Famous for football and the annual Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil also has a negative reputation of being an unsafe travel destination. While a bit of that might be true as you do have to be aware and extra cautious, I found this aspect to be wildly exaggerated. In my opinion, Brazilians are some of the most friendliest people in the world. Even with a language barrier, they go above and beyond trying to help. The natural beauty in this country is unmatched anywhere else; there are white sand beaches, lush rain forests, stunning waterfalls, clear blue lagoons, beautiful mountains on the ocean’s edge, and many more. Here is my experience one month solo backpacking in Brazil.
Spending just over a month in Brazil, I was able to hit up a lot of places. Below is a map of my journey. My route started in the largest city of Sao Paulo, looping through the south before making my way to Rio de Janeiro. From there, I flew to the northeast region starting in Sao Luis and ended the Brazilian leg of my trip in Fortaleza before heading to Uruguay.
When I was in Brazil in February/March 2019, the exchange of the Brazilian Real (BRL) to the Canadian Dollar (CAD) was 2.8 BRL to $1 CAD.
Flights within Brazil aren’t too bad if you don’t book last minute. But when you see a good price and want to purchase, it will ask for your Brazilian CPF number (similar to a social security number in the US or Social Insurance Number in Canada; see how to get a CPF as a foreigner). To get around this, I booked my flights through Expedia. If I recall correctly, I might have paid a bit more (around $10 CAD).
I first flew into Sao Paulo from Indonesia through a grueling two-day journey, with layovers in Perth and Johannesburg. My flights were a part of a larger expedition: my Mini Round the World Trip with Aeroplan.
The budget airlines within Brazil are GOL and Azul, but I found LATAM to also have competitive prices as all of my domestics flights have been with LATAM:
- Florianopolis to Sao Paulo 4500 British Airways Avios points and $11.10 CAD
- Rio de Janeiro to Sao Luis $248.80 CAD
- Fortaleza to Sao Paulo $117.05 CAD
Brazil is a country of immigrants and it definitely shows in its food scene. The cuisine is heavily influenced by African, Amerindian, Japanese and European flavours. Below are some examples of what I ate in Brazil and how much they cost:
- Acai bowls ranges from 9 BRL ($3.21 CAD) to 16.5 BRL ($5.89 CAD)
- Coxinha – fried and battered dough with shredded chicken meat inside 4.5 BRL ($1.61 CAD)
- Sao Paulo’s massive mortadella sandwich 26 BRL ($9.29 CAD)
- All you can eat “rodizio” sushi 62.59 BRL ($22.35 CAD)
- Tapioca flatbreads 6 BRL ($2.14 CAD)
- Pastel carne – deep fried pastries with meat 3.5 BRL ($1.25 CAD)
- All you can eat “rodizio” Brazilian churrasco (BBQ) 58 BRL ($20.74 CAD)
- Brazil’s national cocktail, Caipirinha 5 BRL ($1.79 CAD)
- Brazil’s national soft drink, Guarana ~ 5 BRL ($1.79 CAD)
Make sure you check out what makes it to the Top 5 Eats in Brazil
A MUST GET! Acai. 9/10 All you can eat “rodizio” sushi. 7/10 Tapioca flatbread. 6/10 Pastel. 7/10 Guarana. 8/10
Being the fifth largest country in the world means there is a lot of ground to cover. Unlike other countries like Canada and Russia where there’s a lot of barren land, Brazil has attractions in all of its regions. From the jungles of the Amazon in the north, and the animal-rich area of the Pantanal in the west, to the surreal beaches and African culture in the east, and the hustle and bustle of Sao Paulo and Rio in the south. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly if you think about it), the biggest portion of my budget was transportation. Bus trips between cities are quite long and expensive. They are, however of great quality–big and comfortable chairs recline back to allow for somewhat good sleep. To save time you can book flights between cities but keep in mind that booking last minute will be more costly.
The main websites I used to search/book for bus journeys were Busbud and Clickbus. However, by booking on the websites, there is a booking fee (around $6 CAD). Hence I usually book at the bus station unless I am stretched for time.
- 6 hr bus from Sao Paulo to Curitiba 96.47 BRL ($34.45 CAD)
- 11 hr sleeper bus from Curitibia to Foz do Iguaçu 249.95 BRL ($89.27 CAD)
- 16 hr bus from Foz do Iguaçu to Florianopolis 226.05 BRL ($80.73 CAD)
- 6 hr bus from Sao Paulo to Paraty 101.88 BRL ($36.39 CAD)
- 5 hr bus from Paraty to Rio de Janeiro 75.9 BRL ($27.11 CAD)
- 5 hr bus from Sao Luis to Barreirinhas 60.18 BRL ($21.49 CAD)
- A whole day of travelling from Barreirinhas to Jericoacoara, which includes riding a pick up truck, bus, and a 4×4. 121.5 BRL ($43.39 CAD)
- 4×4 and a bus from Jericoacoara to Fortaleza 73.7 BRL ($26.32 CAD)
I have never taken as much Uber as I have in Brazil. In total, I took 32 Uber rides and spent a total of 573.52 BRL ($204.83 CAD) for an average of 18 BRL ($6.40 CAD) per trip. Uber is super popular in the country with ads for the service all over. It is a good alternative to public transport, especially during at night.
If you do not have Uber yet, please use my referral link so that you can get free rides and/or discounts. I would also earn some free rides and/or discounts! Win-Win!
Sleeper Bus in Brazil
I found hostels in Brazil lackluster in quality compared to the ones I’ve been to in Southeast Asia and Western Europe. I’ve encountered dorm beds where there was no outlet near the bed, which made charging your phone and setting an alarm pretty difficult. Having stayed in numerous hostels during my one month solo backpacking Brazil, here are some of my recommendations:
Curitiba: Curitiba Casa Hostel for 1 night for 46 BRL ($16.43 CAD)
This cozy and quiet hostel is walking distance to most attractions in Curitiba such as the Curitiba Botanical Gardens, the Mercado Municipal and the bus terminal. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and breakfast is served with their own homemade jams! The staff are friendly and hospitable. I got to learn a lot more about Brazil and its controversial president (Bolsonaro).
Florianópolis: Tucano House for 3 nights at 37.3 BRL ($13.33 CAD) per night
A true backpacker’s hostel. This social hostel makes it easy to meet people with their day activities and organized dinners. In addition, the staff were also quite helpful regarding my need to buy new glasses in Florianópolis.
Paraty: Casa Viva Hostel for 3 nights at 30.56 BRL ($10.91 CAD) per night
This hostel boasts a big outdoor pool and view of the mountains. Located a 10 min walk from the historic town, it is a little out of the way compared to other accommodations. Facilities such as the beds and bathrooms were basic but clean. In conclusion, this hostel is a really good value for a night’s stay.
Barreirinhas: Hostel Lencois Park for 2 nights at 36 BRL ($12.86 CAD) per night
A cozy and clean hostel. It was great base for tours and hikes to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The owner is super knowledgeable of the area and goes the extra mile for his guests! He helped me venture to Jericoacoara with public transportation (a whole day of travelling with 4 transfers)!
Pool with a view!
There are endless things to do in this massive country. These are some highlights of my one month solo backpacking in Brazil:
- Checked out Sao Paulo’s graffiti scene at Beco do Batman. FREE
- Learned more about Brazil’s most famous architect and Brazilian modern art at the Museu Oscar Niemeyer in Curitiba. Regular price is 28 BRL ($10 CAD). However, I was able to get away with the student price of 10 BRL ($3.57 CAD)
- Checked out the many amazing beaches around Florianópolis. FREE
- Walked around the historic centre of the colonial town of Paraty. FREE
- Got amazing views of Rio’s skyline and nature from the Sugar Loaf Mountains (Pão de Açúcar). Taking a cable car up is 110 BRL ($39.29 CAD). However, I was able to get away with the student price of 49 BRL ($17.50 CAD)
- Explored São Luís’s colonial centre, founded by the French in 1612. In addition, it is also one of Brazil’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. FREE
- Flew with a charter flight tour over Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. 350 BRL ($125 CAD)
- Lagoa Azul tour in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. 70 BRL ($25 CAD)
- Hiked and hit up the beaches in Jericoacoara National Park. FREE
Sao Paulo’s Beco do Batman Florianópolis’ Lagoinha do Leste Brazil’s Colonial Town of Paraty Rio’s Ipanema beach Rio’s Sugar Loaf Mountains Swimming in Lençóis Maranhenses View of Lençóis Maranhenses from above Pedra Furada in Jericoacoara National Park
The largest waterfall system in the world can be found at the border of Brazil and Argentina. This natural wonder was one of my must-visits in South America. Since most of the falls are on the Argentina side, the panoramic views from the Brazil side are the best, whereas a visit to the Argentina side will give you a chance to get up close and personal (in which you will definitively get wet!)
The entrance fee to enter the Iguaçu National Park (Brazil side) is 70 BRL ($25 CAD) and can be explored in about two to four hours depending on how crowded it is. There are platforms all over the trail, perfect for taking those panoramic pictures.
The larger Iguazú National Park (Argentina side) costs 700 ARS ($23.70 CAD) to get in. Instead of one single trail, there are multiple trails overlooking the falls. There is a boardwalk that brings you face-to-face with the Devil’s Throat, the main horseshoe falls where its spray and mist drenches everyone nearby.
There are additional options to spend more money with helicopter tours and boat rides (similar to Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls).
While the entrance fees are not that expensive, you should account for the time and cost of transportation to allow you to get the full Iguazu Falls experience. This area is quite remote; there isn’t much else to do. I only went here to see the falling water. Both the cities of Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) and Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) have airports where you can fly into. Domestic flights to either airport from either Rio or Buenos Aires cost around $150 CAD (one way, booked a month in advance). Buses will take up a hefty amount of travel time (my bus from Foz do Iguaçu to Florianopolis was 16 hours). Don’t count on it being cheap either; my bus ride cost 226.05 BRL ($80.73 CAD)
Unlike Canada’s Niagara Falls, where there is essentially two falls, Iguazu Falls consists of over 200 individual falls making a it a whole waterfall network spread across a few kilometres. The views are breathtaking and you are left speechless at the size of it all (that’s what she said). Despite the time and cost to get here, this experience was totally worth it and has been one of my highlights during my one month solo backpacking in Brazil.
Iguazu Falls (Brazil Side) Devil’s Throat (Argentina Side) Iguazu Falls (Argentina Side)
Carnival in Rio is considered the biggest carnival in the world with over two million people per day on the streets. For those who do not know, Carnival is a celebration prior to the fasting season of Lent. Carnival in Rio officially lasts for a week but festivities begin early with parties taking place prior to the start. As Easter and Lent occurs at different times every year, the dates of Carnival also changes but is generally around February and March. This year, it took place between March 1st – 6th.
Street festivals (blocos) are very common during carnival and are highly populated by the locals. These parties take place all over Rio and there are some that start early in the morning at 8 AM and go late into the night. Many of these parties have certain themes such as Beatles, drag, African, etc.
Rio Carnival is famous for its parades, which are filled with extravagant costumes and floats from numerous samba schools. I got a ticket to the first day of the parades which are reserved for lower level schools for
60 BRL ($21.43 CAD) from my hostel. Unfortunately, there was a massive storm that night (never seen rain that hard before in my life) and the parades were postponed. I went back to my hostel and called it a night. The following morning, I realized that the rain had stopped and the parades commenced late at night and lasted until morning. #FOMO.
- Keep your valuables (including phones) within your accommodation or be ready to guard it with your life. Pickpocketing is rife during the festival times. It gets super crowded that it becomes easy for people to steal your stuff without you noticing.
- The Rio Metro runs 24 hours during Carnival and is a great way to get around as many streets will be closed due to the blocos.
- As you can already imagine, Carnival is the busiest time in Rio. Make sure to book your accommodation in advance or else you might get stuck paying hundreds of dollars for a dorm bed in high demand areas such as Ipanema and Copacabana.
A bloco at Carnival
Being in the country for just over a month, I was bound to have expenses in the miscellaneous category. Here are some that I encountered while one month solo backpacking in Brazil:
- Going into Brazil, I had to get a visa which I could get online with VFS Global $45 USD. Brazil just announced that as of June 17th, 2019, Canadians along with Americans, Japanese, and Australians will no longer require visas to visit the country.
- ATM fees 24 BRL ($8.57 CAD). After learning that Banco do Brasil does not charge any ATM fees, I took out only from this bank. Make sure you use a debit card that doesn’t charge you for any foreign transaction fees. If you are from Canada, I recommend using STACK!
- New glasses 400 BRL ($142.86 CAD). Strong waves hit me when I was wearing my glasses in the water and I was not able to find it again in Florianopolis. #RIP.
- SIM card 10 BRL ($3.57 CAD)
- 4 GB data plan for one month with TIM 40 BRL ($14.29 CAD)
- Brazil’s most famous export, Havaianas 37.9 BRL ($13.54 CAD)
The Sum of One Month Solo Backpacking in Brazil
For the month I was there, I spent a total of $2,511.18 CAD which came out to $78.47 per day! By South American standards, Brazil is expensive to travel around. Day-to-day expenses such as accommodation and food are not too bad, but travel expenses will add up quick. Long distance bus tickets will cost a minimum of $50 CAD and upwards to $150 CAD. If you’re planning on seeing lots of Brazil, be prepared to pay for it.
Budget Breakdown: How to Spend $40 Per Day in Thailand
June 14, 2024 by maximios • Tourism
Thailand is by far the most popular country for backpackers in Southeast Asia. The country is so diverse, from the beaches and crystal blue waters in the Thai islands, to the temples in Northern and Central Thailand, to the hustle and bustle of the metropolis that is Bangkok. Thailand is exotic, still somewhat cheap, but is also pretty developed. You can get by with a pretty modest budget and in this blog post I will show you how to spend as low as $40 Per Day in Thailand!
As I went to a lot of places in Thailand, I made a map of my journey in the country. I started in the south and made my way north. I made my way to Laos before going back to Udon Thani for a bit before heading out to Vietnam.
Currency Info: In November/December 2018, the exchange of the Thai Baht to the Canadian Dollar was around 25.18 THB to $1 CAD.
My flight into Thailand was from Singapore to Krabi, which is a gateway to the Western Thai islands. The ticket was $68.62 CAD on Scoot. I almost missed my flight as I was distracted with the many activities that Singapore’s Changi Airport had to offer. In Terminal 2, they have gardens such as an orchid garden and a sunflower garden. They have gaming facilities and a cinema where they were showing the latest Avengers movie.
Look at those empty seats!
Then I found an awesome deal for a flight from Phuket to Bangkok. It is currently the cheapest flight I have ever booked at 527 THB ($22.17 CAD)! I love Air Asia!
Thai food is renowned around the world and there’s a reason why. Its unique, and delicious! Getting food in Thailand is so easy and cheap! Just go walk down the street, and you will find many vendors selling curries, stir fries, pad thais, fruit shakes. Pad Thai can be found for just 25 THB ($0.99 CAD)! During my time in Thailand, my daily budget for food & drinks was just 338 THB ($13.42 CAD)!
Here are some things I ate and how much they cost
Make sure you check out what makes it to my Top 5 Eats in Thailand!
Mango sticky rice. 5/10 (Personally not a fan of sticky rice) Tom Yum Kun. 7/10 BBQ Skewers Snacks!
From buses, to trains, to ferries to tuk tuks, it is quite easy and affordable to get around within the different parts of Thailand.
For booking transportation within Thailand, I suggest using 12go.asia as I found their website have the best prices for booking trains, buses, transfers. They are convenient and I personally received great customer service from them. I was able to get a last minute partial refund from a train ticket in Vietnam even though I booked the wrong date.
Overnight bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Look at that leg room!
All in all, I spent on average of 317 THB ($12.61 CAD) per day on accommodation. During my time in Udon Thani while waiting for my flight to Vietnam, I splurged on getting a one bedroom luxury condo unit on Airbnb for an average of 564 THB ($22.40 CAD) per night for 6 nights. I also prematurely booked a night in a hostel in Chiang Rai for 200 THB ($7.95 CAD) in which I couldn’t make to. These additional expenses increased my accommodation spend in Thailand.
If you dont have an Airbnb account yet, sign up with my referral link and you will get $45 CAD off your first booking! You will also be supporting this website, win-win!
The Condo pool!
Being in Thailand for over a month, I stayed in a lot of different hostels. Rather than listing them all, I will give you my recommendations on some of my favourite hostels I stayed at!
BaanBaan Phuket for 4 nights at 270 THB ($10.72 CAD) per night
This has been one of my favourite hostels. I liked it so much that I actually returned back to stay at this hostel again! This quaint hostel has a cozy atmosphere filled with friendly and helpful staff. They have a great common area, where it is easy to mingle with other travellers. Phuket Town is a great place if you want a quiet place away from the crazy touristy Patong Beach. It has a cinema, a weekend market, and a mall. I found the town and the hostel to be a really great place to get some of my blogging done! They also have privacy curtains for your bed.
Suneta Hostel Khaosan for 2 nights at 272 THB ($10.78 CAD) per night
If you love cats, they this is the place for you to stay in Bangkok! Located a couple of blocks away from Khao San Road, it is close enough to enjoy the action there but not close enough where the noise and crowd affects your sleep! They have a great common area with TVs, books, and four adorable cats to keep you entertained during your downtime. There is a cooking night where you can watch the staff cook Thai food and eat it too!
They also have curtains for your bed for privacy.
Family Home Chiang Mai for 5 nights at 261 THB ($10.38 CAD) per night
Just as the name suggest, this hostel creates a family-like vibe. The owner, Joe makes you feel welcome and at home. This cozy little hostel is within walking distance of the Night Bazaar, the many temples within the city, Loi Kroh Road (The nightlife area), and many more. This place also has a PS4 with FIFA 19!
There are endless amounts of things to do in Thailand. From temples, to outdoor activities, to natural wonders, you can do it all! Because most activities are cheap, you will be tempted to do them all. Just be careful as they will add up. This is some of the things I did while I was in Thailand.
Four Islands Tour 1,237 steps to Tiger Cave Temple. Are you up to the challenge? Karaoke in Koh Lanta Fire Show in Koh Phi Phi Reclining Buddha in Bangkok White Water Rafting near Chiang Mai White Temple in Chiang Rai Red Lotus Lake near Udon Thani
I planned around my Thailand itinerary based on these festivals. Both Loi Krathong and Yi Peng takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar (usually November). The most popular spot to be at for these two festivals is in Chiang Mai. Thais launch their krathong (a small leaf container) on a river, canal or a pond, while making a wish. In Yi Peng, you can launch lanterns 33 THB ($1.31 CAD) into the air. Both these festivals results in the city to be filled with krathongs in the rivers, colourful paper lanterns floating in the sky, fireworks, and extravagant parade floats.
Lighting up a lantern Yi Peng in Chiang Mai
I got a SIM card and a data package from one of Thailand’s main carrier, AIS. Purchasing at the Krabi airport, I got unlimited data for 1 month along with 1.5 GB data after the month for 450 THB ($17.87 CAD). Using Speedtest, the download speeds clicked in at 47.5 Mbps.
Other items that were included in this category:
Thailand has a very developed tourist infrastructure, meaning you can find numerous hostels and hotels everywhere you go, buses from city to city, and English spoken in many places. I can see how this is one the easiest destinations to go solo backpacking. I found the prices still to be cheap considering on how touristy some places are in Thailand. Overall, I spent $1,503.44 CAD in 37 days which came out to $40.63 per day. This is an unbelievable value for all the places I stayed, food I ate, and things I did!