Brazil travel information


Aleijadinho's Last Supper at Congonhas

ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS
European Community passport holders do not need a visa to enter Brazil but passport holders from some other countries, such as the US, Australia and New Zealand do. If you have any doubts about the need for a visa, consult the airline with which you will be flying or contact your nearest Brazilian Consulate Tourists are normally allowed to stay in Brazil for three months and this - at the discretion of the Federal Police - can be extended for a further three months if necessary. A tourist does not have the right to work while in Brazil
 

WEATHER
Most of Brazil from Rio de Janeiro to the north is blessed with a tropical climate where it is difficult to tell when spring becomes summer and summer, autumn. Rio’s average temperature, for example, is around 27ºC (80º F), which climbs to 40ºC, the low hundreds, during the summer months that stretch from December through to March. In the middle of winter, July, the temperatures in Rio can drop as low as 18ºC (65ºF) during the day! North of Rio, the weather becomes noticeable more tropical while to the south it can get quite cool, even cold, during the winter months.

Seasons in Brazil are the reverse of those in Europe and the US:
·  Spring: 22 September to 21 December
·  Summer: 22 December to 21 March
·  Autumn: 22 March to 21 June
·  Winter: 22 June to 21 September
 
MONEY AND EXCHANGE RATES
Brazil’s currency since 1 July, 1994, is the Real (R$) which is roughly valued at R$4.5 = £1.00 (as of May 2003) Most Brazilians understand dollars and as a foreign currency it is by far the most widely accepted and throughout the country gives the best exchange rate. In the main cities there is little problem in changing other foreign currencies and there is an extensive network of ATMs. Most major credit cards are accepted in Brazil. As when visiting any country, it is worth getting hold of some low denomination notes and coins on arrival.
 
BANKS
Most of the major banks are Brazilian but many foreign banks will have an agreement with one or more of the major players. Banks operate Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm.
 
LANGUAGE
The language in Brazil is Portuguese. Spanish, and to a much lesser extent English, will help you get around
 

DRESS
Brazilians, even in the major cities, dress casually outside the office. None of the country's top restaurants insist on collar and tie although the occasional private club does. Collar and tie still predominate in formal office and business surroundings in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and most workingwomen wear dresses or skirts. Ladies should remember to pack a jacket or shawl when traveling to Brazil, as some of the buildings and restaurants can be a little enthusiastic with the air conditioning.

When packing keep in mind that cities like Rio and São Paulo are big, fashionable, cosmopolitan cities and not small tourist resorts. If you forget to bring some item of clothing, don’t worry; you will be able to find what you forgot in any of the big shopping centers. When heading further south in South America, remember to pack some warmer clothes, especially during the Southern Hemisphere's winter months
 
TIME ZONES
The time in the parts of Brazil most popular with foreign visitors is three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. This is true of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, Bahia, Minas Gerais etc. Amazonas, Roraima, Rondônia, Pará, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul are a further one-hour behind Brazilian standar