The best beaches in Brazil: where to go and when

Ranked for a first or second trip to Brazil, not for surfers chasing a specific break. Each pick has a reason to choose it over the others, a season, and a rough cost for a mid-range day (bed, food, local transport).

Prices are 2026 estimates in Brazilian reais (BRL) per person per day, mid-range: pousada or hotel double, two meals, local transport. Add flights between regions separately.

We ranked on four things a traveller can act on: how easy the beach is to reach from a main airport, whether the water and weather work in the season you are likely to travel, what else there is to do when it rains or the surf is flat, and how far your money goes on the ground.

We left out beaches that need a 4x4 and a guide unless the payoff is large (Jericoacoara and Atins qualify; many smaller Northeast spots do not). We also left out beaches that are only good for two months of the year, unless that window is the reason to go.

Cost bands are mid-range, not backpacker and not resort. A dorm bed in Florianópolis or Ubatuba can be R$80–150; a beachfront resort in Praia do Forte or Jericoacoara can be R$1,500+.

Distances and transfer times below are approximate; check current schedules before booking, as seasonal services change.

Brazil's coast spans tropical and subtropical climates, so there is no single season. The south and southeast (Rio, Florianópolis, Ubatuba, Ilha Grande) are best April–October: drier, cooler, fewer crowds, though the sea is colder and surf can be bigger. December–March is hot and busy, with afternoon storms and peak prices around New Year and Carnival.

The Northeast (Jericoacoara, Canoa Quebrada, Porto de Galinhas, Maragogi, Praia do Forte) is warm year-round. September–March is the dry, sunny window; April–July is the rainy season, heaviest in May–June. Jericoacoara and Canoa Quebrada also get strong winds August–December, which is good for kite-surfing and keeps the heat manageable.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro falls in February or early March and pushes Rio prices up sharply; book months ahead or avoid that week if you want a quiet beach trip. New Year (Réveillon) is the other peak.

Most international flights land at São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro (GIG). From either, domestic flights reach the coast in 1–3 hours. Flying is the default: Brazil is larger than the contiguous US, and a Rio–Recife bus is roughly two days.

For Rio beaches, stay in the city — Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon are on the metro. For Ilha Grande and Paraty, shuttle vans and buses run from Rio (about 4 hours to Paraty, then a boat to the island). For Ubatuba and the São Paulo north coast, buses run from São Paulo (about 4–5 hours) or you can drive via the coast road.

For the Northeast, fly to Fortaleza (FOR) for Jericoacoara and Canoa Quebrada, Recife (REC) for Porto de Galinhas, Maceió (MCZ) for Maragogi, and Salvador (SSA) for Praia do Forte. Transfers from the airport to the village are 1–4 hours by road; Jericoacoara's last stretch is by 4x4 or a village shuttle.

For Florianópolis, fly to Florianópolis (FLN) and rent a car or use app cars; the island's beaches are spread out and public buses are slow.

Approximate coordinates for the main bases, for planning a route. Use them to judge how far apart the coasts are before you book flights.