If you are planning to backpack through South America on a small budget, you may want to rethink traveling through Brazil. According to a recent study from Swiss Bank (UBS) the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro rank as some of the most expensive cities to travel to in the South America.
In the past several years, the economy of Brazil has strengthened, which is now partly to do with an inflation in tourist prices as well. If you MUST visit Brazil, as it is probably one coolest countries in South America, and you don’t have a lot of cash to spend here are three ways to do it the cheapest way possible:
1) Travel to Rio De Janeiro in Autumn
The very best time to visit Brazil is during the autumn months when upper class Brazilians and tourists are less likely to infiltrate the beaches. Try to avoid traveling to Brazil during carnival months, when tourists and Brazilians alike rush to the major cities as Rio De Janeiro and São Paulo. This means a signifigant increase in hostel and hotel prices.
2) Seek out Smaller Towns
Brazil is immense. Filled with tropical jungles, national parks, and some of the most prestigious eco-systems in Latin America, it is worth it to travel outside the ¨pancake gringo¨ cities such as those mentioned above and check out smaller cities. One town that is attracting attention for its ecological beauty and new age tourism is Alto Paraíso de Goiás. A small town in the middle of the country and situated in next to the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park you can find rustic accommodations at a fair price and enjoy the mysticism of this enchanting tropical mountain climate.
3) WWoof or Worktrade
Every backpacker should be familiar with work trade options that usually offer spectacular opportunities such as working on a farm or in the city for an organization in exchange for room and board. Start by identifying a city or a town that you are interested in visiting and inquiring through email if they need any help. A good resource is workaway.com, where you can pay a one-time fee and be connected to farms all over the world.
Another suggestion may be couchsurfing so not only do you save money, but you get insights from the locals.
How would you recommend seeing Brazil?
1 Comment
some great tips on how to keep the costs down, in a country like this there is always a delicate balance between being thrifty while still staying safe