Brazil has no single correct entry point, and that distinction matters more here than in most destinations. São Paulo’s Guarulhos International (GRU) is the main hub and handles the bulk of transatlantic long-haul; Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão (GIG) is the alternative and often the better entry for itineraries starting on the coast. Flying into São Paulo and flying out of Rio (or vice versa) is the open-jaw approach that most itinerary-level travel advice recommends, and it is almost always the right call — it saves the São Paulo–Rio bus or domestic flight that otherwise consumes a full day.
From London, economy return to Brazil is among the more expensive long-haul routes. The £700-£1,000 range is typical outside peak season; January through February (Carnaval season in Rio) pushes fares to £900-£1,300. LATAM Airlines, British Airways, TAP Air Portugal, and Air France all serve the GRU or GIG routes. TAP via Lisbon frequently prices at the lower end of the range (£700-£850) and is worth checking specifically — the Lisbon connection adds three to four hours but can save £100-£200 versus the BA direct. November through December (before Carnaval) and May through July (Brazil’s winter, excellent weather in the south) are the better windows for fares and crowds simultaneously.
From New York, the São Paulo and Rio routes run $500-$800 economy return in non-peak months. LATAM, Delta, American, and Azul (the Brazilian carrier) compete on the JFK-GRU corridor. Azul’s direct service from Orlando to Campinas (a São Paulo satellite airport, awkward for most travellers) occasionally prices significantly below market — worth noting if you’re routing through Florida.
Brazil’s internal air network is substantial and necessary for any multi-region itinerary. The distance from Rio to Manaus is roughly the same as London to Dubai, and the bus is not the correct answer. LATAM and Gol dominate domestic routes; Azul and Passaredo cover secondary cities. Rio to Salvador runs around BRL 200-400 (£30-£60) booked a few weeks out; Rio to Manaus is BRL 400-800. Book domestic legs separately from the international ticket — the interline connection model in Brazil is inconsistent, and booking separately through Aviasales or the carrier direct gives you more route combinations.
Guarulhos Airport (GRU) in São Paulo has two functional terminals and is generally manageable, but allow ninety minutes for immigration on busy international arrival days — Brazilian immigration can run queues. Galeão in Rio has a less fluid arrival experience; the fast ferry to the city centre from Maracanã station is the recommended alternative to road transport during peak congestion.
Aviasales is effective for Brazil’s complex routing because the São Paulo–London–Rio open-jaw matrix, combined with TAP and LATAM’s pricing variations, produces more optionality than any single carrier’s website shows. Run the open-jaw search on Aviasales (London-GRU outbound, GIG-London inbound, or vice versa) and compare it against the standard London-GRU return — the price difference is often small and the itinerary benefit is significant. Kiwi.com is worth running alongside for the domestic leg integration: a trip from London to Rio, internal flight to Manaus, back to Rio, then London home requires multi-carrier combination that Kiwi handles better than most platforms. Book the long-haul legs direct with the carrier; domestic legs in Brazil can reasonably be booked through a Brazilian OTA (Decolar) or direct with Gol or LATAM.