We believe that Brazil offers an unforgettable experience for independent travellers looking for wildlife, spectacular scenery and a unique cultural experience. The main thing to consider is the sheer size of the country. Flight times and distances should be noted and care should be taken not to attempt to do too much.
It should also be noted that English is not widely spoken around the country (in cities and resorts this is less of an issue). A basic grasp of Portuguese will be appreciated by the locals but you can still enjoy the country without it – Brazilians gesticulate to communicate even among themselves and an open mind will increase your enjoyment of more remote areas.
We have appointed excellent local companies which will always do their best to ensure your holiday is enjoyable and address any issues that may arise. Remember, however, that the infrastructure is geared more towards Brazilian travellers and their preferences/needs rather than to the international market so an attitude of understanding is important.
In major cities (especially Rio de Janeiro) you should dress down, not wear expensive jewellery or watches, or carry large amounts of cash. If you have a digital camera or video camcorder, please be discrete. One of these items may represent a huge amount of money to a local. If you want to skip the crowds and high prices, we recommend you avoid the month of August, Christmas and New Year, Carnival periods and Easter.
Currency: The monetary unit is the REAL, (plural, REAIS) and this unit is split into 100 centavos or cents. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and $US are also accepted in some places if you have no Reais readily available but the rate of exchange will not be competitive. Dollar travellers’ cheques are changed at hotels and banks. There are ATM machines but they do not all always work with European cards even if they display a Visa or Mastercard symbol. Make sure you have cash and small denominations which are very handy for tips.
Visas: UK passport holders do not need visas for travel to Brazil for stays up to 90 days, but make sure you have at least six months to run on your passport.
Language: Brazilians speak Portuguese. English is not widely spoken, especially once outside the main cities. However, communication with Brazilians is not difficult, as they will want to help.
Food & Drink: Reference is made to the regional cuisine under each individual area. Food is good and very cheap in Brazil, with a wide variety of tastes according to the region. Exotic fruits are also bountiful. Beer, cocktails, fruit juices are preferred - not so much wine.
Vaccinations / Health: Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio (for small children) and Hepatitis ‘A’ vaccinations are advisable and yellow fever (10 days to become effective) is recommended when visiting the states of Acre, Amazonas, Amapa, Distrito Federal, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso do Sul, Para, Rondonia, Roraima and Tocantins.
An international certificate of vaccination against polio is compulsory for children aged between 3 months and six years and for yellow fever for those who, during the last three months, have visited Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Columbia, Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Venezuela and Zaire.
In areas such as the Pantanal and Amazonia and especially during the rainy season you will also need to take a course of malaria tablets and reduce mosquito bites by using a repellent. We also recommend the use of a waterproof sun-block to protect your skin against the strong tropical sun. The heat and humidity of the tropics make you perspire and can also make you feel lethargic.
Make sure you drink plenty of liquids and especially water. Use bottled water and make sure that the seal on the bottle has not been broken. You should always check with your doctor for the latest health requirements no later than 4 weeks before your departure.
Accommodation: Accommodation varies greatly from place to place. We have selected small, character properties where possible and larger hotels with excellent service. Generally accommodation is good, but 5* luxury is refined to certain areas and hotels.
In a number of places, we have selected ‘pousadas’- small, charming family run guesthouses. These offer a more personal service than the hotels which tend to cater for groups. Where there is a good choice of restaurants nearby, we will book your stay on bed and breakfast – otherwise, we can include meals where appropriate.
Hotel Gradings: Much of Brazil’s accommodation is in small pousadas and, as such, these do not have hotel gradings. The standard of accommodation featured by us is of acceptable European level and where more basic accommodation is used (i.e. in parts of the Pantanal) then this is pointed out in the individual property descriptions.
Getting around: We have decided to not offer self-drive itineraries as an option at the present time. Distances are huge and driving is erratic around cities. Instead, our holidays are based on private transfers and internal flights.
Road transfers can be long in remote areas – a long transfer to a Brazilian, is normal and three hours on the road is not unusual.
An excellent network of internal flights exists but is often governed by business routes rather than those beneficial to tourism (this is why so many routes are via Brasilia or Sao Paulo). We will advise on these and, where appropriate, suggest stopovers and changes to itineraries to avoid unnecessary time in airports.
Excursions: In Brazil, excursions can usually be booked easily through hotels and our local agent. We can also book most excursions in advance if you would prefer to have the hassle of arranging things taken care of. Where we think an excursion is a ‘must-see’ we will include at the quote stage. More remote areas and jungle lodges usually include activities as part of the package.
Combinations: Brazil combines well with Argentina. Please be aware that combining with other countries can be expensive and require lengthy flights.
Weather / When To Go: Climatic details are given for each of the areas featured by us in the individual descriptions. In the far south the temperature can be very similar to northern Europe with frosts occurring in the winter In most other areas the temperatures will vary between 20°C and 40°C depending on the time of the year and location. The official seasons are as follows:
Spring: 22 September to 21 December
Summer: 22 December to 21 March
Autumn: 22 March to 21 June
Winter: 22 June to 21 September
Time: Most areas in Brazil are three hours behind Greenwich Meantime and a few are four. Brazil has ‘summer time’ clock changes too. From late
February to October Brazil will be four hours behind UK local time and from October to March (depending when clocks change in the UK and Brazil) Brazil will be 2 hours behind UK local time.
For more information please see the Brazilian Embassy website >
