Brazil

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. However, English, Spanish and other European tongues are also spoken in the large cities and in tourist areas.

The currency in Brazil is the real (pronounced ree-ALL). The exchange rate is roughly 1 US dollar equals 4 Brazilian reals. Please check the current exchange rate before traveling, as it changes daily.

The electrical current in Brazil varies from place to place. In the large tourist cities, most hotels have outlets for both 220v and 110-120v appliances. There are two associated plug types, types C and N. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins. Plug type N is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin. Travelers are advised to bring a converter and a surge protector.

Internet connections and WiFi spots are found throughout the country. Most major hotels provide good accessibility.

Most visitors to Brazil, including those from the United States, are required to obtain a visa prior to arrival. It can take up to 30 days to obtain a visa from the Brazilian government, although the process can be started online (https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/). The cost of obtaining a Brazilian visa is USD$160. Separate visas are required for those visiting for tourism and those visiting for business purposes.

It is recommended that visitors use bottled water for drinking and teeth brushing.

While there are four time zones within Brazil, most of the country, including Rio de Janeiro is on Brasilia Time (GMT -3). (If it is noon in New York City, it is 1 p.m. in Rio de Janeiro).

Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Brazil’s summer/winter seasons are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. Peak tourist season is in their summer: December through March, peaking during Carnival in early February. However, as a mostly tropical nation, the climate is warm and humid year round in most locations.