Useful Information

Visas and passports
An entry visa is not required for holders of passports from European or South American countries. As a matter of reciprocity, a visa is required for those from North America. For further information about the necessary documentation and where visas can be obtained, consult a travel agent. Tourist visas can be renewed for a period of 180 days per year. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the planned date of arrival in Brazil. More.....

Voltage
In the majority of Brazilian cities the electric current is either 110 or 220 volts, although it is advisable to confirm the voltage before plugging in any appliance.

Car rental
Rental cars, with or without a driver, are available for tourists at the main airports and in city centers.

Taxis
There are a large number of taxis in most cities. Regular taxis, with a meter, can be hailed in the street. Radio-taxis can be called by phone. They have air-conditioning, and are more expensive.

Tipping
Most restaurants and bars include a 10% service charge on the bill. It is usual to leave a little more if the service was good. When it is not included on the bill, the general rule is a tip of between 10 and 15%. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped.

Currency
The currency in Brazil is the Real (abbreviated to R$). Dollars and traveler¹s checks can easily be changed in hotels, authorized banks and travel agencies. International credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants.

Transport
The bus is the most popular form of transport for traveling between states. For air travel, the main Brazilian airlines cover most domestic flights. There are also regional airlines, offering high levels of comfort and security.

Communications
Any part of the world can be reached in real time by phone, fax or e-mail.

Language
Portuguese is the national language, but the Portuguese spoken in Brazil is quite different, in accent and intonation, from the language spoken in Portugal.

Climate
The climate varies according to latitude and altitude. The seasons are exactly the opposite of those in Europe and the United States (except in the north of the country). The average annual temperature is approximately 28oC in the north and 20oC in the south.

Accommodation
With more than 28,000 options to choose from, Brazil offers a huge_ variety of accommodation, able to satisfy the most varied and demanding of tastes.

Time Zones
Brazil covers three time zones. The time in Brasilia is the official time in Brazil, usually 3 hours behind GMT (London). This changes with the start of Summer Time (the clocks go forward an hour). The time in Rio de Janeiro is 2 hours ahead of New York, except during Summer Time, (3 hours ahead of Brazilian Summer Time and an hour ahead of North American Summer Time).