A friend of mine is Brazilian and plans to go back home to Rio for Carnaval this February. He invited me and another friend to join him, and I'm very tempted. However, flights are quite expensive (I can't find anything under $1200) and I'm wondering how much I would spend once I got down there. It's coming up really soon, so I have to make a decision!
Has anyone been? What did you think? What else would you do if you had two weeks in Brazil? I'm thinking Iguazu Falls and maybe Sao Paolo...
Just saw this! I was in brasil for carnaval in 2003. I have friends in Sao Paulo so I flew there and we drove to Rio & ended up in Buzios (resort-type secluded vacation area for locals). Food is extremely cheap; one day we had a lobster fest and it was $15 a person, which included lobster, baked potatoes, salad, etc. Then we went to a churrascaria (brazilian steakhouse, you know the ones where they keep serving you different meats until you say stop) and the meal was $13 INCLUDING alcohol. Just for comparison, the same meal costs $50 in a brazilian restaurant here in Chicago, without booze. I would definitely go to Sao Paulo if you have the time. The drive is ~4 hours from Rio and it is quite the city. It is (or was when I was there) the 2nd largest city in the world, so they have everything there - their own version of Rodeo Drive with the best shops which they sometimes red-carpet the sidewalk, awesome nightlife, great variety of food, etc etc. I wanted to go to Iguazu falls but never made it. That's on my list to do this summer :)
Let me know if you have other specific questions, I'd be glad to answer them!
-- Edited by Vanessa at 14:05, 2007-01-02
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