Brazil Highlands Tours & Trips
Ever heard of Brazil's highland plateau? The Brazilian Highlands (Planalto) cover much of the interior, so you’re exploring Chapada dos Veadeiros with waterfalls and cerrado savanna, Chapada Diamantina's caves and peaks, and Serra da Canastra. The region's cooler than the coast, and landscapes shift from savanna to mountains to canyons. The Brazilian Highlands are criminally undervisited; when will you go?
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Yasmin • traveled in December, 2025
It was an amazing trip. I managed to enjoy a lot of what I wanted to see in Rio, and it was a lot of fun.
Wonderful Rio - R
Robert • traveled in May
Everything about this trip except communication was great. The travel agent booked a wonderfully convenient hotel, the half-day tour was delightful, and the outbound airport transfer was great too. But I had no idea how to find my inbound airport transfer, so I had to catch an Uber and they marked me as a no-show. Several messages later, the travel agent put me in touch with the actual operators on WhatsApp and it was fine from then on. I didn't know I had to take this much initiative, but I suppose it's a hands-off tour!
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro - 4 days - K
katherine • traveled in August
The tour was fantastic in Brazil, every little thing was well catered for. The only downside in Brazil was the dinner and entertainment additional tour. The place was massive and the seats were crammed in. This made the lines for food intolerably long which was a shame, the food was ok quality and a great variety but the long lines meant your companion was half way through their meal when you eventually sat down. The entertainment was nice but a little too long in duration I felt. The Santa Theresa Tour was cancelled due to unrest and I understand this is unavoidable, however, it may have been nice to be offered an alternative. Gio our Tour Director did a super job of making suggestions for things to do on our own. In Argentina there was very little in organised touring which was a shame. The city was wonderful but the option of going horse riding was not for me nor going out in a boat Tigre Delta as it was too cold. A city tour of the whole day instead of half day might have been more beneficial here. That said Buenos Aries was wonderful. Be my guest was the highlight of this leg of the tour - don't miss it!
Impressions of South America
Table of contents
- The best Brazilian Highlands tour packages
- Travel Brazilian Highlands your way
- Best tour companies for Brazilian Highlands tours
- Discover Brazilian Highlands tours for every budget
- Brazilian Highlands tours for every type of group
- Top Brazilian Highlands travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Brazilian Highlands
- Contact our Brazilian Highlands travel experts
The best Brazilian Highlands tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaBrazilian Highlands travel expert at TourRadar
Wonderful Rio
5 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The places we visited were stunning, and the group atmosphere was really nice.”
Derrielle, traveled in November
Brazilian Highlands unfold dramatically from Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain. Sugarloaf Mountain's cable car ascent rewards with coastal vistas, while Santa Teresa's hilltop community offers views of surrounding peaks.
Duration 5 days Destinations Rio de Janeiro Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish Operator ETours Brazil DMC From $535
10% Off- US$482You save $54
Salvador Afro-Cultural Experience
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The free time was amazing and allows you to pursue Salvador based on your interests.”
James, traveled in July
Lacerda Elevator offers panoramic views of Salvador's elevated districts. Historic churches dot the highland Pelourinho district, while traditional performances celebrate the Brazilian Highlands' cultural heritage.
Duration 5 days Destinations Salvador Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Portuguese, Spanish Operator Nattrip From
10% Off- US$1,300
Rio Essentials: Samba, Sun & Sugarloaf
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“It is magical. Everything was well organize.”
Mark, traveled in March
Rio's dramatic setting unfolds from Windsor Leme Hotel. Cable cars climb Sugar Loaf Mountain's granite peak for breathtaking Highland views, while a historic train ascends Corcovado to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.
Duration 4 days Destinations Rio de Janeiro Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in English, Spanish Operator People Travel and Experience From
10% Off- US$895
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro - 4 days
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Rio was a good time. The agents all took good care.”
Donald, traveled in April
Rio rises from the Brazilian Highlands, visible during panoramic city tours of the Sambadrome and Maracanã Stadium. The Metropolitan Cathedral and artistic Selarón Steps showcase the region's unique topography. Strategic hotel placement enables highland exploration.
Duration 4 days Destinations Rio de Janeiro Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Receptivo Aborigen Tours From
10% Off- US$599
Impressions of South America
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The tour was fantastic in Brazil, every little thing was well catered for.”
katherine, traveled in August
This adventure spans around 12 days through Brazil's highlands, taking in Rio de Janeiro, the colonial mining town of Ouro Preto, and Chapada Diamantina National Park's waterfalls. Hike to viewpoints overlooking the Brazilian Highlands, check out baroque churches with gold leaf, and swim in natural pools fed by mountain streams.
Duration 9 days Destinations Rio de Janeiro Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Trafalgar From $3,736
10% Off- US$3,362+$659 upfront costsYou save $374
Walk through UNESCO-listed Valongo Wharf and Pretos Novos Institute to learn about Brazil's African diaspora heritage, then head to Rocinha, Brazil's largest favela with 150,000 residents, touring by open jeep through São Conrado and along Avenida Niemeyer. See colonial-era coffee farms in the Paraíba River Valley's Voussouras region.
Duration 5 days Destinations Rio de Janeiro Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Signature DMC From
10% Off- US$1,509
Discovering Bahia
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The places we visited were amazing. We are more than happy to recommend her services.”
Alison, traveled in November
Chapada Diamantina National Park's trails lead to Buracao Waterfall's 6km path and Poço Encantado's turquoise caves. Traditional accommodations in Lençóis and Mucugê provide comfort while expert guides reveal geological wonders.
Duration 10 days Destinations Salvador, Igatu, Chapada Diamantina National Park, Mucugê, Lencois, Imbassai Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Portuguese Operator ETours Brazil DMC From $2,355
10% Off- US$2,120You save $236
Travel Brazilian Highlands your way
Best tour companies for Brazilian Highlands tours
Discover Brazilian Highlands tours for every budget
Brazilian Highlands tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Top Brazilian Highlands travel itineraries to fit your plans
7 Day Itineraries
10 Day Itineraries
Demographics
Solo Travelers46 tours- Couples43 tours
- Seniors (50+)25 tours
Best time to visit Brazilian Highlands
- Winter 2025 / 2026
The winter highlands tours really shine in Brazil, with several well-designed options that take advantage of the cool, clear weather. Our most complete package runs 6 days starting in Rio's Lapa quarter, where you'll mix samba lessons and local street parties with solid mountain hiking. There's also a practical 4-day option combining Sugarloaf cable car rides with guided Tijuca Forest walks, plus a neat 3-night route where you'll spot hang gliders at São Conrado Beach and explore genuine rainforest trails. The guides know exactly how to work with winter conditions - they'll get you to Christ the Redeemer early before clouds move in and time your forest walks when you're most likely to see active wildlife.
- popular 37 tours
- 32 tours
- Spring 2026
Spring gives you perfect timing to explore Brazil's highlands, with a handful of tours making the most of mild weather and crisp visibility. A comprehensive 4-day option starts in Rio, where cable car rides up Sugarloaf Mountain in the morning lead into guided walks through Tijuca Forest's verdant paths. Our guide Warley gets constant praise from visitors who appreciate his deep local knowledge and engaging style. Cultural heritage blends nicely with outdoor exploration at the Botanical Garden, where you'll find over 900 palm species and follow mountain trails to sweeping city viewpoints. The multi-day route between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, led by guides Thallis and also Guilherme, winds through granite peaks and secluded waterfalls that shine especially bright in spring. Our travelers often mention how these spring tours let them photograph Christ the Redeemer without cloud cover and explore mountain paths before summer temperatures rise. Evening activities round things out perfectly - from traditional churrascarias to lively carnival performances that maintain high spirits after full days of exploration.
- 37 tours
- 37 tours
- popular 39 tours
- Summer 2026
Summer in the highlands needs a different approach, and we've developed routes that work well with the warmer temperatures. Our 5-day Rio tour balances time between Copacabana, Ipanema and mountain trails - you'll take the Corcovado train during the cool morning hours. The 4-day option includes a fantastic Jeep ride through the Botanical Garden where you'll see over 900 different palm species, while our 3-night starter package is perfect for first visits, mixing easier mountain paths with South Rio beach exploration. What makes these summer routes work so well is how the guides pace the hiking during hot spells and know the perfect spots for cooling off in natural pools. The schedule flows nicely too, with active mountain mornings and relaxed waterside afternoons.
- popular 39 tours
- 38 tours
- 38 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2026
Jorge leads TourRadar's Full Experience Carnival package in Rio - our travelers keep telling us how well his team handles all the details and really looks after everyone. If you're keen on getting into the real Carnival spirit, this one's solid. For something totally different in the region, there's a good trekking route between Petrópolis and Teresópolis run by Nattrip. Their guides Thallis and Guilherme know every inch of those mountain trails and share lots of local knowledge along the way. Just know that while the trek itself is excellent, you'll be staying in basic mountain shelters that could do with some updates - our past trekkers have mentioned this, but most say the overall experience more than makes up for it.
- popular 37 tours
- 37 tours
- 32 tours
Contact our Brazilian Highlands travel experts
Kaitlyn
Expert in Brazilian Highlands at TourRadar
Kaitlyn is one of our seasoned Brazilian Highlands Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Brazilian Highlands tours answered!
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