Brazil Vacation Packages
Jason M Lange
Brazil vacation packages with Absolute Latin America tours!
Brazil spans nearly half of the South American continent and the name alone evokes images of the vast Amazon jungle, a seemingly unstoppable national soccer team, gorgeous palm-dotted beaches, sequined carnival dancers and swaying samba drummers.
Brazil features over forty National Parks of which several have been granted UNESCO Natural Heritages of Humanity status. The country is also home to the world’s largest expanses of tropical forest, freshwater resources and bio-diversity.
Travel to Brazil and enjoy her stunning natural attractions from the thriving Amazon regions of Manaus and the Pantanal to the spectacular Iguazu Falls. In Rio de Janeiro the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue gazes down upon the famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, the rainforest surrounds the city in a green swathe. In the designed national capital, Brasilia, striking modernist architecture lends the city a retro-futuristic feel.
Every year, Salvador de Bahia and Rio de Janeiro draw hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe to participate in the world’s most vibrant celebration of music and dance – Carnaval. For an entire week the streets are abuzz with feather-and-sequin clad dancers gyrating to pounding samba rhythms. Travel to Brazil during carnival is an experience not to be missed!
Traveling with us will ensure you experience the best of Brazil. Contact Absolute Latin America, Brazil is waiting for you.
Country Guide
Capital: Brasilia
Language: The official language is Portuguese.
Voltage:
The voltage in Brazil is from 110 to 220 V. Check the voltage in the State you are visiting.
HISTORY
Brazil is the largest country in Latin America. It spreads across almost half (47.3%) of South America, and occupies a total area of 8,547,403.5 km2. It is the fifth largest country in the world after Canada, the Russian Federation, China and the United States. Except for a small number of islands, Brazil is a single and continuous landmass. The Equator crosses through the Northern region, near Macapa, and the Tropic of Capricorn cuts through the South of the country, near São Paulo. Brazil’s east to west extension (4,319.4 km) is almost equivalent to the distance from north to south (4,394.7 km). The country borders French Guiana, Suriname, Guiana, Venezuela and Colombia, to the north; Uruguay and Argentina, to the south; and Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru, to the west. Ecuador and Chile are the only two countries on the South American continent that do not border Brazil. The Atlantic Ocean extends along the country’s entire eastern coast, providing 7,367 km of coastline.
GETTING TO BRAZIL
There are three main international airports that you will primarily be using. These airports are The Brasillia International Airport; The Rio de Janeiro Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport and The Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport. Most international fly to the metropolises of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo
VISAS
Tourists and visitors from Mercosur countries do not need to present passports. They merely need to show their ID cards. Visitors from other countries must present a passport that is valid for the next six months. For further information on Visas and necessary documentation, access: www.mre.gov.br
MONEY
The currency used in Brazil is called the Real (R$) and the foreign exchange rate is published daily in the newspapers and other specialized sites. Foreign currency may be exchanged at banks, travel agencies and authorized hotels. Travellers’ cheques as well as currencies are easily exchanged at these locations. International credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, stores, travel agencies, car rental companies and other companies that render services to tourists. A floating exchange rate is used.
The Brazilian currency has remained reasonably stable. From November 2003 to April 2004, the American dollar maintained an average exchange rate of R$ 2,90, according to information provided by the Brazilian Central Bank.
Tips
Most bars and restaurants include a service charge of 10% in the Bill. It is usual to leave a little extra if the service has been satisfactory. When no service charge has been included then a tip of 10% to 15% is the general rule.
Taxes
Departure taxes are usually included in the airline tickets(Departure Tax: R$115 or US$38).
HEALTH & VACCINATIONS
Vaccination against Yellow Fever The vaccination against Yellow Fever is recommended to all national and foreign tourists travelling to the following Brazilian areas: all states and municipalities in the Northern region (Acre, Amazonas, Rondônia, Roraima, Amapá, Pará, Tocantins) and Centre-West (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and the Federal District); all municipalities of Maranhão and Minas Gerais; the municipalities on the south part of Piauí, west and south part of Bahia; north of Espírito Santo; northwest of Sao Paulo; and west part of the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
It is worth noticing that almost the entire Brazilian coast is considered free of contamination risk. That area stretches from Rio Grande do Sul to Piauí, except for the north of Espírito Santo and south of Bahia. International travellers: Brazil does not require the International Vaccination or Prophylaxis Certificate to enter the country. Don’t forget: it is necessary to be vaccinated at least 10 days prior to travelling. Doubts and other vaccines For further clarifications and information on vaccination in Brazil, please refer to the Brazilian Consulate or Brazilian Embassy nearest to you.
TRANSPORT
Since Brazil is such a vast country, the only viable way of transport if you want to visit a variety of regions and cities is by air. Bus stations are clean and efficient, non-smoking, with tickets that can be purchased and reserved ahead of time. On popular routes travelers can opt for a deluxe coach with air conditioning and reclining seats. Car rentals are expensive and the distances are huge.
Taxis The tourist may opt to take an ordinary taxi easily found in the streets or through radio taxi services. It is recommended that accredited taxi services at the airports and at points nearby the main hotels be given priority. It is not usual in Brazil to tip a taxi driver although it is common to round off the amount and let the driver keep the change as a gratuity.
YOU SHOULD BRING
When travelling in Brazil, wear natural fabrics like linen,silk or cotton. The temperature is VERY hot during the Summer. Basic T-Shirts, Basic shorts, Light weight (cotton and linen). Because the weather is usually warm to hot, almost year around. Tennis and flip flops are also recommended.
SAFETY TIPS
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 Just like in any other major metropolitan and tourist center, petty crime in Brazil is an unfortunate fact of life. Here are some safety tips to ensure safe travel: Travel in groups of two or more if possible, especially at night. Walking around solo at night increase chance of endangerment. Beware on empty streets just as much as at overly crowded events When crossing intersections, look both ways twice! Especially on busy streets. Cars appear out of nowhere!
Pedestrians do not have the right of way in Brazil. Please look even if the light is red. Have a copy or two of your Passport in a safe place (either on you personally or in an emergency place). You can reduce the chance that you will become a victim of crime by carrying only a small amount of cash with you and leaving expensive jewelry or electronic devices in your hotel room safe or at home. Don’t put your wallet in your back pocket or the outside pocket of a bag. Don’t take more than you need to the beach.
WEATHER
Brazil’s climatic typology is very diverse. Its vast territorial expanse, allied with factors such as temperature, altitude, barometric pressure and proximity to the ocean, provide the country with climatic conditions to please everyone. It is one of the richest and most complex ecosystems in the world, with extremely diversified vegetation and sceneries. Brazil is divided into climatic strips: 92% of the country is located between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. We can, therefore, say that the Brazilian climate is predominantly tropical, with equatorial and subtropical strips (temperate zones) distributed over the remaining 8% of the nation’s territory.
The predominance of lower altitudes throughout the country provides more elevated temperatures, with averages exceeding 20°C. The seasons are the exact opposite of those in Europe and the United States, except in the Northern region of the country. The average annual temperature is approximately 28ºC in the Northern region and 20ºC, in the South. Extreme temperatures are rare, but they may occur: in winter, some cities in the south of the country experience negative temperatures, with frost and snow. And in Rio de Janeiro, in the peak of summer, the temperature may reach the 40ºC mark.
Gallery
© Alex Torrenegra
© Alex Torrenegra
© Alex Torrenegra
© Antifluor
© Mike Vondran
© Mike Vondran
