It’s chilly here in Rio

Posted in Activities, Brazil Facts, Travel Recommendations on 02. Jun, 2010

Good chilly morning, all!

What, chilly in Rio? Actually, yes. It has been delightful late-autumn weather here in Rio this week. You’ll recall that in the southern hemisphere the seasons are reversed. Actually, I guess we are slipping into winter now.

Before making the move down south, I lived for several years in south Florida. The weather here in Rio is quite similar to the weather in Miami – if you offset by 6 months. Summer months are hot and humid, with highs in the 90s F and low 80s at night. But today the high should only reach 73 F, and www.weather.com says that it fell to 64 in the wee hours, which for us here is crisp. (I hear my Canadian friends chuckling.)

Just like in south Florida, when the temps fall below 70 F, folks break out the sweaters (“jumpers” for you Brits and Safras). Here, however, in a curious refusal to submit to the falling mercury, many folks still wear their shorts and flip flops with their jackets. Cariocas definitely have their own style.

As I’ve mentioned before, Brazil is a huge country, and the weather consequently varies from locale to locale.

Sao Paulo, the business center of Brazil and all South America, is only an hour’s flight from Rio, but considerably chillier, as it is located in the uplands. Currently (at 8:30 AM), it’s only 57 F in Sao Paulo. Another good reason to choose Rio.

So not all of Brazil is tropical. But Natal, one of my favorite cities here, is. Located in northeastern Brazil, Natal is a pretty darn close to a tropical paradise, with temperatures in the 80s year round. Steady onshore breezes keep it pleasant – but can allow you to get burned before you realize it, so be careful. In Natal and much of the Amazon basin, the seasons are defined more by fluctuations in rainfall than temperature, so always check that stat as well before firming up travel plans. This time of year, you might encounter light morning showers in Natal, but it never rains all day. You can always have some fun in the sun – perhaps a dune buggy tour or just lounging on the beach – and maybe grab a little cuchila (nap) in a rede (hammock) afterwards.