[Advice Needed] Backpacking the Amazon & Pantanal from São Paulo – Independent travel, transport, & itinerary tips?
Hey r/brazil!
I'm an exchange student from India who will be in Brazil from June to August, and I want to travel and explore as much of the Country as possible. I'm looking at doing a big trip from June to August, and my absolute main goals are experiencing the Amazon and the Pantanal.
We will be basing ourselves out of São Paulo and are looking for the best routes to get to the Amazon and the Pantanal from here. We are completely open to flights, but also very interested in taking buses and ferries if it means we can travel slowly from city to city and explore different places along the way.
I'd love some advice on a few specific things:
• Independent Travel: Is it realistic to explore Manaus/the Amazon and the Pantanal by backpacking on our own? We’d really prefer to do it without being tied to organised group trips or large tour packages.
• Internal Transport: How is the public transport scene within these regions? Once we reach gateway cities (like Manaus, Cuiabá, or Campo Grande), are there reliable local buses or boats available to get from point A to point B?
• Locations & Itinerary: What are the absolute must-see spots, ecological reserves, or towns we should look into for a self-guided route?
Any tips on logistics, realistic travel times, or hidden gems between SP, the Pantanal, and the Amazon would be amazing.
Thank you!