The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a susceptible model to Leishmania (Viannia) spp.; however, available studies employ different infection protocols, which account for clinical and pathological presentation differences. Herein, L. (V.) braziliensis preparations were standardized to contain 104, 105, or 106 parasites to determine an optimal inoculum that ensured cutaneous lesions without causing a disseminated infection in hamsters. Lesion development was followed for 105 days by size measurements, and skin, draining lymph node, spleen, and sera were investigated to check parasite load, spleen visceralization, cytokine expression, histopathological changes, and anti-Leishmania IgG levels. The lesion emergence time was inversely proportional to the parasite concentration in the inocula. Animals infected by 104 parasites presented nodular lesions, while those infected with 106 parasites often exhibited ulcerated lesions. The differences in the final lesion sizes were observed between 104 and 105 inocula or 104 and 106 inocula. High IFNG expression, anti-Leishmania IgG levels, and parasite load occurred independently of the inoculum used. A mild inflammatory skin involvement was observed in animals infected with 104 parasites, while extensive tissue damage and parasite spleen visceralization occurred with 105 and 106 parasites. These results indicate that inocula with different concentrations of parasites generate differences in the time of lesion emergence, clinical presentation, and systemic commitment, despite high and similar IFNG expression and parasite load. This suggests that a modulation in the immune response to different parasite numbers occurs in an early phase of the infection, which could dictate the establishment and magnitude of the chronic phase of the disease.