So, you’ve got two days to spend in Rio de Janeiro – lucky you! You’d be surprised at how much of this exhilarating city you’ll get to see in just 48 hours. That is if you follow the right itinerary (like this one!), which includes the best Rio tours, the yummiest restaurants, and some hidden gem spots, too (we’re looking at you, Tijuca National Park).  Below, we’ve included world-famous sights like Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Copacabana Beach. But, this 2-day Rio itinerary will also take you off the beaten path to witness a samba show in a neighborhoo ..read more

Rio de Janeiro is a world-famous city not only for being breathtakingly beautiful but also culturally rich and full of amazing things to do. It is, without a doubt, one of the best places to visit in Brazil! You’ve come here in search of the best things to do during 3 days in Rio, and boy, are we going to deliver. We’ve spent a lot of time in Rio and are well-versed on the best things to see and do in one of our favorite cities in South America. Sure, we’ve highlighted the “big hitter” attractions in this blog – infamous sights like Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, and Sugarloaf Mountain ..read more

Well, do we have a whopper of a task ahead of us: narrowing down the best places to visit in South America to just 33! This magical continent, the 4th largest in the world, is one of the most diverse regions on the planet – I mean, where else will you find such a unique mix of climates, landscapes, and cultures? There are 12 gorgeous countries on this continent, but we’ve focused on the very best ones to visit in this blog post – so expect to find the top destinations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and, Peru below! South America is also home to some of the world’s mos ..read more

When I think of Brazil, I imagine rugged, white sand beaches backed by rainforest, I picture vibrant, colorful cities like Rio de Janeiro (one of the best cities in the world, in my opinion), and I hear salsa music ringing in my ears which then makes me think of the nations biggest party – Carnival! After spending a considerable amount of time in Brazil, I really believe it’s one of the most beautiful countries in the world!  As the largest country in South America, Brazil isn’t that much smaller than the entire continent of Europe. This is why deciding where to visit in th ..read more

To be honest, most people don’t think of scuba diving when they think of Rio de Janeiro. But this South American city is actually an awesome place for an underwater adventure! Yep, that’s right: there’s more to this coastal metropolis than the Carnival celebration and Christ the Redeemer (as great as both of those are). Its seaside location also means that there’s lots of natural beauty to explore, and it’s an awesome and affordable place to go scuba diving.  In fact, as experienced divers ourselves, we think Rio de Janeiro is actually one of the best places in all of Brazil to dive. That ..read more

While Rio de Janeiro is undoubtedly one of the most popular places to visit in Brazil, there are also tons of cool areas to check out that are close enough to make a day trip of it! Rio is my favorite city in Brazil, but there’s so much to explore nearby that we always plan at least a couple of day trips. Tours are often our preferred way to do a day trip from a city we are visiting because they take the stress out of getting there and back, as well as figuring out what to do while you’re there. While we have included tours for most of the day trips from Rio below, we will also let you know wh ..read more

Hands down one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever set foot in, Rio de Janeiro is bound to wow first-time visitors (and repeat visitors, too!). We loved backpacking Brazil from north to south, but Rio remains an unbeatable destination in our books! A tropical coastal metropolis, Rio boasts long, white sand beaches just steps away from skyscrapers and busy streets with beautiful rocky cliffs rising from the landscape. Most famous for the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, sugary white Copacabana Beach, and the largest Carnival in Brazil, the city offers up some big bucket list items worth ti ..read more

Attending Carnival is one of the highlights of visiting Brazil! It’s a unique and amazing experience you have to see to believe. Carnival is the country’s largest annual celebration, where you get to party like there’s no tomorrow while immersing yourself in an explosion of culture, music, and dance. Carnival has a somewhat legendary status around the world. It’s a time for celebration and revelry; a time when cities become one huge party. The festivities mark the beginning of Lent and the last opportunity to indulge before the period of fasting and reflection. If it sounds like a lot of fun ..read more

The Iguazu Falls are divided between Argentina and Brazil, and they’re one of the most spectacular natural sights in South America. In fact, the Iguazu Falls are taller than Niagara Falls in Canada and wider than Victoria Falls which is on the Zimbabwe/Zambia border. It’s truly one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world and lives up to all the hype! Eleanor Roosevelt famously claimed “Poor Niagara!” when she first saw the Iguazu Falls. If you’re traveling through South America, you really can’t miss the chance to visit this natural wonder. However, there is some key information that yo ..read more

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous cities in the world, and to me, visiting was a dream come true! For starters, the city is so beautiful. The surrounding mountains, white-sand beaches, and greenery make it picture-perfect. But it wasn’t just the views and beauty that made me fall in love, a city like Rio is so much more than that. The sheer number of amazing things to do in Rio de Janeiro makes visiting a highlight of Brazil. However, for first-time visitors, it can be hard to know exactly where to spend your time. With so many activities and tours in Rio, you’ll need help narrowing it ..read more