Travel

Búzios Overview

Búzios is located ~2.5 hours northeast of Rio de Janeiro. To get there will require flight(s) and a transfer via car.

Flights

We recommend flying into the Rio de Janeiro international airport (GIG). There is a closer regional airport to Búzios, however we do not recommend flying there. Domestic connections within Brazil can be challenging for a few reasons:

- Larger cities in Brazil can have multiple airports and sometimes the airlines will switch your arrival/departure airport (pay special attention to airport codes because of this)

- Booking domestic flights with Brazilian airlines can be very confusing. Websites often don't work properly outside of Brazil

- Language barriers can be challenging as well, and if anything were to go wrong with missed connections, re-booking and spending time in Brazilian airports is never fun (Shelby can confirm!)

Obviously book the travel that will work best for you. But overall, we recommend leaving your home country and landing in Rio when trying to reach our wedding destination.

Shelby, Miguel, and families will be in Rio from Sunday, September 20 to Wednesday, September 23 before heading to Búzios for the wedding weekend. We would love to spend time with you in Rio if you choose to be there ahead of time as well. Rio is an amazing city and worth visiting for a few days. Read here for thoughts on where to stay and what to do.

Here are some other tips and tricks that we've learned through the years when it comes to booking flights to and from Brazil:

- Flights to Brazil tend to be cheapest to and from cities in Florida (Miami, Orlando, etc.). Look into Azul airlines: we've found cheap flights with them in the past

- Sometimes buying two separate round-trip tickets with different airlines can be cheaper than buying one round trip with the same airline that involves connections (e.g. find a cheaper flight to Brazil that leaves from Florida, and then book a separate round trip from your home city to/from Florida)

If you do want to book additional domestic travel elsewhere within Brazil before or after the wedding, it might be best to use a travel agent to manage your flights. Thomas Pereira is a travel agent who has helped our family in the past. He speaks English and knows Brazil very well. You can submit an inquiry through his website or email him directly at thomas@bookjetset.com.

It is very important that you research visa requirements for traveling to Brazil. If you're flying on a US passport, you will need a visa. If you're flying on a UK passport, as of now, you don't need a visa. Research, plan, and give yourself ample time to apply for any necessary travel documentation.

For those traveling to Brazil on a US passport, here is a helpful overview of the visa application process including cost and timing. Once you have your flights and are ready to apply for your visa, it is best to do so through the official e-Visa portal run by the Brazilian government, located here.

Transfers

Transfers to Búzios

The best way to get between Rio and Búzios is a transfer via car. It's comfortable, direct, and the most practical option for this route. The drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic. We do not recommend renting a car and driving yourselves there.

We have two options for transfers depending on your preference:

Arrange your own private transfer
Join a group transfer that we're working to coordinate for our guests

Option 1: Private Transfer

If you'd prefer to travel on your own schedule and with your own group, we recommend booking directly with one of the following vetted transfer companies. Each of them is familiar with the Rio to Búzios route and can accommodate a range of group sizes.

The best way to receive quotes and book is to reach out via WhatsApp (links above will open the app). Provide your group size, pick-up and drop-off locations, and required dates and times, and they'll handle the rest. You can try messaging in English, but they may want to speak in Portuguese (use Google Translate!).

For reference, last time Miguel and I made the trip in a private transfer, it cost us BRL 600 for one way (USD 115). Remember, everything in Brazil is negotiable :)

Option 2: Group Transfer

Since many of us will be in Rio around the same time, we're hoping to coordinate a group transfer option for guests who'd like to travel together. We'll be working with a transfer company to organize routes and group vehicles based on pick-up / drop-off needs.

Based on where our guests are staying and when most people are traveling, we're already planning group transfers for at least the following:

Wednesday, September 23: Ipanema / Leblon to Búzios
Sunday, September 27: Búzios to GIG airport

We may add additional dates and routes depending on what our surveying tells us. So even if your travel dates don't match the above, fill out our form and we'll do our best to make it work!

A few other things to know before opting in:

Exact pickup points will be confirmed once we've finalized group logistics with our transfer partner. We'll be in touch with your specific details well before the wedding weekend
Overall, this option will work best for guests with some flexibility and who are open to coordinating with others

To be included in group travel, please fill out the form below by July 26. If we do not receive a submission by that date, we will assume that you are coordinating your own means of getting to/from Búzios.

Shelby & Miguel Wedding | Group Transfer Survey

One more note on timing. Our Welcome Party is on Thursday, September 24 starting at 4PM. We'd love for everyone to arrive in Búzios with enough time to settle in before the evening's festivities. If your travel plans allow, we recommend you transfer to Búzios on Wednesday, September 23, so you're not rushed for Thursday's party.

Accommodations

Please have a look through our accommodation page for suggestions on where to stay in Búzios.