In the Southern Hemisphere, summer runs from December to March and winter from June to September. But because Brazil straddles the equator, the “season” you experience in January could be a tropical monsoon in Rio or a dry, pleasant breeze in Salvador.

Ready to plan? Check local festival dates—Carnival moves, and Festas Juninas are fixed on Catholic feast days. No matter the season, Brazil will find a way to surprise you.

But that unpredictability is what makes it magical. One month you’re watching jaguars hunt on sun-baked riverbanks. Three months later, you’re dancing in a downpour at a Carnival street party.