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GENERAL INFO
Brazil is a place that has a little bit of everything. This mix of races and colors makes this a happy and fun-loving people, yet strong, fighting and full of pride for its land. And it has a hospitable spirit unequalled anywhere else in the world. All of these qualities bound together make Brazil the ideal destination for those who wish to be well-received and treated as if at home.
One of the most appreciated Brazilian destinations by visitors is Rio de Janeiro, the Marvelous City, with its stunningly beautiful scenery and home of the greatest popular party in the world: Carnival. You can enjoy the country’s beautiful beaches, which stretch for over seven thousand kilometers of coastline. No one fails to be enchanted by the natural beauty of these veritable paradises of white sand and turquoise waters. In Rio, among the most visited are the famous beaches of Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon. Just 105 miles from Rio, a pleasant 2-hour trip takes you to the peninsula of Búzios, whose more than 20 magnificent beaches and crystal-clear water contrast with the exuberantly sculptured landscape and exotic vegetation, which a prodigal Mother Nature has privileged with a wonderful year-round summer. Originally settled by European pirates and slave traders, this happy mixture of many bloods prospered and became a picturesque fishing village, elected one of the 10 most beautiful areas in the world, famous for its unique combination of rustic charm, architectural harmony, incredible beauty and sophisticated boutiques and restaurants frequented by discerning visitors who come from all over the world to savour its magic.
VERY IMPORTANT: Transportation to Buzios and accommodation can be arranged with the event's official travel agent. Please contact Renata Medeiros (RM Viagens) at renata@rmviagens.com.br. Make sure you mention Think Latin America when contacting either the travel agent or the hotel directly, since the hotel has reserved all rooms for the event. Click the links below for more info on each topic.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
The Brazilian Foreign Office bases its actions on reciprocity. Visitors from countries that require a visa for Brazilian citizens will be required the same. Information concerning requirements for getting a visa can be obtained at the nearest Brazilian embassy or consulate. Beware of passport expiration date, since in general the passport has to be valid for at least six months after the date of arrival. Most international airlines can advise on visa requirements for tourists. In the website of the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations you can find a list of Brazilian missions abroad and of foreign mission in Brazil. LANGUAGE
The language spoken in Brazil is Portuguese.
TIME ZONES
Brazil spans several time zones; however the Brazilian Standard Time is GMT-03:00.
WEATHER
Rio de Janeiro and Búzios are tropical cities. In April, it will be fall and temperature ranges between 60 and 80º F (~16 and 27º C).
BRAZILIAN FOOD AND DRINK
The most common dishes feature various meats, rice and the ubiquitous Brazilian black beans (feijão), whilst restaurants often lay on all-you-can-eat barbecues and buffets. Brazil also has many regional food varieties, for example food from Bahia includes dishes such as vatapa (shrimps, fish oil, coconut milk, bread and rice) and sarapatel (liver, heart, tomatoes, peppers, onions and gravy). From Rio Grande do Sul, churrasco (barbecue beef, tomato and onion sauce) is the most typical dish. From the Amazon comes tacaca (thick soup with shrimps and garlic). Seafood is of excellent quality and highly recommended.
All kinds of alcoholic beverages are available, including excellent lager style beers Skol, Brahma, Antarctica and Cerpa. The most popular local firewater is cachaça, most commonly served as caipirinha with slices of lime or lemon. There are no restrictions on licensing hours. Soft drinks include guarana (a carbonated cola-like drink, made from an Amazon fruit called guarana) and many varieties of excellent juices (sucos) including several vitamin-rich fruits you have probably never heard about. Coffee tends to be served not as strong as Italian coffee. If you want strong coffee, ask for café expresso. If you want to avoid sugar in sucos or coffee you should specifically ask. Vegetarianism is very popular in Brazil, especially in big cities. Restaurants that serve food per kilo have many options of vegetarian sauces in pastas, quiches, soufflés, etc. Brazilian cuisine has a strong influence of Italy, France, and Lebanon, where several veggie options can be found. There are many veggie fast food stores and pizza places have a wide variety of vegetarian pizzas. Restaurants and bars are open until late but you may have trouble finding a good restaurant in Buzios if you prefer to lunch early (see below).
CLOTHING
Appropriately enough for cities where the beach and warm weather play such an important role, casual dress dominates. The night spots in Búzios do not require formal attire. For men, slacks and a sport shirt are sufficient; for women, a casual attire is fine. Women may appreciate having a shawl or cardigan in hand for the more heavily air-conditioned buildings. The same applies to Rio, while you may want to inquire with your hotel concierge whether a more formal attire should be used to the restaurant or club you intend to go.
SHOPPING
Whether you are looking for native handicraft or local designer clothes, both Rio and Buzios can cater for your shopaholic instincts. You can find major international brands in the more exclusive malls and streets of Rio de Janeiro, yet prices are comparable to those of European cities. While malls open on Sundays, street shops are mostly closed. In Buzios, you will find shops open until very late at night (yet they also open late, as most people are enjoying the beaches in the morning). Every shop will take your credit card but you will need cash to buy from street artisans in open air markets. Flip flops from the Havaianas store in Farme de Amoedo street, colored beach towels on display of most every beach, Brazilian stones from jewelry stores and all kinds of bric-a-brac from the Sunday market in Ipanema make for excellent gifts to those who stayed back home.
HEALTH
There are no compulsory health requirements to entry in Brazil. Precautions are advised for yellow fever, typhoid, polio and malaria. Dengue fever and swine flu are under control. We suggest you contact your local Consulate for current advice. Please note that if you are entering Brazil via Peru, Ecuador or Colombia, you will be required to provide an up-to-date yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Local diet: It is advisable to take precautions against stomach upsets whilst adjusting to a change in diet. Avoid eating and drinking local products from street vendors and do not drink tap water.
MEDICAL SERVICES
Rio de Janeiro and Brazil have a number of internationally respected hospitals, clinics and doctors, but treatment is expensive so visitors are strongly advised to bring medical insurance.
DANGERS AND ANNOYANCES
Brazil is an exuberant country with a very friendly people. Cariocas, those living or born in Rio de Janeiro, have been for the fourth time nominated the most friendly with tourists. However, Rio is a big city and security problems exist. Please, read the following: - Valuables:
Be aware that most crime is opportunistic and the best way to avoid theft is to blend in and stay in safe areas (if in any doubt please ask your hotel receptionist whether where you want to go is safe). Take the absolute minimum when going out. A camera is a necessity for most travelers but you must keep it in a jacket pocket. Rock sacks with cameras and film machines are too obvious to thieves. It is not advisable to take valuable jewelry or flashy wristwatchs. Cash should be kept to a minimum. Whenever possible, leave any valuables, documents and passports at the hotel safety deposit box. Brazilian authorities will never ask for your passport on the streets. If you have to take a bag while you are out, hold it in front of you where you can see it. - Airports and Railway Stations:
This is where your luggage is particularly vulnerable and where most thefts occur. Do not leave your belongings with any stranger, even for a moment. - Beaches:
A great deal of Brazilian culture and Brazilians' spare time revolves around the beach. As a result, the beach can be great fun. However, please bear in mind that beaches in and around major cities tend to be quite crowded so avoid going to the beach after dark.
If you have any problems, the Rio de Janeiro Tourist Police (Delegacia Especial de Apoio ao Turista - DEAT) is prepared to support travelers in several languages, such as English, French, German and Italian.
COMMUNICATIONS
Rio has an excellent telecommunications system which links the city to the rest of Brazil and the world. Direct dial and collect calls can be placed from any telephone. Pay phones are located throughout the city and operate with telephone cards. The International Direct Dial (IDD) code for Brazil is 55. The city code for Rio de Janeiro is 21 and for Buzios 22. For local calls, ignore the international and city codes and dial the eight-digit telephone number only. For inter-city (e.g. between Rio and Buzios) and interstate calls, you should dial 0-XX-CC-NNNNNNNN, where XX is the carrier number (21, 31, 41), CC is the city code and NNNNNNNN is the telephone number (fixed line or mobile). SIM cards can be purchased from local carrier shops, such as Tim, Claro and Oi.
ELECTRICITY
The electric current in Rio is 110 or 127V, 60 Hertz, alternating current. Many hotels and large apartment blocks do, however, have some 220V outlets.
AIRPORT
The Rio de Janeiro international airport (Tom Jobim Airport) is located at Ilha do Governador, an island in the North of the city. There are non-stop flights to-and-from more than 80 international cities worldwide. Tom Jobim International Airport has taxi services to go to Rio's south zone, where the majority of hotels and sights are located. We strongly encourage event participants to refuse services from non-official taxi drivers. There is a taxi office at the airport arrival hall, right after the customs exit door. Price must be agreed upon in advance (rides from the airport to Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon can range from R$50.00 to R$80.00). For those who eventually come from other Brazilian cities, there are flights from the main Brazilian cities to Tom Jobim International Airport. Rio de Janeiro also has a domestic airport called Santos Dumont Airport, which mostly serves flights to and from São Paulo, and is located in the town center, close to the Guanabara Bay. The same recommendation concerning taxi rides applies to transfers from this airport. International Airport - Galeão - Antonio Carlos Jobim:
Information: +55 21 3398-5050
Flights: +55 21 3398-4527 / 3398-4526 Santos Dumont Domestic Airport:
Information and Flights: +55 21 3814-7070
TAXES
Airport tax for international flights is approximately R$100.00. Internal flights are taxed at about R$10.00 and R$ 20.00. In addition, all hotels require a city tax at US$1 per day per room. All the above taxes may be paid in US Dollars or Reals and must be paid locally.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
The Brazilian monetary unit is the Real (1US$ = R$1.75). The exchange rate available to visitors is published daily in the newspaper along with the commercial dollar rate of the day used in official international business transactions. Cash and traveler checks, especially US Dollars, can be exchanged at most banks or exchange places as well as in major hotels. All major credit cards are accepted in Brazil and some tourist shops may accept US dollars. There remains a currency exchange black market, but you are strongly advised to ignore anyone who approaches you asking if you want to exchange money. ATMs are easily found in the more touristic neighborhoods of Rio but you may have difficulty to find international ATMs in Buzios.
- Bank notes (paper money) are in denominations of R$ 100, R$ 50, R$ 10, R$ 5, R$ 1.
- Coins are 1.00 real; 50 centavos (cents), 25 centavos, 10 centavos, 5 centavos and 1 centavo.
- Banking Hours - 10:00-16:00, Monday to Friday.
TIPPING
In most restaurants and bars a discretionary 10% service fee is added to the bill. More sophisticated places may add 15%. If service is not included, it will be stated at the bottom of the bill: Serviço não incluído. Hotels:
They generally include any service charge on the bill. Taxis:
Tips are not expected by taxi drivers, but you can round up your taxi fare. You should agree with a fixed price for longer rides or if you would like your driver to wait for you in tourist sights, such as Corcovado (where you may have trouble to find a taxi to bring you back). Otherwise, make sure the taxi meter is turned on. Airport and Hotel Assistants:
The Real equivalent of U$1.00 per suitcase.
MORE INFORMATION
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