Brazil trip
 

My wife and I are heading to Brazil on Oct 25 th until Nov 8. As we only have 2 weeks we are looking for info. An Amazon tour is appealing out of Manaus. Should we book before we leave or wait until we get there. Some sites advise to wait until we get there to book. We are also interested in spending some time in Joao Pessoa. Does anyone have any insight on this area.

For the Amazon I used this outfit back in 2003. It was great. Still in business and I note on the website you can chat with the owner on MSN Messenger.

http://www.swallowsandamazonstours.com/

Why Joao Pessoa? Relatives? Just thought it sounded interesting? What do you want to know? There are lots and lots of beach cities you could choose from. It might help if you gave some indication as to your interests, budget, etc. We don't know you. You mention only Manaus and Joao Pessoa as destinations, and you could use up 2 weeks visiting those, but I assume you're also visiting other points.

Given the fact that Brazil is the size of the continental U.S., and air fares casn be high, a quick trip takes a lot of careful planning. I assume you've done enough reserch to know that the Amazon is the place to see rainforest scenery and, of course, the Amazon itself, but not the best place to see wildlife (the Pantanal is best for that). I have the impression that if you want a quick day or overnight trip out of Manaus you could wait until you arrive, but if you want something more, especially if you want something somewhat more than a budget trip (e.g., accommodations on a boat that consist of more than hammocks on deck; and even those with "cabins" can vary widely in comfort), it's best to book ahead. That's especially true with a limited amount of time since you don't know what boats leave when you arrive. Plus, you probably want to time your trip so you can buy your airline tickets in advance. Manaus is a lonnnng ways from Rio, Sao Paulo, Iguaçu, etc. and even Joao Pessoa.

Bear in mind that you do not need a yellow fever shot to enter Brazil from most countries and you do not need one if you are visiting most areas of Brazil.

However, if you plan to visit the Amazon, it is recommended to have a vaccination for that illness.

Here is a quick guide that discusses some health issues concerning Brazil.

http://www.brazil-travel-guide.com/B...accination.htm
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While I can´t comment on the Amazon part, it´s a long way from Joao Pessoa to Manaus with no direct flights ( and very long connections ) and you´ll pay around $700 us per pax.

For a beach town and better connections to Manaus, Fortaleza is a better option. TAM, GOL and AZUL all link the two cities ( Azul doesn´t accept credit cards issued outside of Brazil for purchases in their website so you need a brazilian travel agent to do it for you ).