Most international flights land at São Paulo's Guarulhos Airport (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro's Galeão Airport (GIG). Guarulhos is the busiest international hub in South America and usually offers better-value connections. A growing number of routes now land directly in Salvador, Fortaleza, Recife, and Manaus, which can save a domestic connection if one of those is your starting point.
From North America, nonstop flights operate from Miami, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Toronto. Miami has the widest choice of direct routes. LATAM, American, Delta, and United are the main carriers. From Europe, TAP flies direct from Lisbon to more Brazilian cities than any other carrier; British Airways and LATAM have nonstop flights from London.
Visas: Since April 2025, US, Canadian, and Australian citizens need a visa to enter Brazil. The e-visa is applied for entirely online, costs around USD 81, and is valid for ten years. Citizens of most EU countries and the UK are currently exempt for stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
By land: Brazil shares borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. Long-distance buses cross into Argentina (Buenos Aires–Porto Alegre, Buenos Aires–São Paulo), Uruguay, Bolivia (Corumbá is the most-used crossing), Paraguay, and Peru. Journey times are measured in days rather than hours.
By river: Boat services from Leticia (Colombia) and Iquitos (Peru) travel down the Amazon to Manaus — a slow, evocative journey of five to seven days depending on direction and boat type.