To be honest with you I'd skip trying to do Rio and Amazon in one short trip. As a previous poster suggested, there is absolutely loads to do in and around Rio and certainly enough to keep you occupied and give you a taste of Brazilian life.

If you do choose to go to Amazon, keep in mind that it is around a 5 hour flight from Rio, so both the flight there and the flight back will effectively knock the best part of a day from your time in Brazil - after taking into account the time it takes to get to the airport, hanging around at the airport, flight and then luggage collection and taxi at the other end etc.

5 hour flight from Rio to Manaus??

Lets say if i wanted a couple of days of beach time and couple of days doing the touristy thing and surely the night life which is the best area to stay in Rio. I would not mind mind paying anything between $100-200/night. Priority being safety and then the proximity of things.

It's the same distance as Chicago to LAX.

http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=gig-mao...&SG=450&SU=kts

David

Guess David has convinced me to drop Amazon and just stick to Rio.

Part 1 Achieved where i am going to be now part 2 is to figure a tentative itinerary for the 7-8 days in Rio and a hotel.

Another factor not discussed is if you go to the Amazon/Manaus, you will need a Yellow Fever shot. It takes a while before the shot becomes effective.
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Time would not be a factor considering i am looking to travel in June but it is too much of a bother and with time constraints will just have to pass Amazon. Thanks for the heads up though about the yellow fever shots.

Getting JW Marriott for $200/night (cos i know someone) in mid june..what do you guys suggest take it or there is better for that price??

Thanks

Who do you know?

Lets say i just pulled a few strings question being is should i take it or get something else.

$200/night is a steal for the JW Marriott. Go for it! The Marrriott is a nice hotel with a nice executive lounge which has a great view of the beach. The rooftop pool is small but nice - not usually crowded as the hotel is mainly a business hotel, though it does get its share of tourists.

I agree with previous posters that Amazonia would be a stretch. I'd definitely give it at least 3 days (with departure the evening before and arrival to Rio next day). As far as Rio, in June it could be hit or miss, depending on the weather. Remember, it will be winter in the Southern hemisphere.

I guess i decided to pass on Amazonia. Well the weather in june is something that i will have to take a chance with and just hope its a good 8 days weather during my stay.

How is Florence?? is it worth going at that time of the year?? How far is it from Rio?

Considering that your initial post just asked about Rio and then you added that you wanted to see the Amazon, it struck me as soeone saying they wanted to know what to see in New York City and then said, oh, yeah, by the way, they'd like to see Yosemite.

In all seriousness, have you considered scanning a guide book? You may want to see the Amazon, but you need to take that into account in calculating air fares (and domestic flights are not inexpensive in Brazil unless you can get a sale, or maybe a Brazil air pass). It's basically a full-day trip, flying, each way (unless you could arrange to fly home from Manaus; TAM flies non-stop to Miami). If your flights to/from Rio are set, you will use up a fair amount of time, and money, getting to Manaus (and then exploring from there, as there's not much of interst in Manaus itself). BTW, although it would be "winter" in Brazil, the Amazon is along the equator, and the seasonal differences are more wet vs. dry than hot vs. cold. June would generally be drier than, say, December, but you can get showers at any time.

Brazil is the size of the continental U.S., so you have lots of choices; not simply Rio-and-Amazon vs. just Rio. There's lots to see in the general area around Rio, including historic colonial towns in Minas Gerais (e.g., Tiradentes and Ouro Preto), and on the coast (Paraty) and Ilha Grande. If time and money permit, you could consider flying to the city of Salvador, or Igua�u Falls (both are worth seeing, and a lot closer than Manaus). I'm not very familiar with Sao Paulo, but some people like vistiing there, for shopping, restaurants, museums, etc.

Brazil is not a cheap country to visit, but you're spending a lot for your flight, etc., so make the best of it. Hence my suggestion to get a guide book. I reside in the Northeast of the country.

Don't forget your visa and, if you do decide to go to the Amazon (or the Pantanal, which is better for wildlife viewing) anti-malarial prophylaxis.

You mean Florianopolis? It's a fairly short flight from Rio (under two hours). It depends on what you want to see there. As you can probably guess, its not going to be the best season to hit the beach, but if you are interested in sightseeing, it's probably ok.

I have a week's time and thats about all i got. Yes i did not look at a guide book and chose to ask and get a more personal feel than read a book. I know i am doing Rio and generally the $4 would not be such a major issue but it should be worth it. Hence asked about Amazon and dropped the idea since would not be worth it. I just came out and asked about Brazil in general and Rio without really doing any research, sorry if that offended anyone.