USEFUL INFORMATION

VISA REQUIREMENTS

As the Brazilian Foreign Office bases its actions on reciprocity, a visa will be required from some foreign visitors; applying to the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate they shall be processed within two working days. Requirements for a tourist visa include a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival, one passport size photograph and a round trip ticket. Most international airlines can advise on visa requirements for tourists.

CUSTOMS

Besides clothing and personal belongings, tourists entering Brazil are allowed to bring US$ 500.00 of duty free items and to buy another US$ 500.00 of imported merchandise at the well stocked airport duty free shop.

TIME

Brazilian time for most cities, is 3 (three) hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time (England); one hour later than New York when cities are on their respective standard times. From October to February comes into effect the Daylight Saving Time in Brazil*. * exception for states of Roraima, Rondonia, Acre, Mato Grosso (north & south).

BUSINESS & SHOPPING HOURS

Most offices are opened from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. Stores are open from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday and from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Most large shopping centers open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Major cities like Rio and São Paulo have a number of 24 hours convenience stores, many of which are located in or close to the main gas stations. Banks are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

CLIMATE

Brazil is a continent in itself, considering the size of its territory; for this reason climates are very different from North to South; Summer runs from December through March with temperatures ranging from 25o C (77o F) to 42o C(108o F) in the east coast, while winter runs from June through August when temperatures drop to around 20o C(68o F) in the day a cool 16o C(60o F) at night. South of the country though, temperatures can vary from 32o in summer to below zero in winter, with very strong winds sometimes; North of the country, specially because of the Amazon forest considers its Summer and Winter accordingly to the rain that comes in January - and then, it is their winter.

CLOTHING

Most offices are opened from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. Stores are opened from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday and from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Most large shopping centers open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Major cities like Rio and São Paulo have a number of 24 hours convenience stores, many of which are located in or close to the main gas stations. Banks are opened Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

The Brazilian monetary unit is the Real (R$). 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 houses as well as the major hotels. All major credit cards are accepted in Brazil and some stores even accept foreign currency.

LANGUAGE

The language spoken in Brazil is Portuguese. English is the predominant foreign language taught in schools, and Spanish, if spoken slowly, is understood by a good percentage of the population.

MEDICAL SERVICES

In the capitals and major cities a number of internationally respected hospitals, clinics and doctors, are available, and cost of treatment is considered very reasonable if compared to the international standards. Visitors are strongly advised to take out medical trip insurance before traveling abroad and that is true also for Brazil where hospitals and doctors accept most of the well known health insurance plans.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Brazil has a number of public holidays during the year. These include New Year's Day (January 1); Carnival (moveable); Good Friday (moveable); Tiradentes - Independence Martyr (April 21); Labor Day (May 1); Corpus Christ (moveable); Independence Day (September 7); Our Lady Aparecida - Patron of Brazil (October 12); Proclamation of the Republic (November 15); and Christmas Day (December 25). Besides the above mentioned, each city commemorates locally other holidays, such as the one in honour to the patron of the city etc.

TIPPING

Hotels: hotels generally include any service charge on the bill. Restaurants: tips are discretionary but are often found on the final bills as a "suggestion". In Brazil the norm remains between 10 and 15 percent. Airport and hotel porters: the Real equivalent of U$1.50 or U$2.00 per suitcase.

* Contact us for more information.