Travelling from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro: what you need to know
Planning your getaway begins with working out where you'll leave from in San Diego. San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the city's main airport, so explore your options for reserving a flight from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro taking off from here.
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) is where you'll be landing in Rio De Janeiro.
The timezone in Rio De Janeiro is UTC-3, which is four hours ahead of San Diego.
For a relaxed travel experience, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to catch your San Diego to Rio De Janeiro flight.
Travelling during a peak time like July? Major public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer lines and delays at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro
Don't leave things to the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap San Diego to Rio De Janeiro flights if you book in advance. Airlines often have some amazing early bird rates.
Finding cheap plane tickets from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro is easier if you can be flexible with your dates. Try using the 'Whole month' search tool to see the best prices across every month and land a great deal.
You don't need to search every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you as soon as a better deal is available on cheap flights from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro.
Find an affordable San Diego to Rio De Janeiro flight with the help of our filters. Select your preferred duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save money on your San Diego to Rio De Janeiro flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from San Diego International Airport. Break up the journey at one of these popular airports:
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
SAN is around 3 kilometres from central San Diego. If you're catching a cab, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 10 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 20 minutes.
Booked an early flight from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels close to San Diego International Airport:
When it comes to San Diego International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 71.38% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
The address for SAN is N Harbour Dr.
Arriving in Rio De Janeiro
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) to central Rio De Janeiro takes about 20 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 13 kilometres away.
It usually takes 1 hour 5 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Consider staying in a hotel close to GIG if you have a late flight from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro. Select one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and venture far and wide through Rio De Janeiro and beyond.
To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport about four weeks ahead of your San Diego to Rio De Janeiro flight.
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is roughly 2 kilometres from the centre of Rio De Janeiro. After your flight from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro, it takes approximately 5 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
You can expect the trip to take about 15 minutes on public transport.
No time to waste? The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Santos Dumont Airport rental car. Collect your wheels from Foco, Localiza or Movida and set off in the blink of an eye.
Avoid paying extra. Booking your ride three weeks before your arrival at SDU can land you a better rate.
Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ)
Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport (RRJ) is roughly 23 kilometres from central Rio De Janeiro. It'll take you about 40 minutes to get to the city centre in a car once you've stepped off your flight from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro.
Public transport will get you there in roughly 1 hour 25 minutes.
No squeezing into small cabs, no hauling bags on public transport — with a Jacarepagua-Roberto Marinho Airport rental car, you're literally in the driver's seat. Check out the types of wheels available here at Localiza.
Rental providers sometimes offer promotions on early bookings, so book your vehicle from RRJ a few weeks ahead of your flight from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro. A bit of planning goes a long way for your wallet.
Best time to go to Rio De Janeiro
It's time to figure out your dates for your flight from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro. July is the most popular month to travel to Rio De Janeiro. If you like a more relaxed vibe, go in May.
Before locking in your San Diego to Rio De Janeiro tickets, consider the type of weather you enjoy. February is the warmest month in Rio De Janeiro, with temperatures ranging from 22ºC to 33ºC.
Look for cheap flights from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro in July if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 17ºC and 27ºC on average.
More about Rio De Janeiro
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the top stays in Rio De Janeiro right here. Check out these hotels once you've locked in your flight from San Diego to Rio De Janeiro:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach are leading attractions which should be on every Rio De Janeiro itinerary.
Explore more of Brazil
You've visited Rio De Janeiro, now it's time to explore other parts of Brazil. Travel around 354 kilometres west to Sao Paulo to tick off its top attractions. From Sao Paulo Museum of Art to Ibirapuera Park and Paulista Avenue, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
Around 338 kilometres north of Rio De Janeiro, Belo Horizonte is another favourite stop in Brazil. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Abilio Barreto Historical Museum, Matiz Arte Objeto and Deck Vertedouro.
