Getting There

By Plane

Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are the two major gateways to Brazil and are served by most international airlines. The two big Brazilian airlines -- Varig and TAM -- also operate a number of international flights. Contact numbers given are for the United States and Canada unless otherwise stated. Please check the websites or contact your travel agency for details. Up until 2006, Varig (tel. 800/Go-VARIG; www.varig.com) was the Brazilian airline with the most international connections to North America, Europe, Asia, and the rest of South America. However, after going through a major crisis and hovering on the edge of bankruptcy, Varig -- though it survived -- had to give up most of its international routes. TAM (tel. 888/2FLY-TAM; www.tam.com.br) has picked up some of Varig's slack and has added more international flights to Europe and in the U.S. to Miami and New York. Relative newcomer, low-budget carrier Gol (www.voegol.com.br) has also done well in the Varig shake-up and now offers a number of South American destinations (Argentina, Chile, Peru and Bolivia), a good alternative for those traveling within South America.

If you plan to visit a few countries in South America, the Mercosur pass is worth considering. Participating countries include Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile. The pass is valid for a maximum of 30 days and allows you to visit all countries, with a minimum of two stops and a maximum of eight stops, and a restriction of two stops per country. To be eligible to purchase the pass you need to buy your international ticket with United, American, Delta, Continental, or any of the national airlines of the participating countries (for example, LanChile in Chile, Varig or TAM in Brazil, or Aerolinas Argentinas in Argentina). The cost of a Mercosur pass depends on flying mileage. Typical fares are US$295 for 1,200 to 1,900 miles, US$585 for 3,200 to 4,200 miles, and US$1,075 for 7,200 miles or more. (For reference, a flight from Rio to Buenos Aires requires 1,232 miles, while Rio to Santiago de Chile uses up 1,825 miles.) The best way to get more information is to check with your travel agent.

By Package Tour

Many travel agencies offer package tours to Brazil, but few have the knowledge to effectively customize your trip or make interesting recommendations. To book a package with Brazil travel experts, contact Brazil Nuts, 1854 Trade Center Way, Suite 101A, Naples, FL 34109 (tel. 800/553-9959 or 914/593-0266; www.brazilnuts.com). The owners and staff are indeed nuts about Brazil and possess a vast amount of knowledge about the country and its attractions. Depending on your needs you can book just a flight and hotels, or you can add one or more group excursions in more inaccessible places such as the Amazon. Their website is a font of information, and staff can answer any questions you may have about Brazil.

Note: Brazilian travel agents still have a firm grip on the hotel market, and Brazilian hotels will usually offer their lowest rates to travel agents instead of posting them on their websites. Once you have narrowed down your hotel options, it can pay to contact an agency like Brazil Nuts to compare rates.

Another excellent resource on Brazil and South America travel in general is South America Travel (formerly 4StarBrazil; PO Box 11552, Washington, DC 20008; tel. 800/747-4540; www. southamericatravel.com). Similar to Brazil Nuts, South America Travel offers packages customizable to whatever level you're comfortable with. A number of interesting add-ons are available -- outdoors lovers will be pleased to see some great hiking and camping options. The company has local offices in Rio, Lima, and Buenos Aires.

A good travel agency to book your ticket through is Santini Tours, 6575 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609 (tel. 800/769-9669 or 510/652-8600; www.santours.com). The owner as well as many of the travel agents are Brazilian and can give you many useful suggestions on air-pass routings and answer any questions you have about your itinerary. In addition to selling tickets and air passes, Santini can also arrange customized tours, including everything from airport transfers to sightseeing and guided tours.