Summer
Dec → Feb28 to 29°
nights 22 to 24°
- 16 rainy days · 152 mm
- 10.3 h of sun
- sea 26°
When is the best time to visit Brazil?
In short: April and May, then September to November, for Rio and the South-East: less rain than in summer (56 mm in May in Rio against 156 mm in January) and 26 to 27 °C in the afternoon. The country is so vast that each region has its own season: the Pantanal is best from June to September, the Amazon from July to October and the Nordeste from September to January.
- Rio and the south-east coast: In April and May, then from September to November: fewer showers than in summer and 26 to 27 °C in the afternoon in Rio.
- Carnival: In February, sometimes early March (a movable date, before Ash Wednesday), in Rio, Salvador or Recife, in the height of the southern summer and the rainy season.
- Pantanal wildlife: From June to September, the dry season: the water recedes from the flooded plains and animals gather around the rivers and pools.
- The Amazon: From July to October, the least rainy months around Manaus; from December to May, showers there are almost daily.
- The lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses: The rains from January to June fill the lagoons between the dunes: aim for June to August, before they evaporate in the dry season.
- Nordeste beaches: The coast around Natal and Pipa gets most of its rain from March to July; from September to January, the weather is noticeably drier.
Best avoided: January and February in Rio: sticky heat (29 °C in the afternoon), 16 rainy days a month and rising prices around Carnival; it is also the heart of the rainy season in the Pantanal and the Amazon.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
- Jan29°not recommended
- Feb29°not recommended
- Mar29°fair
- Apr27°recommended
- May26°recommended
- Jun25°fair
- Jul25°fair
- Aug25°fair
- Sep27°recommended
- Oct26°recommended
- Nov27°recommended
- Dec28°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Brazil, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 23° | 10.5 h | 156 mm | 16 d | 26° | |
| February | 29° | 24° | 10.1 h | 139 mm | 16 d | 27° | |
| March | 29° | 23° | 10.4 h | 118 mm | 10 d | 27° | |
| April | 27° | 21° | 10.1 h | 90 mm | 13 d | 25° | ✓ |
| May | 26° | 20° | 9.2 h | 56 mm | 8 d | 24° | ✓ |
| June | 25° | 19° | 9 h | 38 mm | 9 d | 23° | |
| July | 25° | 18° | 9 h | 42 mm | 7 d | 23° | |
| August | 25° | 18° | 9 h | 74 mm | 9 d | 23° | |
| September | 27° | 20° | 9.6 h | 70 mm | 8 d | 24° | ✓ |
| October | 26° | 21° | 9.1 h | 102 mm | 16 d | 23° | ✓ |
| November | 27° | 21° | 9.6 h | 110 mm | 15 d | 24° | ✓ |
| December | 28° | 22° | 10.4 h | 162 mm | 17 d | 25° |
The four seasons in Brazil, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Rio de Janeiro) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May26 to 29°
nights 20 to 23°
- 10 rainy days · 88 mm
- 9.9 h of sun
- sea 25°
Winter
Jun → Aug25°
nights 18 to 19°
- 8 rainy days · 51 mm
- 9 h of sun
- sea 23°
Spring
Sep → Nov26 to 27°
nights 20 to 21°
- 13 rainy days · 94 mm
- 9.4 h of sun
- sea 24°
Book early for April to May and September to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Brazil, month by month
EventsCarnivalFebruary to MarchParintins FestivalJuneCírio de NazaréOctoberNew Year's Eve in CopacabanaDecemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: May, June, July, August, September
- Towns & culture: March, May, June, July, August, September
- Diving & snorkelling: January, February, March, April, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Brazil, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- February to MarchCarnival big crowds
Sambadrome parades in Rio, blocos in the streets of São Paulo and trios elétricos in Salvador, over the carnival days.
- JuneParintins Festival big crowds
On an island in the Amazon, two rival camps, Garantido and Caprichoso, face off in a spectacle built around the boi bumbá.
- OctoberCírio de Nazaré big crowds
Belém carries Our Lady of Nazareth in procession on the second Sunday of October, behind a rope pulled by the crowd.
- DecemberNew Year's Eve in Copacabana big crowds
Rio spends New Year's Eve dressed in white on the beach, with offerings to Iemanjá and fireworks launched from barges.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Brazil, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇧🇷 Salvador da Bahia | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇧🇷 The Brazilian Amazon | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| 🇧🇷 Northeast Brazil | · | · | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| 🇧🇷 The Pantanal | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇧🇷 Lençóis Maranhenses | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
Rio de JaneiroBest time: April to May and September to DecemberWhen to visit Rio de Janeiro →The Rio de Janeiro guide
Salvador da BahiaBest time: September to MarchWhen to visit Salvador da Bahia →The Salvador da Bahia guide
The Brazilian AmazonBest time: June to November (dry season)When to visit the Brazilian Amazon →The Brazilian Amazon guide
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended29°23° at night
- 156 mm · 16 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 26°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended29°24° at night
- 139 mm · 16 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 27°
Busy, without the crush
March
Fair29°23° at night
- 118 mm · 10 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 27°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended27°21° at night
- 90 mm · 13 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended26°20° at night
- 56 mm · 8 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair25°19° at night
- 38 mm · 9 d
- 9 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair25°18° at night
- 42 mm · 7 d
- 9 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair25°18° at night
- 74 mm · 9 d
- 9 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended27°20° at night
- 70 mm · 8 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended26°21° at night
- 102 mm · 16 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 23°
High season, book early
November
Recommended27°21° at night
- 110 mm · 15 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
December
Fair28°22° at night
- 162 mm · 17 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 29 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. A very wet month, 156 mm of rain over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 139 mm of rain over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (118 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 27 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (90 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 26 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (56 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 25 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (38 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 25 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Rain stays light: 42 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 25 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (74 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 27 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (70 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. 26 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Frequent rain: 102 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
November. 27 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Frequent rain: 110 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent rain: 162 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Brazil?
April and May, then September to November, for Rio and the South-East: less rain than in summer (56 mm in May in Rio against 156 mm in January) and 26 to 27 °C in the afternoon. The country is so vast that each region has its own season: the Pantanal is best from June to September, the Amazon from July to October and the Nordeste from September to January.
Which month should you avoid in Brazil?
January and February in Rio: sticky heat (29 °C in the afternoon), 16 rainy days a month and rising prices around Carnival; it is also the heart of the rainy season in the Pantanal and the Amazon.
What is the hottest month in Brazil?
January, with 29 °C on average in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Rio de Janeiro).
What is the coldest month in Brazil?
June, with 25 °C at best during the day and 19 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Rio de Janeiro).
What is the driest month in Brazil?
June: 38 mm over 9 days of rain, against 162 mm in December, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Brazil?
January, with 10.5 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Brazil?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 23 to 27 °C depending on the month (warmest in February), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Rio de Janeiro).
When is the best time to hike in Brazil?
May, June, July, August, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Rio de Janeiro), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Brazil?
January, February, March, April, December: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Rio de Janeiro).
Plan this trip
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🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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