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Tourism Guide: Brazil Tourism Guide - Published by the Brazilian Embassy Tourism Office in London: Brazil.Everyone has heard of the country. They know about the football team and they have heard about carnival. They know there is an awful lot of coffee in Brazil and they have heard of Copacabana which they believe is in Rio de Janeiro. After that it all gets a bit hazy for some. What has become apparent is that there is a growing interest in Brazil and all things Brazilian among travellers in Britain and the rest of Europe. It is as if Brazil has been rediscovered some 500 years after the first Europeans landed in the state of Bahia on 22 April 1500. The purpose of this magazine is to redress part of the balance about what is known about Brazil and to give a very brief tour of what the country has to offer the visitor. From the country’s best known city, Rio de Janeiro, to the hidden secrets of the Pantanal, it is all here, and what isn’t is only a mouse click or phone call away at the Brazilian Embassy Tourist Office in London. The office in London, which opened in April 2000, was Brazil’s first full service tourist office to open overseas and its web site (http://www.brazil.org.uk/) has become a source of information about Brazil for the entire world. While this magazine is targeted mainly at the UK market, it will be of use to any traveller anywhere in the world considering a visit to Brazil. The tourist office has the complete support of not only the Embassy of Brazil in London; Embratur (the Brazilian Tourist Authority) the Foreign Ministry; and many other Brazilian institutions and and bodies. It works closely with the individual state and municipal tourist authorities the convention and visitors bureaus; and the private sector in both Brazil and the UK. It has, therefore, all the contacts necessary to get the answers to any questions a potential visitor or their travel agent might have. So sit back and let your fingers and eyes do the walking and discover why you should be planning that trip to Brazil in the near future. 170 million Brazilians are waiting to give you a warm welcome and show you their country. If you have any questions, you can call the
Brazilian Embassy Tourist Office in London on 020 7629 6909; fax us on 020 7399
9102; or e-mail us at
tourism@brazil.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you and wish you a very pleasant and enjoyable trip to Brazil. CONTENTS
4 Overview and maps PLACES TO GO 8 Rio de Janeiro THINGS TO SEE AND DO 14 Carnivals and celebrations Published by the Brazilian Embassy Tourist Office 32 Green St, London W1K 7AT
OVERVIEW For Europeans at least, the Brazilian story began over 500 years ago when, on 22 April 1500, the Portuguese explorer, Pedro Álvares Cabral, landed close to Porto Seguro in what is today the state of Bahia. Cabral and his crew may have been the first visitors, but many have followed in their wake, the majority now disembarking at the country’s modern international airports or port facilities. For many, the opening chapter of their Brazilian story will be Rio de Janeiro. Easily the most recognisable of all the Brazilian cities, it was the country’s capital from 1763 until 1960. Few travellers have ever disagreed that Rio is the world’s most beautiful and spectacular setting for a city. Charles Darwin noted that Rio was “more magnificent than anything any European has ever seen in his country of origin”. But Brazil is much, much more than just Rio de Janeiro. It is a country of many hidden treasures: the north and the natural wonders of the Amazon, with its manmade oasis of Manaus; the northeast and its mix of perfect tropical beaches and culture that spread from Bahia to Maranhão by way of such popular destinations as Salvador, Recife, João Pessoa, Natal, Fortaleza and São Luiz; the central west and the contrast between the nation’s futuristic capital, Brasília; and the Pantanal, Brazil’s wild west and one of the largest and richest reserves of wildlife known to man. And then there’s the south east, which as well as being home to Rio de Janeiro, hosts São Paulo, Latin America’s largest industrial and commercial centre, the economic engine which pulls the Brazilian economy. Home to nearly half of the Brazilian population, the south east is also home to the historic cities of Minas Gerais, one of the great colonial legacies of a country full of artistic and architectural masterpieces. Last, but by no means least, the prosperous south, a sub-tropical region heavily influenced by the countless European immigrants who have flourished in their small communities, a region steeped in history that is responsible for Brazil’s fine wines and outstanding beef, as well as one of the planet’s natural wonders – the falls at Foz do Iguaçu. And the Brazilians themselves are as a diverse as the landscape. From the original indigenous tribes, the Brazilian population encompasses and embraces just about every colour and creed imaginable. For the last 500 years, immigrants have come from far and wide. From Europe, Africa, the Middle and Far East, as well as the rest of the Americas, they have made their way to Brazil in considerable numbers to settle peacefully alongside one another and create a country where the people have become an attraction in their own right.
Rio de Janeiro, the world’s largest tropical
city, is a mix of a major metropolitan centre, with all the facilities you might
expect, with excellent restaurants, sophisticated
Sugar Loaf’s name comes from the Portuguese, Pão de Açúcar, and is presumed to have been given to the mountain because of its shape that resembles an old-fashioned cone of sugar, or ‘sugar loaf’. However, it is also possible that the Portuguese name is a derivative of the Tupi Indian name for the mountain, Pau-nh-açuqua, which roughly translates as ‘high hill, pointed and isolated’. Europeans first discovered Rio de Janeiro on 1 January 1502. The explorers, assuming they had sailed into the mouth of a great river, christened it River of January. Actually, it wasn’t a river at all, but the name stuck. Once again, the native Indians were more accurate that the European visitors, their name of Guanabara meaning ‘lagoon of the sea’. History has left its mark on Rio. After a turbulent beginning it became the capital of the Vice-Royalty of Brazil in 1763 and remained the nation’s capital until 1960, when Brasília was inaugurated. One of the city’s defining moments was the arrival in 1808 of Dom João VI of Portugal. The Portuguese court and 15,000 other nobles accompanied him and in effect Rio became the capital of the Portuguese Empire. This was the first and only time a European nation was ruled from the Americas. It was a period of rapid development and much of Rio’s historical heritage can still be enjoyed to this day. This includes the São Bento monastery, built between 1580 and 1641; the church of St Anthony (1608-1620); the Imperial Palace in Praça XV (1743); the original Metropolitan Cathedral (1749); and the Botanical Gardens, founded in 1808. Another star attraction is the Municipal Theatre, built in 1905, the stage of which has been graced by many greats, from Sarah Bernhard, Caruso and Igor Stravinsky to Luciano Pavarotti and Oscar Peterson. History never stands still and more recent landmarks include the Maracanã Stadium, the world’s largest football stadium, which was built for the 1950 World Cup when nearly 200,000 packed the ground to see Brazil play. In 1990, 180,000 cariocas crowded into the stadium to see Paul McCartney play, a world record for a single act. Rio is a musical city and Brazil’s cultural
capital. It introduced bossa nova to the world in the 1960s and its musicians
continue to influence the global music scene. There is plenty to experience beyond the city boundaries, including the coastal playgrounds of the cariocas, Angra dos Reis and the Green Coast to the south and Búzios and the Sun Coast to the east. There are also the colonial charms of Parati and the delights of the mountain resorts of Petrópolis, Itaipava and Teresópolis, the former the summer residence of the Emperor. These are all within a two or three hour drive of the city centre. Rio de Janeiro is often the opening chapter and
occasionally the only chapter to the Brazilian story for foreign visitors. But
Rio is Rio, it is not Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is special, very special, but so is
the rest of the country. It is time to explore. Internationally, the most recognisable element of Brazil’s carnival is the parade of the leading samba schools, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro on the Sunday and Monday night of carnival. The parade really is the greatest show on earth, the ultimate theatrical presentation that combines song, dance, movement, history and storytelling, that is performed in a competitive cauldron over two nights by more than 65,000 actors, dancers and musicians. Carnival is traditionally a pre-Lent celebration and is therefore a moveable holiday that culminates on Ash Wednesday. The dates for carnival through 2010 can be found in the A-Z of Brazil at the back of this magazine. Brazil does not, however, only celebrate at carnival time. There are numerous ‘carnivals’ held out-of-season and other major events such as the Boi-Bumbá, held at Parintins in the middle of the Amazon from 28-30 June, and the New Year celebrations in Rio. A list of the main carnivals and Brazilian festivities can be found at http://www.brazil.org.uk/ or by contacting the Brazilian Tourist Office. PLACES TO GO There is little danger of spoiling the northeast or diluting its distinctive flavour as the region’s nine states cover an area larger than the UK, Germany, France and Italy combined. With less than 90,000 Europeans and 18,000 North Americans annually visiting Salvador, the region’s most popular destination for foreign travellers, there is plenty of room and space for all visitors to join the Brazilians in their playground, especially at the resorts and villages that dot the 2,000 mile (3,200 km) coastline that is blessed with an average daytime temperature of 27ºC (81ºF). There is much to see and experience, and it is
difficult to know where a visitor should begin. Beautiful tropical beaches are a
given and spread from the south of Bahia to the north of Ceará by way of
Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte. All along the
coast, visitors will discover historic and beautifully preserved colonial towns
and cities which have developed since the first Europeans landed in Bahia in
1500. Towns such as Porto Seguro, Salvador, Marechal Deodoro, Olinda, Recife,
João Pessoa (close to the easternmost point of the Americas), Natal, Fortaleza,
and São Luís. When Brazilians plan their holidays they have to look no further than their own borders and head to the northeast. The northeast is a paradise all year round for those in search of perfect beaches, equally perfect weather and dramatic landscapes, all seasoned with a large dose of culture, history and folklore. It is also the nearest part of Brazil to Europe, closer than even the Caribbean in parts, so the flight time from the UK is only nine hours and less than seven from Portugal. The northeast is also well connected to the rest of Brazil for those travellers wanting to visit other parts of the country or to reach the northeast via Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. The development of the northeast for tourism
has been rapid and recent investment has greatly improved access to the region
by both air and road. The accommodation
The northeast is full of flavours and vibrant colours. Music, dance, folklore, religion and regional culinary delights all abound with as many different delicacies as there are states and accents. The region has some of Brazil’s most dramatic scenery: the stunning Chapada Diamantina in the interior of Bahia; the São Francisco River, which cuts across Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe; the picture postcard beauty of Jericoacoara in Ceará; Piauí’s Serra da Capivara, the oldest archaeological site in the Americas; the Valley of the Dinosaurs in Paraíba with its clearly visible dinosaur tracks, and one of he planet’s best-kept secrets, the breathtakingly beautiful Lençóis Maranhenses of Maranhão, a great desert spread like an immense bed sheet which rolls back inland from the Atlantic coast for nearly 30 miles (50km) and is dotted with thousands of crystal clear lakes. Even off the coast of Brazil the northeast has made its mark. The archipelagos of Fernando de Noronha, an ecological paradise belonging to the state of Pernambuco, and Abrolhos, off the southern tip of Bahia, are considered among the best dive sites anywhere. THINGS TO DO
The south of the country was responsible for introducing the outstanding churrasco or barbecue, with barbecue houses of varying degrees of sophistication to be found throughout the country. A visit to a rodízio, where they keep serving an endless variety of barbecued meats, fish and vegetables until you ask them to stop, is a must for any visitor. If Brazil were to have a national dish, it would have to be the feijoada, a variety of black bean stew that is traditionally served on Saturdays. The accompaniment to a feijoada is a caipirinha, the Brazilian cocktail that is growing in popularity throughout the world. Caipirinha is based on cachaça, a strong liquor distilled from sugar cane, which is often mixed with fresh fruit juices to create a batida. The most popular Brazilian beers are refreshing lagers, while a new market is only now discovering the country’s fine wines. Brazil is, of course, synonymous with coffee and the country is the world’s largest producer. In Brazil you are never very far from your next cup of coffee. and remember, not only is the food and drink of a very high quality in Brazil, but eating and drinking out costs a fraction of what it does in Britain and many other European countries.
One of the great natural wonders of the planet can be found in the state of Paraná at Foz do Iguaçu on the border of Brazil and Argentina. Five times larger than its more famous American cousin, Niagara, the falls at Foz consist of 275 individual falls that stretch 1.8 miles (2.9 km) across the Iguaçu River. The most impressive, the Devil’s Throat, is the largest fall in the world in terms of volume of water per second. The falls are an unforgettable spectacle at any time of the year and can be viewed from both the Brazilian and Argentine banks of the river. It is also possible to take boat trips up to the mouth of the falls or fly over them by helicopter. The Brazilian viewing area is located in a national park that covers an area of more than 656 square miles (1700 km2) of sub-tropical rainforest boasting an immense diversity of wildlife, vegetation and fauna. The falls and park, an attraction in its own right, were designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1986. If the falls are one of nature’s masterpieces, on the other side of the town of Foz do Iguaçu is one of man’s greatest engineering feats, the Itaipu Dam. To make room for the dam, which houses one of the most powerful hydroelectric plants in the world, enough earth and rock was removed from the Paraná River to fill 25 silos the size of the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The dam, which runs five miles across the river from Brazil to Paraguay, can be visited by the general public as can the reservoir it has formed which is five times larger than Rio’s Guanabara Bay. Flying time to Foz is 1h 30m from São Paulo; 3h from Rio de Janeiro; 5h from Salvador and 5h 30m from Recife. Foz can be used as the starting point for a tour of the south of Brazil or as the gateway to Argentina, Paraguay and the rest of the Southern Cone. PLACES TO GO Sub-tropical, both the landscape and the climatic conditions in the south are markedly different to the rest of tropical Brazil. For starters, the south has four distinct seasons including a winter when, between July and August, the temperatures dip noticeably. The southern states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná are full of contrasts and surprises. It is the region responsible for Brazil’s fine wines and most of the country’s outstanding beef. It is the region where European influences mix with those of the ‘gaúchos’ and the rest of Brazil. It is the region where in the 17th century the Jesuits built their missions alongside the settlements of the Guarani indians. The south is home to Curitiba, a town considered to be near perfect by urban planners; to Blumenau, with its distinct Bavarian architecture and Germanic influences, including its own Oktoberfest; to Florianópolis and its outstanding beaches; to Porto Alegre, the largest and best developed city of the southern states and the gateway to the mountain resorts of Gramado and Canela and the Brazilian wine country. Attractions in the south are equally varied and rewarding and range from the spectacular falls at Foz do Iguaçu to the equally breathtaking Itaimbezinho Canyon, the largest in Latin America; from the picturesque railway journey between Curitiba and Paranaguá to whale watching off the coast of Santa Catarina; from the mystical rock formations at Vila Velha to the historic missions in São Miguel; and from the sought after beaches of Santa Catarina to the majestic highlands of Rio Grande do Sul. From the most traditional sports to the most
radical, visitors to Brazil will not find it difficult to find an outlet for
their energy. The climate makes the country a paradise for sportsmen and women.
Golf, tennis, horse riding, sailing, fishing, jogging, cycling and trekking are
all popular, as are the more extreme sports of white water rafting, surfing,
hang-gliding, para-gliding and skydiving. Scuba diving is also popular, with
dive sites all along the coast, especially in the states of Bahia and
Pernambuco, the latter also being responsible for Fernando do Noronha, the
archipelago in the Atlantic that is considered one of the world’s best dive
sites. For experienced divers, there is also the challenge of THINGS TO DO The number one spectator sport, not surprisingly, is football, and any visitor to Brazil will never be far from a major game or a major stadium. The big clubs compete in municipal, regional, national and Latin American championships, and it is simple enough to find out where the match is being held and how to get there. The entire country comes to a stop when the national team plays, especially during the World Cup. Besides football, other major spectator sports include volleyball, basketball, motor racing (the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix takes place in São Paulo), and horse racing. Recently, thanks to Gustavo Kuerten, tennis has also become a passion for the Brazilian public and there is a growing interest in golf, with one of the legs of the European Tour now taking place in Brazil. Over the years, Brazil has excelled at many sports and along the way has captured numerous world titles. The sport you will see, therefore, is genuinely world class.
The state’s living jewels are its colonial
towns. Towns such as Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Sabará, Diamantina, São João del
Rei, Mariana, and Congonhas do Campo, site of The capital of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, is an attraction in its own right and in 1897 it was Brazil’s first planned city. It is probably no coincidence that it was a group of Mineiros, as the residents of the state are known, led by the then president, Juscelino Kubitschek, who were responsible for the building of Brasília. Other attractions in the state include the spa towns of Caxambu, Lambari, São Lourenço and Poços de Caldas, as well as the beauty of a landscape dominated by mountains, valleys and caves. Minas Gerais produces nearly half of all the coffee grown in Brazil today, making it one of the country’s richest and most influential states.
The tropical rain forest that we know as the Amazon covers nearly half of the Brazilian territory and is responsible for supplying over half the planet’s oxygen. Daily it pours enough fresh water out into the Atlantic Ocean to supply the entire water needs of the United Kingdom for nearly two years. The 4,200-mile (6,760 km) river is home to over 2,000 different types of fish, while the surrounding rain forest supports an estimated 1,800 species of birds, 250 different mammals and a similar diversity of animal and insect life. Responsible for a tenth of the world’s 10 million living species and 30 per cent of all known plant and animal species, the Amazon also lays claim to Brazil’s highest point, the 9,888 ft (3,014 m) Pico da Neblina in the state of Roraima. The gateway to much of the Amazon is Manaus. A city famous for its opera house, it was once one of the richest and during the rubber boom that lasted from 1890 to 1920 was responsible for nearly 90 per cent of all the rubber produced in the world. Many of the trappings from that period of wealth can still be seen and admired in the city once considered to be the Paris of the Jungle. Although over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from the sea, such is the size of the Amazon River that Manaus is a regular port of call for the world’s largest cruise ships which also stop along the way at Belém and Santarém. In smaller boats it is possible to go all the way up to Tabatinga on the border with Peru and Colombia and on to Iquitos in Peru, 2,310 miles (3,700 km) from the Atlantic. The attractions of the Amazon and the north are varied and many. Visitors can explore by boat or from one of the many ecological lodges that are dotted throughout the rainforest. The region’s main festivities, the Boi-Bumbá, the Amazon’s answer to Rio’s carnival, take place every year on the 28, 29 and 30 June at Parintins, an island in the middle of the Amazon River one day’s cruise downstream from Manaus. The north is also home to five of Brazil’s most recently formed states, including Acre, Amapá, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. Acre contains the Madeira-Mamoré railway, built in 1913, which has changed little over the years and which is a much sought-after treasure for train enthusiasts.
Covering an area of 360,000 square miles (932,400 sq km), the Pantanal is the largest wetlands of the Americas and thanks to its more open vegetation it is often easier to view wildlife in the Pantanal than in the more enclosed vegetation of the Amazon. During the rainy season, which runs from late December through April, the animals and other wildlife take shelter on the higher ground as the waters rise and flood the plains. In May, the waters start to recede and while the land-based wildlife has more space to spread, the abundance of fish find themselves corralled in lagoons. Large quantities of some 263 species of fish have been catalogued in the Pantanal and are a major attraction for both sport and commercial fishermen. The Guinness Book of Records considers the
international fishing festival held each September in Cáceres as the world’s
largest, with over 3,000 fishermen taking part. During the spawning season,
November through January, fishing is prohibited. The area around Bonito is an
attraction in its own right, with an abundance of waterfalls, caves and crystal
clear waters that appeal to divers and snorkelers who can explore this natural
aquarium. Ramblers head further north, to the Chapada dos Guimarães, the canyon
and national park that are the geographic centre of South America. The Pantanal has one of the greatest varieties
of birds and wildlife on the planet Brazil’s Central West, which sits on an
elevated plateau three times the size of France, not only contains the Pantanal
but also the nation’s capital, Brasília, and the diverse attractions of the
state of Goiás. The idea to move the capital from Rio de Janeiro to the heart of
the country was first incorporated in the Brazilian constitution as early as
1891. In 1954, 2,250 square miles (5,822 sq km) of the state of Goiás was chosen
to be the new federal district and capital. Brasília was built over a period of
just 41 months during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek and inaugurated on
21 April 1960. More than 30,000 people worked on the project and the population
of the city at the time of the inauguration was around 150,000. Today the
resi-dent population of politicians, diplomats and civil ser-vants, is over 2
million. Recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site, one of Brasília’s main attractions is its remarkable architecture, much of it the work of Oscar Niemeyer. Among many outstanding works are the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Justice, the city’s cathedral, and the national congress. Brasília is also a major centre of spiritualism and has been called the Capital of the Third Millennium. Many spiritual communities have settled on the outskirts of the city and in the state of Goiás and attract visitors from around the globe. Goiás, the most central of all the Brazilian
states, is considered a paradise for fishermen, with the River Araguaia, which
runs 1,700 miles (2,735 km) from the Pantanal to Belém on the Atlantic coast,
boasting the planet’s most abundant stock of river fish. The river has nearly
1,250 miles (2,000 km) of spectacular beaches that appear as the floodwaters
subside during the dry season that runs from June to September. As well as the
attraction of a number of well-preserved colonial towns, such as the old
Brazil has the largest economy in Latin America. Mexico has the second largest economy. And if the Brazilian state of São Paulo were a country in its own right, it would be Latin America’s third largest economy. São Paulo state and city is business, big business, and it is the money that this business creates that is the root that nourishes the city’s lifestyle. In terms of work, São Paulo offers the best conditions and paychecks in Brazil. Paulistas, as the locals are known, work and play hard. There are an estimated 16 million living in Metropolitan São Paulo alone, roughly the population of Holland or Chile, and over 36 million in the state, more than the population of Argentina or Canada. São Paulo, which covers an area five times that of Paris, is one of the world’s great cities and would certainly be better known globally if it did not have to compete with the beauty and splendour of neighbouring Rio de Janeiro and Brazil’s many other attractions. If it is not a naturally beautiful city, it is a friendly city with some outstanding architecture. A city that can compete with the best in terms of gastronomic excellence and variety. The nightlife of São Paulo is unrivalled in Latin America. The same is true for shopping and the city also boasts world-class museums, art galleries and sport, including the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix. The state of São Paulo has many other attractions: the coastline between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro is considered one of the most beautiful in the world; the town of Brotas is a magnet for rafters and extreme sport enthusiasts; the national park of Alto Ribeira, close to Eldorado, has one of the largest collection of caves in Brazil; while the city of Barretos holds the country’s largest rodeo which attracts cowboys from the around the world, including the US. Other highlights include Campinas, Campos do Jordão and Ribeirão Preto.
The locations to hear music are as diverse as the rhythms and range from corner bars to concert halls; from street corners to massive outdoor festivals and everything in between. Brazilian music dominates the airwaves and the local stars are as popular and sought after as the major international acts, many of which include Brazil as part of their world tour. Brazilian audiences are among the best and most knowledgeable in the world. Just ask any artist lucky enough to have played in Brazil.
Brazil offers accommodation to fit every taste and budget, from picturesque privately-owned inns, known as pousadas, to the most modern resort properties; from simple accommodation in the back streets of the main cities, to the presidential suites of the big deluxe hotels in prime city locations. From camping sites, to privately owned villas and apartments; from youth hostels, to internationally recognised spa properties. Price remains a good indication of the degree of comfort you can expect and the facilities that go with it. Price also reflects location, so that for the same amount of money you can stay in a better hotel two blocks back from the beach than on the beach itself. Accommodation in Brazil is always good value, especially away from the main business cities. An extensive list of web links to all forms of accommodation in Brazil can be found at http://www.brazil.org.uk/.
Depending on the city, flight time from Europe to São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro is just over 12 hours and a little over nine hours to Natal, Recife or Salvador. Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Swissair, Tam, Tap and Varig all offer scheduled services between Europe and Brazil. This means that travellers have a daily choice of airlines linking the two continents. From the UK, the most direct flights to Brazil are those operated by British Airways and Varig. Both offer daily services to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro from London Heathrow. During part of the year (normally June to October) charter operators offer direct services to the northeast of Brazil from the UK. Currently, flights are operated by Airtours between London Gatwick and the capital of Bahia (Salvador); and by Unijet to the capital of Rio Grande de Norte (Natal) and the capital of Pernambuco (Recife). Anyone wishing to visit Brazil at Christmas and the New Year or Carnival should make the reservations for flights well in advance, especially if wishing to fly economy. Given the size of the country, the fastest and most effective way of getting around Brazil is by air. Flights are not cheap, although in 2001 a number of low-cost, no frills airlines, such as Gol, did begin services. Foreign visitors, therefore, should consider buying an air pass (see below) prior to arriving in the country if they plan to move about. Like the US, the Brazilian carriers use certain
airports as major hubs for serving regions of the country. Visitors are often
surprised that in the south east, São Paulo (GRU), As many visitors plan their trip to Brazil around Rio de Janeiro, some of the most popular internal flight times are: Rio to Belo Horizonte, 50m; Rio to Brasília, 1h 30m; Rio to Campo Grande, 3h 30m; Rio to Curitiba, 1h 30m; Rio to Fortaleza, 4h 25m; Rio to Foz do Iguaçu, 3h; Rio to Manaus, 5h; Rio to Natal, 3h; Rio to Porto Alegre, 2h; Rio to Recife, 2h 45m; Rio to Salvador, 2h; and Rio to São Paulo, 55m. It is also worth remembering that most scheduled flights from Europe fly first to São Paulo and then on to Rio de Janeiro. The return flights are the reverse so visitors looking to fly on to other cities in Brazil or return from them, should look for connecting flights with São Paulo. AIRPASS Visitors who are intending to travel on from their point of entry to explore the rest of Brazil should consider investing in a Brazilian Airpass before arriving in the country. The Airpass can only be sold outside of Brazil
and to non-residents with a return air ticket. It can be purchased for the
flights of Varig, Tam, Transbrasil or Vasp, each pass only being valid for the
flights of the issuing carrier. The price of the Airpass varies, but considering
the size of Brazil and the cost of internal Brazilian air travel – a return
flight Currently the cost of the basic Airpass is $530
(approximately £380) for up to five internal flights. The pass is valid for 21
days from the first internal flight. There is also a AIRPORTS Most international flights from Europe and the
US land at the international airports of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife or
Salvador, where there are connecting flights to most The international departure tax is currently $36 (approx. £25). AREA With an area of 3.3 million square miles (8.5
million square km) and a coastline of 4,500 miles (7,250 km), Brazil is the
world’s fifth largest nation in terms of area. It is larger 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.
For information about visas, vaccinations, weddings, etc, the Consulate General should be contacted. The Embassy handles diplomatic, political, economic, commercial and cultural issues. Brazilian Embassy Brazilian Consulate General Brazilian Embassy is situated at: BUSES IN BRAZIL Despite the distances involved, it is possible
to travel from Brazil to another country by bus. The journey to Buenos Aires
from Rio de Janeiro, for example, takes 44 hours and BUSINESS HOURS Banks: Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm. BUSINESS CONTACTS Individuals or companies looking to do business
with Brazil can contact the Commercial Section of the Brazilian Embassy in
London (020 7399 9224) or the Brazil Desk of UK Trade and Investment Brazil Team Officer CAR RENTAL Most of the big international car rental companies operate in the major Brazilian cities alongside local companies. The rental agencies accept most international credit cards but tend to restrict the minimum age of the driver to 25. Most companies can also supply drivers and have a van service. As a visitor, all that is required to drive in Brazil is a full valid British or European driving licence. It is preferable to take a licence with a photo. CARNIVAL DATES Carnival, which takes place throughout Brazil, is a moveable feast that is tied to the religious calendar. A traditional pre-Lent celebration, it ends on Ash Wednesday. Carnival activities around Brazil normally take place from the Friday prior to Ash Wednesday and continue up to and including Ash Wednesday itself. In some cities, the celebrations will spill over through the entire week and include the following weekend. Many Brazilian offices and business will close for the week of Carnival in much the same way UK firms close between Christmas and New Year. The main parade of the top samba schools, one
of the highlights of Rio’s carnival, traditionally takes place along the
Passarela do Samba in Rio de Janeiro on the Sunday and Organised by the League of Samba Schools and Riotur (Rio Tourist Board), tickets for the parades, which start at around £130, can be reserved through most good tour operators who obtain the tickets with accredited ground operators in Rio de Janeiro. Tickets only go on sale towards the end of the
year and must be reserved in advance. At the time of carnival, tickets are as
hard to come by in Rio as Wimbledon final or FA Cup Final tickets would be in
London. The dates for Carnival (Friday-Wednesday) through 2010 will be: 5-9
February 2005; 25 February-2 March 2006; 16-21 February 2007; CLIMATE Although 90 per cent of Brazil is within the
tropics, more than 60 per cent of the population lives in areas where altitude,
sea winds, or polar fronts moderate the temperature. CONVENTIONS Brazil’s has an extensive network of convention and visitor bureaus that can help in the organisation of conventions, exhibitions, incentive programmes and meetings. A full list is available from the Brazilian Embassy Tourist Office or on http://www.brazil.org.uk/. COST OF LIVING The cost of living in Brazil, including eating out and drinking, is considerable cheaper than in the UK and the rest of Europe. CREDIT CARDS Most major international credit cards are accepted in Brazil. Credit card receipts from stores and restaurants will be priced in the local currency, reais, although they will be billed in the currency of the country issuing the card. CRUISING AND CARGO SHIPS Since flights have become so quick, cheap and popular, there is no regular passenger service between Brazil and the rest of the world, although some cargo lines, such as Grimaldi Freighters, do offer a limited service from Europe. Rio is one of the prime ports of call for ships cruising the world, especially at Carnival time. Many famous liners, some of which pass the entire northern hemisphere’s winter season in Brazilian waters, are regular visitors. Beside Rio de Janeiro, popular ports of call in Brazil include Manaus, Belém, Fortaleza, Recife, Salvador and Vitória. A partial list of ships expected to cruise in Brazilian waters is available from the Brazilian Embassy Tourist Office or on http://www.brazil.org.uk/. CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION At immigration, non-Brazilians will have their passport, visa (if required) and any other immigration formalities checked. Like most airports, the airports in Brazil have different lines for national passport holders and foreign visitors. Foreign passport holders should make sure they get their passports stamped and that they retain half of the immigration form they fill in on arrival. Visitors who miss getting their passport stamped or who lose the form will have to get clearance from the Federal Police to leave the country and – as well as being delayed – may have to pay a fine. Customs officials normally inspect the baggage of around 30 per cent or more of incoming passengers. Besides clothing and personal effects, tourists entering Brazil may bring in one of each of the following items: radio, tape/CD player, typewriter, notebook computer, movie and still camera. DISTANCES Distances in Brazil are given in kilo-metres. One mile is equivalent to 1.62 kilometres. For a quick conversion of kilometres into miles, divide by eight and then multiply by five. DIVING All along the Brazilian coast there are many
exceptional dive sites. Equipment for diving can normally be rented locally.
Locations rated among the best in the world for diving 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 club does. Collar and tie still
predominate in formal office and business surroundings in São Paulo, Rio de
Janeiro and Brasília, and most working women wear dresses or skirts. Women
should consider packing a jacket or shawl when going to Brazil, as air
conditioning can make some of the buildings and restaurants quite chilly. When
packing, visitors should keep in mind that cities like Rio, São Paulo, Salvador,
Recife and many others, are big, fashionable, cosmopolitan cities and not small
tourist resorts. If some item of clothing is missing, the DRINK The legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages in Brazil is 18. Brazil produces or imports most of the major international brands. Brazilian beer is a very good lager which is served in draught form (chopp) or bottled. The national drink is cachaça, made from crushed sugar cane, which is the basis of the popular caipirinha. Cachaça is also the basis for batidas, a mix of cachaça and fresh fruit juices. Soft drinks are no less spectacular and the most popular is Guaraná. Brazil is, of course, the world’s largest coffee producer. DRIVING As a visitor, all that is required to drive in Brazil is a valid full British or European driving licence. Driving is on the right. DUTY FREE Brazil’s international airports are unusual in
that they offer duty free goods on arrival and visitors, on presentation of
their passport and ticket, will be allowed to purchase up ELECTRICAL CURRENT In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the current is 127 volts (60 cycles) but many of the larger hotels also offer 220 volts. If there is any doubt, check with the front desk of the hotel or the owner of the house or apartment. Transformers to boost the current from 110 volts to 220 volts are available in most good electrical supply stores. Not all of Brazil is 127 volts, however. Salvador and Manaus, for example, are, while Recife and Brasília are 220 volts. GUIDE BOOKS Most of the major guidebook series publish titles that cover Brazil. Many also produce a separate guide for Rio de Janeiro. It should be possible to find a selection of the guides listed below in most good book stores in the UK. If not, they are easy enough for the shops to order or they can be bought over the Internet at sites such as http://www.amazon.co.uk/ or http://www.stanfords.co.uk/. It is highly recommended that visitors take the time to read at least one guidebook before arriving in Brazil. Baedeker Guide: Brazil (AA Publishing)
Brazil has an excellent network of private hospitals in the major metropolitan centres. Private medical care is expensive, so it is advisable that all visitors take out medical insurance prior to their arrival. Even without insurance, Brazil has a public health service that will look after foreign visitors in an emergency. INSURANCE As when visiting any country, it is advisable for visitors to take out health and travel insurance. INTERNET Brazil can be found on the internet at http://www.brazil.org.uk/. The internet is well developed in Brazil, so most hotels will have access to the web and there are cyber-cafes in many of the main shopping centres. JET LAG Because of the relatively small time difference between Brazil and Europe, jet lag is not normally a problem for travellers. LANGUAGE The language in Brazil is Portuguese. Spanish and English are the most widely understood foreign languages. MEDIA There are no locally-produced English-language newspapers in Brazil, but foreign newspapers and periodicals are not difficult to find in Rio and São Paulo. The international editions of the Miami Herald, USA Today and Herald Tribune are flown in each morning and distributed by noon to most hotels and good newsstands. Time, Newsweek and The Economist can be bought at most newsstands. Most big hotels have satellite television, offering original language programming from the US and Europe. MONEY The Brazilian monetary unit is the real, (plural, reais). There are 100 centavos (C) to the real (R$). Most major international credit cards are
accepted in Brazil. Credit card receipts from stores and restaurants will be
priced in reais, although they will be billed in the The US dollar is by far the most widely accepted foreign currency in Brazil. In the main cities there is little problem in changing other foreign currencies, such as pounds. There is also an extensive network of ATMs at which visitors can use their UK cash cards, although you should check with your bank before departure that your card can be used overseas. As when visiting any country, it is worth getting hold of some low denomination notes and coins on arrival. POPULATION Brazil currently has a population of
approximately 170 million, making it the world’s fifth most populous nation.
There are 11 cities in Brazil with a population of over one million, POSTAL SERVICE The postal service in Brazil is very efficient but at least a week should be allowed for postcards and letters mailed in each direction. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS As well as the national public holidays listed below, individual states and cities also have their own separate holidays. 20 January, for example, is a holiday in the city of Rio de Janeiro, but not the state, and 25 January is a holiday in the city of São Paulo. RAILWAYS The passenger rail network in Brazil is extremely limited and not a viable option for travelling around the country. There are, however, a number of scenic routes. Brazil has only 17,500 miles of railways compared to over one million miles of roads. SAFETY AND SECURITY One of the urban myths that surrounds Brazil and can put people off a visit is the question of safety and security. In fact, Brazil, including the main cities of Rio, Salvador and São Paulo, is no more dangerous than anywhere in Europe or North America and violent crimes against tourists or foreign visitors are extremely rare, hence the headlines if they do happen. Brazil is also politically stable with no natural enemies and no terrorist activities. Being sensible and streetwise is the key to a trouble-free and enjoyable stay in Brazil. However, just like in London, Paris, New York or any other major metropolitan and tourist centre, petty crime in Brazil is an unfortunate fact of life. The crime tourists are most likely to fall victim to in Brazilian cities is robbery and the target of most petty pilfering is the bag. If a bag is left unattended, the chances are that somebody else will try to pick it up. The simple solution is that visitors can’t get robbed if they’ve got nothing with them to be stolen. Always leave travellers cheques, passports, air tickets and the like in the hotel safe deposit box. Visitors should however carry some form of ID, such as a photocopy of their passports, with them at all times. SAFETY FIRST: DOS AND DON’TS leave your bag unattended. Do... put your money, passport and ticket in the safe
deposit box of your hotel. SPORTING EVENTS The most popular spectator sports are football,
volleyball, tennis, and motor sports. Tickets for even the biggest events will
normally only go on sale a week before the game. TAXIS Taxis in Brazil are cheap compared to Europe and easy to find in all the major cities. TELEPHONE SERVICES Brazil has a well developed telephone network and it is relatively simple to direct dial to anywhere in Brazil or internationally. On 30 June 2001 there were changes to the
telephone numbers in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and
Pará. In Rio de Janeiro, the digit 2 has been added TIME 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. In 1985 Brazil introduced ‘summer time’ to help save energy and has repeated the measure ever since. Brazilian summer time comes into effect in October and ends in early February. During this period of daylight saving time, Brazil’s clocks go forward one hour in most of the south east. This when most of the Northern Hemisphere countries, such as the UK, are putting their clocks back one hour and coming off summer time. So, from March to October, when Brazil is on normal time and the UK is on its summer time, the time difference between Rio and London will be four hours. This drops to just two hours when Brazil goes on to summer time and the UK comes off. TIPPING Nearly all hotels add a service charge to the
bill, usually 10%. Most restaurants also add 10% or more to the total of the
bill, but must make it clear that they have done so. TOUR OPERATORS In the UK there is an ever increasing number of
tour operators and specialised travel agencies which feature Brazil as a
destination. Between them they offer everything from UK GOVERNMENT British Consulate General British Consulate General British Embassy VACCINATIONS An international certificate of vaccination against polio is compulsory for children aged between three months and six years. An international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory for travellers who, within the three months prior to their arrival in Brazil, have visited or been in transit through any of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Venezuela and Zaire. Additionally, vaccination against yellow fever
is recommended for all travellers when visiting the following states of Brazil:
Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Distrito Federal, Goiás, If there is any doubt about the need for vaccinations, contact the consulate or check the latest information on the website. VISAS UK passport holders do not require a visa to
enter Brazil. However, passports must be valid for at least six months and a
return ticket and proof of sufficient funds may be requested on arrival.
Visitors will be admitted for a stay of up to 90 days which can be extended, at
the discretion of the Federal Police, for a further 90 days. For work visas or any other visa information, contact the Brazilian Consulate General on 020 7930 9055 (fax: 020 7839 8958). The Consulate is located at 6 St Alban’s Street, London SW1Y 4SQ (just behind Lillywhites, off Piccadilly Circus). Other nationals who currently do not need a visa to enter Brazil as tourists include those from: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, The Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Vatican and Venezuela. If there is any doubt about the need for a visa, contact the consulate or check the latest information on the website. WEBSITES & LINKS The most complete list of websites and links
for Brazil can be found at WEDDINGS Couples wishing to marry in Brazil should contact the Brazilian Consulate in London. Details of the paperwork necessary are available from the consulate or on the website.
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