Checklist of 16 things you should know when you travel to Brazil.
1. Embassies and consulates
2. Calling in Brazil
3. Calling to Brazil
4. Drinking water
5. Tipping
6. Money
7. Climate
8. Malaria
9. Passport
10. Electricity outlets
11. Language
12. Vaccinations
13. Safety
14. Transport
15. Visum
16. Women
1. Embassies and consulates
If you need help in Brazil from the government you can go to the embassy in Brasilia or the consulates in Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo.
2. Calling in Brazil
You need a sim card to cheaply call and use the internet with your smartphone. Read here how to arrange one.
3. Calling to Brazil
The international landline number for Brazil is +55.
4. Drinking water
It’s not possible to drink the tap water in Brazil. Some houses have had a water filtration system installed, but it doesn’t really improve the water’s taste.
5. Tipping
95% of Brazil’s restaurants will automatically include a 10% tip on the bill. It’s not custom to tip more.
6. Money
In Brazil, you pay with the Brazilian Real. One Real consists of 100 centavos. The currency coin for the Brazilian Real is BRL or R$.
7. Climate
When it’s summer in Europe, it’s winter in Rio de Janeiro. The best time to visit Brazil is, therefore, December to March. If you like high temperatures and a lot of sunshine that is. The months before and after those mentioned are a bit cooler and more pleasant. The more you travel to the north, the warmer it gets. The more you travel to the south, the colder it gets.
RIO DE JANEIRO WEATHER8. Malaria
If you are planning to head to the Amazon area, it is advised to take malaria pills.
9. Passport
Your passport has to be valid for at least 6 more months when traveling to Brazil.
10. Electricity outlets
Brazil uses type N plugs. To use or charge electronic devices you’ll need a travel adapter.
11. Language
The language spoken in Brazil is Brazilian-Portuguese. Do you want to learn some Brazilian-Portuguese? Check out our nine video lessons Brazilian-Portuguese for travelers.
And let Brazilian singer Anitta teach you some slang.
12. Vaccinations
When traveling to Brazil you need to be vaccinated against a few things. You can check the current situation here.
13. Safety
In principle, Brazil is a safe country to travel to. Download the free e-book 20 tips for a safe trip to Brazil, to prepare yourself well.
14. Transport
Use taxi apps like Uber, Cabify or Easy Taxi as much as possible, to make sure you are not being cheated on. Public transport is great as well. I often use the subway or city buses, which will take you from A to B for R$3.80. The excellent intercity bus lines will take you to all corners of the country day and night, cheaply and comfortably. Flying can sometimes be cheaper than taking the bus. You just have to book a few weeks in advance.
15. Visum
As a citizen of the EU, you are allowed to maximally stay 90 days per 180 days in Brazil. No special visum is required. In the plane or at the border, when you are traveling in South America, you’ll have to fill in a form (cartao de entrada/ saida) with some personal details. At customs, you will give this form and you will get half of it back, to be handed over to customs once again when leaving the country. As icing on the cake, you will get a nice stamp in your passport.
Every day that you stay longer than the permitted 90 days, requires you to pay a fine of R$8.28 with a maximum of R$828 (100 days).
If you leave the country after 90 days, as you are supposed to, you are welcome to return after 90 days.
Do you want to stay in Brazil for more than 90 days? That can be arranged. My American housemate in Rio de Janeiro did this through an intermediary. Her visa has been extended by the Policia Federal for 3 months. This cost about 150 dollars. Below the contact details of this intermediary.
16. Women
If you are traveling to Brazil as a single male, you should understand that Brazilian women think differently than Western women. To get to know more, you can read the book Brazilian women for beginners to be properly prepared.