Phoenix to São Paulo (PHX–GRU) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders need an eVisa to enter Brazil. Apply through the official portal at gov.br/mre before departure. The eVisa costs USD 80.90, is valid for 10 years with multiple entries, and allows stays up to 90 days per visit. Processing takes a few business days. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry.

Valley Metro Rail runs to the PHX Sky Train station at 44th Street/Washington (free Sky Train connects to T3 and T4 in 5 minutes). Fare from downtown Phoenix is $2 (20–25 min). The light rail network reaches Tempe, Mesa, and Glendale. The Sky Train runs 24 hours, but light rail does not; check schedules for early morning or late night travel.Taxis from downtown Phoenix cost $20–30; from Scottsdale $30–45. Ride-shares are widely available and comparable to taxis. Terminal 2 is closed; all commercial flights operate from T3 and T4. On-site parking is expensive ($36+/day); off-airport lots are cheaper with shuttles.

CPTM Line 13-Jade to Luz station (central São Paulo) takes 33 minutes (R$4.40). Transfers at Luz connect to metro Lines 1, 3, and 4 for broader coverage. Airport trains run every 30 minutes; check the last departure time if arriving late. Executive buses to Tietê terminal and Paulista run frequently (R$52–62, 45–75 min).Taxis use a fixed airport tariff (zona aeroportuária); central São Paulo costs R$120–200. Uber and 99 are widely used and typically cheaper. São Paulo's traffic is notoriously heavy on the Dutra; road times can double during peak hours. GRU has two terminal buildings (T1/T2/T3 domestic and T3 international); confirm your terminal before heading to check-in.

Humid subtropical climate at 750m altitude. São Paulo is perched on a plateau, which moderates temperatures compared to coastal Brazil. Summers (December–March) are warm and extremely wet. Heavy thunderstorms develop almost daily in the afternoon, regularly causing ground holds at GRU. Flooding in the city can cut road access to the airport even when the runway is clear.

Winters (June–August) are mild and dry (10–20°C) with low humidity. This is the most flight-stable season. Fog occurs occasionally on winter mornings. Temperatures rarely exceed 32°C or drop below 8°C. The rainy season aligns with Southern Hemisphere summer, the opposite of Northern Hemisphere intuition.