Brazil Country Guide

To view information about climate and weather conditions in Brazil, go to our Brazil Weather page.

The international country code for Brazil is +55. Full IDD services are available for the whole country. To dial out of the country, first dial "00" and then the country code and phone number.

Emergency phone numbers in Brazil are 190 for Police and 193 for the Fire Department.

Digital and US-style analogue mobile phone networks exist in Brazil, and roaming agreements exist with many of the international mobile phone networks. It is best to check with your service provider in your home country beforehand for further information.

Internet access is often provided to guests at many of the mid-range and luxury hotels. Alternatively, internet cafes exist in many of the larger towns and cities. Airports will often have an internet booth, and post offices are normally the best place to find internet in smaller towns.

Postal services in Brazil are relatively reliable. To ensure your post arrives, you may wish to send it as registered or franked mail. Airmail to Europe or North America takes from four to six days. Standard post office hours are: Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 18:00; Saturday: 08:00 - 12:00.

Brazilian currency is the Real/Reais (R$), which is made up of 100 centavos. Notes are available in denominations of R$100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins come in denominations of R$1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 centavos. The current exchange rate can be found at OANDA.com, the currency site.

Traveller's cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, cambios, travel agencies and many hotels around the country. Brazil is also well served by its extensive network of ATMs. Most major international credit and debit cards are also accepted. Standard banking hours are Monday to Friday: 10:00 - 16:00.

Capital: Brasília. Population: 2 million (2000).
Size: 8,547,404 square km (3,300,170.9 square miles).
Population: 186 million (official 2005 estimate).
Population Density: 22 per square km.

Brazil spans a number of time zones:
Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 from third Sunday in October to third Saturday in March).
Western Standard Time: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from third Sunday in October to third Saturday in March).
Fernando de Noronha Archipelago: GMT - 2.
East Parà and North East States: GMT - 3.
West Parà and Amapa: GMT - 4.
Acre State: GMT - 5.

To view the current time in Brasilia, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, and different regional accents characterise each region. Other languages such as Spanish, English, French, Italian and German are spoken as well, mostly in tourist areas. Four indigenous languages still survive, and are spoken within those indigenous areas. These are Gê, Tupi-guarani, Aruak and Karib. Some useful Portugese phrases for travellers include:

Bom dia - Good morning
Boa tarde - Good afternoon
Boa noite - Good evening/Good night
Como vai - How are you?
Prazer - It is a pleasure to meet you
Obrigado/obrigada - Thank you (male/female person)
Oi - Hi
Até logo - Good bye
De nada - You are welcome.
Por favor - Please/Excuse-se (by asking information)
Desculpe - Sorry. (by apologizing)
Dá licença - Excuse-me. (by making way/coming in)
Não faz mal - No problem/It doesn't matter
Meu nome é - My name is
Você fala Anglais? - Do you speak English?
Como? - Pardon?/How?/What?
O que? - What?
Por quê? - Why?
Por que não? - Why not?
Onde? - Where?
Quanto é? - How much is it?

All travellers require a visa to enter Brazil, except Nationals of EU countries (excluding Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania & Malta) for stays of up to 90 days.

All travellers must be in possession of onward or return tickets and sufficient funds to cover their stay & ensure they have a valid passport for 6 months from date of entry.

Transit passengers continuing to a 3rd country by the same or first connecting flight, provided holding onward documentation and not leaving the airport, do not need a visa.

Tourist Visa - cost varies according to nationality. It is usually approximately US$30-40. Transit Visa - contact the consulate for details of cost.

Note - All non-Brazilian nationals under 18 years of age, when not accompanied by both parents, must have a birth certificate (an original or authenticated photocopy). This must be in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish, otherwise an official translation must be presented as well.

It is advisable to check this information with your relevant embassy prior to travel.

US citizens who do not wish to go through the trouble of dealing with the red tape themselves can count on the professional services of Travel Visa Pro to speed things up: Apply for Brazil Visa Online (service starts from $39). If you need to renew, add pages, change name, or just get a new US passport, you can Apply for a New US Passport here.

General Expenses

- Loaf of bread R$ 1.50
- Litre of petrol R$ 3.10
- 1.5L of bottled water R$ 2.50
- Glass of chope (draft beer) R$ 2.70
- Souvenir t-shirt R$ 18.00
- Freshly squeezed suco (juice) R$ 2.50
- Admission to samba club in Rio R$ 10.00-21.00
- Two hour flight from Rio to Salvador (one-way) R$ 220.00
- Double room in a comfy pousada in Arraial d'Ajuda R$ 120.00
- 11 hour bus ride from São Paulo to Florianópolis R$ 87.00
- Four day excursion in the Pantanal R$ 500.00

Average Room Rates

- Low US$5-25
- Mid US$25-75
- High US$75-300
- Deluxe US$300+

Average Meal Rates

- Low US$1-5
- Mid US$5-10
- High US$10-40
- Deluxe US$40+