Vitamin D in Brazil: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in Brazil are July, September to November. In September, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 8 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 7.3 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is rainy or stormy in August and from December to June.

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Brazil month by month

Brazil is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

Month	Rating	Sun window	Peak UV	Full dose, age 30	Full dose, age 65	Afternoon high	Rainy days
January	Bad weather	8.6 h	9.0	6 min	11 min	29°C	21/30
February	Bad weather	8.4 h	9.1	6 min	11 min	28°C	27/30
March	Bad weather	8.3 h	9.1	6 min	11 min	31°C	23/30
April	Bad weather	8.0 h	8.1	7 min	12 min	28°C	24/30
May	Bad weather	7.9 h	7.7	7 min	13 min	29°C	21/30
June	Bad weather	7.7 h	7.3	7 min	14 min	28°C	23/30
July	Good	5.1 h	4.7	11 min	21 min	24°C	8/30
August	Bad weather	7.7 h	7.9	7 min	13 min	27°C	19/30
September	Excellent	7.3 h	7.1	8 min	14 min	28°C	7/30
October	Excellent	6.7 h	7.0	8 min	14 min	27°C	10/30
November	Excellent	6.9 h	7.6	7 min	13 min	27°C	13/30
December	Bad weather	8.7 h	8.9	6 min	11 min	30°C	20/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to Brazil

Why go

Brazil combines iconic beaches, Rio's energy, northeastern dune coasts and tropical islands, with friendly locals and music.

Best for

Couples, families, surfers, kitesurfers and party lovers.

What to expect

Southern Brazil is hot and rainy in summer (December to March), while the northeast has warm, sunny weather most of the year. Beaches have lifeguards and kiosks. Sun is strong, and carry few valuables.

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Places in Brazil

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

Rio de Janeiro best: Excellent

Copacabana, Ipanema and Christ the Redeemer in one city.

Best for couples, city-break fans

Best months February to December · Avoid rainy or stormy in January

World famous, beautiful city that welcomes visitors with that big statue of an open-armed Jesus atop Corcovado Hill.

Búzios best: Excellent

Chic peninsula of coves and a boardwalk.

Best for couples, groups

Best months January to November · Avoid rainy or stormy in December

Trendy seaside town with 25 beaches. 192 km north of Rio.

Paraty best: Excellent

Colonial town framed by green hills and islands.

Best for couples, sailors, culture travellers

Best months April to September, November · Avoid rainy or stormy in October and from December to March

Ilha Grande best: Excellent

Car-free island of rainforest and bays.

Best for hikers, backpackers

Best months February to November · Avoid rainy or stormy from December to January

Salvador best: Excellent

Afro-Brazilian cultural capital with a historic centre.

Best for culture travellers, music fans

Best months October · Avoid rainy or stormy from November to September

The first capital of Brazil is home to a unique blend of indigenous, African and European cultures.

Porto Seguro best: Excellent

Birthplace of Brazil with party beaches.

Best for groups, families

Best months March, July, September, October, December · Avoid rainy or stormy from January to February and from April to June and in August and in November

Trancoso best: Excellent

Colourful village square above long beaches.

Best for couples, quiet-stay seekers

Best months May, July, September, October, December · Avoid rainy or stormy from January to April and in June and in August and in November

Morro de São Paulo

Car-free island with several beaches and parties.

Best for backpackers, couples

Best months none · Avoid rainy or stormy all year

Maceió best: Excellent

Natural pools at sea and calm beaches.

Best for families, couples

Best months January, October, November · Avoid rainy or stormy from February to September and in December

One of the many northeastern coastal cities, with Caribbean-blue beaches.

Porto de Galinhas best: Excellent

Tidal pools and clear water, a popular family resort.

Best for families, couples

Best months January, November · Avoid rainy or stormy from February to October and in December

Recife best: Excellent

Big northeast city with beaches and colonial Olinda nearby.

Best for culture travellers, couples

Best months January, November · Avoid rainy or stormy from February to October and in December

A major city in the Northeast region, originally settled by Dutch colonizers.

Natal best: Excellent

Dune buggy rides and warm beaches.

Best for families, adventure seekers

Best months January, August to November · Avoid rainy or stormy from February to July and in December

Sunny beaches and dunes. Has the reputation of being the sunniest Brazilian city.

Jericoacoara best: Excellent

Sandy village with dunes, wind and a sunset ritual.

Best for kitesurfers, couples, backpackers

Best months June to August, October to January · Avoid too hot in September; rainy or stormy from February to May

Fortaleza best: Excellent

Big beach city with a lively nightlife.

Best for families, groups

Best months June to January · Avoid rainy or stormy from February to May

The fourth-biggest city in Brazil, blessed with beautiful beaches. Home of the Iracema Beach street market.

Fernando de Noronha best: Excellent

Protected island for turtles and dolphins; visitor numbers are capped.

Best for divers, couples, nature lovers

Best months July to January · Avoid rainy or stormy from February to June

Tropical island paradise in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is protected as a Marine National Park since 1997 and a…

Florianópolis best: Excellent

Island of 42 beaches, from surf to calm bays.

Best for surfers, families, young travellers

Best months March to June, September, October · Avoid too cool from July to August; rainy or stormy from November to February

A city on an island in the Atlantic Ocean, in the southern state of Santa Catarina, with lakes, lagoons, sand dunes, amazing…

Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Questions about vitamin D in Brazil

When is the best time to visit Brazil for vitamin D?

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Brazil in July?

Yes, but slowly. In July a full dose takes about 11 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 5.1 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in Brazil?

In September, the best month, about 8 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 14 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in Brazil?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is rainy or stormy in August and from December to June.

What is the best place in Brazil for vitamin D?

In September the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Fernando de Noronha. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.