Brazil Holidays

What is Brazil famous for?

Music is at the heart of life across Brazil. Whether it’s samba, bossa nova, forro, frevo or chorinho, there's a rhythm and dance for every mood. Brazil is also famous for its love of sport, ranging from volleyball and basketball to tennis and racing. Football, of course, leads the pack, and its superstars are worshipped like gods. You can catch games kicking off almost everywhere, from the beaches and steep favela streets to the thrumming stadiums, like Maracana (the largest in the country). And then there’s capoeira: a cross between martial arts and acrobatic dance developed by enslaved Africans as a clandestine means of practising fight moves.

What is the food like in Brazil?

Brazilian gastronomy is a lot like its geography – varied and complex. Thanks to its distinct mix of cultures, Brazilian cuisine enjoys influences from India, Portugal, Africa, Europe and even Asia. Despite this diversity, the culinary mainstays are rice (arroz), black beans (feijoa) and cassava flour (farofa).

The Brazilian national dish (and must-try meal) is feijoada, a rich, earthy casserole of various meats (beef jerky, smoked sausages, pig ears and pigtails) and black beans, dished up with plain rice, cabbage and orange slices.

Each region has different but equally delicious specialities:

• In Bahia, you’ll find vatapa, shrimp mixed with pieces of fish and cooked with dende oil (palm oil), coconut milk, breadcrumbs, ginger and spices. It’s often served with plain rice.
• Rio Grande do Sul is where churrasco first originated. Think juicy skewers of prime beef with succulent hunks of chicken and sausage, marinated and spit-roasted over coals. These smoky kebabs are usually served with a tomato and onion sauce.
• Head over to Brazil’s eastern shores to sample moqueca, a coconut milk-based stew with a thick sauce of tomatoes, onions, coriander and lemon, as well as fish, crab, shrimp and just-caught shellfish, served with rice, mashed beans and cassava flour.

What can I drink in Brazil?

Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world. Wherever you are in the country, you’ll always find cafezino – strong, sweet and small coffees served in bars, street stalls or shops. Caffeine lovers can also get their fix with mate, a traditional caffeinated drink infused with the leaves and stems of the native yerba mate plant. Try cha mate, a refreshing infusion usually served cold, or the invigorating chimarrao mate, which is served hot.

Thanks to its tropical climate, Brazil produces an incredible variety of fruit. Their juices are tasty and packed with vitamins, whether you prefer yours served straight up or as part of a cocktail. The guarana fruit, an Amazonian plant only found in Brazil, plays a starring role in guarana, the national soda.

Cachaca is the national drink, a strong alcoholic spirit made from fermented sugar cane. The most refreshing versions are by Pitu or Ypioca, perfect for shaking up with crushed lime, cane sugar and ice into a caipirinha (Brazil’s national cocktail).

Beer (cerveja) is also widely sold. It’s typically low in alcohol and boasts a light blonde colour. Look out for the brands Antarctica, Brahma and Skol.

Do I need to tip when I’m in Brazil?

• A 10% service charge is included in the bill in most restaurants, but additional tips are always welcome.
• It’s customary to leave around R$2 (26p) per bag for luggage holders at airports and in hotels.
• For guides, pay around R$10 (£1.32) per day, per person (drop to around half for a driver).
• For freelance drivers, tips are around R$500 (£66.20) per day.
• Taxi drivers don’t expect a tip, but often passengers round the amount up to a higher number. At major landmarks, a driver can earn between R$32-R$37 (£4.24-£4.90).

Are there any other etiquette rules I need to know?

• Stick to light and cool clothing. Brazilians of all shapes and sizes are proud of their bodies and don’t try to hide them, but make sure you’re comfortable in whatever you’re wearing.
• Be patient. Queues can be long, especially at post offices and banks.
• Avoid haggling.
• Avoid handing out money to locals on the streets, especially to children. If you’d like to help by donating school supplies, clothing or medicine, it’s best to give them directly to the school principal, village chief or nearest clinic.

When is the best time to visit Brazil?

The best time to visit Brazil is between November and March, when summer arrives and temperatures sit between 27°C and 30°C.

What is the weather in Brazil like?

Brazil has many climates, so the weather varies depending on the region.

• The Brazilian Amazon has a humid equatorial climate. It’s hot and humid all year round, with an average annual temperature of 26°C. There’s a wet season, from December to June, and a dry season, from July to November.
• Salvador de Bahia has consistently warm temperatures of 27°C to 31°C, no matter the season. It rains throughout the year here, so pack your waterproofs.
• Central Brazil, including the city of Brasilia, has a tropical climate due to its high altitude. Temperatures hover around 22°C, and humidity is slightly lower because of the area's elevation above sea level. June is the coolest month (18.9°C) but also the driest.
• Southern Brazil and Iguacu have a humid subtropical climate. Summers are warm and humid, with lows of 20°C and highs of 33°C, while winters are drier and cooler, with lows of 9°C and highs of 24°C.
• Minas Gerais, in south-eastern Brazil, has a tropical climate and four distinct seasons. The temperature is around 32°C in summer (December to February) and 20°C in winter (July to September).
• Northeast Brazil is the driest region and sees some of the hottest temperatures, often reaching above 30°C in the rainy season (January to July). Coastal areas see more rain than the rest of the area.
• The Pantanal, the largest wetland on the planet, has a tropical climate, with rainy summers and dry winters, and an average temperature of 25°C.

Where is Brazil?

Brazil is located on the eastern coast of South America.

How big is Brazil?

Brazil is 3,287,956 square miles.

How many countries border Brazil?

Brazil borders ten countries:

• French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela to the north.
• Colombia to the north-west.
• Peru to the west.
• Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay to the south-west.
• Uruguay to the south.

What plugs do they use in Brazil?

The plugs used in Brazil can vary, so it’s advisable to take a universal adapter and possibly a transformer. The current is typically 110V in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, but many hotels also use 220V.

What is the capital of Brazil?

The capital of Brazil is Brasilia, located in the centre of the country.

What language do they speak in Brazil?

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. In popular travel destinations, Brazilians are more likely to speak some Spanish, English and, occasionally, French too.

Thanks to a large number of immigrants in Brazil, other European languages, including German and Italian, are spoken in parts of the country, especially in southern cities. Brazil’s indigenous people also speak a variety of indigenous languages.

What’s the time difference in Brazil?

Brazil has four time zones:

• The east and central regions are three hours behind GMT.
• The Fernando de Noronha archipelago is two hours behind GMT.
• The west is four hours behind GMT.
• The far west is five hours behind GMT.

They don’t observe daylight saving time.

What is the currency of Brazil?

The currency of Brazil is the real (BRL). Credit cards are increasingly accepted in large cities, but this isn’t the case elsewhere, so make sure you have some cash to hand. There are many ATMs, usually available from 6am to 10pm, although it’s not advisable to get cash out at night.

Can I drink the tap water in Brazil?

No. Stick to bottled water, which is available still (sin gas) or sparkling (con gas), and usually comes from Brazil’s mineral springs. Also avoid using ice, as this is often made using tap water.

When is carnival in Brazil?

Carnival is Brazil’s most popular national holiday, with parties popping up in hundreds of towns and cities across the country. It takes place on the Friday afternoon before Ash Wednesday, so the dates vary from year to year, but are generally in February or March. The best-known celebration is, of course, Rio de Janeiro’s wild shindig, which sees the whole city shimmer and shake, but there are plenty of other festivities where you can let loose and enjoy dancing in the street.

When do the local amenities open?

Shops are open from 9am to 6.30pm or 7pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Some shopping centres are open until 10pm. A few shops open on Sunday, but always check first as this isn’t guaranteed.

Generally, banks open from 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, but these hours can vary by region.

How long is the flight to Brazil from the UK?

The flight to Brazil from the UK takes between 11 hours and 20 minutes and 18 hours and 40 minutes, depending on where you’re landing, whether you have a stopover, and how long your stopover is. Popular stopover destinations include Lisbon, Porto, Madrid and Bogota.

Do I need a visa to visit Brazil?

British citizens can visit Brazil for up to 90 days without a visa.

What are the passport requirements?

Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the date you enter Brazil. Make sure it’s stamped when you enter the country, or you may be fined when you leave.

Do you need vaccinations before visiting Brazil?

You must be up to date with your vaccinations for life in the UK. Travel Health Pro recommends that most travellers get vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus (the latter is included in the usual UK vaccination schedule).