Brazil - Info & Facts

Suggested length of stay

Brazil is a vast country, almost a continent within a continent and any visit will inevitably involve great distances and a number of internal flights. For this reason, it is important to allow plenty of time for your trip or simply limit yourself to a small number of destinations – there is so much to see and do in each place! Brazil boasts 7½ thousand kilometres of coast and it is fitting to allow several days to relax on the beach. Two weeks will enable you to visit the classic highlights of Rio, Iguassu, Salvador and the Amazon while an extra week (or two) will open up areas such as the Pantanal, Chapada Diamantina, Paraty and the Atlantic Rainforest

Rio 3 nights, Iguassu 2-3 nights, the Amazon 3-4 nights, Salvador & beach 5 nights, the Pantanal 3-4 nights, Paraty 2 nights, Chapada Diamantina 3 nights

Modes of transport

Road
Brazil has a well-developed network of highways yet owing to the sheer scale of the county, it is impractical to tour the county by road. Even with flights, you should expect travel times of 3-4 hours (if not longer) especially when visiting the more remote areas such as the Pantanal, north-east beaches and the interior “Chapada” canyons. However, longer road journeys do give you far more insight into Brazilian culture and are often broken up with visits or wildlife observation.

Air
Brazil has a comprehensive network dominated by the Latin American giant Latam (result of the merger between Lan and Tam Airlines) which has regular flights to the key destinations. All itineraries will involve a number of flights and these are best purchased before you travel as part of an airpass. Please contact us on 1300 720 443 for more information.

Rail
Sadly, the vast majority of Brazil’s 30,000km of track is now dominated by cargo yet for rail enthusiasts there are several wonderful routes still in operation. Most famously, the Serra Verde Express is one of the most beautiful train rides in South America and drops from the heights of Curitiba, capital of Parana state, through lush, mountainous, Atlantic rainforest to reach the pretty colonial town of Morretes on the coast. Dating back to the 1870’s, the route is a true engineering masterpiece and the scenery on route breathtaking as you pass through the Marumbi National Park.

Boat
There is no better way to appreciate Rio’s picturesque coastline and iconic backdrop then by taking a schooner ride into Guanabara Bay or enjoying a boat trip through the myriad of islands of Brazil’s southern “Costa Verde”, cloaked in Atlantic rainforest. Further afield, you can cruise up the mighty Amazon River on a traditional riverboat such as the MV Tucano or canoe through the great seasonal wetlands of the Pantanal, one of South America’s foremost wildlife destinations. Or if it is thrills you are after, how about the Macuco boat rip that takes you right up (and under) the roaring Iguassu Falls!

Geography

Brazil covers 8½ million km², roughly half of all South America. It is bordered by 7½ thousand kilometres of Atlantic coastline to the east and the rest of the continent (bar Ecuador and Chile) to the west. The country can be divided into 5 distinct zones. In the north, the vast tropical forests and waterways of the Amazon basin dominate, the so-called lungs of the world home to an extraordinary array of flora and fauna. On the shoulder of the country, Brazil’s northeast sits on the edge of the continental plateau, its coast defined by picturesque, palm-fringed beaches while travel inland and you stumble upon the “sertao” backlands, Brazil’s inhospitable and water-starved interior. South of the Amazon in central Brazil, Mato Grosso state marks the transition from steamy jungle into the “Cerrado” tropical savannah and the huge seasonal wetlands of the Pantanal. This is Brazil’s famous cattle country where traditional “fazenda” ranches sit alongside wildlife lodges and frontier towns. Southeast Brazil encapsulates Rio and the stunning “Green Coast”, home to some of the continent’s last remaining tracts of “Mata Atlantica” or tropical Atlantic Rainforest. Finally in the far south, steamy Mata Atlantica merges with Araucaria forests of monkey puzzle trees, savannah grasslands and the soaring mountains of the Serra Geral.

Food

Forget guinea pigs and the Andean staples of potatoes, maze and quinoa, Brazilian cuisine is a heady mish-mash of flavours and influences that differs from region to region. In the northeast, sea-food is delicious and weighs heavy on every menu with dishes ranging from “moqueca”, (fish stewed in coconut milk, garlic and coriander), “caldo” chowders and “acaraje” fritters stuffed with shrimps. Southern states are more meat heavy owing to the huge cattle industry and everywhere you turn, you will find Churrascaría steak-houses. There, huge platters of grilled meats will be delivered to your table until you put up the small “stop – I’ve had enough!” red flag that accompanies each setting. Northern Brazil sees more indigenous cuisine with tropical flavours and dishes such as “Pato no tucupi”, duck cooked in Cassava broth as well as Amazonian fruits. Around Sao Paulo, there is excellent Japanese food owing to waves of immigration while closer to the border with Argentina, German settlers have exerted their influence with spicy sausages, rye-breads and darker ales.

Drinking water

Although treated, we do not advise drinking tap water in Brazil. Bottled water is very cheap and widely available in all areas of the country.

Visas

Australian citizens require visas for visits to Brazil and we recommend that you arrange these well in advance. These can be obtained through the embassy or consulate or the Oasis visalink service. Oasis accepts no responsibility regarding the issue of visas.

Money

The local currency is the “Real” although US dollars are also widely accepted in hotels and tourist shops. ATMs are common throughout and credit cards are welcomed, although often discounts will be offered for payments made in cash. However, make sure you have small denominations of local currency when travelling to more remote destinations.

Tipping is common throughout Brazil and as a guideline, you should allow US10 for a half-day guided tour (US20 for the full day) while for the driver US5 (US8 full day). Of course, only pay for good service. For general transfers, there is no need to tip unless of course they have gone out of their way to help you (ie stopped at a local pharmacy en route).

Inoculations and health precautions

Please consult with your doctor at least 6 weeks before travel to Brazil. For visits to the Amazon, Pantanal and Iguassu, you may require both ant-malarial and a yellow fever jab.

Brazil’s standard of medical facilities and care is generally very good in the key towns and cities. Foreign private medical clinics and hospitals throughout the country have facilities and services comparable to Australian standards. Medical facilities and care at most public hospitals are also good though medical evacuation to a major centre may be required for minor operations. Most hotels work with a private doctor who will visit you at your room, however, both doctors and hospitals will expect cash payment prior to providing medical services, including emergency care.

It is vital to have good medical insurance before you travel.

Australian Embassy and Consulate-General contacts in Brazil

Australian Embassy
SES Quadra 801
Conjunto K, Lote 7
Brasilia
DF 70200-010‎

Telephone + 55 61 3226 3111
Facsimile + 55-61 3226 1112

Website http://www.brazil.embassy.gov.au/

Australian Consulate-General

Alamenda Santos, 700
9th floor, Unit 92
Edifício Trianon Corporate – Cerqueira César
01418-100 – São Paulo – SP

Telephone: + 55 11 2112 6200
Facsimile: + 55 11 3171 2889

Electricity

Brazilian electrical current is 127-220 volts at 60 cycles. Plugs are either 2 flat pins or round-prong style. In the Amazon and Atlantic rainforest as well as the Pantanal, many of the lodges run off generators and it is recommended you bring along a small torch.

Getting there

If you are looking to combine Brazil with its South American neighbours, it is best accessed via Santiago, capital of Chile. Qantas offers a direct service from Sydney to Santiago three times a week while Latam (Lan) offers daily flights which touch down in Auckland. There are other routes available via Dubai, Abu Dhabi or even South Africa although do check flight times. Moreover, only one-world partners Qantas and Lan entitle you to discounted air-passes for flights within South America (including Brazil).

Non-stop flight time Sydney – Santiago approximately 14 hours
Non-stop flight time Santiago – Rio approximately 4¼ hours

Time difference

GMT – 3 hours

Tipping

Keep some local currency on departure for airport tax