| Brazil Travel Tips
Brazil is an excellent choice all year around. You can check the weather
according to your preferences. Summertime in Brazil starts in December
and runs through to February. Many Brazilians are on vacation at this
time, so make your reservations early enough in advance to avoid any
hassles. Remember, Carnival, which occurs the week leading up to Ash
Wednesday each year (either February or March), is the festival no one
should miss!
Travel Visas
When coming to Brazil, you must be sure that your passport is valid for
at least six months after the date of entry. Check with your local
Brazilian embassy or consulate whether or not you require a visa to
enter the country.
Visa Not Required
Consular visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days by tourists
from Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco,
Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, San
Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,
Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Uruguay, The Vatican and Venezuela.
Visas Required
US and Canadian citizens, Australians and New Zealanders and people of
other nationalities not mentioned above require consular visas to enter
Brazil.
Foreign tourists may stay a maximum of 180 days in any one year. 90-day
renewals are easily obtainable from the local Polícia Federal. All visa
related problems are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Police, which
has an office in every major airport.
Getting there and getting around
Most of the American and European airlines fly into and out of São Paulo
and Rio de Janeiro daily. There are various domestic airlines within
Brazil, the principal ones being Varig, Tam, Vasp and Gol; Varig also
has the most extensive network of domestic flights. Booking the best
flights to suit your schedule is a service that Discover Brazil provides.
Transfer services in air-conditioned vehicles, taxis, bus services and
car rentals are also services we provide.
Tips before traveling
Check with the nearest Brazilian consulate in your area for visa and
vaccination requirements before traveling. If you are a US citizen, you
will need a visa to get in, so please be well informed of the
requirements well in advance of your travel.
Brazil does not require you to have any vaccinations to enter the
country; however, if you are planning to travel to the Amazon region, a
Yellow Fever inoculation is advisable. Make sure you plan this in
advance because the vaccine only becomes effective after 10 days.
Consult with your local doctor whether or not you should take anti-malaria
medicine.
All banks and money exchange houses will change traveler’s checks and
foreign currency. It is wise to carry some cash in case you want to go
out of the major cities and towns. Generally, Master Card, Amex, Diners
and Visa are accepted. Traveler’s checks are accepted at hotels, banks
and tourist agencies. (A number of banks including Banco do Brasil
accept foreign cards in their ATM machines).
It is advisable to always carry smaller bills, as restaurants and shops
rarely have change for large bills
If you are sending your little ones alone or accompanied only by your
spouse, please make sure you have a written authorization from the non-accompanying
parent or legal guardian granting permission to travel. This document
must be translated into Portuguese, notarized and authenticated by a
Brazilian consulate, and you will need to show it to the airport
authorities when you leave Brazil and go back home with your kids.
Take out medical and travel insurance (offered by Discover Brazil). Make
sure it covers all eventualities especially evacuation to your home
country by a medically equipped plane, if necessary.
Take clothes suitable for the climates you are planning to visit.
Take sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
Don’t wear expensive items such as jewelry, and be discreet with
cameras, like in any major city around the world, don’t tempt thieves.
Drink plenty of water when you’re in Brazil (tap water is unsafe to
drink).
Electricity can vary within cities. Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo use 110
volts AC, Bahia (Salvador) and Manaus 127 volts AC, in Brasilia and
Recife 220 volts AC. Most hotels do provide 110-volt & 220-volt outlets
or adaptors. Check with your hotel which voltage is used in your room to
avoid damaging your electronic equipment.
If you want to dial internationally, it is necessary to dial 00 – 21 –
country code – city code – phone number. For local calls within the city,
just dial the telephone number. Between Brazilian states you need to
dial a carrier code (021, 031, etc) then the state code and the phone
number.
Brazil uses the metric system, Celsius temperature, and military or
British time.
Visitors will find that Brazilians are very friendly people - easy to
approach, respectful of visitors and always willing to help if possible.
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