1. More Info About Your Brazil Trip

1.1 Fast Facts

1.2 Where We Visit

1.3 Weather

1.4 Itinerary Overview

1.5 Included / Excluded

1.6 Hotels

1.7 Room Sharing

2. Getting Prepared

2.1 Trip Countdown Timeline

2.2 Cancellations / Trip Moves

2.3 Visa Requirements

2.4 Vaccinations

2.5 Travel Insurance

2.6 Luggage

2.7 Local Currency

2.8 Phone, Internet & WhatsApp

2.9 Arrival Info & Entry Requirements

2.10 Departure Info

2.11 Airport Transfers

2.12 Packing Guidelines / Checklist

3. During Your Tour

3.1 Trip Execution & Tour Leader

3.2 Free Time

3.3 Schedule Changes

3.4 Behaviour On Tour

3.5 Safety Advice

3.6 Spending Money

3.7 Tipping

3.8 Laundry

3.9 Post Trip

4. Readiness Checklist

Checklist

1.1 FAST FACTS

Population

• 216 Million
• Capital city is Brasilia (it was moved from Rio de Janeiro in 1960)

Geography

• Brazil is the largest country in South America (it covers roughly half of the continent)
• Around 60% of the Amazon Rainforest is in Brazil
• It is the #1 biodiverse place on the planet!

Language

• Portuguese (a little English is spoken in the tourist areas)

Currency

• Brazilian Real (R$)
• 1 USD = 6 Reals (roughly)
• 1 GBP = 8 Reals (roughly)

Religion

• Roman Catholicism is the official religion of Brazil

1.2 WHERE WE VISIT

Sao Paulo (2 nights)

A big concrete city, the largest in South America (think New York but bigger) but we only spend two days here soaking up the cosmopolitan vibes before heading towards the Atlantic coast which is where the real soul of Brazil can be discovered.

Paraty (2 nights)

A charming colonial town sandwiched between the Atlantic ocean and rainforest meaning lots of activities in and around the water and also in the neighbouring jungle. This is where Brazilians come for holiday.

Ilha Grande (3 nights)

A super tropical island just off the coast and is filled with secluded beaches and hidden waterfalls. This is the perfect spot for lazy summer days and it’s very much our happy place.

Rio de Janeiro (4 nights)

The highlight of Brazil. The beaches are spectacular (especially Copacabana and Ipanema), the views from Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf mountain are to die for and the vibe of Rio is like nowhere else on earth. You simply can’t go through life and not experience Rio. This is a place for drinking caipirinhas, dancing samba and having a good time.

1.3 WEATHER

We choose our trip dates based on when we believe are the best times to visit Brazil. You can see the expected temperatures below.

Rio Weather Celsius

Rio Weather Fahrenheit

1.4 ITINERARY OVERVIEW

A summary version of the itinerary. You can find the more detailed version here.

A detailed hour-by-hour schedule will be provided 10 days before the trip.

1.5 INCLUDED/EXCLUDED

Included:-

• 12-days / 11-nights: 2 São Paulo, 2 Paraty, 3 Ilha Grande, 4 Rio de Janeiro
• Accommodation in hand-picked 3 & 4-star hotels (based on sharing twin room)
• Meals – All breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners
• Airport pickups and drop-offs
• All transportation & activities within itinerary (excluding optional activities)
• A trip host (“Tour Leader”) plus various local experts

Excluded:-

• International flights to get you to and from Brazil
• Alcoholic drinks (except those specifically provided as part of itinerary)
• Water & soft drinks (outside of those provided with meals)
• Additional meals (outside of those explicitly stated as included)
• Optional activities during free time
• Tips (for Tour Leaders, local guides, bus drivers etc…)
• Travel insurance

1.6 HOTELS

As standard, we use the hotels listed at the bottom of our itinerary page.

From time to time we may need to change a specific hotel if for example it’s not available on those given dates. But in such situations, we will always replace with another hotel at the same quality.

Some special notes regarding hotels:-

• For larger groups we sometimes have to split the group between 2 hotels in Ilha Grande, due to us staying in small, boutique hotels on the island (this is a remote place with no large hotels). The hotels are of equivalent standard and very close together.

• Hotel check-in is not until 3pm. Sometimes earlier check-in is possible, however, it won’t be possible to know in advance because it will depend on hotel availability that day (and what time other hotel guests check-out). The only way to guarantee an early check-in is if you’re willing to pay for the hotel from the night before.

• You will be sharing a twin room with a fellow traveler of the same gender, unless you specifically paid extra for a private room (these are dependent on availability, see prices in FAQ section of itinerary page).

• If you are planning to tag on extra days on either side of the trip, we can help book you into our hotels. We can only guarantee this if you let us know more than 70 days before the trip and we can only do this for a maximum of 2 nights on either side. Any longer and we recommend you book directly with the hotels. Note – contact us for rates for pre and post-trip accommodation.

1.7 ROOM SHARING

As standard, the default on all of our trips is that you will share a room with another traveler. These will be twin rooms, with 2 separate beds, and shared by a max of 2 people.

You will always share with another traveler of the same gender, and we will typically pair you with someone around the same age. You will share with this person for the duration of the itinerary.

Note that we operate this way because – by splitting the room cost between two people – it allows us to keep the overall OWR trip price down.

It is however possible for you to pay extra for a private room if you prefer. Prices for this are shown in the FAQ section of the itinerary page. We hold a limited number of private rooms and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (therefore please check in with us for availability).

In our experience, most people are happy sharing a twin room and it typically works out well.

Some Important Things to Consider:-

SNORING

If you snore, then we highly recommend that you book a private room. While we understand that this will cost you more, it is important to think of the negative impact/experience the snoring could have on any potential roommate.

LIGHT SLEEPERS

Likewise, if you consider yourself to be a light sleeper and are easily woken by the sounds or movements or others, then we also recommend you also consider booking a private room in order to get the most out of the experience.

In addition…

If you would like to book a private room then it is much better to do this in advance of the trip! If you originally signed up for a shared room and then request to move to a private room during the trip, it will be much more challenging because:-

• We cannot guarantee that there will still be rooms available (since we will have released our OWR allocation by then).

• Our quoted OWR rates will no longer apply (it will be whatever last-minute rates the hotels provide).

Therefore, it is much better for you if you can make this decision ahead of time!

2.1 TRIP COUNTDOWN TIMELINE

This is what you should expect in the lead up to your trip.

• Book trip (secure your spot with a deposit)

• Book international flights (these can be booked at any point after we’ve confirmed your spot – don’t leave too late as price will go up closer to trip)

• Purchase travel insurance (this will cover for issues leading up to trip as well as during)

> 70 Days Before Trip (cancellation penalties kick-in beyond this point)

• Full balance must be paid.
• Fill out OWR questionnaire: requests flight information, dietary requirements, health conditions, emergency contacts etc…(you can access customer portal with email address here)

> 10 Days Before Trip

• OWR sends day-by-day schedule, optional activity recommendations & some final info to prepare you for trip

> 3 Days Before Trip

• WhatsApp group created with all trip attendees + Tour Leader

> Trip Start Date

• Welcome meeting is typically scheduled for 6pm on first day. This is where you will meet your Tour Leader and other guests (note – we may change this time depending on overall group arrival times. If it changes we will notify you).

2.2 CANCELLATIONS / TRIP MOVES

The £200/$250 deposit is non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel at any point, you can put this towards any future trip you book with us (in any location).

The rest of the balance is refundable up until 70 days before the trip. From that point the following cancellation terms will apply:-

> 30-70 days before trip – 50% refund

> 0–30 days before trip – 0% refund

Important Note – it is not possible for us to make exceptions to these terms since from the 70 days mark we will commit payments to our local suppliers in Brazil and will be bound by their strict cancellation terms. This is why it’s very important for you take take out a travel insurance policy which includes trip cancellation (from the point of booking the trip).

This applies also to requests to change to an alternative future OWR trip, when such requests are made within 70 days of your scheduled trip departure. 

2.3 VISA REQUIREMENTS

Citizens from UK and EU Countries can enter Brazil for 90 days without a visa.

Citizens from US, Canada and Australia will have to apply for an evisa. (this was introduced April 2025). Processing time is estimated at up to 10 days and costs just over US$80.

(if you are from a different country, please check requirements specific to your country).

2.4 VACCINATIONS

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entering Brazil, only recommendations. 

Standard travel vaccinations – information online tends to vary, we recommend checking with a reputable source such as those below (or the equivalent from your own country) 

US: 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/brazil 

UK: 

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries/brazil

Please read through these and compare with your current vaccination status (it is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately vaccinated).

(One that many people don’t already have is the yellow fever vaccination, which is recommend). 

In addition to vaccinations, we advise to take measures to avoid mosquito bites throughout the trip. Good practise includes using mosquito repellant and also keeping arms and legs covered with long sleeve shirts and trousers in areas where mosquitos are more prominent.

2.5 TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is mandatory that all guests have travel insurance in place prior to joining our trips.

Some important info relating to this:-

• You must have travel insurance in place to join the trip. No exceptions.
• We will ask you to provide your policy number and 24hr emergency contact number (this will be part of the OWR survey 70 days pre trip).
• At a minimum it must cover the mandatory elements mentioned in our booking terms (personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation).
• However, we strongly recommend you also include the “trip cancellation” coverage. This will cover you for things that can happen between booking the trip and the trip actually starting. Examples are: changes to your personal circumstances, destinations becoming unsafe to travel, flight issues stopping you from joining the tour etc…
• We recommend that you start your coverage from the point of booking the tour.
• It is your responsibility to ensure your policy covers all of the activities specified on the trip itinerary, in addition to any optional activities you plan to do.

There are numerous policies on the market and you should choose whichever is most appropriate for you. Here’s a small selection to consider:-

World Nomads

Allianz Travel Insurance

BattleFace

Tru Traveller

2.6 LUGGAGE

• You can travel with a suitcase or backpack, the choice is completely yours (fyi most people typically do suitcase)
• There are no domestic flights with this itinerary, but we ask you to restrict your luggage to one standard piece weighing no more than 20kg/45lbs. This is due to limited space on our private bus transfers and boat rides.
• We recommend travelling with one main piece of luggage rather than bringing multiple bags or pieces of luggage. We’ll be moving between buses, ports and boats, and while the places we visit are nice and comfortable, they’re generally quite casual, and having several bags to manage can make these transfers a little more difficult.
• It’s worth considering whether you could do the trip with cabin luggage only – this would mitigate any risk of lost luggage by the airlines on your international flights (which is not frequent but does happen from time-to-time).

2.7 LOCAL CURRENCY

The local currency is Brazilian Real (pounds/dollars are NOT generally accepted).

2.8 PHONE, INTERNET & WHATSAPP

In most locations there is good phone signal and internet access and WIFI is available in hotels & restaurants.

Check out the plan of your phone provider to understand if data roaming is included as part of your package. If not, it is very easy to buy an e-sim for Brazil, in which case we recommend Holafly or Airalo services.

You can also buy a local Brazilian sim. Ask your Tour Leader for instructions.

We will use WhatsApp as a means of communicating with the group while on tour and recommend you download this to your phone if you don’t already have it.

2.9 ARRIVAL INFO & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

This tour starts in Sao Paulo and ends in Rio de Janeiro (we will get you between the two cities over the 12 days). 

To join the trip you will arrive into São Paulo/Guarulhos – Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (airport code GRU).

Ideally you should arrive at the hotel by 6pm on the first day. This is when we have our welcome meeting and afterwards go for dinner (although if you arrive later it’s fine to catch up).

There will be someone there to meet you upon arrival as you walk through the gates (they will have a sign with your name on it). 

Hotel check-in is not until 3pm but if arriving earlier you can drop off your bags and go explore the surrounding area. 

Please ensure that you have read all of the Brazil entry requirements (it is your responsibility to ensure you comply):-

US Citizen Entry Requirements

UK Citizen Entry Requirements

CA Citizen Entry Requirements

(if from a different country, please check those requirements specific to your home country)

When going through passport control in Brazil you may be asked to show the following:- 

• Passport (must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from arrival date into Brazil)
• Evidence of return flight leaving Brazil
• Sao Paulo hotel address

Please have this information on hand.

2.10 DEPARTURE INFO

You should arrange your flight home from Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (airport code GIG). We will arrange your airport transfer according to your flight time.

You can leave at any time on the last day. There are no activities scheduled for that day.

2.11 AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Airport transfers are included at both the start and end of the trip.

The following conditions apply:-

• We only do transfers between airports and our selected hotels. No other locations (other hotels, Airbnbs etc…)
• For those tagging on extra days, we will endeavour to include transfers up to 2 days outside of official tour dates. Beyond this we will not include transfers

• Arrival and departure details must be submitted via our traveller questionnaire no later than 30 days before the trip start date. Flight dates, times, and flight numbers must be correct so that we can track flights and arrange transfers accordingly. If this information is not provided by the deadline, we cannot guarantee your included transfer.

• If your flight changes or is significantly delayed (by more than 30 mins), please notify us by email or WhatsApp as soon as possible. As transfers are arranged and paid for in advance, we cannot guarantee changes to existing transfer bookings.

• If a new transfer is required, we will do our best to arrange one based on your updated flight details. However, if it is within 24 hours of your initial scheduled arrival, this will be charged as an additional transfer due to our local transport provider’s cancellation terms. In this case we will invoice you for the additional transfer. Alternatively, you can make your own way to the hotel by taxi, Uber, or other local transport.

• Any additional costs due to rearranged transfers may be covered by your travel insurance, so it is worth checking your policy to see what is included.

2.12 PACKING GUIDELINES / CHECKLIST 

We plan trips in Brazil at times of year where we expect there to be spring / summer type weather.

(see weather predictions above).

Much of this itinerary is located in and around the beach in tropical weather (with the exception of the first two days in Sao Paulo). Therefore we recommend having mostly beach/summer clothing although it’s also worth bringing something a little warmer in case it gets cooler at night.

(it’s also worth having a lightweight, waterproof jacket…just in case)!

We don’t recommend specific clothing items – because everyone has their own personal style – but below are some things to think about.

Documents

• Flight info (especially important to be able to show you have a flight leaving Brazil)
• Travel Insurance info (especially your policy number & 24hr emergency number)
• Passport  (with 6 months validity)
• Supporting documentation for medications – see advice here
• Visa proof (if required)

Things To Think About

• Beachware/swimsuits
• Comfortable shoes/trainers for walking day-to-day (normally these will be enough for beach hike)
• Day backpack/bag
• Sunglasses
• Hat for sun protection
• Power supplies/batteries – for phones, laptops, cameras etc…
• Power adapters (to convert to local supply) – see type required for Brazil.
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito/bug spray
• Ear Plugs (if sensitive sleeper)
• Personal entertainment (books, podcasts etc… for travel time)
• Toiletries
• Personal Medication
• Travel sickness pills (if necessary)
• Light rain jacket
• Sweater/light jacket for for evenings
• Refillable Water bottle

Other

• Download WhatsApp on phone (to be used for group comms while on tour)
• Set up data roaming

3.1 TRIP EXECUTION & TOUR LEADER 

You Tour Leader is responsible for leading the group throughout the trip, they will be there from the welcome meeting at the start until the last morning when the trip ends. We will connect you with your Tour Leader – via WhatsApp – in the days leading up to the trip.

They will be your first point of contact for any issues during the trip but you can also contact us at [email protected]

3.2 FREE TIME

At various points during the trip the trip schedule will show ‘Downtime’ and ‘Free Time’ 

Downtime is where there are a couple of hours or so free between activities. There is probably enough time to go for a coffee, relax or go for a wander but not quite enough time to go do another activity. 

Free Time is where there is a sizeable chunk of time available – half day or full day – where you could feasibly go off and do another activity (outside of the OWR itinerary). It is there to give you flexibility to go do your own thing and explore your own interests. 

We will provide recommendations of possible activities for you to do during Free Time (we will send this 10 days before the trip).

We don’t recommend booking anything prior to arriving in Brazil as typically most things can be arranged at short notice and often our guests decide to do things with other people in the group. 

3.3 SCHEDULE CHANGES

While we endeavour to operate all trips as described in the published itineraries we always reserve the right to change the trip itinerary (Brazil and South America in general are very dynamic where things can often change at short notice). 

Changes may be necessary as a result of unforeseen circumstances, operational concerns, concerns for your health, safety, enjoyment or comfort. 

Any changes are at the discretion of OWR. 

This includes the right to replace Tour Leaders, alter accommodations, change transport, modify the order in which places are to visited, and make any other changes to the itinerary. 

We will inform you of any such changes as soon as reasonably possible.

3.4 BEHAVIOUR ON TOUR

We request that all guests take responsibility for their personal behaviour on the tour, specifically to:- 

• Respect the decisions of the Tour Leader (and raise concerns respectfully)
• Show respect and consideration for the other members of the group
• Drink alcohol responsibly
• In addition we have an absolutely zero tolerance no drugs policy.
• Be on time to start activities as per the schedule (be respectful of the time of other members of the group)

We also ask that you read about our OWR Trip Style prior to joining the trip.

3.5 SAFETY ADVICE

In general Brazil is a safe country to travel. 

Millions of foreigners visit every year and the vast majority of those are trouble free. 

However, we do recommend taking some extra precautions and being more vigilant than you typically would in your home country. 

• Leave jewellery / expensive handbags etc… at home
• Don’t go wandering outside the tourist areas without a local
• Don’t flag taxis – get the hotel / restaurant to call them
• Use ATMs inside banks / shopping malls rather than on the street
• Keep only small amounts of cash on you when out and about
• Drink alcohol moderately, avoid making yourself vulnerable (and don’t leave drinks unattended)
• Avoid walking alone at night
• Don’t go off to party with people you’ve just met! 

We also strongly recommend reading the travel advice provided by your government / consulate / foreign office.

3.6 SPENDING MONEY

We include include just about everything on the tour. 

The itinerary was designed so that while you’re in Brazil all you need to do is focus on enjoying yourself. 

With that said you will likely need a little spending money which we estimate as follows: 

• $400 – $500 (US)
• £300 – £400 (UK) 

(for other currencies please convert)

These estimates factor in lunches and dinners not included within the itinerary; snacks and water; a couple of alcoholic drinks each day; and optional activities during free time. 

You may need more depending on your tastes and for additional items such as souvenirs. 

We also recommend you have access to additional funds in case of emergency.

3.7 TIPPING

Tips for guides are not included and are therefore completely at your discretion.

You will encounter various local guides and drivers during the trip and if you are planning to tip it is useful to carry some cash for this purpose. A little goes a long way in Brazil and guides will be extremely appreciative of anything you give.

At the end of the trip you my also want to tip your Tour Leader who would have been with you for the full duration of the trip. A recommended amount is $5-$10 (£4-£8) per day (per person), but this is completely up to you and you should only tip what you feel comfortable with.

3.8 LAUNDRY

Some travellers prefer to pack light and do laundry while on tour. There will be various points throughout the trip to do laundry (your Tour Leader will inform you during the trip).

3.9 POST TRIP

We will send you a survey asking for feedback on your experience.

If you enjoyed the tour we would love it if you could recommend us on Google and/or Facebook.

We also have some special offers to those on our trips:

• If you book a new trip within 2 weeks of your current trip ending, you get a £200 / $250 discount.

• If you book a new trip after this point, we still offer a £100 / $125 discount.

We know this is a lot of information to digest, therefore, here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’re ready for your upcoming trip.

Have you:-

• Purchased your international flights to/from Brazil?
• Purchased travel insurance?
• Paid your full balance with OWR?
• Checked your passport validity? (more than 6 months from entering Brazil)
• Checked that you have the recommended vaccines?
• Obtained visas if necessary?
• Completed the OWR questionnaire?
• Checked our packing guidelines?
• Set up your data roaming + downloaded WhatsApp?
• Changed money or made plans to withdraw cash in Brazil for tips etc…
• Read our OWR Trip Style document to ensure you are comfortable with what to expect?

If so – you are good to go!