G’day, JFC-ers!

Flight Finder Larissa here, filling in for Katy this week as she ticks off temples and is tossed around in basket boats across Vietnam. She’s having a fabulous time, even running into some fellow JFC-ers as she traverses the country. Stay tuned to hear all about her adventures when she returns! 

In the meantime, I wanted to give you the low-down on what’s been going on in Flight Finder land. 

This week, we’ve seen quite a few countries come up on our cheap flight radar, which doesn't happen all too often. One of the best parts of our job is showing you how to travel further than the usual spots (not that there’s anything wrong with the Tenerifes and Cancuns of the world!). There is a special twinkle in our eye when we send flight tips to places like Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Greenland or Reunion. 

We know destinations like those don’t appeal to everyone, but if you are in that group, it’s been an excellent week to be a JFC member. You’re not alone — the yearning for adventure also propels us all forward. Over the past year and a bit, you’ve probably heard a bit about what our team has been up to: a budget safari, a race across Europe, a horse trek in Kyrgyzstan, the list goes on. 

Read on for Flight Finder Fran’s Lazy Planner’s Guide to Brazil — her itinerary is full of really cool suggestions outside of Rio and São Paulo, including her personal experience embarking on a DIY Amazon expedition, and how you could do the same. And even if you don’t want to jump on a plane and head straight into the rainforest (that’s a bit too much for me too, I admit), I hope you’re inspired by her travels.

And if you’re just as happy with Tenerife and Cancun, we see you! Beautiful beaches are always beautiful, after all. 

Happy travels and safe landings,

A month? That’s a whole lot of possibilities!

You didn't say which part of the country you're planning to land in, but I’ll assume it’s São Paulo since that's often the cheapest entry point. One thing I’ll say right off the bat is this: Unless you’re into big-city vibes and modernist architecture, don’t spend any precious time there.

São Paulo is a fun city, especially for the nightlife and food scene, but it’s not worth visiting on a first trip to Brazil. What’s great about it, though, is Guarulhos Airport, the perfect gateway to anywhere in Brazil!

Now, Rio de Janeiro is clearly a must-visit (and year-round) destination. You can easily reach it from São Paulo by bus or with a quick flight. Personally, I’d recommend staying for at least four days to see the best sights.

I lived in Rio for a couple of months and here are my favourite activities in the city:

• Hiking! Rio has plenty of cool hikes, and you can even reach some tourist attractions by walking. The Cristo and Sugarloaf are some especially popular ones! My absolute favourite hike, though, is to Dois Irmãos—the two majestic peaks peeking behind Ipanema beach. It's a tricky one, but these views make it so worthwhile.
  
  All you gotta do is get an Uber to the entrance of the Vidigal favela (it's a chill one, don't worry!), and hop on a moto-taxi for 5 reais (less than £0.8-€1) to reach the trailhead (the entry fee should be around 10 reais, £1.5-€2). It'll take you around 40 minutes to make it to the top, if you don't stop too often to take pics!
  
  P.S. As tempting as it may be, I don't recommend hiking the hill to watch the sunset — the trail is not well-lit in the evening, and coming back down may be intimidating in the dark. The guys at Rio World Connection organise a lovely sunrise hike, though, if you feel like waking up at 4am!
  

• Make your way to Lapa and hop on the tram to Santa Teresa. After a stroll around the bohemian neighbourhood, head to Território Aprazível. I know, it's a bit out of the way from the main touristy spots, but that €5 Uber back home will be so worth it.
  
  
• Next up, the Tijuca Forest (the world's largest urban rainforest). Hike your way to the Horto waterfall, then grab some tasty lunch at Os Esquilos and watch the sunset at the Chinese View — bonus points if you can see the fireflies!
  
  
• During the weekend, check the timetable of the Junta Local — a nomadic market with the best DJ set in town, perfect for blending in with the locals and snacking on some delicious food.
  
  
• Visit the Botanical Garden, see the Parque Lage (you don’t need to book an entry ticket if you’re planning to have some drinks/food at the café) and bike all around the Lagoa.
  
  
• ASA delta in São Conrado beach — for around €150, you get to see the world’s prettiest city from above.

Pro Tip: You could even head to Paraty and Ilha Grande directly from São Paulo and spend 3–4 days around there before arriving in Rio if you have some spare time!

Travelling between May and September

Northeast: Deserts, Turquoise Lagoons and Kite Surfing

Tempted by the northeast corner of Brazil? I suggest you hop on a flight to São Luís and make your way towards the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park — an immense desert dotted with thousands of turquoise freshwater pools.

You can access the desert from Barreirinhas, Atins, or Santo Amaro. Whichever entry point you pick, you'll be able to arrange a tour to the natural lagoons with one of the many agencies in town. In 2021, I went with Caetés Expedições (from Barreirinhas) and managed to bag a private 3-day quad tour (for 6 people) for less than €200 pp. Just be prepared to sleep on colourful hammocks!

When you have had enough of floating in the crystal clear water, I suggest either:

• Continuing your trip east until you reach Jericoacoara — a buzzing seaside village surrounded by desert. You can spend 2–3 days there, then travel to the city of Fortaleza to fly out.
  
  
• Or heading back to São Luís and flying from there.

If you pick the first option, I recommend spending one day at most in Fortaleza, or avoiding it altogether and instead stopping in Cumbuco or Canoa Quebrada before heading to the airport.

West: Wetlands, Horse Riding and Capybaras

For a more niche destination, check out the Pantanal — It's the largest wetlands area in the world (bigger than the whole UK!) and has the largest concentration of crocodiles in the world, as well as jaguars, giant otters, and the most iconic South American animal: capybaras! And let’s not forget the 650+ bird species that call these wetlands home, from toucans and herons to macaws and jabiru storks — the region’s most famous bird.

Unlike the lush Amazon rainforest, the open landscapes of the Pantanal make it much easier to spot animals — expect plenty of morning horseback riding, sunsets on canoes, and lots of mosquitoes.

You can reach the region via a flight to either Cuiabá or Campo Grande for less than €80 one–way. I would recommend spending at least three days in the Pantanal to see as many animals as possible — big spotted cats included :-)

FYI, the Pantanal isn’t a place you can just show up to after booking a place to stay. You’ll want to go with a tour company who can ensure you have all the right permits, accommodations, guides, and transport.

Travelling between July and December

The Amazon Rainforest: Does this really need an introduction?

Over these months, you can plan a little Amazon expedition! Fly into Manaus, and you’ll be able to find some affordable tours leaving from the city. You can do day-trips, but I’d recommend spending at least two nights in the forest to really connect with nature and experience the transition from day to night.

If you don’t mind committing at least ten days to a real Amazonian adventure, have a look at how I navigated over 1000 km on the Amazon River, sleeping on hammock boats and befriending parrots :-)

Southeast: Waterfalls, Cowboys and Endless BBQs

Look up Brazil’s natural wonders, and you can bet the Iguaçu Falls will be on the list — for good reason! Both sides — Brazilian and Argentinian — are equally beautiful in their own way, so I recommend spending at least three days in Foz de Iguaçu to be able to check both of them out :-)

Although, if visiting the waterfalls isn't on the top of your bucket list, I suggest keeping southern Brazil for a future visit.

A year-round destination — Bahia

Aaaaaaaaaah, Bahia! A heaven for surfers, chocolate lovers (I'm talking abut the real stuff!) and slooooooooow lifers.

One minute, you’re pulling up to a black-sand beach; the next, you’re staring out from a cliffside lookout. Keep going, and you might find yourself surfing your first wave. Before you know it, you’ll be on a car-free island, dancing a samba under a full moon.

Had enough beach time? You can always go inland and check out the spectacular Chapada Diamantina National Park — expect endless waterfalls and quiet hiking paths waiting to be explored.

To reach Bahia, you can either fly to Ilheus or Porto Seguro — great for reaching most central/southern locations in the state, such as the Cocoa Coast — or to the state capital of Salvador — ideal for accessing more northern destinations (including the Island of Boipeba).

So there you have it, JFC–ers! A Flight Finder–approved bunch of breathtaking destinations all over Brazil. Wherever you end up deciding to go, don't forget to try dadinhos de tapioca and açaí.

Boa viagem!

Hey there, reader! This is a great question. Travel SIMs are all the rage these days, and eSIMS like the ones Airalo offer are incredibly handy — if you can get them to work!

To start with, it’s important to know that not all phones support eSIMs yet. I, personally, am in the unlucky eSIM-less camp, and it’s a total pain having to acquire a physical SIM whenever I travel. If I know I’ll need data as soon as I land and might not have time to pick up a SIM at the airport, I usually order one from SimCorner before I travel.

However, Dubai is actually an interesting exception here, since you can pick up a free SIM card when you arrive at the airport. These SIMs come with 1 GB of data to get you started, then you can pick which package you’ll need for the rest of the trip.

The downside to all this is that picking up a physical SIM does involve waiting in line, you often have to register a bunch of details, and then you need to spend time messing around with phone parts. If you don’t have a dual SIM, you’ll even need to remember which “safe place” you put your usual SIM in. It’s a lot.

If your phone does support an eSIM, I say go for that over a physical SIM any day! A quick survey of our Flight Finders showed that most of the gang have used Airalo on their travels without any hassle. Not that that helps you, dear reader! 

Our JFC Tech Guru Richard tends to use a handy eSIM comparison site like this to find the best deal and go from there. You’ll see a load of unfamiliar names on the list, many of which are local network providers — I’d suggest a quick Google to see which one offers the best coverage.

Once you’ve picked your eSIM package, it’s usually as easy as downloading a QR code and registering the SIM on your device. It should all be doable in a matter of minutes!

Hopefully that’s given you a couple of ideas, reader! Happy travels in Dubai, and don’t forget to sent us a postcard :-) 

Do you have a question for our Flight Finders? Let us know below!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• Looks like Ireland's most famous attraction, the Cliffs of Moher, are taking a gap year! Most of the trail is shutting down until 2026 thanks to some seriously sketchy spots. For now, you'll have to enjoy the views from a safe distance — or find another cliff just as mighty as Moher. 

• Air New Zealand is finally making the dream of sleeping horizontally in economy a reality—only took six years! Their new Skynest bunk beds are landing in early 2026, get ready to fight for the top bunk at 30,000 feet.

• Eurostar's direct London-Amsterdam route is back — well, for the next seven weeks anyway. Thereafter, it'll be briefly suspended again from March 29, before making a permanent comeback on April 22. Just in time for summer flings and stroopwafels. That's not all though, from March 31 Paris' incredibly picturesque direct train to Milan will relaunch after being closed for 2 years. The best part? With one-way fares as low as £25.33, these panoramic views come at a bargain!

• And lastly, Ed Sheeran Unplugged ft Bengaluru Police just dropped live on the streets of India. The cop must've been a Swiftie.