Brazil is a continent-sized country and driving it requires selectivity. The coastal road between Rio de Janeiro and Búzios is one of South America's great drives. The Serra Gaúcha wine country in Rio Grande do Sul resembles rural Italy. The Estrada Parque in the Pantanal offers the best road-accessible wildlife viewing in the Americas. Brazil rewards drivers who focus on a region rather than try to cover the whole country.
Best airports & pick-up locations
- Rio de Janeiro (GIG/SDU) — Búzios coast, Serra dos Órgãos, Paraty.
- São Paulo (GRU) — Santos coast, Serra Negra, Vale do Paraíba.
- Florianópolis (FLN) — Santa Catarina island circuit, Blumenau, Serra Gaúcha.
- Cuiabá (CGB) — gateway to the Pantanal wetlands.
Driving in Brazil
- Drive on the right. Speed limits: 110 km/h highways, 80 km/h national roads, 50–60 km/h urban.
- Radar cameras are ubiquitous and fines are significant. Speed strictly in urban areas.
- Avoid driving at night on federal highways outside major cities — highway robbery is a real risk in some areas.
- Petrol stations in remote areas can be scarce — fill up whenever the gauge drops below half.
- Tolls on major highways are paid by cash or card; carry small bills.
Local tips & best routes
The Rio–Santos coastal road (BR-101 south) between Rio and Paraty hugs sea cliffs above tropical bays — one of South America's most beautiful coastal drives. The Estrada Parque in the Pantanal (124 km of dirt road through the world's largest tropical wetland) offers jaguar, capybara and caiman sightings almost guaranteed. In the south, the Serra Gaúcha wine route around Bento Gonçalves resembles the Italian Alps transplanted to Brazil.