The heart of Brazil
Set in amongst emerald-green rainforests, mountains, lagoons and miles and miles of white-sanded beaches, there are few cities that can match Rio de Janeiro for location.
Perhaps its greatest attribute however is its people, the Cariocas with their relaxed, easy-going spirit and style that belies the size of their home.
Rio also has a strong cultural force, the city famously being the birthplace (and spiritual home) to both samba and bossa nova meaning you are never far away from music during your stay.
Jacada recommends hotels in the very best parts of Rio, where the top beaches, bars and restaurants can be found. In a city of such iconic imagery, there are still many well-kept secrets that our local guides can help you discover, be it an intimate samba venue, or simply the best beach food on offer.
Highlights
Relax on the beach
Enjoy the rich culture of the city
Experience the city’s great nightlife
Take a samba lesson
Eat at some of Brazil’s best restaurants
Visit Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf
Lily Bunker
Senior Travel Designer
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most iconic cities in South America. Its location, beautifully sandwiched between lush green mountains and white sandy beaches, combined with the glamour, rhythm and culture of local people creates an experience you’ll never forget.
Lily Bunker
Senior Travel Designer
Trip inspiration
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Luxury accommodation in Rio de Janeiro
Where to go
Amazon
Brazil’s most iconic city with one of the most famous beaches in the world on its doorstep; Copacabana. The towering sugarloaf mountain and emerald green forests and parks, coupled with a vibrant culture make Rio a city not to be missed.
Discover moreBuzios
Buzios is a collection of sandy coves where clear blue waters lap at the glistening rocks. The town itself is bustling with many chic bars, boutiques and restaurants where it’s become known as the St Tropez of Brazil.
Discover moreCerrado
A huge savannah region of Brazil where allusive jaguars lurk and the iconic maned wolf roams. Due to Corrado's size there's a massive range of plant and animal biodiversity that can be explored with expert naturalist guides.
Discover moreChapada Diamantina
Chapada Diamantina is a stunning part of Brazil’s interior where table-top mountains, waterfalls, vast plains, caves and streams stretch out endlessly before you. Explore this natural playground on foot, mountain bike or horseback.
Discover moreFernando de Noronha
One of the world's premier dive spots, Fernando de Noronha is part of a tropical archipelago 160 kilometre off Brazils coast. Crystal clear waters are home to dolphins and turtles and the white sandy beaches are beyond idyllic.
Discover moreFlorianopolis
Many Brazilians and Argentineans head to the secluded beaches of Florianopolis to relax. Long white sandy stretches punctuated by little fishing villages with great surfing, windsurfing and kayaking activities.
Discover moreIbitipoca
Ibitipoca, just half a day's drive from energetic Rio, is an area of intense natural beauty and serenity. Great for hikes, horse rides and swimming in waterfalls, there’s also lots of opportunity to join in with and learn about local rural life.
Discover moreIguassu Falls
Brazil’s largest waterfalls thunder into the Parana river below. From Brazil, stand within the lush tropical rainforests for the best views of the 275 cascading waterfalls, stretching all the way into Argentina.
Discover moreParaty
A picturesque town of cobbled streets and white washed buildings with bright colourful doors and shutters. Nestled into the Costa Verde it’s a wonderful place for exclusive boat trips around the many inviting coves and beaches of the area.
Discover morePicinguaba
A beach destination that is well and truly off the beaten-track. A protected area that’s crammed with natural highlights from secluded sandy beaches to lush rainforests teeming with wildlife.
Discover moreSalvador
An architecturally beautiful city with a rich history. This is one of the best places to learn about Brazil’s African culture with an expert guide. As you explore the city's old town look out for the impromptu displays of hypnotic capoeira.
Discover moreSao Paulo
A magnificent metropolis and Brazil’s capital of commerce, known mostly as a business city. There’s much more though; a thriving art scene, gourmet restaurants, stunning hotels along with a cosmopolitan fashion and music scene.
Discover moreThe Pantanal
South America’s premier wildlife spotting location and the world's largest wetlands area. The place to find the sleek, strong and surprising large jaguars among many other intruiging and endangered species.
Discover moreTrancoso
Rural beach life, relaxed and connected to local culture and stunning nature. There’s an effortless and sophisticated luxury hidden away here among village life that attracts Brazil's glamorous crowd.
Discover moreMeet your Latin America team
When to visit
Rio is a great city to explore any time of year, but visit in the summer to enjoy its beaches or around Carnival to experience the city explode in a cloud of colour.
Carnival
February
Beaches
December - March
Sightseeing
Year Round
Brazil travel guides
Luxury travel to Brazil: an insider guide
Read more
A Guide to Exploring the Amazon in Brazil
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Brazil’s Big Five
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Best Places to Visit in South America in Winter
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The Best Places to Visit in Latin America in 2025
Read more
Our Guide to the 9 Best Festivals in Latin America
Read more
What to Pack for a Trip to Brazil
Read more
Plan your trip to Rio de Janeiro
Whatever you want from your adventure in Rio de Janeiro, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada and it surely won't be our last! Every detail and moment of our trip was perfectly planned. We were met every step of the way with courteous and knowledgeable drivers and guides. We really appreciated the local guides and the commitment they had to make every day special. Thank you Jacada for the…
Jacada arranged an extraordinary experience for my trip to the Amazon and Pantanal regions of Brazil. They thoughtfully planned every detail from airport pickups to expert personalized guides to unique lodging to all transportation within the country. Everything was of the highest possible quality and very private. I undoubtedly will be planning future trips with them.
The designer did an amazing job in recommending and planning an amazing and unforgettable trip. Highly recommend trusting these pros with all your travel adventures.
We had a family trip to Brazil with Jacada Travel and what a wonderful time we had. Our travel designer Delfina put together an exciting itinerary that was suited to our needs and travel concierge Flavia worked with us booking travels in Brazil. We met with local guides in each place we visited. Their expertise, enthusiasm and passion for each…
As returning Jacada customers, our Brazil trip was a spectacular 22 day adventure that took us from Sao Paulo, to the Falls, to the Pantanal, to the Amazon, and Rio. Everything from pre-planning to execution and all things in between were handled flawlessly as Charles and Melanie created an outstanding itinerary with a good pace, locations, guides, and accommodations. Every…
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.