Brazil Travel Info & FAQ's
How do I get in contact with "live" people from SouthAmerica.travel?
O.k., but what about Mosquitoes and all those tropical dangers?
Rio de Janeiro Carnival Dates 2012-2014
Payment FAQ's - Reservation Form
Get more information from our friends at Embratur Brazilian State Tourism Agency:
Brazil is larger than the 48 contiguous United States! Compare:
How do I get in contact with "live" people from SouthAmerica.travel?
We are available to take your call live from 6am - 8pm Monday through Sunday EST toll-free at 1-800-747-4540 in North America and from 10am - 7pm Central European Time (see your local number above). Our virtual storefront is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. You'll often find us in on a Saturday or Sunday!
At other times our call center will gladly take your message, and we shall reply to you as soon as possible.
And we guarantee to answer your e-mail inquiry within 24-48 hrs, 7 days per week (and normally within a couple of hours!)
Should you like help planning your Brazil trip, please use our contact form and we'll call or email you back.
Together with your travel documents, you'll receive the emergency phone number of our operations office responsible for the tour on which you are booked. Also, a few days before you leave for Brazil, we'll give you name, address and mobile phone number of your Tour Director whenever possible, who will be meeting you at the airport in Brazil.
North Americans, Mexicans, Australians and others need a visa, but it can be obtained by mail from your nearest Brazilian consulate. As with most international travel, you'll also require a valid passport. See our visa section for more details.
It all depends on what you are expecting!
North of Rio the weather is always warm, and hot December through March.
Rio itself can get cool in July. For a few days, the maximum temperature can fall below 20°C. The rainy season is January through March. This does not mean that it rains more often, the rain just brings more water!
São Paulo and the South are much like Southern Europe with the opposite seasons. A bit chilly indeed June through August (with a bit more rain) and quite hot and a bit humid in the Summer (January through March).
The Northeast, of which Recife and Salvador are important cities, is warm along the coast year round. Inland the differences between day and night are more accentuated. Hot during the day and cooler at night.
And the Amazon is tropical: Humid and up to 35°C warm, year around, more or less. There is never much time between rainshowers. But then again, those showers, although violent at times, are usually over after an hour.
A special word about the second most popular place in Brazil. When going to Ouro Preto (as on our Gold Route tour), bring a sweater. Due to the high altitude it often gets extremely cool at night, even after a very hot Summer day in January.
Is it dangerous to travel to Brazil? There's no easy answer!
Democracy has brought forward many changes. In places where a city regards tourism as serious business, policing has been heightened dramatically.
Ten years ago, group tourism to Brazil, in a manner similar to European tourism, did not exist.
Brazil is changing rapidly, however. It is unwise anywhere to leave valuables lying around or flaunt one's wealth, and the traveler generally does not venture far from the main stay (just as you would avoid certain parts of large U.S. cities.) Brazil can now be regarded as no less "safe" than any region where rich and poor meet. Just be discreet!
Brazil is two countries that co-exist in the same geographical space:
On one hand, Brazil is a highly industrialized country, 9th in the world. Brazil is exporting technology to Japan with its mobile phone-hungry population, its economy is driven by the internet and in the cities, Brazilians get stuck in traffic in their large, snug SUVs on eight lane freeways.
On the other hand, a lot of people have to survive on less than 100 USD per month. This is the third world face of Brazil.
It is only natural that some of the poor would like to redistribute the wealth, somehow.
As much as you know where the places are in your city which you would never go or take other people to, we know Brazil. At SouthAmerica.travel we do not wish to hide anything from you. However, our tours and destinations steer clear of such dangers.
That's also why we decided to offer escorted tours to Brazil. SouthAmerica.travel works only with specially trained, experienced and licensed local guides and tour directors, who'll share their best advice to keep you safe!
O.k., but what about Mosquitoes and all those tropical dangers?
SouthAmerica.travel tours do occassionally include places where the World Health Organization or the Brazilian Government requires vaccinations.
However, we do recommend that if you are heading for the Amazon on our Post-extension Amazon Ariaú Jungle Lodge or for the Pantanal on our Brazilian Exuberance that you contact your doctor regarding prophylactic Malaria medication (and take it, too! Generally 2 weeks prior to departure until one week after leaving the Amazon.) If you are planning on exploring deeper into the rainforest or other unusual places in earnest on you own, please get advice from a specialized hospital or medical center.
The Jungle Lodge is located on the Rio Negro arm of the Amazon, which contains less nutrients for mosquitoes, and therefore attracts fewer!
Still, Brazil is a tropical country. Be prepared, bring or buy repellent and eat only in hygienic places. No fruits from the market unless you can peel them!
Going out to a Brazilian restaurant is quite affordable. Generally, two people need order only one dish. That is plenty! Local drinks (beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks, and bottled water) cost about half what they do in the U.S. Tap water is safe, but only because it contains a lot of disinfectants. For your tastebuds' sake, ordering water „sem gas" (without gas) is an inexpensive alternative.
When you desire American standards and/or American food, expect prices as you would pay in the U.S. As with anything that is imported, expect to pay more, at times much more!
One nice thing: there is no sales tax to pay. And tips in restaurants should not exceed 10%.
As just mentioned, restaurant tipping is about 10 %, and is often included in Rio, São Paulo and other large cities as "serviço". Otherwise, where you would hand out one dollar, give one Real (that's about 70 cents). You need not tip taxi drivers.
It is customary to tip your highly trained, bilingual guides and/or tour director about US$3 to $5 per person per day, and your coach driver about US$2-$3.
Yes, but no communication problems. Brazilians are very helpful; they love to practice the little English they know. But do not expect everyone to speak English fluently. Use body language! In larger cities, everybody knows someone who speaks a bit of English, at least. In the more remote areas, Portuguese is best. Spanish, with a bit of patience, is often understood.
Hotels usually carry at least one TV-channel in English (CNN, BBC etc) Often international channels such as Fox and Warner broadcast in multiple language (change languages with a click of your remote control!)
Just learn the two magic words:
Please: Por favor (easy, isn´t it!)
and
Thank you! Obrigado (if you are a man)
Obrigada (if you are a women), it gets you a lot of friendly smiles.
Carnival Dates 2012-2014 (Parade days in gold)
2012 February 18, 19, 20, 21 - Winner's Parade February 25
2013 February 9, 10, 11, 12 - Winner's Parade February 16
2014 March 1, 2, 3, 4 - Winner's Parade March 8
Change some dollars into Real (the Brazilian currancy. US$1=approx. R$1.60 - Pronounced hey-ow. The plural of Real is Reais (hey-ice!)) upon arrival or in an official money exchange office. Prices are sometimes quoted in dollars, but the actual payment is always done in the local currency. The black market for dollars has virtually disappeared. Bring traveler checks and your credit card/bank card with its PIN code stored in your memory only. ATM's are ubiquitous (almost everywhere!).
Brazil Airpass FAQ's Please read the information below to learn about the limitations of the various Brazil Airpasses:
Q: Can I buy a Brazil Airpass in Brazil?
A: No, Airpasses may only be purchased outside of Brazil in conjunction with Brazil-bound international tickets.
Q: Does one airpass cover my whole family?
A: No, each person must purchase an airpass.
Q: I am not in the United States. Where can I buy airpasses?
A: Airpasses are available directly from TAM and LAN in your country.
Q: Can airline employees flying on free space purchase airpasses?
A: No, unfortunately not.
Q: Is the airpass valid on all Brazilian carriers?
A: No, only on the airline issuing the airpass.
Q: Are airpasses refundable?
A: Unused airpasses are fully refundable less handling fees. Partially used airpasses are nonrefundable.
Q: Is the Brazil airpass valid outside of Brazil?
A: See Details on our Flights section
Q: Is there a discount for children?
A: No discounts are provided for children using the Brazil airpass.
Q: Are my flights prebooked or am I flying standby?
A: You must schedule your flights when purchasing the airpass, and booked seats are guaranteed. Once ticketed, there will be a penalty fee for changes.
Payment FAQ's - Reservation Form We accept online or written check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover & American Express for deposit on our tours. Bulk consolidator fares for airlines often can only be paid by check, and must be paid within 5-14 days of reservation (depending on airline and fare). We shall notify at the time of reservation. Please let us know at time of booking if you wish to pay by credit card, and we shall try to make special arrangements.
If paying by credit card, we'll send you a payment link for you to process a secure payment.
More questions? Please ask us! Just go to our contact us! page and your question might make it into this hit list of frequently asked questions!
Boa viagem!
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