The Basics
Country: Brazil
Where is it?: Brazil is on the east coast of South America, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the East.
Why do people go here?: Brazil generally attracts two types of travelers. There are those who want to witness the grandeur of the Amazon basin and all it still has to offer. Then, there are those who come to Brazil for perhaps one of the biggest, well-known parties in the world – Carnaval.
What are the main entry points?: Air: Brasilia, Sao Palo, Rio de Janeiro.
Currency used: Real
Country Code for Phones: 55
Religion: Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%
Population: 38 million
Ethnic Breakdown: 49.7% White, 42.6% Pardo (Brown), 6.9% Black, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Amerindian
Government: Presidential Federal Republic
Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Travel Information
Major Cities: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
Attractions: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Amazon
Accommodation:Brazil Hostels
Tourism Office locations and links: Brazil Hostels
Off-the-Beaten-Path: Amazon, Jericoacoara
Health Issues: Dengue fever, malaria, rabies, yellow fever, meningococcal meningitis
Tips for Visiting
When to go: With Brazil being roughly the size of the United States, you can always find a warm spot to enjoy. Ingeneral, it’s temperate throughout most of the year.
Common Phrases: Yes = Sim, No = Nao, How are you = Come esta? What’s your name = Como se chama?, Thank = Obrigado, Please = Por favor, Goodbye = Adeus/Ciao
Specific Events/Holidays: Carnaval: After Ash Wednesday
Getting Around: With Brazil being enormous and distances vast, you can usually find flights to most parts of the country. If you’re a broke backpacker, you can always take the bus! Buses are the most convenient means traveling through the Amazon Basin.
Good to know: The capital of Brazil, Brasilia, is a manufactured capitol. Enormous sums of money were directed into its creation. Brazil wanted a central unifying capitol, none being readily available, they manufactured one, themselves.
Cheapest airport to fly into: There are three main airports for travelers taking flights to Brazil such as Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport, Rio de Janeiro International Airport and Sao Paulo Airport. In order to get a cheaper flight, it would be wise to use the airport that is near your trip destination.
Need more information?: Check out the Brazil travel guide for more on what to see, where to stay, and how to get there.
