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Brazil is the largest country in South America, which borders with every other country of the continent except Chile and Ecuador. It is a country of dazzling beaches, steamy jungles and manic metropolises. Music and dancing are part of integral life as eating and sleeping. Brazil is a country of staggering beauty with stretches of unexplored rainforest, islands with divine tropical beaches, and endless rivers. Brazilians are very friendly, caring and welcome visitors with their energy and joy.
Brazil's famous tourists destination includes Fernando de Noronha Island, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo (the two bustling megacities of the south-east), the more relaxed city of Salvador in the northeast, or the old colonial towns of Ouro Preto and Olinda. In addition to these, Iguacu Falls offers natural beauty and Carnival is another destination of interest.
Portuguese is the spoken language in Brail. Although there are two dialects, the entire country speaks the same language. For a few, this is a second language. Many follow their immigrant ancestors, like the Italians, Germans, Japanese and Arabic.
English is the dominant second language, as it is taught in elementary and intermediary schools; the educated Brazilians usually have a basic knowledge of English.
The climate varies from hot/dry in the arid interior to the hot tropical rainforests of the Amazon jungle. Coastal Brazil tends to be hot and sticky for most of the year but it can get cold in the south and in the mountains during the winter months. Rainy seasons occur from January to April in the north, April to July in the northeast and November to March in the Rio/São Paulo area.
Brazil's most common dishes inckudes various meats, rice and black beans. Brazil's national dish is a black bean stew (feijoada), which is traditionally served on Saturdays. Visitors must also try out the churrasco (barbecue) restaurants and it is highly recommend visiting a rodizio, where they will keep serving a variety of cuts of meats until one asks them to stop.
Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, however, the national drink is cachaïa, a sugar cane alcohol. You will find this in the famously potent 'Caipirinha' mixed with sugar and slices of lime. Brazil has numerous brands of beer including Bohemia, Antïrtica, Skol, Brahma, Itaipava, Bavaria, Xingu, Kaiser and more. Soft drinks include Guarana (a carbonated cola-like drink) and many varieties of excellent fruit-juices. Coffee tends to be served as a very strong, very sweet drink, so if one wants to avoid sugar in their coffee, they should specifically ask.
Lightweight natural fabrics; waterproofs for the rainy season. Warm clothing is needed in the south during winter (June to July). Specialized clothing is needed for the Amazon region. The sunlight is extremely bright and sunglasses are recommended. Casual wear is normal, particularly during hot weather. In nightclubs, smart-casual (eg blazer, no tie) is acceptable. For men, coats and ties are common in Sïo Paulo and Brasïlia as well as some formal business situations. For women, slacks or skirts with a blouse, or dresses are common and acceptable, although, a dress or skirt may prove to be much cooler.) If you are traveling to the south of the country, in the winter (June/July), it is worth taking an extra layer, or something warm, as the temperature can be quite cool.
Brazil has extensive public and cellular telephone systems which will allow you to call anywhere in the world. Public telephones use telephone cards which are widely available and can be purchased in various denominations to make local, intercity, interstate and international calls.
Internet service is readily available in Brazil. Many hotels include (or offer for an additional fee) high speed Internet access, if not in the room, then at least somewhere in the hotel. Additionally, most larger Brazilian cities have Cyber Cafïs offering inexpensive, high speed Internet access on their computers for around R$ 2 per hour.
Brazilian currency is the REAL, divided into centavos: 100 centavos = 1 real. Bank notes are in denominations of 100, 50, 10, 5, 1; Coins are 1.00 real; 50 centavos, 25 centavos, 10 centavos, 5 centavos and 1 centavo. The US dollar is the best foreign currency to take to Brazil as dollars can be exchanged everywhere. The most widely accepted travellersï cheques are American Express. Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, Visa the most widely. There are many ATMs where you can either withdraw currency on your credit card, or you can use your bankcard on the PLUS network. Check with your bank prior to your departure to make sure your cards will work.
United States, Canada and Australia nationals need a visa to visit Brazil. British nationals and most EU passport holders do not need a visa. To enter Brazil, a passport valid for at least 6 is required, along with a return ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay. Most non-European visitors will require a 90-day visa, which must be obtained in advance, prior to entering the country.
You should visit your own doctor and dentist for a check-up prior to taking your trip to Brazil. The following is a ROUGH GUIDE for immunization. (We must stress that this is only a basic guide to the most commonly required vaccinations for travel worldwide. You must seek and abide by the specific advice of your local doctor/medical professional).
- Polio (normally you will just need a booster)
- Tetanus.
- Typhoid. A full course requires 2 injections separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks.
- Hepatitis (A) and (B).
- Anti-malarial prophylaxis: Please refer to your doctor for the most up to date information about anti-malarial medication for the areas that you will be visiting.
- Rabies pre-exposure vaccination. Please refer to your doctor for advice on whether you need rabies pre-exposure vaccination. In the unlikely case of your being bitten, this vaccination does not eliminate the need for urgent evacuation to a suitable medical facility for additional treatment,. However, it does simplify that additional treatment and also prolongs the period that you can safely delay before receiving post-exposure treatment.
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