What to pack for Brazil - tips on taking the beach essentials without breaking your bag!
What to pack for Brazil - Bags Backpackers tend to do just that - travel with a backpack. They range in size from about 25 litres for the super-light traveller to 120 litres for people wanting to take tents or bulky items. The lighter the better, particularly given the temperatures in Brazil, but around 65 litres is probably a happy medium. Look for rucksacks that offer a degree of comfort - back support systems, for example - but don't weigh a ton before you put anything in them.
What to pack for Brazil - Documents
You might feel like you never want to leave Brazil, but sadly, you'll have to, and you'll need your passport to do it. You'll also need it to get into the country! Pack it somewhere safe and preferably waterproof, distribute photocopies throughout your luggage and entrust another copy to someone back at home. Just make sure that person isn't planning to go on holiday.
What to pack for Brazil - Clothes The weather in Brazil is one of its main attractions - by British standards temperatures never drop particularly low. However, the south of the country can feel cold in the Brazilian winter (our summer time) and you should take a couple of warmer things for nighttime. Lots of layers give you more flexibility than one woolly jumper.
In Rio de Janeiro, the beach is as much a catwalk as a beach and you'll get plenty of wear out of any bikinis or swimming shorts you take.
What to pack for Brazil - Shoes Your flip-flops will be fine on the beach but stronger sandals, once referred to as Jesus sandals, are better suited to exploring the cities. Hardier walking shoes or boots are better for the more rural areas. A few pre-departure walks will help break them in and a couple of pairs of thin socks should minimise rubbing.
What to pack for Brazil - Towel Expect it to get plenty of use if you're near the coast! Wet towels obviously weigh more and if weight is a big issue, you might want to take a travel-sized one but bear in mind that the Brazilian sun will dry things pretty quickly.
What to pack for Brazil - Camera Your photos will almost certainly become treasured souvenirs of your trip. Invest in a decent camera and a decent case, preferably with storage for memory cards or film and remember to pack batteries and any chargers that go with it.
On the beach, it's not a good idea to leave your camera unattended while you swim and if you do want to capture beach life, pack a disposable one.
What to pack for Brazil - Toiletries Sunscreen should be on your list, followed by standard (not travel or bumper) sized bottles of the essentials. If you feel you can, economise by taking things like two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, baby lotion as after sun and moisturiser and shower gel as shaving foam. Travelling with a friend means you can share toiletries like toothpaste and shampoo.
First aid kit Where you go and what you plan to do will affect your first aid supplies but it's wise to take at least the basics: bandages, Paracetamol or similar - good if you plan to try the caipirinha! - plasters, scissors, tweezers, treatments for diarrhoea and antiseptic swabs. You'll find pharmacies in most places.
What to pack for Brazil - Guide books New guide books are coming out all the time, and you'll soon work out which series you prefer. Knowing the opening times of attractions and bus time tables (trains are few and far between in Brazil) will help if time is tight. Guide book pages are thinner than they used to be but you might still want to rip out an area's pages once you've visited it.
What to pack for Brazil - Pen and something to write on Pens are useful for highlighting bits in your guide book or on your map, and for jotting down practical information you might not remember.
What to pack for Brazil - Entertainment A pack of cards will book will occupy you on the beach post-volley ball, or while you're on a bus. Ditto for an MP3 Player or other music device, but don't leave them on the beach.
What to pack for Brazil - Adapter You'll need a plug adapter, which will work in most South American countries, for any electrical equipment.
Other bits and bobs to pack for Brazil
A phrase book - A phrase book, or, if you've mastered the basics, a dictionary, will help in language situations as not everyone will speak English. A smattering of Portuguese will endear you to the locals, as will any pronunciation mistakes.
A padlock - A strong padlock will act as a deterrent to anyone considering going through your locker. Hostels often charge to hire them so it makes sense to have one or two of your own. If you think you can remember a combination, great. If not, keep the key somewhere safe and consider safety-pinning it into your bag.
Safety pins - Safety pins attached to your bag can be unpinned in times of an emergency - like when the zip of a pocket breaks, for example.
A sheet - Occasionally, you might get the impression that a hostel's laundry wouldn't quite meet your mum's standards. In these cases, a sheet or sleeping sack (made out of the sheet) will make for a more pleasant night's sleep. And they'll save you money, if hostels charge guests to hire them.
Flip-flops - They'll provide a thin but vital barrier between you and baking hot sand, and dirty-looking hostel floors.
Wet wipes - Great if you're eat something sticky or the sink in a public toilet doesn't work.
Alarm clock - If your phone doesn't have one, a travelling alarm clock will get you up for early morning buses.
16 trips have been found based on your filter/sort
Help out a city with exceptional levels of poverty by teaching English and organising fun activities. Your work will keep children off the streets, contribute to their social wellbeing and show them how to enjoy their childhood.
Get a recognised TEFL certificate, teach English to disadvantaged children and make a valuable difference to many lives. Any extra time you spend with them – even just helping brush their hair - will be gratefully received.
Help brighten up the lives of underprivileged children in Rio. Whether you teach them English, play games with them or run arts and crafts sessions, you’ll improve their self-confidence and social skills.
Work with the blind and help reintegrate them back into society. Accompany them on visits, run dance sessions, help with occupational activities and get involved in promoting the work of the centre.
Teach English, take part in vocational and health workshops, organise leisure activities and help with fundraising. You’ll give people of all ages the chance of a better education and a better life.
Give children in the most deprived part of Brazil the chance of a better future by teaching football, English or arts and crafts. You’ll get the feel-good factor and they’ll get improved social skills, more confidence and brighter prospects.
Learn what you need to get around Brazil through small, relaxed classes that encourage conversation. You’ll stay with a family in Rio and extra curricular fun could include sunbathing on Copacabana beach or climbing Sugarloaf Mountain!
If you like tennis, this is an opportunity to teach it to deprived children in Belo Horizonte. You’ll also learn Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro, with time to explore some of the most beautiful areas of Brazil.
Make a difference to a community that is slowly but surely helping itself. Get involved with one of several successful projects, teaching English, taking craft sessions, coaching sports, promoting dancing or helping in other ways.
Learn capoeira, jiu-jitsu and Portuguese while living just minutes from Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Visit a samba school, sunbathe on the beach or admire the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in your free time.
Complete novices can learn and test their skills above one of the world’s most spectacular cities, Rio de Janeiro. You’ll have the chance to climb Sugar Mountain and to explore the sights in your free time.
Take part in a truly unique project. Give English lessons in the morning, help build the touring, floating school in the afternoon then learn capoeira from locals in the evening. No experience needed, just enthusiasm!
Board a specially designed boat and get creative about teaching children to preserve the environment. Plant trees with them, help them put on a green-themed play and get involved with a cinema project.
Get to the heart of a country famous for its music. Learn the lingo and discover the secrets of drumming and capoeira. You’ll stay in Salvador, the home of rhythm and the capital of joy.
Journey across South America exploring the continent's highlights, from Chile to Argentina via Bolivia's Salt Flats and the Iguacu Falls on the Brazil-Argentina border.
Spend 5 months or more on an amazing gap year in Latin America. This programme provides all the structure you need, with lots of activities including Spanish lessons, volunteering with wildlife or disadvantaged street children.
