Brazil - tour operators

[FMH]

Hello. We are planning to visit Brazil in August 2026. Does anyone have any recommendations for tour operators that can offer tailored private tours? Thanks

Just to add: a few people don’t think the sea is great there but we found it fine. The hotel has a restaurant. Theres lots of places on booking.com but not all are beachfront. So it depends what you want really. I’d not stay a week but for a few nights it’s relaxed. Some people seem to want the Ritz for 2p looking at some reviews. It’s rustic and fairly simple.

The resort has various options in the “residential” roads - we liked its location. We didn’t have the hire car there so just relaxed.

Thank you!

Forgot photos!

Thanks so much @TizerorFizz - really appreciate the advice. Is the beach itself nice? I have been told that further north is no see for beaches but the travel logistics would be a pain from Salvador (and everyone seems to think that Salvador is a must see).

@FMH Not the best beach ever I have to say but we aren’t really beach bums! We just wanted relaxation. I’m sure there are web sites that give stars to the beaches. Yes, you can get there quite easy from Salvador. The old town there is interesting for churches, music and culture. It is worth visiting.

Thanks again. As you say, there are not many hotels/inns in Praia do Forte that are directly on the beach so this one is definitely on my shortlist.

Hi just joining this a little late, but I've used Audley recently for Brazil, we go in April. Really excited reading this now 😃 😃 They were great with us when booking tbh.

Thanks @BluntAzureDreamer! I have now booked with Trailfinders for August - very excited! We are going to Rio, Iguassu, Amazon, Salvador and Praia do Forte. I got quotes from Audley, Rainbow Tours and Journey Latin America. They all seemed great but TF were cheapest (though still expensive!) so we went with them. Would love to hear about your trip!

I'll look at TF for future trips, I'm always keen to hear of others' experiences 😊. Yes we're doing Iguassu falls, Rio, then Ilha Grande. It's just a small portion of Brazil but we only have 2 weeks. Your trip sounds amazing have a wonderful time and check back in afterwards please🙏🏽🤩

Thank you and you too! Look forward to sharing trip reports 😊

Another one heading to Brazil in August! We’re doing DIY though and just starting planning. We’ve been to the Amazon in Peru so not doing any wildlife stuff. We have 17 nights and initial plan I Rio, Iguassu ( both sides), Paraty and Ilha Grande we think! Any advice v welcome ( hope you don’t mind me
juping onto your post @FMH)!

Of course not @Waffles21 ! Great to share ideas. We are doing 4 nights in Rio and 2 nights in Iguassu. I was very drawn to the Belmont which others on here recommended but it was out of budget so we have booked the Sanma instead. We have an early morning flight from Rio to Iguassu and will do the Brazilian side that afternoon and then full day on the Argentina side the next day.

I’m going down a bit of a rabbit hole with planning! We’re diying and now torn between initial plan of Ilha grande as soon as we arrive, will be knackered but can kick back, then Paraty and the fjord etc, Iguasu ( same hotel as you FMH), then Rio but I can’t help thinking we may be missing out… so option b is Salvador, Lencois, Iguasu, Paraty and Rio, this does involve more flights and a couple aren’t direct. Also conscious that Lencois is a good 3 hours from the airport but it looks amazing. Meeting up with our friends at the weekend to finalise but has anyone done anything similar? For context we’re not sit on a beach type people, we’ve previously driven round the Yucatan, done a multi centre in Peru, Borneo and Malaysia, Japan , South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc so we like adventures! Thanks so much

Hello - we are now back from Brazil so thought I would report back. We had an amazing time! I booked the international flights and a few of the hotels myself, and the internal flights, transfers, tours and a few hotels through Trailfinders. Rio was wonderful - we stayed at the Miramar Windsor Copacabana which is really nice. I preferred Ipanema beach to Copacabana but both are great. Then on to Iguassu Falls which were just breath taking. We visited both the Brazil and Argentina sides. We did a boat trip on the Argentina side which was really fun. Then on to the Amazon, which was an incredible experience. We stayed at the Anavilhanas Lodge which was fab. The highlight was a night tour in a boat where we saw alligators, snakes and tarantulas! Next stop was Salvador and we stayed at a lovely boutique hotel Casa do Amarelindo, followed by a few days on the beach at Praia do Forte. All in all a really great holiday!

@FMH glad you had such a great time. We are loving Brazil too. Just coming towards the end of our trip now - just on the transfer to Iguazu as it happens.

I think Brazil is such an incredible melting pot of people, it has a great feel. Rio didn’t feel edgy to us at all, we happily ran and cycled around and I felt perfectly safe.
I’d love to come back and see more!

Just a shout out for Mercury holidays if anyone fancies South America on a budget. We visited so many places in 3 weeks - Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Patagonia. 10 internal flights and local guides in each location. Not for you if you’re looking for luxury but decent, clean well located hotels and a group of about 20, mixed ages. Happy to answer any questions

Glad you are enjoying your trip @Gallopingfanjo! We felt perfectly safe too and would love to go back! I would happily visit Rio again and would like to go to the Pantanal and the beaches in the north. I hope you enjoy Iguassu as much as we did - safe travels!

@Gallopingfanjo The vast majority of visitors never get near the edgy areas. Our hotel in Rio told us where not to go! Plus why would you? Just looking at poorer people and their homes isn’t accepted as sight seeing. We felt safe everywhere but we stuck to tourist areas.

Exactly. However, lots of people people, including Brazilians, see Rio as dangerous and best avoided. It isn’t like that for tourists and can be very happily visited. It would be great for Brazil if more people visited. We have been surprised how few Brits and Americans are here.

Also just back from a fab 17 days in Brazil. We visited Praia do Forte, Salvador, Iguassu ( both sides), and Rio. Favourite places Iguassu and Salvador- loved the food and music here. We had some iffy weather but had a brilliant time, agree we felt quite safe walking around with the same precautions we’d use anywhere. We booked everything independently and v impressed at how efficient the Brazilian airlines were!