Our perfect honeymoon in Brazil itinerary

The more we investigated what Brazil had to offer, the more we realised that as honeymoon destinations go, this one has it all. You can pack so much variety into one trip to Brazil, and this was half of the temptation in itself! 

From the cascading Iguazu Falls to the Amazon jungle, and stretches of caipirinha-laden beaches, Brazil is a vibrant mix of stunning nature, colourful culture and adventurous possibilities. Plus, the huge range of locations and accommodation means that you can really create a trip to suit your own personalities. It’s an all-round winner!

Our Brazil itinerary 

We settled on a three-week honeymoon in Brazil, and we were really glad to have ample time to explore the varied landscapes that Brazil has to offer. After thinking about what we wanted to see and do, we decided to mix some truly iconic places with beautiful beaches and colourful cities. 

We began our trip at the wondrous Iguazu Falls, before exploring the tropical northern beaches of Praia de Pipa. We chose Salvador as our city stop. Known for its incredibly vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture and fantastic series of festivals, it was right up our street.

We flew into Iguassu at the start of our honeymoon and used a set of easy internal flights to link us to the northern coast. We opted for a smattering of luxury at the beginning of our honeymoon and picked out some incredible properties that made us feel totally awestruck in Iguazu Falls and Natal. Next, we travelled down the coast of the country, hopping from beach to beach in a rental car. 

Although Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo tend to be the gateways in and out of the country, we decided to skip out on these larger cities. As much as we would have loved to have seen them both, we opted to make our way straight to Iguazu. The promise of being greeted on day one of our honeymoon by one of the seven natural wonders of the world was simply irresistible!

When to travel to Brazil

We travelled to Brazil in late November and stayed into early December. In my opinion, this is the perfect time to visit. The weather is warming up nicely, with little to no rainfall, and the shoulder season gives way to the peak season. Prices and availability are great, and we found some incredible properties at fantastic rates. 

The main benefit of visiting in November/December was that the place was still relatively uncrowded with other tourists. Visiting places such as Iguazu Falls feel far more magical without the crowds. The beach destinations weren’t overrun with tourists, and most of the other holidaymakers we met came from Argentina, Uruguay and Peru – not many other Europeans in sight!

Exploring Iguazu Falls 

When we landed in Brazil, we went straight to the Foz do Iguacu, where we stayed at the wonderful Nadai Confort Hotel & Spa. It’s a great property right in the centre of the small town that sits next door to the national park. The falls themselves exceeded all my expectations – I rarely am so speechless. They are overwhelmingly beautiful. 

I recommend staying in Foz do Iguacu for a minimum of three nights. You need at least one full day to experience the falls and the national park and there are plenty of activities available, from hiking trails to helicopter rides. 

We decided to take a jetboat ride underneath the Devil’s Tears part of the falls. It was an absolutely unforgettable ride that took us into the falls themselves – be sure to bring we-weather gear! 

We also loved the fabulous bird conservation park and wildlife reserve, which were wonderful places to soak up some of the beautiful nature in the area. 

Being on the border of Argentina, Foz do Iguassu offers an incredible mix of food, including some of the best steaks I have ever eaten. There’s a fantastic range of local eateries and restaurants.

Relaxing in Natal 

After three nights in Iguassu, we took a domestic flight from Iguazu falls to Natal, a beach town in the north of Brazil. Northern Brazil is known for its fantastic cachaca as well as its untouched and uncrowded beaches. You can also do plenty of surfing and sailing amongst the reefs that dot the coastline. 

Natal is a more built-up city than most of the others in the north, so we once again treated ourselves to a bit of luxury. We stayed at the Hotel Majestic, overlooking the white stretches of beach. It features a gorgeous spa and top-tier restaurant, so it felt like a taste of the high life.

Even in November, the sun in Natal was scorching! Be prepared for hot cloudless skies, and temperatures up to and over 35 degrees. Some of the most incredible stretches of sand we found included Natal itself, and Genipabu, a secluded spot that is just a short drive away. 

We spent three nights in Natal, and this was ample time to really relax and soak up some long-awaited sun! it would be easy to spend a little less time here, if you wanted to move on faster, but we really appreciated having a little more time to flop on the sands and unwind.

Unwinding in Praia da Pipa 

Following Natal, we then made our way to one of our favourite spots – Praia da Pipa! This is a laid-back coastal town nestled against a rugged cliffside and surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful beaches. Due to its geography, the town is unable to really get any larger, which keeps it a perfect nugget of vibrant beach culture. 

We stayed at the fantastic Xamã – Awaken Your Senses Eco-lodge. It offered a perfect mixture of eco-friendly accommodation with wonderful spa and massage options, creating a very zen environment just a few streets away from the main town. We spent four brilliant nights here, but we could have easily stayed longer.

The surf and snorkelling in Praia de Pipa are out of this world. Dolphins are regularly seen in the blue waters as you paddle out, and the beaches and bays dotted either side of the town are stunning. 

The combination of surf and snorkelling, paddle boarding and beach walks, makes this a perfect spot for activity lovers. The nightlife was also fabulous, with some atmospheric little bars and live music.

Driving down the coast to Recife 

After the luxurious start to our honeymoon, we set out on a road trip from Praia da Pipa to Recife! Driving in Brazil was straightforward, as we were nowhere near huge cities such as Rio or Sao Paolo. We didn’t encounter any problems cruising down the long roads linking the beach towns together, and we had a wonderful time exploring them.

From the secluded beaches of Praia Tambaba down to the vibrant port town of Porto de Galinhas, this part of the honeymoon was totally unforgettable. Having a car to explore on our own was perfect in this region of Brazil. The distances between each little beach town were never too far, and each destination had an individual charm distinct from the last.

Taking out the small jangada sailboats to the reefs is a popular activity in each town, and well worth it. Hopping on the rickety wooden vessels to glide over to the nearest reef, surrounded by colourful fish all the way, was just magic. 

After a sunny, fun-filled week driving from Praia da Pipa to Recife, we dropped the car off and took another small domestic flight to Salvador for the last stage of our Brazil honeymoon.

Soaking up the spirit of Salvador 

We were only staying in Salvador for one night, so immediately set out to explore the city. Located in Zona da Mata, in the northeast of Brazil, Salvador has an exciting Afro-Brazilian culture. The food and music were both incredible. The city had an atmosphere of almost-constant festival, and we enjoyed every moment of our short time here.

Escaping to Morro do Sao Paolo 

The following day, we took a ferry over to our final stop on the honeymoon – Morro do Sao Paolo. This little island is just off the coast of Salvador, and I would say is a must-see for any visitors to Salvador. The island is easy to get reach, and it’s a true hidden gem. 

Cars are not allowed on the island, so the small town is amazingly peaceful. There are pristine beaches hidden between rugged headlands and reefs offshore teeming with incredible marine wildlife. The accommodation here is a lot more basic than the mainland, with a large focus on sustainability and eco-friendly properties.

The sunsets on the headlands and the multitude of beaches (each with their own bars and restaurants) made this one of our top spots on the honeymoon. We could easily have spent a week in Morro do Sao Paolo itself, winding down in beautiful waters with the stunning hills and forests as a backdrop to the bays. 

Morro do Sao Paolo is the perfect spot to end up before a flight home from Salvador. It only takes half a day to travel to Salvador airport, so we decided to stay here until our final flight home in the evening. The fast track ferry from the island back to the mainland takes under two hours.

Safety concerns in Brazil 

Safety is something many of our customers are concerned about when they are thinking about visiting Brazil. Personally, we found our experience to be wholly positive and stress-free. 

Every destination we visited in Brazil was warm and welcoming, and we didn’t feel unsafe at any time. The people we encountered were incredibly friendly and, although Salvador is a busier city (so always worth taking a moment to think about safety), we felt safe and respected throughout our visit.

Final thoughts about our honeymoon to Brazil 

Brazil is a more unconventional choice of destination for a honeymoon, but we are so glad we chose it. The massive scope and range of experiences that the country has to offer made for a three-week escape packed with variety, culture, and adventure. 

Our honeymoon had everything - luxurious hotels and spas, breath-taking jungles and waterfalls, untouched beaches, vibrant surf towns and Latin-infused nightlife. We wanted for a haphazard selection of adventure and luxurious tranquillity – and Brazil gave it to us in spades!

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