Brazil Travel Planner 2011 - (Page 15)

FAST FACTS Capital City: Brasilia Population: 191 million (for 2011, approximately) Climate: In Brazil, seasons follow this pattern: spring (SeptemberDecember); summer (December-March); autumn (March-June); and winter (June-September). The dominant climate is tropical: some areas of the north have summer almost year-round. The south has a different pattern, where winters can sometimes be severe, with lowest temperatures in June and July. Health: Standards for hygiene and public heath are generally high in Brazil. However, before leaving travelers may want to check with a doctor or with the Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov) for specific advisories. Entry Documents: An entry visa is required for all Americans traveling to Brazil, for Brazil has a reciprocal visa system. A visa can be obtained in one of the Brazilian Consulates around the United States and Canada. For U.S. citizens there is a processing fee of $130 in reciprocity for an identical fee paid by Brazilians for visas to the U.S. Presently, a visa issued to a U.S. tourist traveler is valid for 10 years. However, travelers arriving in Brazil without a visa will not be permitted to enter the country. Questions about requirements for visas are available online at brazil.travisa.com; necessary forms may be downloaded. Getting Around Brazil: Because of great distances, flying is usually the most practical option for moving about Brazil. Internal air services are highly developed, provide excellent and frequent service, but are expensive. For travelers taking more than a couple of domestic flights, using a Brazil Airpass, covering four or five domestic flights and purchased before arriving in Brazil in conjunction with international flights, may be just the ticket. Bus service is the second major way people get around Brazil; buses are clean, comfortable, run on time, are inexpensive and connect such major cities as Rio and Sao Paulo with frequent departures. For overland road travel, the best paved highways are heavily concentrated in the southeast, although those serving the interior are continuously being upgraded to all-weather levels. Most main roads between principal cities are paved. Buses, of course, run frequent departures between major airports and terminals in city-centers; taxis are available at all airports, and in cities, fares on the meter are reasonably priced. Time Zones: Brazil’s standard time is Brasilia’s—GMT-3; Rio and Sao Paulo fall in this time zone also, which is two hours later than Eastern Standard Time. However, there are three time zones in the country. For instance, Acre (in western Amazonia near the Bolivian border) and Manaus is GMT-4, while Noronha is GMT-2. Money: The official Brazil currency is the real (pronounced ray-all; the plural is reais, pronounced Ray-eyes), issued in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 bills and 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent coins. With ATMs at the airports, it is no longer essential to change money before coming to Brazil. However, it’s a good idea if convenient in one’s hometown. International credit cards are generally welcome in most major hotels, restaurants, and other tourist-related businesses; in small towns and villages and at local markets, Brazilian reais are the main currency. Electric Current (varies countrywide): 110 or 120 volts in Sao Paulo and Rio; 220 volts in Brasilia; always check with the hotel before plugging in. Most hotels have current converters available at no charge. Information Please: Brazil Tourist Board—braziltour.com Flying on Down to Brazil Currently the following direct and connecting flights connect the U.S. and Brazilian gateways: • Atlanta to Rio, Brasilia, Sao Paulo (Delta Air Lines) • Boston to Sao Paulo & Rio (United Airlines) • Charlotte to Rio (US Airways) • Chicago to Sao Paulo (United Airlines) • Dallas to Sao Paulo & Rio (American Airlines) • Detroit to Sao Paulo (Delta Air Lines) • Houston to Sao Paulo (Continental Airlines and United Airlines), to Rio (Continental Airlines) • Los Angeles to Sao Paulo (United Airlines daily, Korean Air, 3xweekly) • Miami to Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Rio, Sao Paulo (American Airlines & TAM); to Manaus (TAM); Salvador and Recife (American Airlines) • New York (JFK) to Rio & Sao Paulo (TAM & American Airlines), to Sao Paulo (Delta Air Lines) • New York (Newark) to Sao Paulo (Continental Airlines) • Orlando to Sao Paulo (TAM) • San Francisco to Rio (LAN) • Washington, D.C. to Sao Paulo & Rio (United Airlines) june 2011 B15 http://www.cdc.gov http://braziltour.com http://brazil.travisa.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Brazil Travel Planner 2011

Lights! Action! Brazil
A Call to Action
Fast Facts

Brazil Travel Planner 2011