Flying from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport (REC): What you need to know
Your boarding pass to adventure starts at Rio de Janeiro's main airport, Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG). Check out your options for catching a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport (REC) leaving from this base.
Take off on a direct Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport flight and you'll be in the air for around 2 hours 50 minutes.
Recife's timezone is UTC-3, which is the same as Rio de Janeiro. Recife International Airport is located in Recife.
With 56 direct weekly flights between the two airports, Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG) to Recife International Airport (REC) is the most popular route. Gol operates the earliest flight at 2:20am. If you prefer to make the most of your day before taking off, the latest flight from GIG to REC is with Gol at 11:55pm.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your flight from Rio de Janeiro to REC. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid sprinting to your gate.
You'll likely experience bigger queues during popular months such as January and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
Airports in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG)
Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport (GIG) offers an easy route to your destination. Nonstop flights from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport (REC) depart from this terminal.
Choose from a variety of carriers operating direct flights from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport departing from GIG. Book your ticket with one of these:
Azul Airlines is the airline most travellers choose for flights from GIG to REC.
LATAM Airlines takes the top spot for on-time performance. An exceptional 95.76% of its services on this route arrive without delay.
Travelling from central Rio de Janeiro to GIG takes about 1 hour on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a taxi, you'll cover the 19 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a relaxed start to your journey? Stay near Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport or aren't a fan of being rushed, these hotels have you covered:
80% of flights leaving Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport reach their destination as planned. Given its strong on-time performance, you're unlikely to experience delays when taking off from GIG.
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
SDU is about 5 kilometres from central Rio de Janeiro. It'll take 10 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 20 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before your Rio de Janeiro to REC flight? Relax in a hotel near Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport before your trip officially begins. These stays have your key waiting:
79% of flights departing Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport make it to their destination as expected.
About Recife International Airport (REC)
Reserve a hotel near REC if you're catching a late flight from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport. Select one of these accommodation options and get some sleep sooner:
Booking your ride around two weeks ahead of your Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport flight can help you find the best deal.
Getting from Recife International Airport (REC) to central Recife
Recife International Airport is around 11 kilometres from central Recife. It takes around 25 minutes or so to get to the city by car.
Travelling on public transport takes about 45 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport (REC)
$115 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport. Return flights start from $309. These fares can change based on availability and demand.
Booking in advance is often the key to scoring a cheap flight from Rio de Janeiro to REC. Flight prices rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport tickets across every month. It's a good way to find a bargain if your plans aren't set in stone.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as a better deal is available on plane tickets from Rio de Janeiro to REC.
Save on your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport by using filters. Select your preferred times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport (REC)
It's time to work out when to book your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport (REC). January is when most people travel to Recife. If crowds aren't your thing, think about going in December.
Before locking in your Rio de Janeiro to REC plane ticket, consider the kind of weather you prefer. March is the warmest month in Recife, with temperatures ranging from 24ºC to 31ºC.
August sees temperatures of between 22ºC and 28ºC. Look for cheap tickets from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Recife
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Recife right here. Explore these hotels after you've booked your flight from Rio de Janeiro to Recife International Airport:
Your trip to Recife should come with a side of sightseeing. Big-name attractions you can't miss include Convent of Sao Francisco, Jardim Botânico and Church Our Lady of Health.
Explore more of Brazil
Recife has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Brazil waiting to be explored. Around 177 kilometres southwest of Recife, a trip to Maceio will keep you busy. Check out popular attractions like Jatiuca Beach, Piscinas Naturais de Pajucara and Ipioca Beach.
Around 257 kilometres north of Recife, Natal is another essential stop in Brazil. Experience major highlights starting with Ponta Negra Beach, Morro do Careca beach and Praia do Forte.