Where are the best places to go in Brazil?
Brazil is a huge country with some 6000 miles of coastline. Just to fly from Rio to Manaus takes nearly 4 hours, for example, and the country has mountains, rivers, waterfalls, jungle, beaches, historical cities- an amazing variety of things to see and do.
Search pousadas either by category, attraction, state, language, nearest airport, or price to get the best hidden pousadas for your trip.
Is Brazil safe?
Brazil has a very bad press in terms of violence and certainly there are no-go areas where you would be ill advised to go. However, it is nothing like as bad as it is made out to be. Normal precautions like not standing out as a tourist apply, e.g. no expensive jewellery, no camera slung round your neck, no computers taken out in public. It is also wise to carry a xerox copy of your passport, medical insurance and card insurance on you, as well as keeping money in different pockets.
Outside the major cities safety is much better, but this is often, ironically, where people tend to lose things, just through not taking normal care.
What’s the best time of year to go?
Contrary to what many people believe, Brazil is not always hot, and it can actually get extremely cold in the mountains in winter, particularly in the south and southwest. Temperatures in general don’t go above 35oC year-round, even in the Amazon, and temperatures in the high20sC/low 30s are more usual across the country.
In the north and northeast there is frequently a cooling breeze, which makes things more comfortable. In the south, from São Paulo down, seasons are more pronounced, with weather more like southern Europe.
In most of Brazil seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. In the Amazon, however, “winter” begins in December, and “summer” in July.
Is there a better time to come in terms of avoiding rain?
Rainfall is highest overall in the Amazon region but most rainfall comes between December and March. Try to avoid May, June, and July in the north and northeast, which is when it rains most there. From Rio down to Porto Alegre, rain is more evenly spread throughout the year, but the summer months of December to April tend to be hotter and more humid.
Any other times to avoid?
If you are on a tight budget, definitely avoid school holidays- January, February and July- plus carnival (in February or March), and New Year. Prices can as much as double during these periods, and over carnival and some other festivals only packages are available.
If traveling long distances, what is the easiest way to get around?
The easiest way to get from city to city is by air, with the largest airlines being TAM and the now merged Gol/Varig. There are a few smaller airlines operating from local city airports, which are also worth checking out e.g. Oceanair , Trip Linhas Aereas and WebJet. However most of these will not accept payment with foreign credit cards
What about trains, buses and taxis?
Strangely, there are no trains to speak of in Brazil, and the only ones you are likely to come across are the few steam trains, manufactured in the early 20th century in the US and UK, which run tourist routes in Minas Gerais, for example.
Buses, meantime, are plentiful and comfortable (at least on intercity routes), although the bus stations and some of the stopping places can be fairly dire.
Taxis are safe and relatively cheap. With the exception of airport taxis, which have a fixed rate, the price you pay is what is on the meter and no tip is necessary.
What currency should I bring?
If you can get some reais before you leave or when you arrive at the airport that is ideal, but do change money in a “cambio”, or exchange house, rather than with anyone standing in the airport arrivals hall. In general US$ cash (rather than travellers cheques) is the easiest to change.
Can I use my credit cards everywhere?
Visa is very widely accepted; Mastercard, Diners and American Express less so. However many of the pousadas only accept cash so it is always wise to check. It is also essential to let your provider know you will be traveling to Brazil so they do not treat transactions as fraudulent and block your card.
Do ATMs work?
Yes and no. It depends on where you are and which machine you use. Try Bradesco, HSBC or Banco do Brazil and you should find one of these which will take your card. Bradesco is the bank with the most branches, but often the pousadas are a long way from the nearest machine- or indeed any one at all. The best solution is to carry well-concealed cash in different pockets.
What is the food like?
Brazilian food is diverse and interesting with meat and fish being particularly good. The national dish is a bean and meat stew called “feijoada”- very tasty, but best not to ask what’s in it! The other national institution is the “rodizio”, a “churrascaria”, or grilled meat restaurant, where they cook various cuts of meat on skewers and come round and serve it for as long as you keep the coaster on green. (Turn it over, to red, and they should stop!)The price is fixed per person, including a buffet salad bar, and the salads on offer are usually excellent.
And the drink?
The national (and very alcoholic) drink is the caipirinha- made with cachaca, or sugarcane rum, limes and lots of sugar, but after a couple of those you would be well advised to move to a “chopp” (pronounced shopee) or draught lager beer! Canned or bottled beer is called “cerveja”.
Is it difficult for vegetarians?
In the past it used to be difficult for vegetarians, but there has been a marked improvement over the last 10 years, particularly with the advent of “kilo” restaurants, which operate a self-service buffet where you weigh the food, and only pay for what you eat. These usually have an excellent selection of salads in addition to hot dishes. Pizza and pasta are available everywhere, but often, curiously, for the same price as prime beef or prawns.
Can you drink the water?
Generally speaking no, unless it has been boiled. Bottled water, both still and sparkling is available everywhere.
Tipping
When eating/drinking, 10% is usually added automatically to the bill. If you don’t see this, then add 10% in cash. For people that carry your bags etc. it is normal to give R$2 per bag and it is useful to keep a stock of these handy, as you will certainly never get change!
Frequently pousadas will not charge a service charge. In this case it is up to you if you tip room cleaners or not.
What about Portuguese? Do I need to be able to speak it?
In the pousadas themselves there will nearly always be someone that speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish or German. You can use the site search function to find out which, if this is important to you. However English is not widely spoken, even in large cities, and it helps both to have your initial transfer pre-planned, and also to have basic Portuguese for asking for directions and help. Attempts to speak Portuguese, rather than loud English or Spanish, will always be appreciated.
Do mobile phones work in Brazil?
Phones and smartphones set up for international roaming should work OK, although there are still some parts of Brazil where there is no coverage (particularly islands off the coast). What is tricky is knowing how to call somebody outside the area you are in. If your phone retains its UK number then you will have to dial 00 55, then the city code (without the first zero) and number. If your phone goes onto a local number, or you are using someone else’s phone, then you have to put an 021, 031 or 041 before the city code, depending on which telephone provider you are linked into. Thus, for a number in Rio (area code 21) number 12345678, you would call 021 21 12345678 or 031 21 12345678, or 041 21 12345678.
What about internet access?
Here things vary widely depending on where you are. Most pousadas have internet and at least one terminal which guests can use; some have wi-fi, but often only in certain parts of the pousada. Usually internet access is free, but not always, so it’s best to ask. If you are in a town then there will usually be an internet café, and, of course, for those addicted to keeping in touch the trusty Blackberry and I-phone will usually work.
Do I need a visa?
This depends on which country you are coming from, so it is always best to check with your travel agency and/or the local Brazilian consulate. Citizens of most countries don’t require a visa at present, with the notable exception being US citizens. Usually you are given the right to stay for 3 months from the day of entry into the country, with the right to renew for a further 3 months.
What kind of vaccinations will we need?
Again this depends on which country you are coming from, so it is wise to check. If you are traveling to the Amazon yellow fever is always a good idea, plus hepatitis B.
Are there many bugs or insects in Brazil?
Far fewer than you might think, at least outside the Amazon region These days you very rarely see a cockroach or spider or wasp. However you may well see tiny ants or tiny lizards, and there are some areas where you get a lot of gnats or mosquitoes. Generally where the latter is the case pousadas will provide mosquito nets and/or anti-mosquito plug-ins.
What about medical care?
In major cities private medical care is excellent, but very expensive, and it is essential to have private health insurance to cover this. Outside this, pousadas will be able to find a doctor for you and there are chemists in most towns, who advise on which products to buy. Nevertheless it is always wise to take any prescription medicine you need with you, together with a basic medical kit, so you do not have to try to explain things in sign language.
