Carry-On Only for Brazil: Packing Guide for São Paulo and Rio

Brazilian carrier rules differ by fare and ticket date. LATAM Economy uses 12 kg when the main bag is included or purchased; Azul uses 10 kg, and current GOL tickets use 12 kg. Check each operating carrier before packing.

Domestic Airline Carry-On Allowances

LATAM permits one main bag up to 55×35×25 cm and 12 kg in Economy, or 16 kg in Premium Economy/Business, plus a 45×35×20 cm personal item. Basic requires a main-bag purchase. Light is included in the English main page and Spanish tables, but the Portuguese international table lists an extra cost; confirm the issued fare. The personal-item FAQ gives 10 kg, while the Brazilian regional table gives 12 kg in Premium cabins.

Azul: Azul includes one main bag up to 55×35×25 cm and 10 kg, plus one underseat personal item up to 45×35×20 cm. Azul publishes no separate personal-item weight restriction. A compliant main bag may be checked free if cabin space runs out; oversize or overweight baggage can incur checked-baggage charges.

GOL: GOL permits one 55×35×25 cm main bag up to 12 kg on tickets issued from 14 October 2025, plus a separate 43×32×22 cm personal item up to 10 kg. International Basic excludes the main bag unless purchased; Light includes it. The current table does not offer Basic domestically. Older tickets and charters use a 10 kg main-bag limit; confirm the issued conditions.

For a mixed itinerary, meet every operating carrier’s dimensions, weight and fare conditions; LATAM’s allowance does not establish another airline’s limit.

São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU): Allow Three Hours

Guarulhos International Airport is Brazil's largest and one of the busiest in South America. It handles an enormous volume of international traffic from Europe, North America, and the rest of Latin America, and the combination of check-in queues, immigration, and security can be genuinely slow.

Allow 3 hours before your international departure at GRU. Terminal 3 handles most international departures; if you're connecting from a domestic flight, confirm your terminal and allow time for the transit. The airport is spread across a large site. Shuttle buses connect terminals.

Security at GRU is thorough. Laptops and large electronics must come out. Liquids in containers of 100 ml or under in a clear bag. Shoes are x-rayed and must be removed in some lanes.

Rio Galeão (GIG): Efficient but Thorough Security

Rio de Janeiro's Galeão International Airport is smaller and generally faster to navigate than GRU, but security is thorough. Allow 2.5 hours before international departures. The airport is 20–25 km from central Rio — in heavy traffic, the journey from Ipanema or Copacabana can take 45 to 75 minutes. Leave earlier than you think you need to.

Santos Dumont airport (SDU), closer to the city centre, handles most domestic flights to São Paulo. It is faster and easier to navigate than GIG.

Packing for Brazil's Heat

Brazil's most visited destinations — Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, Florianópolis, Natal — are warm to hot year-round. Light, breathable fabrics are non-negotiable.

A practical carry-on wardrobe for two weeks in Brazil:

• Four to five lightweight cotton or linen tees or shirts
• Two pairs of lightweight trousers or shorts
• One smart casual outfit for a nice dinner or a rooftop bar in São Paulo
• Two swimsuits (crucial — one always needs to dry)
• A rashguard for daytime beach use (sun in Brazil is genuinely intense)
• One light layer for São Paulo evenings or air-conditioned restaurants

Brazil's heat means you'll want to rinse or wash swimwear and beach clothing daily. Quick-dry fabrics earn their weight here.

Beach Packing: Two Swimsuits and a Rashguard

Brazilian beach culture centres on extended mornings and afternoons at the beach — Copacabana, Ipanema, Praia da Joatinga, or the reef beaches of Alagoas. A single swimsuit is a mistake. One will always be wet, salty, or drying. Pack two.

A rashguard serves double duty: UV protection during long beach days (UV index regularly exceeds 11 in Rio) and quick-dry coverage for a post-swim lunch. Brazilian pharmacies and beachside shops sell sunscreen at reasonable prices, so skip packing a full-size bottle.

Carnival: Buy Your Costume in Rio

If you're visiting Rio during Carnival (late January to early March), resist the temptation to pack a costume from home. Carnival outfits — especially blocos street party costumes — are bulky, crumple into a damaged mess in a carry-on, and are available in Rio at prices well below what you'd pay for a similar outfit elsewhere.

Rio's street markets and dedicated costume shops sell complete blocos outfits from January onward. A simple blocos costume — T-shirt with the bloco's logo and design — typically costs 80–150 BRL. More elaborate options are available for samba school events.

Pack the basics, buy the costume locally, and leave room in your bag on the way home for whatever artisan crafts or cachaça you pick up along the way.

Camera Security: Keep It in Your Bag

Both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have tourist-area crime that specifically targets visible valuables. Opportunistic snatching of phones, cameras, and bags from tourists is a documented issue in busy streets, beach areas, and near metro stations.

The practical approach: keep your camera inside your bag while walking. Use it actively at specific sites — Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Santa Teresa neighbourhood — then stow it immediately. A camera worn openly on a strap around your neck or clipped visibly to your bag is a higher-risk option than one stored in the main compartment.

Your carry-on bag is also where travel insurance documents, backup cards, and your passport copy belong. Keep them in an interior zip pocket. Brazil requires you to carry ID — your passport or a notarised copy — but a digital copy on your phone suffices in most non-official situations.

Travel Insurance: Keep Documents in the Cabin

Travel insurance documentation, including emergency phone numbers and your policy reference, should travel in your carry-on, not checked baggage. In the event of theft, medical emergency, or a delayed connection, you want your insurance details immediately accessible without having to retrieve your hold bag.

LATAM allowance for the booked fare

LATAM permits one main bag up to 55×35×25 cm and 12 kg in Economy, or 16 kg in Premium Economy/Business, plus a 45×35×20 cm personal item. Basic requires a main-bag purchase. Light is included in the English main page and Spanish tables, but the Portuguese international table lists an extra cost; confirm the issued fare. The personal-item FAQ gives 10 kg, while the Brazilian regional table gives 12 kg in Premium cabins.

LATAM cabin guide