Brazil month by month
Brazil in January
January is midsummer in Brazil: hot everywhere and in the rainy season in the south-east. Rio averages a high of 29.4 °C and 114.1 mm of rain, Salvador is one of the drier beach options, and in Rio the street carnival blocos are planned to start on 16 January 2027.
Updated:
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Season | midsummer; rainy season in the south-east |
| Rio in January | average high 29.4 °C, low 23.3 °C, 114.1 mm |
| Drier beach cities | Salvador and Rio |
| Rio events, January 2027 | street blocos from 16 January, São Sebastião on 20 January, Sambadrome rehearsals |
| Demand | school holidays and the run-up to Carnival: book early |
| Cancellation | tours and transfers: cancellation at no cost up to 48 hours before |
| Price | On request, proposal within 24 hours |
Weather in Brazil in January by city
January is the middle of summer in the southern hemisphere. These are INMET normals for 1961-1990, published by the WMO; “day” is the average high and “night” the average low.
| City | Day, °C | Night, °C | Rain, mm | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro | 29.4 | 23.3 | 114.1 | 12 |
| São Paulo | 27.3 | 18.7 | 238.7 | 18 |
| Florianópolis | 28.0 | 21.4 | 176.2 | 15 |
| Salvador | 29.9 | 23.7 | 110.9 | 14 |
| Manaus | 30.5 | 23.1 | 260.1 | 21 |
| Cuiabá (Pantanal) | 32.6 | 23.2 | 209.9 | 19 |
Salvador and Rio get the least rain of the group. The north-east rainy season, according to the UK FCDO, runs April to July, so January in Salvador sits before it: April and May bring about three times more rain there.
For São Paulo, January is the wettest month in these normals. Florianópolis is in full beach season, though rain falls on about half the days. In the Pantanal, ICMBio calls January and February the wettest months and says the Transpantaneira road is almost impassable from December; the Pantanal is better from May.
Rio in January: heat and storms
The UK FCDO places January in the rainy season for the south and south-east, including Rio, and notes that flash floods and landslides are common where mountains meet the coast. In practice we put Christ the Redeemer and viewpoints in the morning, keep the middle of the day for shade or the beach, and leave a spare day for boat trips. If weather cancels a tour, we move it or refund the deposit in full. Month by month: Rio de Janeiro weather.
Events in Rio in January 2027
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January, Friday | national holiday | all of Brazil |
| from 16 January, Saturday | street carnival blocos, planned start | streets of Rio |
| 20 January, Wednesday | São Sebastião, the city’s patron saint, municipal holiday | Rio |
| 23 and 30 January, Saturdays | technical rehearsals: children’s schools from 17:30, Special Group schools from 20:00 | Sambadrome |
| 24 January, Sunday | rehearsals: children’s schools from 17:00, Special Group from 19:00 | Sambadrome |
| 31 January, Sunday | Lavagem da Sapucaí from 17:00, rehearsals from 19:00 | Sambadrome |
The Prefeitura do Rio plans to open the 2027 street carnival on 16 January. Blocos register through Riotur, with the last documents due on 15 January, so the full schedule appears close to the start. The city has not announced an end date.
At the Sambadrome, LIESA runs four rehearsal nights with three Special Group schools each. On 23 January, for example, União de Maricá, Beija-Flor and Paraíso do Tuiuti rehearse; on 31 January it is Viradouro, Grande Rio and Mangueira. The competition nights follow on 7, 8 and 9 February 2027. More on the nights: samba school rehearsals in Rio.
Where to go in January
| Destination | January | What to do | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro | 29.4 °C, rainy season | beaches, morning viewpoints, blocos, rehearsals | Rio Carnival |
| Salvador | 29.9 °C, 110.9 mm | Pelourinho, beaches | Salvador |
| Florianópolis | 28.0 °C, rain 15 days | beaches, lagoon, surfing | Florianópolis |
| Iguazu Falls | summer heat | Brazilian and Argentine sides | Iguazu from Rio |
We check trail and park status for your dates before the trip.
Plan ahead
- Carnival: if your trip runs into February, sort Sambadrome seats early. See Sambadrome tickets.
- Holidays: early January follows New Year and many Brazilian families travel during school holidays, so we book accommodation ahead.
- Our rules: tours and transfers can be cancelled at no cost up to 48 hours before; the New Year and Carnival deposit is not refundable after confirmation.
- Check entry requirements on official websites.
Next door: Brazil in December and Brazil in February. Full year: best time to visit Brazil.
What to tell us in your request
- Your dates and whether the trip reaches Carnival
- How many people, and children’s ages
- Cities: Rio only, or Salvador, Florianópolis, Iguazu too
- Interest in blocos or rehearsal nights
- Language for your guide
How we help
We build the January plan around the heat: early starts with a guide who speaks your language, a private driver for day trips, and blocos or rehearsal nights with transfers both ways. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. See private trips in Rio.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Brazil in January?
Hot and humid. INMET normals give Rio a high of 29.4 °C and a low of 23.3 °C, Salvador 29.9 °C and Manaus 30.5 °C. São Paulo gets 238.7 mm of rain, its wettest month.
Is January a good time to visit Rio?
Yes for beaches and the run-up to Carnival, if you accept heat and storms. The UK FCDO places January in the south-east rainy season, so plan outdoor sights for the morning and keep a spare day.
When does street carnival start in Rio in 2027?
The Prefeitura do Rio plans the start of the street carnival for 16 January 2027. The full bloco schedule comes closer to the date.
Are there Sambadrome events in January 2027?
Yes. LIESA lists technical rehearsals on 23, 24, 30 and 31 January 2027, with the Lavagem da Sapucaí on 31 January from 17:00.
Where is it drier in January?
Among the main beach cities, Salvador (110.9 mm) and Rio (114.1 mm) get less rain than Florianópolis (176.2 mm), by INMET normals.
See also
- Best time to visit BrazilThere is no single best time to visit Brazil: it depends on the region. Rio and the south-east are wettest from November to March, the north-east coast from April to July, and the Pantanal and the centre are dry from May to September. December to February brings beaches, New Year and Carnival; June to August is dry and mild in Rio.
- Brazil in FebruaryFebruary is Carnival month. In Rio the Special Group parades at the Sambadrome on 7, 8 and 9 February 2027, the Série Ouro on 5 and 6 February, and the Champions' Saturday is 13 February. It is also Rio's hottest month by INMET normals, with an average high of 30.2 °C.
- Samba school rehearsals in Rio before Carnival 2027Rio's samba schools rehearse in two places before Carnival 2027: at their own halls (quadras), on dates each school announces itself, and at the Sambadrome, where LIESA has set the technical rehearsals of the Special Group for January 23, 24, 30 and 31, 2027. We organise the evening for groups: transport there and back and a guide who speaks your group's language, with a proposal within 24 hours.
- Rio de Janeiro weather by monthRio de Janeiro is warm all year. Summer, December to March, is hot and wet, with average highs of 28.6-30.2 °C. Winter, June to August, is milder and drier: highs around 25 °C and lows of 18-19 °C (INMET long-term averages).
- Brazil in December: weather, holidays and where to goDecember is early summer and high season in Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro the average daytime high is 28.6 °C and it is one of the wettest months of the year, while the northeast coast is much drier. Christmas Day is a national holiday and the New Year's Eve party on Copacabana closes the month, so book rooms for those dates early.
Sources
- WMO World Weather Information Service: Rio de Janeiro climate normals (INMET, 1961-1990), checked 21.10.2026
- WMO: São Paulo climate normals (INMET, 1961-1990), checked 21.10.2026
- WMO: Florianópolis climate normals (INMET, 1961-1990), checked 21.10.2026
- WMO: Salvador climate normals (INMET, 1961-1990), checked 21.10.2026
- WMO: Manaus climate normals (INMET, 1961-1990), checked 21.10.2026
- WMO: Cuiabá climate normals (INMET, 1961-1990), checked 21.10.2026
- GOV.UK (FCDO): Brazil, safety and security (rainy season, floods and landslides), 29.09.2026, checked 21.10.2026
- Prefeitura do Rio: Carnaval de rua 2027, 24.08.2026, checked 21.10.2026
- LIESA: technical rehearsals calendar, Rio Carnaval 2027, checked 21.10.2026
- LIESA: Carnaval 2027 parade nights, checked 21.10.2026
- Prefeitura do Rio: health units on the São Sebastião holiday (20 January), checked 21.10.2026
- ICMBio: visiting the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, checked 21.10.2026
- Planalto: Lei 662/1949, national holidays, checked 21.10.2026