When people think of Brazil, they usually picture two things: blazing sun and the Amazon rainforest. But here’s the secret Brazil doesn’t shout from the rooftops: this continental-sized country has five distinct climate zones and seasons that flip completely depending on where you stand.

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.

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.