BRAZIL8,514,877 km2 of paradise

C

The climate of Brazil is tropical and even though the difference between seasons is hardly noticeable, it sure varies from one region to the other.

From December to February, summertime, you'll find a scorching sun in most areas of the country, while it pours over the Amazon rainforest. From September to November, springtime, temperatures are nicer. From March to June, during autumn, and from June to September, winter, most regions are blessed with mild temperatures.

EXCHANGE RATE

BRAZILIAN REAL BRAZILIAN REAL

= 0,33 = 0,76

= 0,48 = 1,10

= 0,44 = 2,28

= 5,75 = 13,13

EURO

US DOLLAR

MEXICAN PESO

CANADIAN DOLLAR

CLIMATE

R R

R R

R R

R R

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

TROPICAL

SUBTROPICAL

TROPICAL ATLANTIC

SEMIARID

TROPICAL HIGHLAND

APRIL2016

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Who lives here?

How things work

What you'll need to get in and out

How to move around

Where can I change my currency?

Must-sees…

... and must-tastes…

How much is…

To make memories

What if I get ill?

Travel warnings…

Who to turn to…

Must-take pics

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

and not without reason. But this is not at all the only appeal of this Latin American country, which stands out for its mixture of rhythms and colours. In this guide, we give you the recipe for an unforgettable trip to Brazil.

_ The population of Brazil hovers around 200 million people, 50.32% of which are women and 49.68% are men, approximately.

_ Brazil’s predominant faith is Catholicism, which is practised by 74% of the population, followed by Protestantism, with a 15.4%.

_ Brazil is divided in 26 states and the Federal District, which is where the capital is: Brasilia.

_ Brazil’s official language is Portuguese, although there are around 170 indigenous languages and it won't be hard for you to communicate in Spanish.

_ Brazil is a Democratic Federative Republic whose president is Michel Temer.

_ The legal tender in the country is the Brazilian real (symbol: R$; code: BRL) but, since it is not stocked internationally, we recommend that you exchange your currency with Global Exchange beforehand.

_ The GDP amounts to 2,246 million dollars.

_ The annual inflation rate is at 5.8%.

_ The unemployment rate is at 6%.

_ Numbers according to economic sectors: the contribution of agriculture to the GDP is quite scarce, since it only represents a 5.5%, in spite of accounting for 40% of exports; the industrial sector represents over a quarter of the GDP, but experiences a strong deceleration; and the services industry constitutes two thirds of the GDP and employs 60% of the working population.

THE CARNIVAL OF RIO IS PROBABLY THE MOST POPULAR THING ABOUT BRAZIL,

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN US?

WHO LIVES HERE?

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

HOW THINGS WORK

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SÃO PAULO11 millions

BRASILIA3 millions

RÍO DE JANEIRO6 millions

NATAL800 000

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WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO GET IN AND OUT

HOW TO MOVE AROUNDBY PLANE

BY CAR

BY TRAIN

BY TAXI

BY BOAT

BY BUS

- The visa to get in the country must be issued by the Brazilian consulate of the country in question.

- Citizens travelling from the countries that integrate Mercosur do not require a visa to get into Brazil, they just need a valid ID or passport. Check the specific recommendations per country on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation or at Visit Brasil.

_ The biggest national airlines are GOL and TAM, but there is also Avianca, Trip, Webject (from GOL) and Azul.

_ If you want to combine trips around Brazil and other Latin American countries, check all information about the «Air Passes».

- Find out about the main airports in Brazil.

_ The rivers Rio Negro, Solimões and Madeira are the highways of the Amazon, with thousands of miles to navigate and explore the vast rainforest while travelling to/from Peru or Bolivia.

_ Bus fares are among the most expensive in South America.

_ Itapemirim and Cometa are two of the best –and biggest– companies.

_ Get all the information you need on the Lonely Planet travel guide.

_ If you are in Brazil for less than 180 days and you own a driver's licence from your country, you can easily drive around the Brazil. It will be enough with just taking your foreign driver's licence and a valid ID. If you are going to stay in the country for longer than that, you have to get a Brazilian's licence equivalent to yours.

_ If you commit an infraction behind the wheel, you will be judged according to the Brazilian law.

_ We recommend taking one of the few left train lines connecting Curitiba to Paranaguá down through the coastal mountain rage.

_ In cities, taxis are not the cheapest option. For instance, in São Paulo, the flag fall is established in BRL 4.10 and BRL 2.50 per km, although in some villages fares are fixed and taxis don’t even have taximeters. Check the taxi fares for the main Brazilian cities at Tarifa de Taxi.

WHERE CAN I CHANGE MY CURRENCY?

Upon arriving to Brazil, you can exchange your travel money to Brazilian reals in any of the 13 branches that Global Exchange has in the country. Check our website for more information.

1. Natal International Airport. Avenida Ruy Pereira dos Santos, 3100 - São Gonçalo do Amarante, Natal - RN, 59290-000, Brazil.

2. Presidente Juscelino Kubitscheck International Airport. Lago Sul, Brasília - DF, 71608-900, Brazil.

3. São Gonçalo do Amarante International Airport. Avenida Ruy Pereira dos Santos, 3100 - São Gonçalo do Amarante, Natal - RN, 59290-000.

4. Tancredo Neves International Airport. Rodovia LMG-800, km 7,9, s/n, Confins, 33500-900 Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais).

5. Tom Jobim International Airport. Av. Vinte de Janeiro, s/n, Ilha do Governador, 21941-900 Río de Janeiro.

6. Corcovado's Train. Cosme Velho, 513 - 22241-125, Río de Janeiro.

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MUST-SEES…

1. The Iguazu Falls from a chopper. This is one of the places that should be high up on your list of things to visit in the country. Not only for the views but for the impressive waterfalls you’ll be able to witness. Don’t you want to find out why they were declared a World Heritage Site in 1986?

2. The Christ of the Redeemer. This statue, 38-metre high, is located on the top the Corcovado hill. You can reach its base using the elevators and escalators.

3. The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Held every February, it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

4. The beaches of Fernando de Noronha. This group of rocky islands is a must if you are interested in visiting a place that is close to paradise.

5. Bondinho do Pão de Açúcar. Inaugurated on 27 October 1912, this is the oldest cable car in Brazil and the third one in the world.

6. Morro de São Paulo. “One-storey houses, white sand and tropical vegetation” would be the best description for this vicinity, the biggest in the Tinharé island.

7. Termas de Gravatal. This thermal spa is located in the state of Santa Catarina, 129 kilometres away from Florianópolis.

8. Tijuca National Park. 20 kilometres outside the city centre, you'll come across the largest urban rainforest in Brazil.

9. The beaches of Jericoacoara. With the simplicity of a fishermen village and the exuberance of a white sand beach and pristine waters, this place gives other tourist sites a run for their money.

10. Salvador da Bahía from Elevador Lacerda. Do not miss the wonders of this city 72 metre above the ground level.

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...AND MUST-TASTES..._ Feijoada, black bean-based dish combined with smoked or salty meats.

_ Acarajé: peeled beans formed into a ball and stuffed with vatapá, dried shrimp paste or green bean cururú.

_ Moqueca, based on fish, salt, spices and herbs that vary according to the region.

_ Pato no Tucupi, prepared with a wild manioc sauce, and seasoned with a herb called jambú.

_ Pamonha, a dumpling made from boiled sweetcorn paste, wrapped in corn husks or plantain leaves.

_ Quindim: traditional dessert from the north of Brazil whose main ingredients are egg yolks, ground coconut and sugar.

_ Tacacá no tucupi, mixture of xanthan gum and manioc flour, combined with a special sauce.

_ Sugarcane juice.

_ Guaraná, drink made from Amazonian fruits.

_ Caipirinha, cocktail made with cachaça, lime and sugar.

Feijoada

Moqueca

Guaraná

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HOW MUCH IS…

TO MAKE MEMORIES

_ A single ticket for the tube, bus or urban train: BRL 3.5.

_ A coffee at a coffee shop: BRL 6.

_ Eating at an average restaurant: BRL 70.

_ A drink at a nightclub: BRL 8.

_ A beer in a pub: BRL 12.

_ A ticket for the movies at the weekend: BRL 25.

_ Getting into an emblematic museum: BRL 30.

_ Renting a two-room flat in an average area: BRL 2,500.

_ A ride in a taxi from the airport to downtown Rio (45 minutes approx.): BRL 150.

* Data taking Rio de Janeiro as reference.

_ The bank holidays are: 7 September (Independence Day), 1 January (New Year), 7 and 8 March (Carnival), 9 April (Good Friday), 21 April (Tiradentes), 12 October (Our Lady of Aparecida), 2 November (All Saints’ Day), 15 November (Declaration of the Republic), 25 December (Christmas).

_ It is convenient to avoid drinking water from the tap, as well as eating vegetables and fruits that have not been properly washed and disinfected.

_ Voltage ranges from 110V to 220V, depending on the region we are in, and plugs have two round pins.

_ Business opening hours usually go from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., although in Brasilia and in the main cities there are increasingly more supermarkets that are open 24 hours, even on Sundays. Banks open from Monday to Friday, 11 p.m. to 4 p.m. Drugstores, on the other hand, are generally open until 8 p.m.

_ Tipping is not mandatory nor expected in most establishments. In almost every other restaurant and bar, for instance, tips are included in the bill and they normally represent a 10% of the total.

WHAT IF I GET ILL?

TRAVEL WARNINGS...

_ Brazilian health authorities have reported several cases of people suffering from dengue and chikungunya fever, in addition to the outbreak of the zika virus, spread by the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and affecting mainly pregnant women during the first trimester, causing a birth defect on babies called microcephaly. This situation is primarily affecting the states on the Northeast of Brazil, although the virus is active in the whole country. Caution is advised and it is highly recommended to use a repellent and wear sensible clothes to prevent mosquito bites, as well as to avoid crowded places and peak hours.

_ Avoid drinking water from the tap, as well as eating vegetables and fruits that have not been properly washed and disinfected.

_ Swimming in the ocean is forbidden in a lot of beaches in the state of Santa Catarina because of pollution. If you are thinking about going there, make sure you check the list published on a weekly basis by the government of that state.

_ Be sure to look out for your safety in general, because as statistics prove, Brazil is one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

_ Assaults at gunpoint where victims at forced to withdraw money from ATMs are the most common form of violence. They can happen anytime of day in any neighbourhood of the Federal District.

_ Taxis. For airport transfers, we recommend taking taxis with an official licence. In cities with a lot of traffic, as is the case of São Paulo, assaults at gunpoint from motorcycles while cars are stopped in traffic lights or jams kind of go with the territory.

_ Muggers. If you find yourself involved in this situation, do not put up a fight, because they are usually armed and under the influence.

_ ATMs. We recommend using ATMs placed inside a secured area and be especially careful when entering the secret code; or simply carrying cash to avoid having to use your card and prevent duplicates.

_ Carrying valuable items. In big cities, especially in the most popular among tourists, there is risk of thefts and robberies, sometimes even involving violence.

_ Dangerous sites. Check the full list on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

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_ In case of fire or flood: Firefighters on the 193.

_ If I need to contact Civil defence: 199.

_ If I need to contact Civil police: 197.

_ If I need to contact Military police: 190.

_ If I have an emergency: 192

_ If I need to call to Brazil: the prefix is +55.

-For local calls: 0 + carrier prefix + city prefix + telephone number.

-For reverse charge calls, drop the 0 and add 90 at the beginning.

-For international calls from Brazil: 00 + carrier prefix + country prefix + telephone number.

-To call Customer Service telephone numbers (900, 0800, 0900, 0300, 800) it is not necessary to dial the carrier prefix.

_ Carriers operating in Brazil: TIM, Claro, Oi, Vivo and Nextel. Check the full list of prefixes for Brazil.

_ If I need to check something online:

http://www.visitbrasil.com/

http://blog.deviajeabrasil.com/

http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/default.php

http://www.viajeabrasil.com/

WHO TO TURN TO...

Rio de Janeiro

MUST-TAKE PICSIguazu Falls

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Samba dancerCarnival in Rio de Janeiro

Children playing street football

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Copacabana beachRio de Janeiro

Protests of Monday 17th in front of the Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro.