Discovering Rio de Janeiro

Vast, vibrant and magnetic, Brazil is a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, rituals and religions – a product of its patchwork past of local traditions, colonial rule and influx of immigrants. It is South America’s largest country, with a landmass comparable to that of the United States, and a mosaic of ecosystems that supports the largest array of flora and fauna on the planet. The Brazilian people are typically warm and friendly, while the country’s natural diversity lends itself to myriad travel experiences, from idyllic coastal holidays and riotous Carnaval celebrations, to stopovers in the dynamic cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and adventure-filled forays into the Amazon jungle.

Currency

Brazil's currency unit is the real (plural = reais) and is made up of 100 centavos. The real is issued in denominations of 1 real (1 real notes have been discontinued but the coin is everywhere), 2 reais, 5 reais, 10 reais, 20 reais,50 reais and 100 reais. Prices are written in reais using the symbol R$. Centavos are issued in denominations of 5 centavos, 10 centavos, 25 centavos and 50 centavos. It's best to carry nothing larger than 10 or 20 reais bank notes. This will make it easier to make small purchases as well as easier for small vendors, stores and restaurants to provide you with change.

You will have no need for any reais until you have fully exited Brazilian immigration and customs so avoid exchanging money at your departure airport in North America or Europe. Money exchanges at departure airports outside Brazil usually provide a very poor exchange rate. 

While it is relatively easy to exchange any currency for reais in both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in smaller cities it can sometimes become a time consuming and costly endeavor.

Banking

Banking hours are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Some HSBC branches open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

ATM Machines of banks are generally open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm (although it is common for the locks on the doors to be not operational). Note that not all ATM machines accept international credit cards. The machines that do accept international credit cards will have the symbol(s) of the types of international cards it accepts. Banks that typically have ATM machines that accept international credit cards are HSBC, Citibank and Banco do Brasil.

Generally, ATM machines that accept international credit cards are readily found in large cities. However, if travelling outside the city or to remote areas, it will be much more difficult to find an ATM machine. So plan ahead.

Foreign currencies can be exchanged in shops with signs showing "Cambio". The exchange rates given for exchanging cash are generally better than those from withdrawing cash from a credit card from an ATM machine (especially with all of the little fees most card companies charge these days).

Be advised that you may encounter difficulties trying to get cash on a weekend. Several foreigners (from Canada and the USA) have encountered problems getting cash from ATM's after "normal" banking hours on a Friday.

Payment with credit cards and cash:

We recommend that you carry at least 150 USD (or Euro) in cash per person to cover meals and other personal expenditure. You can pay for a lot of services by card in Brazil but it's always good to have cash in hand ton.

Brazil has one of the largest internal air networks in the world, and there are air services between all Brazilian cities. With such great distances between many of the most popular destinations, flying can be a worthwhile option, saving considerable time and money.

All major cities have a plentiful supply of taxis, particularly recommended late at night. Official taxis, such as the distinctive yellow-and-blue Rio taxis, are the most reliable; mini-cabs, with pre-paid tickets, are also available at international airports. Taxis are metered and passengers should insist that the meter is turned on: the day-time rate is shown by a little flag marked 1 on top of the meter. The higher rate - after 8.00pm, on Sundays and bank holidays - is shown by a flag marked 2. Outside of cities and main tourist sites, taxis may not have meters, in which case agree on the fare in advance. Tipping taxi drivers is not normal practice.

Brazil is not a bicycle-friendly country on the whole; only a few cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba, have dedicated bicycle lanes. In view of the vast distances, heavy traffic and aggressive driving practices, cycling around the country is not recommended for most visitors.

Long distance coach travel is a great way to get around Brazil, with an excellent network of inter-city routes offered by hundreds of different companies. Fares are economical and coaches are safe and comfortable, with all the usual modern facilities. Luxury overnight services (leitos) connect the major cities and popular destinations such as Foz do Iguacu. There are no nationwide companies, but all cities have a central bus station (rodoviaria), where you can book your journey in advance with a choice of operators.

Passenger rail connections in Brazil are virtually non-existent, apart from a few inner-city commuter lines in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. A few scenic tourist lines still run, notably the Serra Verde Express operating services from Curitiba to Morretes in Paraná, and from Campo Grande to Miranda in the Pantanal.

River transport is the most efficient method of travel in the Amazon Delta. The main hub is Manaus, with ferries going eastwards along the Rio Amazonas, to Belém and Santarém, or upriver from Manaus on the Rio Solimões towards the Colombian border at Tabatinga. Many different companies offer regular departures from Manaus, operating out of the main port, Estacao Hidroviaria near to the Mercado Municipal.

No special vaccinations are required for travel to Brazil; however, a tetanus-antidiphtheria booster is recommended.

For those planning trips to wilder parts of the country such as the Amazon, Pantanal or Mato Grosso, it is advisable to vaccinate against yellow fever. The vaccine is effective only ten days after inoculation.

If you adopt responsible behaviors you are unlikely to run into danger. Just stick to basic rules that you adopt when visiting big cities such as not wearing jewelry, not walking with your cell phone in your hand, storing your camera in your bag or backpack once you have finished using it, not walking on the promenade at night,...
During the tours, your guide who accompanies you knows exactly which places to avoid and can also recognize possible dangers.

Before you leave home, photocopy or scan your passport and keep the copy in a place that's easy for you to access while abroad (Dropbox, on a pen drive or printed out). If your passport is mislaid or stolen it's much easier to arrange for an emergency passport if you have a copy of the details to hand.

Brazilian restaurants can have varying degrees of cleanliness. Customers are allowed by law to visit the kitchen and see how the food is being handled.

Some Brazilian restaurants serve only meals for two, and sometimes the portion is too large for a single person. The size of the portions are usually not indicated on the menu, so you may have to ask the waiter. Most restaurants of this category allow for a "half-serving" of such plates (meia-porção), but usually charge 60 to 70% of the listed price.

Brazil's cuisine is as varied as its geography and culture. On the other hand, some may find it an unrefined melange, and everyday fare can be tasteless and boring. While there are some quite unique dishes of regional origin, many dishes were brought by overseas immigrants and have been adapted to local tastes through the generations. In Brazil, Italian and Chinese food can often be as baffling as Amazonian fare.

Brazil's national dish is feijoada, a hearty stew made of black beans and pork cuts (ears, knuckles, chops, sausage and pieces of beef (usually dried). It's served with rice, garnished with collard greens and sliced oranges. It's usually not served in restaurants, but the ones that do typically offer it twice a week (usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays). A typical mistake made by tourists is to eat too much feijoada shortly after arriving. This is a heavy dish, and you need to get used to it before you eat it. Even Brazilians usually eat it parsimoniously. While you are at it, try the caipirinha, Brazil’s signature drink made of wedged limes, sugar and cachaça.

Tap water in Brazilian cities such as Rio and São Paulo is generally safe to drink, but it tastes awful. In remote areas, tap water may be suspect. Many hotels and guesthouses filter their water – be sure to inquire about the status where you’re staying. Vigorous boiling for one minute is the most effective means of water purification, though you can also use a water filter, ultraviolet light (such as a steripen) or iodine pills.

Because of its tropical and subtropical climate, Brazil is an all-year round destination. The Brazilian winter lasts for only three months from June to August. From December to February it's summer. The temperature varies within a year with monthly averages in winter between 13 and 18 degrees Celsius (55 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit). During the summer, temperatures can reach 30 to 40 degrees Celsius (86 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit) in Rio de Janeiro and into the regions in the south, but accompanied by frequent showers and a rather heavy humidity.

Equatorial climate: found in the Amazon, northern Mato Grosso and western Maranhão. The main characteristics are high average temperatures (25ºC to 27ºC), abundant rainfall with indices close to 2,000mm/year well distributed throughout the year; the temperature range is small and does not exceed 3ºC. Humidity is high.

Tropical climate: affects all of central Brazil, the eastern part of Maranhão, Piauí, the western part of Bahia and Minas Gerais and Roraima. It is characterized by high temperatures (18ºC to 28ºC) with a temperature range of 5ºC to 7ºC and well-defined seasons, a rainy (coinciding with summer) and a dry (coinciding with winter). It has a rainfall index of about 500mm/year with strong seasonal differences.

Tropical Altitude: affects the highest parts, between 800m and 1,000m, of the southwest Atlantic Plateau and includes parts of the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Goiás, the Federal District, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and northern Parana. It is influenced by a block of tropical Atlantic air that causes rainfall during the summer. It has temperatures between 18ºC and 22ºC and a temperature range between 7ºC and 9ºC.

Tropical Atlantic or humid tropical: extends along the entire coastal strip from the northern Rio Grande to Parana. It undergoes the direct action of the Atlantic tropical block, which, being hot and humid, causes heavy rainfall. The temperature variation ranges between 18ºC and 26ºC, and the temperature range increases progressively moving southward. In the northeast there is a greater concentration of rainfall during winter and in the southwest during summer. The average rainfall index is 2,000 mm/year.

Subtropical: found in latitudes below the Tropic of Capricorn, in the southern part of São Paulo State, most of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande del Sud. Average temperatures are 18ºC and the temperature range is high (10ºC). Rainfall is low 1,000mm/year and well distributed throughout the year. Seasons are well defined: hot summer, up to 30º, and cold winter, 0ºC; distributed throughout the year. Seasons are well defined: hot summer, up to 30º, and cold winter, 0ºC; spring and autumn have an average temperature between 12ºC and 18ºC.

Semiarid: typical of the northeastern interior, in the region known as the Secca Polygon, which corresponds to almost all of the northeastern "sertão" and the middle lower valleys of the São Francisco River. Temperatures are high (average 27ºC) and rainfall is low (around 750mm/year).

The clothing style in Brazil is generally casual and comfortable; more formal in cities such as São Paulo. Brazilians are proud of their bodies, they like to wear fitted clothing and show a little skin. São Paulo is an urban and cosmopolitan city; people like to dress up a little more, if you’re having a touristy day and visiting museum and cultural places etc. dress with a casual feel, think jeans, shorts and t-shirts/tunics.

Rio is also very casual, but with a cool edge, a lot of the locals go from the beach to lunch or for drinks, so carry a light dress or shorts and a t-shirt to cover up, bikinis are for the beach only. If you’re seen walking around in one, even on the boardwalk, you’ll definitely be pegged as a tourist.

Brazil is a huge country with different climates. During the summer it’s pretty much hot and humid everywhere. A main travel essential for Brazil would definitely be sunscreen, sunglasses and a broad sun hat.

For shoes, stick to flat shoes such as sandals, flip flops or comfortable walking shoes as you’ll likely be walking a lot.

During the winter it can get quite cool in the south of Brazil. In Florianopolis it can drop as cold as 2-3ᵒC. The south is probably best to avoid in the winter unless your plan on visiting the wineries in Bento Gonçalves, Rio de Grande do Sul.

For the warmer areas: Cotton or linen for the evening

For the southernmost area: heavier goods in winter (from April to October)

For the Amazon and Pantanal: Light-colored long cotton clothes (they attract less mosquitoes), closed shoes, waterproof poncho

Wi-Fi and telephony: In general, almost every hotel, restaurant and even some transport companies offer a free Internet access via Wi-Fi. 
Having a SIM card in Brazil, on the other hand, is rather complicated since you have to register the card with a personal Brazilian code. The best solution, if you really want to have a SIM card, is to go to an official phone retailer (TIM, Claro, Vivo or Oi)  who will do the registration with your passport number.

As an alternative, you can also buy an eSIM card online before you start your trip.

The voltage in Brazil is not fixed and it can be either 110V or 220V. The type of plug required is either a US style flat 2 pin plug or a European round 2 pin plug. We recommend packing a universal travel adaptor that will allow you to use a hairdryer, electric shaver, charge a mobile phone or other electrical items. 

Most chargers for phones, laptops etc already have a built in power adaptor so don't worry too much about the different voltage in different cities. It's things like hairdryers where you might want an power converter/ adaptor.

Tipping and Gratuities:  Given that wages are generally quite low in Brazil, many workers in the service industry rely on tips to make up their salary.

10% is often added to the bill in restaurants but if the service has been particularly good, there is no harm in leaving a little extra on the table. Other people who might expect to be tipped are hotel staff (bellboys, concierge staff etc.), taxi drivers, and tour guides. For taxi drivers, it is fine to simply round up the fare.

Hotels: It is customary to offer bellboys or baggage carriers a tip of around $1 per bag. Many people leave the housekeeper a tip of $1 to $2 per day for the duration of their stay. Finally, if you have a few drinks at the hotel bar, we suggest tipping around $1 per drink.

Transportation and guides: For an all-day tour, a tip of around $5 to $10 for the driver is appropriate, but by no means expected. When it comes to tour guides, you should tip between $5 and $10 per day, depending on how many people are in your tour group.