My husband and I were invited to a wedding in Brazil last year! We were so excited at the opportunity to explore a whole new country (and continent, for that matter) while celebrating with our friends. We ended up traveling with another couple and we spent time in Rio de Janeiro, the beach town of Buzios, and then ended with the wedding in Sao Paolo. Look for a Brazil Travel Guide coming soon!

In the meantime, here are the essentials I packed for our trip to Brazil.

And the best part? You can get it all on Amazon!

BEN’S DEET WIPES

The mosquitoes in South America are no joke and our doc recommended we slather on the bug spray. Brazil is still on the list for Zika, so we went with these extra strong (30% Deet) Ben’s wipes. I swear by the Ben’s Insect Repellent and have used it in South Africa, as well. Just be careful to wash your hands after you apply - this stuff is strong!

POOL / BEACH FLOAT

I know this might sound silly, but buying an inexpensive pool float from Amazon is a cost-conscious decision and it folds up very easily into your carry-on! Once you get to the resort they jack up the prices of the floats OR your hotel might not even have any floats (buzz kill). So I’ve learned along the way - bring your own floats so that you’ll have one for the pool or beach and you won’t be sorry! You’ll also be the life of the party and can leave the floats at the end of the vacation for someone else to enjoy. For this trip to Brazil, we were there for a wedding, so I chose the heart-shaped float and let’s just say everyone was fighting over it in the end :)

UNIVERSAL TRAVEL PLUG ADAPTER

This is a MUST HAVE for any trip abroad. Even though some hotels and airplanes are equipped with “American” outlets, I would always err on the side of caution and bring an adapter. You don’t want to be without a phone charger for your entire trip. Be sure to read the description and make sure the adapter will work for the country you are visiting. I also tend to misplace these things during or after a trip, so I like to buy something like this 3-pack and then I am always left with at least one by the time we get to our last destination! Bonus: you can share with your friends who may not have remembered to bring one.

COLLAGEN EYE MASK

These are a lifesaver on long flights, long layovers, and especially for times when you have to go straight from the flight to sight-seeing! I always have these in my carry-on. I put them on my under-eyes once the flight starts the final descent (usually leaving on for about 20 minutes). My husband has started to join me (I think he looks forward to it at the end of the flight). And on a recent trip to Ireland, I had all of my seat-mates partaking - we looked very refreshed when we landed!

WATER BOTTLE

It is hot and humid in Brazil! And you’ll likely be spending lots of time at the beach or hiking in the heat. It’s always important to stay hydrated. I usually filled up my water bottle at the hotel before we left on our day excursions. A Swell bottle, like this one, came in handy. The hubs and I each bring our own water bottles and we use them in the airport, as well.

CAMELBAK

Speaking of hiking, we always throw our Camelbak pack into our suitcase if we know we will be hiking or on the beach. It folds up so easily and stores water for the day. This has come in handy for us on many trips, but was especially useful in Brazil. You’ll likely go on a few jungle-type hikes and it’s nice to have your insect repellent, water, sunscreen, hat, etc. all packed into this backpack.

SUNGLASSES

You’re going to need them. I like to stick with an inexpensive pair when I’m traveling. That way, if they get lost or scratched, it isn’t a huge deal. These are a super cute style that I am loving right now.

PASSPORT AND VISA HOLDER

Ok, you know you’ll need your passport. But you’ll also need a Travel Visa to visit Brazil (from the US). It takes at least a few weeks to process, so plan ahead! I bought us each these passport holders that have extra pockets for the Travel Visas and our vaccination records. They were very helpful!

And there you have it. Happy travels!