Flying from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport (REC): What you need to know
Your next great adventure starts at one of Sao Paulo's main airports, Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) or Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH). Explore the options for booking a flight from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport (REC) jetting off from either of these bases.
The average time for a direct Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport flight is 3 hours 5 minutes.
Recife's timezone is UTC-3, which is the same as Sao Paulo. Recife International Airport is located in Recife.
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to Recife International Airport (REC) is the most popular route. There are 102 direct weekly departures to pick from. If you prefer starting your day later, take the last flight with Gol at 11:45pm. Opt for the first GRU to REC departure with Gol at 2am if getting there sooner works for you.
Get to the airport on time so you don't miss your flight from Sao Paulo to REC. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to skip the mad dash to your gate.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight when you fly during peak periods in general.
Airports in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
Get to your destination in one go from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). Direct flights from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport (REC) can be booked from here.
At GRU, you'll find a good selection of carriers that operate direct flights from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport, including:
Azul Airlines is the airline with the highest passenger demand for flights from GRU to REC.
The carrier with the top on-time arrival rate on this route is GOL Linhas Aéreas.
The journey from central Sao Paulo to GRU takes around 1 hour 10 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Searching for a comfortable hotel near Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:
71% of flights departing from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport reach their destination on time.
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)
Looking to fly out of Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH)? Direct Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport (REC) plane tickets can be booked from this popular hub.
You can pick from a variety of airlines that have direct flights from Sao Paulo to REC departing from CGH. Get on board with any of these carriers leave the layovers behind:
Azul Airlines has the largest share of bookings on the CGH to REC route.
Flights between Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport and Recife International Airport see fewer delays with GOL Linhas Aéreas than with any other carrier.
With public transport, you can travel from central Sao Paulo to CGH in around 50 minutes. The terminal is roughly 10 kilometres away, and getting there by car takes approximately 25 minutes.
Catching an early morning flight? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport the day before your Sao Paulo to REC flight:
Looking at how often flights stay on schedule, Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 75%.
Viracopos-Campinas International Airport (VCP)
One flight, no fuss. You can book a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport leaving from Viracopos-Campinas International Airport (VCP).
Azul is one airline that offers direct Sao Paulo to REC plane tickets from VCP.
The top choice among passengers flying between VCP and REC is Azul Airlines.
Azul Airlines is the most punctual carrier operating on this route, with 76.0% of its services landing on time.
From central Sao Paulo, VCP is around 97 kilometres away. It takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to get to the airport by car and 2 hours 20 minutes or so on public transport.
Set yourself up for a smooth departure — stay near Viracopos-Campinas International Airport and know you'll reach the terminal with time to spare. Settle in at one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport flight:
Flights that take off from VCP arrive at their destination on schedule 74% of the time.
About Recife International Airport (REC)
Reserve a hotel near REC if you have a late flight from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport. Select one of these accommodation options and be under the covers in no time flat:
Booking your vehicle around two weeks in advance of your Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport flight can help you get a cheaper deal.
Getting from Recife International Airport (REC) to central Recife
Central Recife is around 11 kilometres from Recife International Airport and takes about 25 minutes to reach by car. See what your options are for heading into the city, whether that's with a car hire, taxi or ride-share.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey of roughly 45 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport (REC)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport is Rs24,283. For a return flight on this route, the best price is Rs47,330. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares can change.
Book one month before flying. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Sao Paulo to REC.
The best month for scoring cheap Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport tickets is June. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then choose the dates with the lowest fares.
Spend less time searching for cheap plane tickets from Sao Paulo to REC by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport.
The best time to fly from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport (REC)
It's time to figure out your travel dates for your flight from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport (REC). January is when most people visit Recife. If you're all about a more relaxed kind of trip, head there in December.
Lock in a Sao Paulo to REC plane ticket departing in March if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Recife to range from 24ºC to 31ºC.
August sees temperatures of between 22ºC and 28ºC. Look for cheap tickets from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Recife
After booking your flight from Sao Paulo to Recife International Airport, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Recife:
Convent of Sao Francisco and Jardim Botânico are just a couple of the top-rated attractions to add to your Recife must-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Church Our Lady of Health.
Explore more of Brazil
You've seen Recife, now it's time to explore other corners of Brazil. Journey around 177 kilometres southwest to Maceio to check off its top sights. From Jatiuca Beach to Piscinas Naturais de Pajucara and Ipioca Beach, there's plenty to keep you busy.
If you're ready to explore another great destination in Brazil, consider Natal, roughly 257 kilometres north of Recife. Ponta Negra Beach, Morro do Careca beach and Praia do Forte are key reasons to visit.
