Brazil · Southeast region

Southeast Brazil: iconic cities, Atlantic coast and historic highlands.

The Southeast contains Brazil’s best-known global city imagery, its largest urban centres, colonial mountain towns, Atlantic rainforest and a long, highly varied coast. It is also one of the easiest regions for first-time visitors to combine city, culture, food, beach and nature without crossing half the country.

21 destinations 4 states represented

Region overview

Southeast Brazil

Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are powerful gateways, while Paraty, Ilha Grande, Minas Gerais, mountain escapes and coastal towns create many logical extensions. Strong transport infrastructure helps, but the region is dense enough that choosing the right combinations still matters.

First Brazil trips Cities and culture Historic towns Coast and Atlantic rainforest

Strongest themes across our destinations

Photography 9.7/10

Nature 8.8/10

Food 8.5/10

Relaxation 8.2/10

These are averages across the published Brasilll destinations in this region, not a promise that every place offers the same experience.

States represented

4 states represented

Only states currently represented by a published Brasilll destination are shown.

Espírito Santo2 destinations Minas Gerais8 destinations Rio de Janeiro7 destinations São Paulo5 destinations

Destinations in this region

21 destinations

Start with the destination that matches your priorities, then use Plan Brazil to connect the places that make sense together.

5–7 nights

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil’s iconic city of beaches, mountains, culture and nightlife.

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Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia in Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro

4–5 nights

Arraial do Cabo & Cabo Frio

Clear Atlantic water, boat days, diving and historic Cabo Frio on an easy coastal break from Rio.

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Art and landscaped gardens at Instituto Inhotim in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais

4–5 nights

Belo Horizonte & Inhotim

Minas food, modernist Pampulha and one of the world’s most unusual art-and-garden destinations in a single city-based trip.

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Lago de Furnas landscape near Capitólio, Minas Gerais

3–5 nights

Capitólio & Lago de Furnas

Canyons, waterfalls and the vast Furnas reservoir give Minas Gerais a blue-water adventure base.

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Historic centre of Diamantina in Minas Gerais

3–5 nights

Diamantina & Serra do Espinhaço

Diamond-era streets, music traditions and highland landscapes turn northern Minas into a cultural mountain journey.

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4–6 nights

Ilhabela

Atlantic Forest mountains, remote beaches, waterfalls and island villages within reach of São Paulo.

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Pico das Agulhas Negras in Itatiaia National Park

3–5 nights

Itatiaia & Agulhas Negras

High-altitude trails, serious mountain routes and exceptional birding make Brazil’s oldest national park far more than a scenic stop.

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3–5 nights

PETAR & Iporanga

Hundreds of caves, Atlantic Forest and underground rivers make the Alto Ribeira one of Brazil’s essential speleology destinations.

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4–6 nights

São Paulo

Brazil’s immense metropolis for food, museums, neighbourhoods, design and nightlife.

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4–6 nights

Serra da Canastra

Cerrado plateaus, the source of the São Francisco and one of Brazil’s great artisan-cheese landscapes reward slow road travel.

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4–6 nights

Serra do Cipó

Waterfalls, highland grasslands and long trails make this one of the easiest serious nature escapes from Belo Horizonte.

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4–6 nights

Ubatuba

More than a hundred beaches, Atlantic Forest and caiçara culture make this São Paulo coast far deeper than a weekend beach stop.

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Mountain landscape around Cunha, São Paulo

3–4 nights

Cunha & Serra do Mar

Ceramics, mountain roads and Atlantic Forest make Cunha the cultural bridge between São Paulo and Paraty.

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3–4 nights

Domingos Martins & Pedra Azul

Atlantic Forest mountains, immigrant traditions and Pedra Azul add a cool-climate counterpoint to coastal Espírito Santo.

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4–5 nights

Ilha Grande

A car-free island of Atlantic Forest trails, beaches, boat days and protected coastal nature.

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3–4 nights

Paraty

A preserved colonial town between Atlantic Forest mountains, islands and calm coastal water.

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Museu Imperial in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro

4–5 nights

Petrópolis & Teresópolis

Imperial history, mountain climate and Serra dos Órgãos hiking in Rio’s green highlands.

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Matriz de Santo Antônio church in historic Tiradentes, Minas Gerais

4–5 nights

Tiradentes & São João del-Rei

Two complementary Minas towns for Baroque churches, cobbled streets, food, craft and one of Brazil’s great historic rail corridors.

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Convento da Penha above Vila Velha, Espírito Santo

3–4 nights

Vitória & Vila Velha

Island-city views, Espírito Santo food, urban beaches and Convento da Penha across one compact metropolitan coast.

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3–4 nights

Búzios

A polished peninsula of many beaches, boat days, restaurants and lively evenings near Rio.

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2–3 nights

Ouro Preto

Brazil’s baroque hill town of churches, gold-rush history, steep streets and exceptional colonial architecture.

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