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Travel Information
Brazil Infos
Capital | Brasília
Currency | Real
Language | Portuguese
Area | 5th largest country

Basic Information

Entry requirements

Brazil's visa policy is based on reciprocity; therefore citizens of countries that insist upon entry visas for Brazilian citizens will need entry visas. Check with the Brazilian consulate in your country. Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Take good care of the ‘ENTRY/EXIT CARD’, which is given to you and must be completed upon entering Brazil. The document has to be checked and stamped by the Federal Police on entering and leaving the country.

Customs requirements

Upon arrival another form, called Statement of Accompanied Baggage (Declaração de Bagagem Acompanhada) has to be completed and handed over to the Customs officer. In general, all personal belongings including money (cash or cheques) are free of import duty, with exception of presents or other recently bought items that exceed a value of US$ 500.

Vaccination

Actually no vaccinations are required on entering Brazil, but vaccination against yellow fever is highly recommended when visiting the Amazon and the Central-West. Malaria prophylaxis is advised when visiting some areas in the Amazon basin.

Currency, foreign exchange and credit cards

The Brazilian currency is the Real (plural: Reais) divided into 100 centavos and abbreviated R$ or BRL. Foreign currency is easily changed in hotels, some bank and travel agencies and in authorized exchange houses (casas de câmbio) in major cities. Credit cards such as Diners Club, Master Card, Visa and American Express are accepted nationwide in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Credit card transactions are charged at the official tourist rate. Visa Card cash advances are possible at Banco do Brasil and Bradesco. Master Card and Diners Club cash advances are available at Banco 24 Horas (24-hour cash dispenser). American Express cash advances are only obtainable at the American Express offices in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Cash advances on credit cards will only be paid in R$, incurring a commission. Bank cards with PIN code and the Maestro/Cirrus logo can be used for cash withdrawals at certain cash dispensers at airports, bank agencies and shopping centres, especially from Banco do Brasil, Banco Santander, HSBC and Banco 24 Horas. Always look for the Maestro/Cirrus logo.

Airport tax

The equivalent of about US$ 43.00 is charged for international flights and between US$ 7.00 and US$ 12.00 for domestic flights, depending on the airport classification. More and more foreign operators include these taxes when selling the tickets to their clients to avoid delays during check-in. Otherwise it must be paid at the check-in desks, in R$ or US$.

National holidays 2010

January 1 (New Year), February 12 - 17 (Carnival), April 2 (Good Friday), April 21 (Tiradentes), May 1 (Labour Day), June 3 (Corpus Christi), June 24 (São João), September 7 (Independence Day), October 12 (Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Patron Saint of Brazil), November 2 (All Souls’ Day), November 15 (Proclamation of the Republic), December 25 (Christmas).

Hours of business

Banks are open on weekdays from 10:00 to 16:00 (exchange of foreign currency from 11:00 – 15:00). Shops are open from 9:00 am to 18:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays. Shopping malls are open from 10:00 to 22:00 from Mondays to Sundays.

Electric current

Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Foz do Iguaçu, Porto Alegre, Cuiabá, Manaus, Belém, São Luís, Salvador: 110-127 volts, 60 Hz (cycles). Most hotels, however, also offer 220 volts. If not, ask for a converter. Brasília, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife, Maceió: 210-240 volts, 60 Hz.

Postal services and internet access

Post offices are open Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 17:00 and on Saturdays from 08:00 to 12:00. Fax services are available in the main post offices in major cities. Internet access is possible in tourism centres in hotels, shopping centres, LAN houses or small internet offices (rather than café’s). More and more Wi-Fi areas are installed at airports, hotels and restaurants.

Telephone calls

Public telephones can easily be found throughout most cities and suburbs of the country, even on the beaches, and accept special telephone cards (cartão telefónico) rather than coins. Public phones for intercity calls are blue. International collect calls can be made from public phones: dial 000111 and ask for the telefonista internacional / international operator (services are provided either in Portuguese or English). Collect calls within Brazil can be made by simply dialing 9090 plus telephone number for local calls or 9021 or 9031 followed by area code and telephone number for intercity calls. Mind that regular phone calls need an operator code. Dial 21, 31 or 15 right after the first zero. Brazil has an extensive GSM network, so using your cell phone should not be a problem. Before leaving for Brazil ask your provider for more information.

Pharmacies and drinking water

Most bigger pharmacy chains are open 24 hours. Tap water is treated and chlorinated. Nevertheless, drinking bottled mineral water (available everywhere in Brazil) is always strongly recommended.

Climate

Brazil's climate varies according to latitude and elevation. Seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere. Conditions during Brazilian winter (May-September) are similar to a North European summer in Rio de Janeiro and a North European autumn in São Paulo and southern states. Summer and winter conditions North of Rio de Janeiro are tropical, ranging from 25ºC to 40ºC (75ºF to 100ºF) during daytime and 20°C to 25°C (65°F to 75°F) at night. On the coast and in the Amazon there is a high degree of humidity. Luminosity is also very high (sunglasses are advisable). The season of heavy rains is from December to March in the Amazon, the Pantanal and the Southeast and from April to August in the Northeast.

Dress

Casual light clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended during the day and in the evening. When dining or going out to a club or a show, the dress is casual chic for women, sports shirts and slacks for men. Jackets and ties are not necessary (with a few exceptions in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo). In winter (May-September), a sweater is sufficient, with the exception of southern Brazil, where a coat may be needed. If travelling on overnight buses keep a sweater at hand as air conditioning can make the trip rather chilly.

Tips

In Brazil, giving tips to waiters, porters, guides, drivers and hotel attendants is normal and is considered part of the salary. The amount, however, should be related to the duration and quality of the service.

Time zones

Because of 3 existing time zones (ranging from UTC -2 to UTC -4), daylight saving time from October to February in only the southern half of the country and daylight saving time on the Northern Hemisphere, time differences vary from place to place and season to season. Generally speaking, in Brazil it is 2-5 hours earlier as in Europe and 1-4 hours later than in North America.

Taxis

For your security always prefer the official airport, bus terminal or shopping centre taxis, buying a voucher in advance at special taxi service desks. At your hotel rely on the hotel reception. Normally the attendants call a known, registered driver. Please note, most taxi drivers don’t speak English.

General conditions

1. Validity

a. The validity of hotel prices is applicable to the period mentioned in the columns 'from' and 'to' in the price table, not including Christmas, New Year, Carnival, Easter, special events and congresses.
b. Prices for the excursion packages in the Amazon, Pantanal, South and Southeast Brazil are valid all year round unless specifically indicated. Packages in Northeast Brazil have been based on low-season rates and do not apply in the months of January, February and July. Please contact us for a quotation on these months.

2. Prices

a. All prices in the hotel section have been quoted in US dollars per room (standard room unless otherwise indicated) net, non-commissionable, including Brazilian breakfast, except for some specifically indicated hotels. Hotel prices include value-added tax (ISS) and service fee. Hotels in various cities (Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Foz do Iguaçu and others) charge an additional tourist tax, varying from R$ 1.20 to US$ 3.00 per room per night, on behalf of the local Visitors’ and Convention Bureau. This tax has not been included in the hotel prices (voluntary contribution – not obliged by Brazilian law). All prices in the sections: 'services and sightseeing tours' and 'excursion packages' have been quoted in US dollars per person (pax).
b. All prices are subject to change in the event of significant economic or political changes. Idéia Tours will always do its utmost to honour all previous agreements in such cases.
c. Weekend rates (when applicable): Friday - Sunday (2 nights). Weekdays: valid Sunday - Friday (5 nights).

3. Payment conditions

Full payment of all services requested, either for FITs or Groups, must be received and available to Idéia Tours 14 days before arrival, unless special arrangements have been made. Payment must be made in US$ to the bank stipulated by Idéia Tours. In the event of non-payment or insufficient information on payment, Idéia Tours reserves the right to cancel all previously made arrangements.

4. Guarantee of rates and services

Hotel and excursion rates and services are guaranteed once the service is confirmed and paid for.

5. Airport tax

Airport tax is not included. The average cost of airport tax at time of going to press ranges from US$ 5.50 to US$ 9.00 for domestic flights and US$ 39.00 for international flights, depending on the airport category established by the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority.

6. Meals

When included in excursion packages and sightseeing tours, meals do not include drinks and beverages, unless specifically indicated.

7. Cancellation fee and no-show

Any cancellation of a confirmed reservation will be subject to an administrative fee of US$ 100 unless specifically agreed otherwise upon confirmation. Cancellations less than 5 days before passenger's arrival date for FIT's and less than 30 days for groups are subject to additional fees imposed by our suppliers. In the case of no-show, a transfer (if applicable) and one night hotel accommodation will be collected to cover charges.

8. Porter services and entrance fees

Entrance fees have been included in the service rates unless specifically indicated. Porter services at the airport or hotel have not been included.

9. Complimentary policy

Normally, Idéia Tours will grant 1 free tour for a bona-fide tour conductor on services for 20 paying passengers, except for meals at restaurants and hotels. Some hotels, however, have different rules. Please contact us for more information.

10. Remarks

Most of the museums and historical churches are closed on Mondays. Seat-in-bus service guides will speak only Portuguese, Spanish and/or English.