Know Before You Go BRAZIL
Introduction The anticipation of your holiday should give you enormous pleasure. In order to ensure you are fully prepared for your next trip we have put together this document which contains essential information about the country you are soon to visit. We know that visa requirements and electrical currents are not the most scintillating of topics but we also know that being forewarned is forearmed and we would hate for you to come back from your holiday, thinking “if only Steppes had told me that!” Travelling should be inspirational but above anything else it should be fun. We hope this information takes care of the more mundane matters of planning a trip so that you can then focus on building up excitement levels pre-travel, safe in the knowledge you’ve got everything covered.
DID YOU KNOW? “Brazil has 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among the best known is the Iguacu National Park, home to one of the world’s largest and most impressive waterfalls at 1.7 miles wide and with a total of 275 drops.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How long are the flights to Brazil?
What is the typical food and drink in Brazil?
Brazil is lucky enough to be one of few countries in South America which has direct flights with British Airways and TAM the Brazilian carrier. A direct flight from Heathrow takes 12 hours.
Brazil’s typical restaurants are churrascarias where meat is very much on the menu much like a barbeque. Seafood also features highly with the traditional Moquecas being served in Bahia. Typically the traditional drink is a Caipirinha but beer is drunk throughout the day as well as many delicious exotic fruit juices.
What is the time Zone in Brazil? Brazil has 3 time zones but the one used mostly on holiday is Brasilia time (BRT) which is 3 hours behind GMT. When observing daylight savings time it becomes BRST and the difference is just 2 hours behind.
Are there any festivals I can see during my trip, or spend time with ‘real’ locals?
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We should have discussed this with you and if this is of particular interest then do ask and your travel consultant can arrange this for you. Carnival is incredibly popular and you will need to book up in advance to secure your spot.
Can I use my mobile phone in Brazil?
Are there too many tourists, will I feel like a sheep?
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies and coverage is good, aside from the Pantanal and Amazon. Please do check with your network provider and do consider other guests when using your mobile phone and especially in poorer areas and in big cities. Phones are available at all hotels and restaurants. Public phones generally operate with calling cards available from kiosks.
Rio sees thousands of tourists a day and at Corcovado and the main sites this will be busy. However, with its huge stretches of beach, vast dense jungle, enormous expanse of wetlands and desert there is plenty of space to get away from the crowds.
Is Brazil safe, only there has been a lot of media attention with the Olympics and the World Cup?
What can I expect travelling in Brazil?
Rio does retain an image of being dangerous and crime is around but if you travel sensibly you should be absolutely fine. Whilst there is the reputation this is something concentrated in particular areas, around the favelas; things are moving forward with police taking control of favelas. Of course, we still suggest taking the normal precautions as you would in any big city and do ask your guide for advice.
What is the International dialling code for Brazil?
Travelling involves huge journeys, lots of internal flights and it is an expensive destination, but you will be rewarded with incredible beaches, wildlife, culture and fun.
How much luggage can I take? International airlines mostly work on a higher luggage allowance limit for Brazil due to a Brazilian regulation which is 2 pieces of up 32kg each. Both TAM and GOL internal flights have a luggage allowance of just 23kg per person.
Do most hotels have hair dryers? Most hotels supply these in the rooms, or you can ask for a ‘secadora de pelo’ at reception.
What clothing should I take to Brazil?
Do I need any immunisations or malaria tablets?
It is always best to pack light and while casual dress has become more acceptable in recent years, Latin Americans tend to devote great care to their clothes and appearance. A laundry service is available at most if not all hotels. Depending upon where you are travelling to in Brazil this will dictate what is best to wear. We find that a good fleece, waterproof jacket, layers and zip-off trousers tend to work well for most destinations. Walking sandals which do not slip are good for slippery pavements in the cities.
Again, the best person to speak to is your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner as the advice can change and we are not medically qualified to advise. Generally the standard immunisations are required and a course of anti-malarials is normally suggested for travel to the Amazon. Do also take precautions against Dengue Fever which does not presently have a vaccine.
What about the altitude in Brazil? Occupying nearly half of South America you would think that it must be high, but with most of the climate being tropical and holding approximately half of the rainforests on Earth most of the country is low. The highest point is in Amazonas at 2,994 metres.
Can I use my credit card? Yes, most hotels and restaurants will accept credit cards for purchases. It is also wise to carry some cash for staff gratuities (Brazilian reals). ATM’s are in most cities.
Where can I find updates on the weather before my trip? Worldwide weather information www.bbc.co.uk/weather
is
available:
www.onlineweather.com
or
LANGUAGE We feel that it is important to try to learn the local language, even if it is only the words for hello and goodbye, not forgetting thank you. Brazil’s official language is Portuguese, however English is also widely spoken in the main tourist areas.
ENGLISH
PORTUGUESE
Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Hello (to a group or informally) How are you? Very well Goodbye Please Thank you (very much) Yes/No Can I take a photo? How much is it? Do you speak English? I (don’t)understand
Bom dia Boa tarde Boa noite Oi/olá Tudo bem? Muito bem Adeus Por favour/faz favour (Muito) obrigado/a Sim/ Não Posso tirar uma foto? Quanto custa? Você fala inglês? (Não) entendo
FOREIGN OFFICE ADVICE In association with the 'Know Before You Go’ campaign Steppes Travel are working with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) to do all that we can to help British travellers stay safe overseas. Please visit the Foreign Office website for any updates: www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
VISA REQUIREMENTS
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Visas are not required for British Nationals to Brazil. Other nationals please check with the respective embassies or representatives.
For your safety and peace of mind, comprehensive travel insurance is required when travelling with Steppes Travel. We suggest the specialist travel insurance brokers Campbell Irvine. To arrange cover you can speak to our specialists or call Campbell Irvine on 020 7938 1734.
Please note that it remains your responsibility to organise visas when required (unless otherwise specified by your consultant) although we are more than happy to advise, help and provide the relevant supporting documentation where necessary.
If you already have travel insurance then we require confirmation that your policy provides adequate cover for the duration of your trip, covers the full value of your invoice, is sufficient for the destination(s) you are visiting and includes medical, evacuation and repatriation cover. Please send your travel consultant the insurers name, policy number and emergency contact number.
VACCINATIONS
HEALTH & SAFETY
A Yellow Fever vaccination is not currently required but we advise you to either check online at the Fit for Travel website www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk or with your local GP/ travel clinic regarding ‘boosters’ for standard immunisations such as Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. Prophylactics are generally also suggested for those visiting the Amazon regions. Dengue Fever is common, particularly during the rainy season and to date there is no vaccination for this.
Travelling with Steppes Travel is a wonderful chance to experience a stunning array of cultures, landscapes, ecosystems and activities. At the heart of this experience are the differences between our respective ways of life. You should understand that this means that standards of health and safety will not be the same as in the UK and may often be lower. Please refer to our full health and safety information on our website under Travellers Code.
Pre-existing conditions If you have specific medical requirements, please consult your doctor prior to departure to obtain adequate supplies of any necessary medication that may be required whilst on holiday. Please carry personal medication with you in your hand luggage (in line with current airline regulations), remembering to keep a copy of your prescription or the usage guidelines with you as well.
AIRPORT & FLIGHT INFORMATION • • • •
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While travelling, please make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months. Have appropriate visa for your destination and transit points. Please note the date, time of your flight and also the time to arrive at the airport. Please be on time. Please advise if you have a special meal requests (fasting, vegetarian, medical, Muslim, baby food, etc…), while booking your flight or buying your ticket. Food items are not allowed to be carried in the cabin or inside the hand baggage. Please affix your name and address label on the baggage. It is also recommended to put the label in side of your checked in baggage to help us identify the bag in case the baggage tag/label attached outside is detached and lost. Please do not put valuable items such as money, jewellery, cameras and other expensive electronic items in your check-in baggage. If hand baggage is collected at the check-in counter or at the gate due to its size being above the allowed limit, the airline will not be liable for the damage and loss of valuable items in the baggage. Do not carry liquids or gels of over 100ml, toy or replica guns, razor blades, household cutlery, knives, scissors, knitting needles etc. in your hand baggage. For your own and the flight's safety and security, please do not accept any item from anyone as you will be held responsible & accountable for the contents of any of the items found in your custody.
SHELF IMPROVEMENT
ETIQUETTE & CULTURE
We have put together a small list of books that are set around Brazil. Both fiction and non-fiction, they will help you establish an understanding and feel for the country.
Brazilian culture is incredibly diverse offering a varied ethnic and cultural mix of Portuguese, African and Native Americans. Brazilians are generally family orientated and these are usually large. Being rather affectionate, men shake hands with each other while women kiss each other’s cheeks as a greeting.
Author
Title
Luis Sepulveda Mario Vargas Llosa John Hemming Jorge Amado Catherine Caufield William Lewis Herndon Theodore Roosevelt Joe Kane John Hemming Michael Palin Footprint Handbooks
Full Circle, A South American Journey The War at the End of the World Red Gold The War of the Saints In the Rainforest Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon Through the Brazilian Wilderness Running the Amazon Tree of Rivers, the Story of the Amazon Brazil Brazil – Footprint guide
Rob Boschhuizen
Ecology of Tropical Rainforests: An Introduction
Ber van Perlo
A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil
ELECTRICITY Electric current in Brazil is 110 to 127V and most four and five-star hotels provide 220V. Electrical outlets vary offering the European-style plug with two circular metal pins, Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades and the American-style plug with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin.
Bahia offers a distinct culture with an African influence which is where Capoeira derived; a martial art which combines elements of acrobatics, dance and music. The country is predominantly catholic and the church is highly respected. Music, samba, food, religion and carnival all make up Brazil’s fascinating culture and where Rio, Salvador and Olinda allcome alive in February to party hard. Outdoor adventure wear is perfectly acceptable however for churches you should show discretion covering shoulders and knees as with most parts of the world. Airports, military, police and defence establishments should not be photographed and some churches and museums forbid use. Permission should always be obtained to photograph local people and do be careful when visiting the favelas – your guide will let you know what and what not to do. Please be aware that you are travelling in a country where services and transport structures are very different from our own western viewpoints. Plumbing – in rural areas and small hotels it may be necessary to dispose of toilet paper in a receptacle next to the toilet, rather than flushing it away.
CLIMATE
FOOD & DRINK It is very important that you drink plenty of water especially when at altitude. Dehydration is also quite common and bottled water is available throughout Brazil. It is generally recommended that guests drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration. This excludes tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages, which act as diuretics and can actually contribute to dehydration and this also applies when at altitude.
We want your holiday to be unspoilt by food and drink related health problems, please… Since Brazil is of continental proportions, there are substantial variations and contrasts between different regions although it has a warm tropical climate throughout the year. During our summer months southern Brazil can be quite a lot cooler whereas Rio tends to remain fairly warm. The rainy season affects the northeast April to July, but in reality these months have little variance.
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Avoid buffets in warm climates, and stick to dishes that have been freshly cooked and served, and not left hanging around in the warm. Do not buy food from roadside stalls unless you have seen it cooked in front of you. Stick to bottled water and make sure the seal is unbroken. Make sure that all fruit and vegetables eaten raw, are washed in boiled or bottled water before eating.
MONEY The official currency in Brazil is the Brazilian Real (R$) which is divided up into 100 centavos. ATM’s are commonplace in the main cities within Brazil, especially in the major cities and US$ are not generally accepted. To find the present, up to date currency rate of conversion for where you are travelling to, log on to: www.xe.com/ucc or use the XE app.
Credit cards International Visa, MasterCard, American Express and bank debit cards (Cirrus and Maestro) are usually accepted throughout Brazil. Before you leave home advise your credit card company that you will be heading abroad.
Tipping Tipping is not compulsory. If, however, you want to tip because you have received good service, below is a brief guideline to assist you. Restaurants & Bars Hotels
Tour guides Taxi drivers Transfer driver/guides
10 -12% tip is customary included as a service charge. If not, 10% is suggested. All hotels add a service charge to their final bill. It is recommended that gratifications are paid according to the quality of the service received at a hotel. US$3-5 per person for a day of guiding, depending upon length of tour, type of guiding etc. Not mandatory in Brazil but it is common to round up the total to be paid as a tip. US$5-8 per person per day (guides who also do the driving).
Giving money Whilst the giving of money is a matter of personal preference or conscience, Steppes Travel feels that it is best to give a donation to a proper charitable entity, as opposed to freely giving cash to individuals.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Just because we believe travel should be of benefit to both traveller and the host country, that doesn’t mean having fun is frowned upon. On the contrary, it is positively encouraged and because you’ll feel like you’re giving something back to the local people, wildlife and environment, you’ll have even more to smile about. Our policy is that we endeavour: • •
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To work with privately owned companies and hotels rather than state owned or foreign companies in the countries that you visit. To support a number of charities which promote a wide range of education programmes together with environmental and community projects in the countries we visit. When possible, we encourage you to visit these initiatives. To encourage travellers to visit unspoilt areas of the world where low impact tourism can have a hugely beneficial effect. To take you beyond the ordinary, to local markets or community craft schemes rather than large corporation tourist shops so that your money benefits those who need it most.
Our ‘responsible policy’ is not just limited to the destinations in which we operate. Responsible practice is exercised in our office with various measures put in place aimed at reducing, re-using and recycling resources where possible.
In return we ask you: • • • •
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To be sympathetic to local customs, traditions and idiosyncrasies, which to us might seem strange To be aware of local resources, particularly water and its purity, and treat them with care To be generous in relation to local monetary values, but do not over tip To give money where it is needed and not to hordes of children. Handing out gifts creates an air of expectancy and exacerbates the problem. Far better to give items such as pens to teachers To not buy goods that will have a detrimental effect on either wildlife or the environment however beautiful or plentiful they may seem. It only encourages others You are encouraged to report back on your experience and on the behaviour and awareness of our agents and local guides on your return. Only in this way can we improve and ensure our demands are being met.
We are committed to developing our Policy of Responsible Practice even further in the future. Our aim is to continually incorporate new responsible practices into our business at all levels and encourage our suppliers to do the same.
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
British High Commission 0055 (61) 33292369
Press.brasilia@fco.gov.uk
0845 8502829
www.malariahotspots.co.uk www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
The Visa Service
0870 8900185
www.cibtvisas.co.uk
Identity and Passport Service
0870 210410
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-passport-office
Heathrow Airport
0870 0002468
www.heathrowairport.com
Gatwick Airport
0870 0002468
www.gatwickairport.com
British Embassy in Brazil Setor de Embaixadas Sul, Quadra 801, Lote 8 CEP 70408-900 Brasilia Brazil
Health and Vaccinations Malaria Hotspots Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice Fit for travel
Passport and Visa requirements
Airports
Flights Airline information
www.airlinequality.com
Currency Currency converter
www.xe.com/ucc/
WHAT TO PACK You will have your own ideas from past experiences regarding your personal list of ‘utterly indispensables’ and favourite items, so the following are our suggestions to supplement your own packing list.
Important Stuff • • • • • •
Passport and photocopy (keep photocopies separate) Itinerary & Airline reference number Copy of insurance policy Credit cards/cash Emergency contact numbers International vaccination card where relevant (i.e Yellow Fever Certificate)
*Please keep your photocopies separate from your originals.
Clothing • • • • • • • • •
Base-layer: T-shirts and vests Outer-layer: wind/waterproof jacket Comfortable walking boots or trainers Long trousers suitable for walking. Pockets helpful 2/3 Long-sleeved shirts Wide-brimmed sun hat Socks / underwear Mid –layer: Fleece or jumper Walking sandals
Essentials • • • • • • • • • •
Soft bag between 45-70 litres 20-litre daypack, for keeping everyday items handy Field Guides/pocket language guide Good quality sunglasses, preferably polarised Camera, memory cards, cleaning materials, spare batteries Diary, note pad, pens, reading material Torch with spare batteries and bulb Waterbottle – 1 ltr Camera Bag Wash-kit
Medical equipment • • • • • • •
Personal medical travel kit Personal prescription medicines Insect repellent Lip salve Spare prescription glasses Contact lens & cleaners Sunscreen
USEFUL TRAVEL APPS
XE Currency Know how much you’re spending with live updates.
Google translate Translates between 64 languages, with audio too.
Evernote Food Document recipes you love as you travel.
Map My Walk Calculate your duration, distance, pace and speed.
Weather Pro
Pin Drop
Weather reports for up to two million locations.
Pin on a map to record locations you’ve discovered.
Flight Track
Travel Smart
Follow detailed paths of thousands of flights.
Access to emergency services & health advice.
Prizmo
Trip Journal
A pocket scanner for all your important documents.
Tipulator Nifty tip calculator, also helps to split bills easily.
Flashlight Simple gadget, always handy for travelling.
Virtual scrapbook, geotagging pictures & videos.
WhatsApp Messenger Free to send pictures, videos & sound clips over wifi
Viber International calls and messaging for free.
Packing Pro
Triposo
Packing suggestions based on your destination.
Pocket Wikitravel, internet connection not required.
THE STEPPES TRAVEL GROUP 51 CASTLE STREET CIRENCESTER GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL7 1QD
T +44 (0)1285 880 980 F +44 (0)1285 885 888 ENQUIRY@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM