Travel Tips

How to get there

Several airlines fly to Brazil. Most of them have direct flights to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and some operate direct or connecting flights to other large Brazilian cities as well.

The main airports in Brazil are the Galeão International Airport in Rio and the Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo. If you have complaints about airport or airline services, contact the Civil Aviation Section office at the airport (in Rio, 398-3050; in São Paulo, 6445-2585). You should address the airline directly at the airport in case of lost luggage.

At the major international airports you have several means of commuting to other parts of the city. Do not expect to find subway or train stations at the airports, though. You will either have to take a cab, rent a car or take a city bus (cheap but not recommended) or a shuttle (usually an air-conditioned bus; look for the keywords frescão or executivo).

Entry requirements (immigration and customs)

In order to be admitted into Brazilian territory, all foreign nationals must carry a passport valid for a minimum of six months from the date of intended arrival in Brazil (except Argentinean, Chilean, Uruguayan and Paraguayan citizens entering Brazil by land, who need only a photo ID).

A tourist visa is required for U.S. passport holders to enter Brazil on tourism. Nationals of most Western European and South American countries are not required to get a Brazilian visa to enter Brazil on tourism. As with any international trip, it is recommended that you always check with the nearest consulate if you need a visa. Foreign nationals cannot work in Brazil without a work permit issued by the Brazilian labor authorities.

Upon arrival, all travelers must present to Customs the form Declaração de Bagagem Acompanhada - DBA (it translates as “Accompanied Baggage Declaration”) duly filled in; the flight attendants always distribute copies of the form during flight. In the Customs area, the foreign traveler must go to the “Goods to Declare” desk whenever his or her baggage includes:

- Animals, plants, seeds, foodstuff and medication subject to health inspection, weapons and ammunition;

- Other goods, when the traveler wishes get proof of their admittance into Brazil;

- Goods subject to the regime of temporary importation, when their listing on the DBA is required (for instance, goods worth over US$ 3,000.00);

- Goods not considered by Brazilian law as baggage (such as goods brought for commercial or industrial purposes);

- Valuables (cash, checks or traveler’s checks) worth over US$ 10,000.00.

Climate

Brazil’s vast territories, the different geographical areas, altitudes and air masses result in a wide variety of climates. The Equator crosses Brazil in its Northern Region and the Tropic of Capricorn, in the south, putting most of Brazil in the “inter-tropical zone”, where the high and wet climates predominate. The average temperature for the country as a whole is 20º C (68º F), and the thermal amplitude (difference between the highs and lows) is small. Brazil’s main climates are the Equatorial (in the Amazon Region), with all-year rain, high average temperatures between 77º and 80.6º F; and the Tropical (Central Brazil and part of the Northeastern Region), with high average temperatures between 64.4º and 82.4º F and well-defined dry (mid-year) and wet (early in the year) seasons. The south is colder than the rest of Brazil (average temperature of 64.4º F; during winter temperature may fall below freezing point and may snow too).

Remember: seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are the opposite of those in the Northern: roughly, January-March is summer, April-June is fall, July-September is winter and October-December is spring.

Brazil is considered to be an all-year destination. You should therefore choose the time of the year for visiting Brazil based on your personal preferences. For instance, keep in mind that July and August are usually the driest months in the Amazon area, and that summer is very warm in Brazil (you’ll have to be careful with sun exposure; or you could visit in another season – several regions in Brazil are sunny year-round).

Language

As a heritage of the Portuguese discoverers and settlers, Brazil is a Portuguese-speaking country, the only one in the Americas. Portuguese is a Latin-originated language (or a “Romance” language), related to Spanish, French, Italian, Rumanian and others, but its vocabulary is influenced by Arabic (reminiscent of the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages) and, in the case of Brazilian Portuguese, by African and Indian languages.

Expect wide use of gestures and touch during conversation in Brazil. Well-educated Brazilians usually speak English, some speak French and most of them understand Spanish. Hotel staff in major cities usually speaks English; taxi drivers seldom do (in this case, the old trick of the address written on a piece of paper is the best thing to do).

To hear samples of Portuguese, go to www.ipl.org/youth/hello/portuguese.html

Holidays

Brazil’s national day is September 7, Independence Day. Other major holidays (when government offices as well as many private companies and stores are closed) include January 1 (New Year), April 21 (in honor of Brazilian hero Tiradentes), November 15 (Proclamation of Republic), October 12 (Our Lady of Aparecida’s Day) and December 25 (Christmas). The most important holidays that are not set on a fixed date are Easter Friday  (in April) and Monday and Tuesday of Carnival (usually in February). Although one might say that carnival is the experience of a lifetime, expect fully booked hotels and flights during that period, especially in Rio and northeastern Brazil. There are state and local holidays, too.

Time Zone

Brazilian territory is located West of the Greenwich Meridian. Brazil has 4 time zones, ranging from minus-2-hours in relation to Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) up to minus-5-hours. The official time zone for Brazil (where the federal capital of Brasília, Rio and São Paulo are located) is minus-3-hours. In relation to the U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST), Brazil’s official time is ahead by plus-2-hours (not considering daylight saving time in the U.S. or in Brazil).

Please note that Brazil adopts an annual daylight saving time, usually from October through February, when clocks are moved forward by 1 hour in the Southeastern, Southern and Center-West Regions as well as in the state of Bahia.

Currency and Money

Brazilian currency is the Real (“heh-ALL”), plural Reais (“heh-Eyes”), noted as “R$”. The exchange rates fluctuates (Last stand: US$ 1 = R$2.10, March 2007). Please note that the decimal in Brazil is marked with a comma. The Brazilian Real is divided into 100 Centavos. Bank notes in circulation are the following: R$ 1, R$ 5, R$ 10, R$ 50 and R$ 100. The following coins are in circulation: R$ 0,01 – R$ 0,05 – R$ 0,10 – R$ 0,25 – R$ 0,50 – R$ 1.

Credit cards are widely accepted in large cities in Brazil, in restaurants, hotels, travel and car rental agencies and stores.

The major Brazilian banks offer ATMs. Not all of them accept the major foreign cards, though. Banco Bradesco’s ATMs accept Visa/Plus cards; some Banco do Brasil’s ATMs accept Visa and Plus cards. ATMs accepting MasterCard/Cirrus cards are less common. Information on the location of ATMs in Brazil can be accessed at their respective homepages or by phone (MasterCard/Cirrus: 800-424-7787; Visa/Plus: 800-843-7587).

Traveler’s checks are always a good idea, being a safe way of carrying values in any international trip. In spite of that, note that in many places the rate for exchanging traveler’s checks is lower than for cash. You can exchange traveler’s checks at casas de câmbio (exchange houses), banks, hotels (usually for a comparatively lower rate) and travel agencies.

When exchanging money, it is usually recommended to look for banks for the best rates. If you are bound for smaller cities, remember to exchange money in before the trip, as exchange services are found more often in large cities.

Taxis

In major cities taxis are regulated by the city administration and are equipped with meters. Some cities have táxis especiais (“special taxis”), usually more comfortable and with fixed rates to your destination, and radio-táxis (taxis which can be called by telephone and are also fixed-rate).

Keep in mind that taxi drivers seldom speak English (or any other language except Portuguese). It might be a good idea to have your destination address written on a piece of paper to show the driver.

At the major airports, the special taxi companies have booths at the Arrivals area where you can reserve a cab, with fixed rates. Expect to pay more than with common (metered) taxis, though.

Travelling inside Brazil

If you are planning to travel inside Brazil, a good way to do so is to purchase an air pass, sold by the Brazil-based airlines. The air pass must be bought before traveling to Brazil – you should ask your travel agent about them, as prices and conditions change with time.

There is a large network of domestic flights in Brazil, operated by national carriers (TAM, Varig, and Gol) and by several regional airlines. Be at the airport for check-in at least one hour before a domestic flight (two hours before international flights). If you have complaints about airport or airline services, contact the Civil Aviation Section office at the airport (in Rio, 398-3050; in São Paulo, 6445-2585). You should address the airline directly at the airport in case of lost luggage.

The Rio-São Paulo air shuttle is widely used, the flights departing every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. from more central airports (Santos Dumont, in Rio, and Congonhas, in São Paulo).

Roads in Brazil have very different degrees of maintenance – if you decide to drive a car on a Brazilian road, be careful. Also, tougher traffic laws have been recently enacted, giving drivers one more reason to drive carefully. The use of safety belts (on highways and in cities) is required by federal law and is enforced. All traffic signs are written in Portuguese – there are no signs in English (if you speak Portuguese, you can see the road signs used in Brazil at the National Highway Department – DNER). More resources for the Portuguese-speaking can be found at the DNER Web site, such as road conditions and distance between cities. Road and city maps and atlases are available at bookstores.

The regular American driver’s license is accepted in Brazil for car rental purposes and for driving, as is the international driver’s permit. The minimum driving age in Brazil is 18 and the national highway speed limit for cars is 110 kph (68 mph); inside cities the top limit comes down to 80 kph (49 mph). The speed limit in any given road or street can vary according to traffic signage.

There are several car rental agencies in Brazil, including the internationally known ones. Major agencies include Hertz, Avis, Localiza and Unidas (in Brazil, 0800-121-121). Rental cars are usually equipped with stick shift (automatic cars are rare and more expensive).

Safety and Security

Brazil’s countryside and small towns are usually safe. In large cities you should be as alert as in any American metropolis. 

For a safer trip, follow the recommendations below:

- Never show money around;

- Avoid carrying jewelry and valuables to exposed places like beaches;

- Make use of the hotel safe for your valuables, cash and traveler’s checks;

- Ask your hotel for safety information concerning the places you plan to visit.

Taxes and Tipping

Consumption taxes are always included in the price advertised in store windows or shown in bills. Consumption and hotel taxes can vary from state to state in Brazil.

Tips in restaurants are often included in your bill, usually a 10% charge over the total bill. Tipping US$ 1 to bellboys and chambermaids is adequate. In some airports, porters may charge as much as US$ 1 per bag. In some cities, taxi drivers are allowed to charge for helping you with your luggage.

Health

Although major cities have water treatment, you should avoid drinking tap water – drink only filtrated or mineral water. Also, go easy on the typical dishes, as they may be spicy and strong.

Keep in mind that the sun in Brazil may be extremely strong in certain areas. See below the usual recommendations for sunbathing:

- Avoid sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun exposure is more intense at high altitudes, tropical locations and near water.

- Use a sunblock when you are outdoors. Products with a sun-protective factor (SPF) of 15 or more are usually recommended for better protection (the ones with lower SPF allow tanning but protect less). Reapply the product after swimming or after prolonged exposure, even if it is water- and perspiration-resistant. Baby oil, mineral oil or cocoa butter offer no protection from the sun.

- Be especially thorough to protect nose, ears, back of the neck and back of the legs with sunblock.

- Cover your head with a hat or cap (note that mesh caps and hats may not protect the head appropriately).

- Lying in a shade on the beach may not be enough, as sunlight reflects from water and sand.

- If you insist on tanning, limit your sun exposure on the first day to 5 to 10 minutes on each side. Add 5 minutes per side each day.

- Keep hydrated.

The National Health Surveillance Agency recommends that travelers be vaccinated against yellow fever if they plan to visit the following Brazilian states: Amazonas, Rondônia, Pará, Tocantins, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Roraima, Amapá, Acre and Distrito Federal.

Telecommunications

With a view to foster competition, the telecommunication authorities have recently privatized the telecom companies in Brazil, what brought about lower connection fees. This is how you make direct international phone calls from Brazil - dial:

00 (int'l access code) + [carrier code] + [country code] + [area code] + number

Users currently have two options of international carriers: Embratel (carrier code 21) and Intelig (carrier code 23). For instance, a call to New York would be dialed:

00 + 21 or 23 +  1 (for the U.S.) + 212 (for Manhattan) + 555-5555 (number)

As to direct long distance calls ("DDDs"), typically two or more carriers provide the service, depending on where you are in Brazil. Embratel and Intelig provide long distance service for the country as a whole; other long distance providers may be available.

This is how you make a long distance phone call in Brazil:

0 (DDD access code) + [carrier code] + [area code] + number

If you need to make long distance calls within Brazil, you should seek information in your hotel as to the carriers that operate in the city you are in.

Good travel and have a nice time!