Brazil in October

[kicksumass]

I am planning on making a 8-10 day trip to brazil in october. Definitely want to go to the Amazon and also check out some of the beaches down south. I have seen a few 3-4 days Amazon vacation packages which look pretty interesting.

Maybe spend 3-4 days in the amazon and then travel down the south coast from rio to port alegre touching sao paulo and florianopolis on the way.

-Any must see's in Brazil?
-Should I go for package deals to check out the city or do it on my own? I will be going with a group of 3-5 and we dont mind hostels and such.
-Is it better to book an Amazon package before I leave or put something together once I get there and check out the local options? I am leaning towards getting a package for the jungle but figuring stuff on our own for the rest of the trip.
-And finally (for now), which city/beach has the hottest women and the best parties?

thanks!

 

[WWbet]

Oh where to begin?!? First, 8-10 days is about half the time you need to really enjoy your little jaunt down south, but we'll work with what we have ;-). Let's start with the tame stuff--because I'm sure other posters will be happy to chime in (maybe throw this question out on 3:16). As for the Amazon, you're in the middle of the boonies away from everything, so getting in and out isn't always trouble-free (expect luggage to get lost, planes to be delayed H-O-U-R-S). Fly in to Rio/Sao Paolo and from there catch a flight to Manaus for a 3-4 trip on the Rio Negro (hope you like fishing and wildlife watching...). Concerning the beaches, as a general rule of thumb, the further north (and thus the further away from the big metroplexes), the more amazing, the more pristine, and the more unpopulated. If you are looking for the most amazing beaches (not people-watching) you'll ever see, fly from Sao Paolo/Rio north to Salvador (which is a very cool city in and of itself), rent a car, and head north to Recife, stopping at 2 beaches a day til you're content. You'll be absolutely amazed...ask the locals to point you in the right direction [turn right after that next bridge onto the dirt road, through the sugarcane fields, through the palm tree forest, past the lagoon, and you'll run into it...] Avoid Sao Paolo IMHO, all it has is American shopping malls and smog. And Rio can be, ahem, fun

 

[TEXumAS]

I 2nd the opinion on not going to Sao Paulo. Far more attractive places to spend your time in Brazil.

 

[kicksumass]

Thanks. I've heard the same about Sao Paolo, so that is out.

I'll be flying from cali. With that in mind, what do you think about this route:
cali -->peru --> manaus--> rio --> land travel further south like Florianopolis--> rio --> cali .

Seems like the best route instead of flying all the way south to Rio, back up north to Manaus and then back south again to Rio. Probably pricier to do all one way tickets but if that saves me good time, might be worth it. Is the Peru route feasible? I wont be spending any time in peru....just the airport.