Domestic Flights
In a country as large as Brazil, domestic flights are often the only sensible option. The distances are immense: São Paulo–Manaus is 2,700 km (3.5h flight vs. 60h bus!). The main airlines:
Airlines
- LATAM Brasil: Brazil's largest airline with the most extensive route network. Reliable, good service. Domestic flights from 150 BRL (25€) one-way.
- GOL: Brazil's leading low-cost airline. Large route network, cheaper than LATAM, but extra charge for checked luggage. From 100 BRL (17€) one-way without luggage.
- Azul: Brazilian offshoot of JetBlue. Good route network, particularly strong in destinations off the main routes. The only airline flying directly to Fernando de Noronha and many Amazon destinations. From 120 BRL (20€).
Important Domestic Routes
| Route | Flight Time | Price (one-way) |
|---|---|---|
| São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro | 1h | 20–60€ |
| São Paulo → Salvador | 2.5h | 30–100€ |
| São Paulo → Manaus | 3.5h | 50–150€ |
| Rio → Foz do Iguaçu | 2h | 30–80€ |
| Rio → Salvador | 2.5h | 30–90€ |
| São Paulo → Recife | 3h | 35–100€ |
| Recife → Fernando de Noronha | 1h | 80–200€ |
| São Paulo → Florianópolis | 1.5h | 25–70€ |
💡 Tipp
Book domestic flights through the Brazilian websites of GOL (voegol.com.br), LATAM (latam.com/pt_br), and Azul (voeazul.com.br). Prices are often significantly cheaper on the Brazilian site than on the international version. Flexible fares are rarely worthwhile with GOL — take the cheapest fare and pay separately for luggage.