Panama City based Copa Airlines is offering $599 fares to Rio de Janeiro from Los Angeles during the end of the southern hemisphere’s high season. There are only several of these fares left for March, but April is pretty much wide open.

We had difficulty on the Copa Airlines site activating the “Promo” prices for both flight legs. We kept getting the error message “Unfortunately system failed to verify your selection this time. Please try again.”

When we select one “Promo” rate and one of the pricier “Plus” fares we don’t get the error. However, on Orbitz there’s no problem (see below).

This Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro offer isn’t mentioned on Copa Airlines, however see all offers for more cities.

Korean Air is not synonymous with Brazilian carnavals or sun-soaked South American beaches, but they appear to be trying. How else do you explain $500 fares from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo on Korean Air? Yes, from now through 9/30/09 for travel between 8/01/09 to 9/30/09. Pay just a little more for travel through 12/11/09.

Historically, these fares would’ve been near the $1,000 mark, so this is a great opportunity to experience Brazil on the cheap. Vacationers and returning expatriates tend to be so passionate about Brazil that the entire plane tends to erupt in cheers and applause upon landing!

If Sao Paulo isn’t your final destination, use GOL to access the rest of South America. Click here to view all the discount routes out of Sao Paulo. Look under “Save More to Sao Paulo”.