Regis St Louis - Brazil

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The Amazon region (the north) is one of the worlds rainiest places and rainfall occurs most frequently from December to May, making travel exceedingly difficult then. The rest of the year the region still receives plenty of rain, though showers tend to last only an hour or two.

The Pantanal also has rainy and dry seasons, and if you plan to go, do so during the dry season (mid-April to late September). The rest of the year, the wetlands receive tremendous rainfall, washing out roads and making traveling a nightmare.

The South has the most extreme temperature changes, and during the coldest winter months (June to August), Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paran and So Paulo have temperatures between 13C (55.4F) and 18C (64.4F). In some towns, the occasional snowfall is even possible. As elsewhere along the coast, summer is quite hot, and youll have lots of company on the beach.

Although still cheaper than North America and parts of Europe, Brazil, with its booming economy and strong real, has become South Americas most expensive country.

How much to budget depends on where you stay and how much ground you plan to cover. Some cities, like Rio, have grown particularly pricey in the last few years. Rural and less-visited destinations are often significantly cheaper. Bus travel costs about R$8 (US$4) per hour of distance covered. Flights, which sometimes run fare specials, might not cost much more for long hauls. Decent accommodations and particularly rental cars (which cost about R$100 per day) can quickly eat up a budget.

If youre frugal, you can travel on about R$100 (US$50) a day paying
around R$40 for accommodations, R$30 for food and drink, plus bus travel, admission to sights and the occasional entertainment activity. If you just stay in hostels and plan to lie on a beach, eating rice, beans and fish every day, you can probably scrape by on R$70 a day.

If you stay in reasonably comfortable hotels, eat in nicer restaurants, go out most nights and book the occasional flight or guided excursion, youll probably spend upwards of R$250 a day. Those planning to stay overnight at particularly comfortable guesthouses in resort areas, eat at the best restaurants and not stint on excursions or nightlife can easily spend R$500 a day or more.

Bear in mind that during the December-to-February holiday season, accommodations costs generally increase by around 30%. During Carnaval accommodations prices triple, but a week afterwards, the prices drop to low-season rates. Another thing to remember: resort areas near major cities are often packed on summer weekends. There will be fewer crowds
and sometimes lower prices if you visit during the week.

Brazil is fair value for solo travelers, as long as you dont mind staying in hostels. Otherwise, a single room generally costs about 75% of the price of a double room.