South Africans are discovering Brazil in a big way. Here’s everything you need to know before you go …
The reintroduction of SAA’s direct flights to São Paulo (from Johannesburg and Cape Town) has opened up a continent, and South Africans are taking full advantage.
Zay Ferguson-Nair, Customer Success Manager at Flight Centre South Africa, says Brazil bookings continue to surge, and with LATAM Airlines launching a new service between São Paulo and Cape Town from September 2026, we’ll soon have even more ways to get there. Rio de Janeiro – Cidade Maravilhosa, the Marvellous City – is calling!
The basics
Do I need a visa? No. South African passport holders can enter Brazil visa-free for up to 90 days. Easy.
How long is the flight? Approximately 9-10 hours to São Paulo, from where Rio is either a quick one-hour flight on Brazil’s Air Bridge (Ponte Aérea) or a scenic 6–7 hour overnight bus from Tietê Terminal – a surprisingly comfortable option with sleeper seats and a fraction of the cost.
Is it rand-friendly? In general, yes. R1 buys you approximately 0.32 BRL (as of Feb 2026), meaning savvy travellers can find affordable accommodation and stretch their budget across food, transport and beachside caipirinhas (Brazil’s national cocktail of cachaça, lime, sugar and crushed ice).
Best time to visit? March to November is your sweet spot, avoiding the heavy summer rains (and peak season). For shoulder season with thinner crowds and lower prices, April to June and September to October are ideal. If Carnaval is on your bucket list, February is unmissable – just book well, well in advance.
What to do
Christ the Redeemer & Tijuca Forest. No introduction needed. The iconic statue atop Corcovado Mountain is best reached through the Tijuca Forest, one of the world’s largest urban rainforests. Arrive early to beat the crowds and the clouds.
Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar). A separate peak altogether, accessed by cable car near the entrance of Guanabara Bay. The views from the top (including back towards Christ the Redeemer) are jaw-dropping, especially at golden hour.
Copacabana & Ipanema Beaches. The heart of Rio’s culture and social life. Perfect for long strolls, warm water swims and people-watching! At Ipanema, vendors wander the sand selling cold coconut water or sweet iced mate paired with Biscoito Globo, Rio’s ubiquitous beach snack. Slip on your Havaianas, canga or sunga (the iconic Brazilian swim brief) with complete confidence and embrace Rio’s famous (and inclusive) body-positive beach philosophy: if you have a body and you’re on the beach, you have a beach body!
Mureta da Urca. Buy a caipirinha, find a spot on the low wall beside Guanabara Bay and watch the sun slide away at the end of the day. Ambient music, bohemian energy, magic light. This is Rio at its most Rio.
Escadaria Selarón (Selarón Steps). A 125-metre-long mosaic staircase of extraordinary colour, created by Chilean artist Jorge Selarón as a tribute to the Brazilian people. One of the city’s most photographed spots, and entirely worth it.
Lapa Nightlife. Start under the grand white arches of the Carioca Aqueduct, where street performers drum and samba into the night. From there, follow the music into the neighbourhood’s bars and live music venues. During Carnaval, Lapa is absolute pandemonium – in the best possible way.
Santa Teresa. Rio’s bohemian hilltop neighbourhood, full of colourful colonial houses, art studios and the kind of unhurried afternoon energy that invites you to linger. Walk Rua Aprazível, find a café and forget your schedule.
Parque Lage. At the foot of Corcovado, this lush park hides caves, fountains and a grand colonial mansion that now houses an art school and a café. Order pão de queijo (cheesy, chewy Brazilian bread rolls) with a strong cafézinho in the courtyard and take your time as the kids run and play.
Maracanã Stadium. Catch a football match here at least once. The atmosphere is amazing.
Eat, drink, repeat
A churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) is non-negotiable for South Africans who love their meat. At places like Carretão in Copacabana, the rodízio system means servers arrive continuously with skewers of grilled meats (including the prized picanha), slicing directly at your table. Order a caipirinha, flip your card to green and let the feast begin. (And when you’ve had enough? Flip your card to red and take a breather.)
Beyond the steakhouse, try feijoada (a deep, smoky black bean and pork stew), coxinha (crispy chicken croquettes) and pastéis (fried pastries) at street markets. For a more regional adventure, the Feira de São Cristóvão market serves northeastern Brazilian specialities that most tourists never find.
“What really surprises our clients,” says Ferguson-Nair, “is how far their money goes once they’re there. Rio offers this incredible range of experiences, from world-class restaurants to great street food, and you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy any of it.”
And drinks? Besides the caipirinha, sip chopp (ice-cold draft lager in chilled glasses) at a boteco, visit one of the city’s juice bars and finish meals with a cafézinho – small, strong, and sweet.
“Rio has this extraordinary ability to get under your skin. Our clients go for the beaches and the bucket-list sites – and come back already planning their next trip. For South Africans, it just ticks every box: the culture, the food, the energy, the value. It’s one of those destinations that genuinely delivers on its promise,” concludes Ferguson-Nair.
