Health Tips
- Drink lots of water. Brazil is a tropical country, so we recommend that you keep hydrated at all times.
- Wear comfortable clothes. Protect your skin from the sun by wearing a hat, a cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Avoid staying in the sun between 10 am and 4 pm.
- Brazil continues to follow all security protocols to combat COVID-19. In order to reduce the risk of contamination, wear protective masks and wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Also, use hand sanitizers that contain 70% alcohol, especially after using public transport or visiting tourist attractions where there are crowds.
Safety
Brazil has increasingly invested in public safety. The Federal Government has been strengthening security in tourist destinations, so tourists who intend to visit the country can feel safe when traveling to Brazil.
- While visiting a large city – like any other large city in the world, it is advised to not flash any expensive belongings, keep your passport in a safe and carry a copy with you instead. Use an ATM inside a bank and avoid going at night. Avoid going out alone in the dark. Don’t hang your bag in the back of a chair at bars and keep an eye on your belongings, including if you are using public transportation.
- While visiting the beach – do not bring any value to the beach and don’t go swim and leave your belongings in the sand.
- While self-driving – Always keep your doors locked and keep your bag, wallet, or cell phone out of sight. If driving at night, be careful with the red lights, as it is common for other drives to not stop.
- Visting Favela – Favelas (slums), which in the past were dangerous places to go, have become tourist attractions. NEVER visit a Favela on your own.
- Water & Food – It is advised to drink bottled water, we Brazilian people do not drink tap water. If you are at the beach, you will be offering many “beach food” and I just recommend avoiding any seafood. Food is in general fresh and of great quality in Brazil.
- Travel insurance – Don’t travel to Brazil without Travel Insurance!
Power Voltage
Power voltage in Brazil varies between 110V and 220V, depending on the location you’re in. Many Brazilian hotels offer electric outlets in both voltages, and you can easily find portable voltage transformers in electrical supply stores.
Power outlets in Brazil are type N and have the standard 3-pin sockets. For safety, the outlets are recessed. This way, plugs have to be fully inserted into the outlet for power to pass through, thus preventing accidental contact with live plugs.
Power outlet adapters can be easily found at electrical supply stores or at airport convenience stores.
Power outlets in Brazil have the standard 3-pin socket for type-N plugs:
Local Weather
Brazil has tropical weather. The average annual temperature is 28°C in the North region and 20°C in the South of the country. Brazilian winter is between June and September, and in some cities in the South and Southeast of the country, temperatures drop below 0°C, with frost and snow. In the summer, it is possible to enjoy the 40°C heat in cities like Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, for example. Summer in Brazil is the best time to go to the beach, drink coconut water, swim in the sea, and sunbathe.
When packing for your trip, please choose light and comfortable clothes. Items such as hats, caps, sunglasses, and sunscreen are useful to protect your skin from the sun. In forest areas, such as the Amazon and the Pantanal, we recommend the use of closed-toe shoes, long-sleeved t-shirts and shirts (preferably in light colors), long pants, and a hat to keep insects away.
The seasons in Brazil
Summer: December to March.
Fall: March to June.
Winter: June to September.
Spring: September to December.
Language
The official language in Brazil is Portuguese, which comes from Portugal, but ours has a different accent and some different idiomatic expressions.
English is not very widely spoken in Brazil, especially outside the major cities of Sao Paulo, Brasilia or Rio de Janeiro. The vast majority of the population will not speak English and you will need some Portuguese and body language to communicate.
Currency and Exchange Rates
The currency in Brazil is the REAL (R$). It can be exchanged at banks, exchange brokers, travel agencies, and authorized hotels. The official exchange rate is published daily in newspapers and specialized websites (https://www.xe.com/), but the fees applied to sell and buy currency may vary depending on the location you are selling/buying. Usually at the airport is more expensive than at an exchange broker in downtown for instance.
American Dolar or Euro are easily exchanged to Real.
Both travellers checks and cash are easily exchanged at exchange counters. International credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, shops, travel agencies, car rental companies, and other companies that provide services to tourists.
Credit Card & ATMs
A credit card is widely accepted in Brazil. ATMs can be easily found in commercial areas, but they may be closed at night for security reasons.
Cell Phone/SIM Card
Your international cell phone will work in Brazil. However, to avoid high international calling charges, you’ll want to pick up a local SIM card and get a local calling plan. You can buy these at street-corner kiosks (called bancas) and some supermarkets.
Wi-Fi in Brazil
You can get Wi-Fi service in Brazil pretty much everywhere (unless you are planning to visit some remote areas). Normally the hotels, restaurants and shopping malls offer free internet service.
