Brazil in May: weather, events and where to go

At a glance

Weather in Brazil in May by region

Long-term averages (1961-1990) from INMET, Brazil’s national weather institute, published by the World Meteorological Organization:

Compare all twelve months on best time to visit Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro in May

May is one of the easiest months in Rio. INMET normals give a 26.4 °C high and 85.6 mm of rain, less than in March or April, and the UK FCDO’s south-east rainy season ended in March. Mornings are clearer for Corcovado and Sugarloaf, and the sea is still warm enough for many visitors. The FCDO reminds travellers that heavy rain can still happen outside the rainy season, so a flexible day is useful on any trip.

Evenings are cooler, around 20 °C, so bring a light layer. Details by month: Rio weather. Ideas for the city: things to do in Rio.

Pantanal: the season opens

ICMBio, the federal parks agency, says the Pantanal rainy season runs from October to April and recommends May to September, when the water recedes and animals gather and are easier to see. Cuiabá’s rain falls from 123.1 mm in April to 53.9 mm in May. That makes May a good start date for a lodge stay: Pantanal trip.

Amazon: high water

ICMBio gives March to August as high water in Anavilhanas National Park near Manaus, with boat trails through flooded igapó forest open in that season. Manaus averages 256.3 mm of rain in May, less than earlier in the year. See Amazon trip.

North-east: peak of the rain

The FCDO puts the north-east rainy season from April to July, and May is among the wettest months: 324.8 mm in Salvador, 328.9 mm in Recife. In Lençóis Maranhenses the rains that run from January to July, according to Maranhão’s tourism office, keep filling the lagoons between the dunes: Lençóis Maranhenses. For beach-focused trips to Salvador, later months are drier.

South and São Paulo

São Paulo is cool and fairly dry: a 23 °C high, a 13.8 °C low and 73.6 mm of rain. Florianópolis also cools to a 23 °C high, so it suits walks and food more than long beach days: Florianópolis, São Paulo.

Events and holidays in May 2027

Labour Day is set by federal law 662/1949. The Rio Marathon dates and distances (5 km, 10 km, 21 km, 42 km and the 21 + 42 km challenge) are from the official race site. The race days overlap Corpus Christi, so we book hotels and transfers for late May early. More dates: events calendar.

Where to go in May

Neighbouring months: Brazil in April and Brazil in June.

What to tell us in your request

• Travel dates and whether they include the marathon weekend
• Number of travellers and ages of any children
• Regions: Rio, Pantanal, Amazon, other
• Race entry, if you are running
• Hotel or lodge style and the language your guide should speak
• Fixed points: flights, celebrations, reservations

Check entry requirements on official websites before you book flights.

How we help with a May trip

We combine Rio with the regions that work in May, for example the Pantanal at the start of its season, and arrange hotels, lodges, transfers and a guide who speaks your language. In Rio we add a private tour or day trips from Rio; a longer route can start from the two-week Brazil itinerary. Our fee is already included in the price. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. Multi-day tours can be cancelled at no charge up to 14 days before.