A shopping tour in Brazil offers a diverse range of options, and souvenir prices are generally reasonable. Due to Brazil's extensive territory, it can be challenging to pinpoint the most popular souvenirs. However, brightly colored paintings are frequently brought back as souvenirs and can be found throughout the country. Brazil is renowned for its leather goods, especially shoes, although quality shoes can be relatively expensive.
From the state of Pernambuco, you can find ceramic painted wares that delight the eye with their bright colors and original designs. Hawaiian beach flip-flops, bikinis, and pareos can be practical purchases. In the state of Bahia, consider buying lace products such as dresses, shawls, napkins, and tablecloths. You can also find magic amulets and wooden figurines that are popular here. For precious and semi-precious stones, Minas Gerais is the place to go, and prices tend to be lower than in other countries.
In the state of Amazonas, look for hand-woven hammocks, bird feathers, seed beads, and bird and animal figurines made from pau-brasil mahogany. Among edible goods, Brazilian coffee and cane cachaça make excellent souvenirs.
Stores in Brazil typically operate from 09:00 to 18:30 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays. Larger stores often stay open until 22:00, and supermarkets may operate 24 hours a day. Sundays often feature fairs in many towns, offering an excellent opportunity to purchase souvenirs. In Rio de Janeiro, major shopping centers like Rio Sul and Barra Shopping are popular choices. Angra dos Reis also has good fairs where you can find interesting souvenirs. São Paulo is another city known for its excellent shopping opportunities.
Sales in Brazil are often timed to coincide with Carnival, beginning in February and lasting for a month. It's worth noting that if you see a discount on the price tag exceeding 100 percent, it may indicate that the initial prices were inflated due to the influx of tourists, and merchants have reverted to their original prices. In such cases, you can actually get a discount of 140 percent. The second "wave" of sales in Brazil usually occurs at the end of the local winter, around August-September, when there are fewer tourists, and some stores choose to reduce prices.
