth and hospitality of the people we met, paired with the stunning natural landscapes, is something I’ll never forget. Add it to your list of places to go – and message me if you’d like a condensed version of our itinerary, or if you want help planning your own adventure!