Expert: Ken Rapoza Cruz - 7/6/2010

Question
Hi Ken - me and my wife were thinking of visting Brazil in first week of Aug (next month) for 10 days. As the time is short, I wanted to ask if it is feasible to make a trip like this in such a short time (we are coming from nyc). As of now this is what I am thinking

Day 1-4: Rio and Buzio
Day 5-8: Amazon rain forest (maybe take the forest hotel in Manaus)
Day 9-10: Iguacu waterfall

Is this too much for a 10 day trip? Also how are the distances between the places and is it easy/cheap to get flights from one place to other?

Please let me know as soon as possible.

Thanks
Deep

Answer
If you are under the age of 40 and not traveling with any small children, then I woudl say it is very doable. But it is only doable in the sense that you will be performing somewhat of an Amazing Race and giving yourself no time for flexibility. You might want at least three days in Rio. I think that is doable,d epending on what you want to do and see. Buzios is just a day trip to the beach so I think if you have a full sked Day 1 through 4, as opposed to half day one and half day 4, then it is doable. So what you really need is Day 1-6, meaning Day one you might arrive at noon and need to eat and unpack and unwind from a long trip see a few sites and get to bed. Then Day Two is a full day. Day Six ends up being packing up and checking out of the hotel...know what I mean? You have to be military about it. If you can check out without waiting in line, then fine.

Rio to Manaus is AT LEAST an 8 hour trip door-to-door. So give yourself a full day just of travel and unpacking. Then I think two nights in Manaus or some Eco-tourism lodge up there will be doable. You WILL NEED a Yellow Fever shot to get on the plane to Manaus, as far as I know. You will have to ask Gol or TAM to confirm. Those airlines will likely fly you there.

Manaus to Iguacu is also AT LEAST a 5 hour flight. But remember, there is no such thing as a Manuas to Fox flight, so youwill likely go Manaus to Goaiania or Brasilia, which is about four hours. Then wait two hours for another flight to Sao Paulo. Then wait probably another hour for your flight to Foz. Its another 10 hour travel day door to door. It might be less. But give yourself that room. You dont need more than a night at Foz.

Flights in Brazil ARE NOT cheap. Especially those long distance ones. Do check out www.voegol.com.br ou www.tam.com.br check for rates.

http://www.tam.com.br/b2c/vgn/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5ab209f1157f2210VgnVCM100000...

I just checked a July 25 to July 28 stay from Sao Paulo Congonhas airport to Manaus; by Tam, it will cost you about $700 round trip, or $350 one way! Just an FYI, I paid $800 to fly from JFK to Sao Paulo!!!

It gets worse if you try a flight from Manaus to Foz do Iguacu. Many of the seats from Aug 7 to Aug 9, for example, are sold out on TAM. A ONE WAY ticket will cost you at least $232...and guess what? It leaves at 7am and arrives in Fox at SIX FIFTY IN THE EVENING! So...something to think about.

Go to the airlines' websites and see for yourself.

Aproveite e boa sorte!