Travel Information
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Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance can be very helpful when traveling abroad and can cover for such things as medical expenses, emergency evacuations, personal liability, theft, lost baggage, and of course - cancellation of the trip. Class Adventure Travel does not offer travel insurance within the price of our packages – but we do recommend www.travelguard.com. Travel Guard International is quite possibly the leading provider of travel insurance plans in the world. Travel guard covers over 6 million travelers a year and has great records. |
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Vaccinations
For tourists who have been in transit over the past three months, or who are coming from certain countries - Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, French Guiana, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leon, Sudan, Venezuela and Zaire -, an International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever is required.
The yellow fever vaccine is also recommended for all national and international tourists who intend to visit the following Brazilian states: Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Federal District, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. |
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Health
It is important to stay healthy while traveling in order to get the most out of your vacation. Drinking bottled water is strongly recommended. Brazilian water, even in such populated areas as Rio, can contain amoebae and parasites. Drinking tap water can lead to a bad infection – more likely a couple of days spend in a bathroom though. It’s much easier to drink only bottled or treated (boiled) water. Ice should like wise be avoided as well.
Eat well-cooked meat, chicken and fish. Pork, raw salads and homemade mayonnaise may be risky. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Avoid eating food from street vendors.
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Visa
Most EU citizens receive a 90-day tourist visa on entry into Brazil. Nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US require visas. They, and citizens of other countries, are advised to contact the Brazilian embassy or consulate in their country for information. Fees vary as Brazil has a reciprocal visa system. Tourist visas may be extended for an extra 90 days at any big police station once in Brazil. |
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Money / Currency – ATM, Credit Cards
The official currency of Brazil is the Real. The exchange rate is around 2.0 Reais to US$1.
It may be safer to use ATM’s than to carry large amounts of cash around Brazil, and it is probably better to pay for goods with cards than cash. Machines are widely spread but foreigners can only use their cards in machines marked ‘24 Horas’ that have signs for Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus and more. Banco do Brasil, Bradesco and HSBC are the banks most likely to work for you, but none are guaranteed! To discourage robberies, ATM’s will not allow large withdrawals late at night.
Traveller’s Cheques don’t give great rates in Brazil, even if used in the companies own offices, and it can be time consuming or expensive to change them in banks. It is risky to change money anywhere else but official exchanges, but taking a small amount of foreign currency in cash or cheques is always a good idea while traveling.
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Tipping
Tipping has become far more common in Brazil in recent years, and most bars and restaurants will add 10% to your bill. Kiosks and deckchair assistants always appreciate a tip, and car-parking attendants on the street should always be given a Real or two for their help. |
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Airport Taxes
Departure tax for international flights leaving Brazil is US$36, which may be included in your ticket price. If not, you will have to pay at the airport in Reais or US dollars. The same information applies to domestic flights, which have a tax of between R5 and R12. |
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Customs
Duty of 50% must be paid on goods, apart from personal belongings, with a value of over US$500. Duty free goods with a value of up to US$500 may be brought into the country without duty. Amounts of over R$10,000 in cash must be declared. |
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Safety
People traveling to Brazil must take their common sense with them. Crime and safety issues can affect anybody, not just tourists, so it is wise, especially in the big cities, to avoid making yourself a target. Displays of jewelry and equipment such as cameras may attract unwanted attention. Keep valuables out of sight where possible. Only carry the amount of money that you think will be necessary for your day. Stick to well-policed and well-lit areas, especially at night. Ask at your hotel for local advice on particular areas to avoid. Remember though, that even with all these precautions, some people in Brazil will still see you as a rich tourist, compared to their own standard of living. Muggings and robberies can still occasionally occur. Don’t resist or try to fight robbers who may well be armed for the sake of a few dollars or for goods that should be covered by your insurance.
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