Brazil
Tourism
BRAZIL
As regards tourism to travel to Brazil, there are no particular periods
of the year. The season of winter takes place during the months of June, July and August, in the southern regions yes
record the lowest average temperatures around 13°C to 18°C. While summer is between the months of December to
February, at this time in the Rio de Janeiro area the climate is hot and humid, often above 35°C. Along the coast
north east the heat is less intense with a lower humidity rate. In the highland area generally the
temperature is cool but in the summer period rainfall is frequent. The area around the Amazon basin is the rainiest region in Brazil, with temperatures hovering around 26°C. with a higher rate
of humidity.
Vacation
BEACHES
There are numerous beaches in Brazil bordering the Atlantic Ocean. In Rio de Janeiro we find the famous elegant beach of Ipanema and that of Copacabana among the most famous in the world which extends for 4.5 km in front of one of the most densely populated residential areas on the planet. Also near Rio de Janeiro we remember the beaches of Pepino, Praia Barra da
Tijuca, Flamengo and Aproador.
In Recife, the well-known Boa Viagem made up of golden sand stands out on the very long coast lined with skyscrapers. The beaches of Salvador de Bahia are famous, especially those on the northern coast, Barra is the beach of the city, continuing north we find Piata and Itapua, the latter famous for the spectacular sunset.
To visit for tourists more attentive to fashions, the beach of Jericoacoara, north-west of Fortaleza, for its symbolic beauty, with palm trees among the sand dunes. Also in Fortaleza we remember Praia do Futuro and Praia de Irecema less suitable for bathing, but very interesting for the opportunities evening entertainment.
South of Natal just outside the center is the characteristic Ponta Negra beach famous for its high dune 120 meters, continuing we find the beaches of Pium and Cotovelo bathed by a splendid blue sea. Brazil tourism Special promotions during the weekends and bridges of the annual holidays.
General information
For information on tourism, we remind you that it is possible to travel to Brazil without a visa for tourism reasons only for stays not exceeding three months as long as you have a return ticket with you. At the entrance, however, it is necessary to fill in a tourist card made up of two parts, one is collected by the immigration office, the other must be kept until the departure.
Brazil is a Federal Republic of the presidential type and enjoys an area of approximately 8,511,965 sq km with a population of 184,101,000 inhabitants of which 55% of European origin, 37% mulattoes, 5% of African origin and other minorities. The country's capital is Brasília and the official language spoken is Portuguese with an accent and cadence very different from the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. For information relating to religion, approximately 80% of the population is Catholic.
Telephone
To call Italy from Brazil by telephone, dial 21 39 followed by the subscriber's number, while to call Brazil from Italy, dial the international prefix 0055 followed by the city code excluding 0 and finally the number of subscriber. To make international calls with reverse charge, an operator answers the numbers 000111 or 107. The traditional dual band cell phones with frequencies 900 and 1800 MHz do not work in this country; you need a Tri-band mobile phone that works with the 1900 Mhz frequency. Public telephones work with calling cards, or with tokens.
Time zone
The time zone is three hours behind the Greenwich meridian. But in consideration of the extension of the territory there are officially four time zones. The area of the eastern, north-eastern, southern and south-eastern regions of Brazil, therefore the band of the capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Belèm is four hours behind Italy. The area of the states of Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso du Sul and most of the north of the country, is five hours behind. The western state of Acre and the westernmost part of the Amazon states trail six hours behind, while Fernando de Noronha Island, off the western coast of Brazil, it's three hours behind.
Monetary unit and measurement systems.
The Brazilian monetary unit in use is the real, divided into 100 centavos. The denominations of the coins are 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos, and 1 real, while the banknotes are 1,5,10, 50 and 100 reais. Both the euro and the dollar are easily exchanged in the country. Many hotels, restaurants and shops also accept major credit cards such as Visa, American Express and MasterCard. Bank opening hours are 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. As regards the unit of measurement, the metric system is currently used
Electric energy
There is no official standard for electricity. In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo the electricity is 110V or 120V, 60Hz It is advisable to bring a transformer with you as the electricity in Brazil is not uniform. Belém, Belo Horizonte, Foz do Iguacu, Porto Alegre and Salvador, the current is 127 volts. Brasilia, Fortaleza, Florianopolis, Recife are served by 220 volts, while in Manaus 110 volts is used. In hotels, adapters or sockets with more are sometimes available of a voltage.
Post offices
The service in the Brazilian post offices is discreet, they are open from 9 to 18 from Monday to Friday, on Saturday only in the morning. A letter or postcard sent to Brazil by air arrives in Europe after about a week. Even if there are letterboxes along the roads, it is advisable to use the called post office directly for sending correspondence locally "correios".
Airports
In Brazil they are reported as major international airports, Brasilia International Airport, Fortaleza Airport, Rio de Janeiro Jacarepaguà, International Airport of Rio de Janeiro Galeão, Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport. In the most famous city of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, there are two airports: one located near the city, the other about 20 kilometers away. Among the major airlines that carry out scheduled flights to Brazil we point out the Brazilian airline TAM - LINHAS AEREAS and Varig. For more information on TAM flights departing from Malpensa Airport, we recommend contacting the Milan offices , while for Varig the Rome Fiumicino offices . Alternatively, you can connect to the website www.tam.com.br. We also remind you that Alitalia flies from the Malpensa Airport of Milan to San Paolo, while from Rome the same connection for San Paolo is made by the company Argentina airline Aerolineas Argentinas.
European citizens can travel to Brazil by plane or by ship. The first solution is clearly the best in terms of convenience and speed. Direct flights from Europe are operated by the Brazilian companies Varig and TAM with daily connections to various locations in Brazil. Aerolinas Argentinas and Alitalia also fly to Sao Paulo. Furthermore, a wide alternative of direct flights with an abundant range of offers comes from European or American companies including Air France, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, TAM, Lufthansa. In Rio de Janeiro there are two airports, the Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (Galeão), located about 20 km from the center, used for flights from the main cities of Brazil and the world, as well as the Santos Dumont Airport, located in the Guanabara Bay, in the vicinity of the city, generally reserved for domestic air traffic.
Other destination airports are those of Recife, Manaus, Sao Paulo, Fortaleza and Salvador da Bahia. As far as transport for travel within Brazil is concerned, in consideration of the enormous distances that separate the different locations, it is advisable to use the plane, even if this solution is more expensive but much more practical. Internal flights are mainly managed by the companies Varig, Tam and Transbrasil. It is convenient to save money to use the flight packages, called "airpasses" which, depending on the airline, allow five flights to any internal destination in Brazil.
For local transport within the city you can use buses or taxis.
Vacation
Frequented and appreciated by tourists from all over the world to spend their holidays, Brazil is a huge country. The climate is pleasant with varied landscapes rich in nature's treasures. During the evening it is possible to have fun in the tourist urban centers and in the many lively and lively night clubs. Among the enchanting beaches, bathed in sun and warmth, crystal clear sea, remember to visit during the Holidays the famous beaches of Rio, Copacabana and Ipanema. To visit during the holidays the urban centers of Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Fortaleza and Salvador da Bahia.
Hotels and Booking
The main hotels are mainly located along the eastern coast of Brazil where there are wide sandy beaches and coves sheltered by cliffs. Thanks to a logic of tourist development, hotel structures have been created in harmony with the surrounding environment. With the travel offers throughout the year it will be possible to go swimming thanks to the favorable climatic conditions and the particularly mild temperatures.
Generally Brazilian hotels are simple and clean. In the period between December and February many Brazilians go on vacation therefore it is advisable to book the hotel room in advance, especially if you have chosen Rio de Janeiro as your destination, while in the low season there are no problems. The prices for stays in the period from December to February increase by about 25-30% due to the greater market demand. A double room with bathroom and hot water in a budget hotel generally costs between 25 and 35 dollars a night; while the same room in a luxury hotel ranges from 100 to 300 dollars. Renting apartments through real estate agencies in the Rio de Janeiro area costs from 800 to 1300 dollars for a week, while in other beach areas the price can go down to 500 dollars. Another alternative is the hostels which in Brazil are called albergues de juventude, the average prices vary around 10 dollars. .
As is customary in Brazil, hotel rooms and apartments are available to new occupants after 2.00 pm on the day of arrival, consequently they must be vacated by 12.00 noon on the day of departure, unless otherwise indicated by the accommodation facilities. If, due to personal needs, the tourist wishes to continue using the room after this time, he will have to request permission from the hotel management, who, depending on the availability of the rooms themselves, will be able to grant the request upon payment, or provide extra rooms. Except where not expressly indicated, ancillary services such as rental of umbrellas, deckchairs, sporting activities in general and excursions, are always understood to be paid. The sun loungers, deck chairs and umbrellas on the beach and in the swimming pools are available subject to availability. Some ancillary services such as recreational activities and sports facilities, as well as the services connected to them, may remain inactive if climatic conditions or technical failures prevent their correct functioning. It should be noted that a refund cannot be requested for such shortcomings.
Car rental
The car has become a convenient and fast means of travelling, an asset that by now the alternative cannot replace its advantages. During holidays and stays, car rental is essential to enjoy the visit of tourist places with tranquility and independence and to appreciate the wonders without being conditioned by timetables and excursion programs or organized trips. It allows you to admire what really interests you, committing your time in the name of freedom to move from one place to another by organizing itineraries and excursions.
Gastronomy
As far as Brazilian cuisine and gastronomy are concerned, we would like to remind you that international cuisine is generally served in the best hotels and tourist facilities to satisfy the tastes of all customers, but in the numerous restaurants scattered throughout the urban centers it is possible to taste the major specialties Brazilian.
Varied and rich in spices with African influences, Brazilian cuisine and gastronomy change characteristics in each region. For example, in Rio de Janeiro feijoada is considered a national dish, consisting of black beans simmered with different types of salted and smoked meat. It is customary to eat it on Saturday at noon served with white rice, butter-toasted manioc roots and orange slices. While in Salvador de Bahia the African influence is greater, above all for the use of dende oil and coconut milk. Typical local dishes are: vatapà, made up of fresh dried shrimps, peanuts, dende oil, coconut milk and bread mixed in a creamy flour. acarajè is a patty of beans fried in dende oil, filled with vatapa and pimenta. In the Amazon, on the other hand, there are several exotic dishes based on fish, game, local fruit, herbs and roots. The dish most preferred by tourists is churrasco, grilled meat, typical of southern areas. Also excellent fruit, coffee and la famous Caipirinha.
folklore
The Brazilian carnival in its folklore is considered the most transgressive and most important in the world. Millions of tourists from all over the world travel to Brazil every year to celebrate this important event. Generally the carnival takes place forty days before Lent depending on the period of the year and lasts about two weeks with festivities throughout the country. The most important carnival event takes place in Rio de Janeiro, with an immense crowd where huge floats are pushed between music and celebrations with various representations of all colors and Brazilian dancers who dance sound of samba.
The festivities often take place in public parades where playful and imaginative elements dominate, in particular the most distinctive element of the carnival is the folklore and the tradition of the costumes. We recall in this regard that carnival is a celebration that is celebrated in countries with a Christian tradition, especially in those with a Catholic tradition, in the period of time immediately preceding Lent, with the main events concentrated between the months of February and March. Carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when it begins Lent.
On the occasion of the Rio de Janeiro carnival, most of the activities are suspended and for four days and four nights we are completely dedicated to the celebrations and spectacular costume parades. For the samba schools involved in the parades, the preparations for this unique event in the world take many months.
Health
In order to protect your health, we remind you that among the health risks in Brazil we find Chagas disease, dengue, malaria, meningitis, rabies, yellow fever. In particular, the Chagas disease is widespread in the remote rural areas of the country and is transmitted by a species of bug that nestles in the cracks in the walls, in the thatched roofs of the mud huts and on the palm fronds. However, it is advisable before the trip to take out health insurance, sometimes it is included in the ticket or in the tourist package. Public health structures are generally deficient, especially in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, while private ones, evidently in the main centers of the country, are instead satisfactory. Given the high cost of private hospital facilities in Brazil, it is necessary to verify that the coverage provided by the health insurance stipulated at the time of departure is unlimited.
To travel to Brazil currently no vaccination is mandatory for health protection, a booster anti-tetanus-anti-diphtheria and the vaccine against type A hepatitis is in any case recommended. When traveling within the Amazon, the Pantanal or Mato Grosso, the yellow fever vaccine is recommended (only effective after ten days). Malaria is at risk in the areas of the northern and western part of Mato Grosso, the south of Parà, the valleys of the rivers Tapajos-Jamanxym, Araguaia-Tocantis and Xingù, north of Rondonia, north and west Roraima, Acre, Amazonas, region of Manaus and the rivers Negro, Madeira, Purus, Solimoes, Amapà and the center of the region Arguaja.
Safety
In Brazil the security situation varies according to the areas of the country and the areas present in the same locality such as the city centre, the urban suburbs, or the countryside. It is very dangerous to visit the peripheral areas of large cities and in particular the so-called "favelas", neighborhoods made up of shacks that cover many hills of the city. Like other South American countries, Brazil has a high crime rate. Bring only useful things with you, avoiding expensive items such as watches or jewels. Always photocopy your documents, passport, visa, tourist card that you will receive upon entering the country, airline tickets, useful addresses in case of need. By law a copy of your passport must always be with you. Dress simply as the locals do. Camcorders and cameras should not be kept in evidence by not hanging it around the neck. big cities like Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and others require caution due to widespread street crime for thefts and robberies. Sometimes even during the day, tourists are robbed even in central places, including areas close to large hotels. Certain times of the year require special attention. In some cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Sao Paulo, Recife, particular caution must be taken during Carnival and other festivities as acts of delinquency can occur to the detriment of tourists. It is therefore advisable to avoid exhibiting valuables, jewellery, expensive watches, etc. or keeping objects such as cameras, bags, wallets, etc. on display. Taxi transport is safer than using public transport. The rest of the country can be visited by taking the usual precautions. In the last period, the cases of Italians being robbed at gunpoint in the rooms of some hotels in the cities of Recife, Natal and Fortaleza, but also on some beaches throughout North-East Brazil, have been on the increase. Tourists are therefore advised to pay close attention. In southeastern Brazil, in Sao Paulo, there is an outbreak of violence caused by gangs of thugs. Government buildings, buses and police stations were damaged. So be careful and check your local media. Don't get distracted, this is one of the main techniques for getting robbed without even having the time to realize it. Avoid secluded beaches. On the major beaches of Rio, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon there are white tents of the Policia Militar where you can leave your personal effects in custody. Use only authorized taxis for travel and if you have a private car, make sure you close the doors doors and windows.
Particularly in terms of safety, the growing danger deriving from drug trafficking is also pointed out. In this regard, the Police reacts with particular severity even towards the foreign tourists involved. Please note that the legislation is strict for the use, trafficking and dealing of drugs. For drug dealing and international trafficking, the penalties are heavy and range from a minimum of five years to a maximum of ten years in prison. Smaller prison sentences are applicable for the use and possession of small doses according to the cases.