Americas · South America
🇧🇷 Brazil travel guide
Beaches, waterfalls & samba nights.
- Currency
- R$ BRL
- Time
- UTC −3
- Emergency
- 190 · 192
Best places in Brazil
- Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf. Rio’s iconic views.
- Iguaçu Falls. One of the world’s largest waterfalls.
- Salvador. Afro-Brazilian culture in Pelourinho.
- Amazon. River lodges from Manaus.
Hidden places
- Lençóis Maranhenses. Dunes with blue lagoons (best May–Sept).
- Jericoacoara. Kitesurfing beach village.
- Fernando de Noronha. Protected island paradise.
- Pantanal. Best place to see jaguars.
When to go
- Best time. Depends on region; Rio is pleasant April–June and Sept–Nov.
- Avoid. Peak Carnival prices unless you’re going for it.
- Festivals. Carnival (Feb/Mar), Festa Junina (June), Réveillon (New Year).
What you need
- Documents. Passport, visa if required.
- Pack. Light clothes, swimwear, insect repellent.
- Health. Check yellow fever vaccine advice.
- Apps. Uber, 99, Google Translate.
The soul of Brazil
- Start somewhere unforgettable. Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu Falls, Salvador, the Amazon and Paraty.
- Choose your season. Varies by region; Carnival is February or March.
- Before you leave. Fly between regions; Brazil is huge.
Visual money
- Currency · BRL R$. Brazilian real.
- A daily budget. Illustrative, per person: budget R$250–400; comfortable R$600–1,200.
- Paying locally. Cards are widely accepted. Pix is common but may need a local account.
Arrival playbook
- Documents first. Visa rules changed recently for some nationalities; check official Brazilian sites.
- Your first ride. Use ride apps or official airport taxis.
- Get connected. Buy SIMs from Claro, Vivo or TIM with your passport.
Street codes
- Greetings. Hugs and cheek kisses are common among friends.
- OK sign. The OK hand gesture is offensive.
- Beach life. Bring only what you need to the sand.
Beyond the postcard
- Lençóis Maranhenses. Dunes with rainwater lagoons.
- Chapada Diamantina. Canyons, caves and waterfalls.
- Bonito. Snorkel in crystal-clear rivers.
Food dossier
- A few first plates. Feijoada, pão de queijo, moqueca and açaí.
- Churrascaria. All-you-can-eat barbecue; flip your card to stop.
- Drinks. Caipirinha and fresh coconut water.
Scam shield
- Phone theft. Keep phones out of sight on beaches and streets.
- Card skimming. Use ATMs inside banks.
- Favela tours. Choose community-led operators.
Language cheat sheet
- Hello · Oi / Olá. Thank you · Obrigado / Obrigada.
- How much? · Quanto custa?. Water · Água. Help · Socorro!
- Thumbs up. The universal “all good” — tudo bem.
Survival essentials
- Emergency · 190 / 192. Police 190, ambulance 192, fire 193.
- Health. Check yellow fever vaccine advice for some regions.
- Power & time. 127V or 220V depending on city; sockets type N. Brasília time UTC−3.
Your Brazil chapter
- A gentle first journey. Rio → Paraty → Iguaçu over 10 days.
- A different pace. An Amazon river lodge near Manaus.
- Before confirming. This is a starter guide, not live advice. Verify visas, prices, opening times and safety conditions with official sources.