Destination Guide - Brazil

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
1	High Energy Extravaganza Biking, Hiking, Canyoning, & Sea Kayaking (9 Days)

One of the earth's greatest natural masterpieces, Brazil has symbolized the great escape into a primordial, tropical paradise. From the wild spectacle of Carnaval to the immensity of the lush Amazon, Brazil is a country of mythic proportions. It is the fifth largest country on earth with a melody of superlatives, the Amazon, the world's mightiest river; Iguazu Falls, with massive volumes of water cascading over the mile-wide escarpment of the Parana plateau; vast equatorial rainforest, palm-kissed beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see and deep canyons of granite and quartzite surrounded by densely covered forests. With such a vast range of diversity, Brazil is the ultimate outdoor destination for the adventure traveller.

Official Name: Federative Republic of Brazil
Population: 186 Million
Capital City: Brasilia, pop. 1.7 million
People: 55% European descent, 38% mulatto, 6% or higher African descent
Languages: Portuguese, plus approx. 180 Amerindian languages are spoken in remote areas
Religion: 70% Roman Catholic
Currency: Real
Time: GMT -3 hours in the east, northeast, south and southeast; GMT -4 hours in the west; and GMT -5 hours in the far west
Electricity: 110/220V 60Hz (http://www.kropla.com)
Major Industries: Metal ores & products, transport equipment, soya beans, and coffee
Airport Departure Tax: $36 USD (subject to change)

IMPORTANT FACTS

Travel Documents

North American citizens require a valid passport and a visa to enter Brazil (Note: please make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your date of arrival). In most cases the 90-day visa should be obtained in advance. Please check with your local embassy before departure. It is obligatory by law to carry your passport with you at all times, although because of the obvious risk of losing your passport, it’s better to carry a photocopy instead of the original document.

Climate

There are very few areas of Brazil that cannot be comfortably visited all year round. Generally, seasonal changes are not dramatic, the most defined being in the south. Winter in Brazil is from June to September. Only the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana and Sao Paulo get cold. A few towns even get snow! Summer is at its height from December to February. In the south of the country, including Rio, the humidity can be very high, with temperatures reaching 40C (104F). The rest of the year Rio has temperatures from 20C(68F) to 30C (86F). The northeast is generally hot all year round, with a cool breeze that prevents it from being stifling. Temperatures average about 28C (82F). The highlands of the interior, including Brasilia, are cooler than the coastal regions with frequent rains. Brazil has rain throughout the year. Short tropical rainstorms are most common, although more continued rain can affect the south during the winter months. Brazil's highest rainfall is in the Amazon and usually takes the form of a short daily downpour.

Food

The mainstay of the Brazilian diet is rice and black beans, generally served with beef, chicken or fish. Steak is a national passion. It is very good and the portions are massive. In the large cities, a large variety of international restaurants can be found. There are certain regional specialties. The South is famous for its barbecues, and the Northeast for its spicy seafood dishes. However, without a doubt the country's national dish is the “feijoada” a bean potpourri type dish, reputedly introduced in Brazil by black slaves as early as the sixteenth century.

Water

Water is generally untreated and not safe to drink. Bottled water, fruit drinks, soft drinks, coffee and tea are all widely available and are safe to drink.

Vaccinations

There are no mandatory vaccinations required for Brazil, however they currently require proof of yellow fever vaccination for persons entering Brazil from countries listed as endemic for yellow fever etc. There are some mandatory vaccinations that are recommended however; these are tetanus, diphtheria and polio. We advise you to contact your nearest travel clinic for information on health requirements, as this information can and does change frequently. A good website for current information is The Centre for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel/.

Destination Guide - Brazil

IMPORTANT FACTS

Travel Documents

Climate

Food

Water

Vaccinations

Suggested Reading List

Travel Guides

Non-Fiction

Fiction

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