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TO GET THERE. Planes of the
world’s leading airline
companies’ land and take
off at Rio de Janeiro and São
Paulo international airports.
Due to its huge continental dimensions,
Brazil has a number of other international
airports, namely those of Porto
Alegre, Florianópolis,
Curitiba, Salvador, Recife, Belém
and Manaus. See your travel agent
before you leave.
AIRPLANE.
The easiest means of transportation
for anyone travelling through
Brazil is by plane. Distances
between major Brazilian cities
are huge. Just as an example,
3,854 Km. separate Belém,
capital of the State of Pará,
from Porto Alegre, capital of
the State of Rio Grande do Sul.
These cities are farther apart
than Paris and Moscow. All of
the 26 State capital cities, as
well as Brasília, in the
Federal District, have regular
operating airports and regular
flights. Contact your travel agent
as to the best options for travelling
throughout the country. If you
are planning on a longer journey,
the Mercosul Airpass would be
a good buy while still in your
country. That will ensure you
the most economical flight arrangements
into Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina
and Paraguay. Airline offices
abroad also have the Visit Brazil
airpass available at standard
rate, which also allows you four
economical domestic trips. In
Brazil, air transportation is
provided by Transbrasil, Varig,
Vasp, TAM, TABA, Rio-Sul and Pantanal
Linhas Aéreas.
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AIRPORTS:
Porto Alegre (Rio Grande
do Sul): Salgado Filho International
airport, Tel.: 51 3435638. Florianópolis
(Santa Catarina): Hercílio
Luz Airport, Tel.: 48 2360879.
Curitiba (Paraná): Afonso
Pena Airport, Tel. 41 2835533.
São Paulo (São
Paulo): (Guarulhos) International
airport, Tel. : 11 9452111 and
945 2107; Congonhas Airport
(domestic flights), Tel. : 11
5317444 and 2401100;
Viracopos Airport (Campinas,
97 km from São Paulo),
Tel.: 19 2470909;
Campo de Marte (air taxis and
small-sized aircrafts), Tel.:
21 2902699.
Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro):
International airport, Tel.:
21 3985050, 3986060 and 3984134;
Santos Dumont Airport (domestic
flights), Tel.: 21 2102457.
Vitória (Espírito
Santo): Eurico Sales Airport,
Tel.: 27 3270811.
Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais):
Tancredo Neves International
airport (Estrada Velha de Confins
- Lagoa Santa), Tel.: 31 6892700;
Pampulha Airport (domestic flights),
Tel. : 31 4412000 and 4412857.
Salvador (Bahia): Dois de Julho
Airport, Tel.: 71 2041136.
Aracaju (Sergipe): Santos Dumont
Airport, Tel.: 79 2432721.
Maceió (Alagoas): Campo
dos Palmares Airport(Rio Largo),
Tel.: 82 3221300.
Recife (Pernambuco): Guararapes
Airport, Tel.: 81 3411888.
João Pessoa (Paraíba):
Pres. Castro Pinto Airport,
Tel.: 83 2321200.
Natal (Rio Grande do Norte):
Augusto Severo International
Airport, Tel.: 84 2722811. Fortaleza
(Ceará): Pinto Martins
Airport, Tel.: 85 2726166.
Teresina (Piauí): Teresina
Airport, Tel.: 86 2252535.
São Luís (Maranhão):
Mar. Cunha Machado Airport,
Tel.: 98 245 1515.
Belém (Pará):
Val de Cans International airport,
Tel.: 91 2334122.
Macapá (Amapá):
Macapá International
airport, Tel.: 96 2223155.
Boa Vista (Roraima): International
airport, Tel.: 95 2240404.
Manaus (Amazonas): Eduardo Gomes
International Airport, Tel.:
92 6211337.
Rio Branco (Acre): Presidente
Médici International
Airport, Tel.: 68 2246833.
Porto Velho (Rondônia):
Belmont Airport, Tel.: 69 2213935
and 2213543.
Cuiabá (Mato Grosso):
Tel.: 65 3812211.
Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do
Sul): Campo Grande International
Airport, Tel.: 67 7632444.
Goiânia (Goiás):
Santa Genoveva Airport, Tel.:
62 2071288.
Palmas (Tocantins): Tel.: 63
2141805.
Brasília (Distrito Federal):
International Airport, Tel.
: 61 3651224 and 3651941.
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TRAINS.
RIO DE JANEIRO: Rio de Janeiro-São
Paulo (Silver Train): departures on Sundays,
Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 8:30 PM, from
Estação Barão de
Mauá, located on Avenida Francisco
Bicalho, Tel.: 21 2934071.
RIO DE JANEIRO/INLAND: Miguel Pereira-Conrado
(Blue Train). On Sundays. Departure: 9:45
PM. Arrival: 1:30 PM. Tel.: 24 4842719.
Angra dos Reis-Lídice (Mata Atlântica
Train). On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Departure from Angra dos Reis: 10:30 PM.
Return from Lídice: 4:30 PM. Tel.
24 3651705. SÃO PAULO: São
Paulo-Rio de Janeiro (Silver Train): departure
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30
PM, from the Terminal Ferroviário
train station. Tel. 11 8257022 and 825
7227.
MINAS GERAIS/INLAND: São João
del-Rei-Tiradentes (Maria Fumaça,
a steam train). Departure on Fridays,
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 10 AM
and 2:15 PM.
PARANÁ: - Curitiba-Paranaguá.
Daily, but runs only in January. Departure:
4:30 PM. Arrival: 8:20 PM. From February
to December, it runs only on Saturdays
and Sundays. Tel.: 41 2348441.
--Curitiba-Morretes. Running in February,
July, October, November and December.
Departure on Wednesdays and Fridays: 7:30
AM. Arrival: 10:15 AM. Tel. 41 2348441.
CEARÁ: Fortaleza-Baturité.
Only on Sundays. Departure: 7:30 AM and
5:00 PM. Arrival: 10:30 AM and 8:00 PM.
Tel.: 85 2441916. |
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TIME
ZONES. Most Brazilian
cities are three hours behind
GMT. When it is 3:00 PM in
Rio de Janeiro it is 6:00
PM in London. When, however,
the Brazilian Daylight Savings
Time comes into effect, the
difference then comes down
to two hours. Brazil measures
4,319.4 km from East to West.
Because of that, there are
some time zone differences
in relation to Brasília:
Fernando de Noronha, off the
coast of Pernambuco is one
hour ahead; Boa Vista, Manaus,
Cuiabá and Mato Grosso,
one hour behind; and Rio Branco,
two hours behind.
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UNITS OF MEASURE. In Brazil distances
are measured in kilometers. For
finding the equivalent in miles,
multiply by 0.6214. The official
unit of measure for weight is
the kilogram. By multiplying by
2.2046 you will find the equivalent
in pounds. |
WHAT TO WEAR. In Brazil,
seasons are opposite to
the ones in the Northern
Hemisphere. During the summer,
it is too hot. It is therefore
recommended that you bring
light clothes with you.
Preferably linen and cotton.
This is a country of many
beaches, so do not forget
your shorts, Bermuda shorts,
bathing trunks and other
bathing suits. Preferably,
tennis shoes and sandals
should be the choice of
footwear. Do not forget
to bring your sunglasses.
In other seasons, it is
worth it to bring warmer
clothes. Nothing too warm,
though. Raincoat and umbrellas
may come in handy. If you
are heading for any harsh
winter destination, woollen
jackets and gloves are also
needed. |
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WHEN TO COME. If
you come from a cold country,
come to Brazil in the summer.
Heat begins right after
the spring equinox, on 21st
of September, and goes up
to March. If you like cold
places, come to Brazil in
May, when it still is autumn.
In June and July it happens
to snow in some of the southern
cities. |
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CUSTOMS
CONTROL. A tourist arriving in
Brazil with a valid passport will
very easily get cleared at customs
control. After landing, one has to
show one’s document to the Federal
Police, where the passport is stamped
to prove its validity in Brazil. When
leaving, the passport will be shown
again. No other document is required.
No further papers to fill out. Residents
of countries in the so-called Southern
Cone (Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay)
shall not be subject to customs control.
No visa is required for travellers
from the following countries: Germany,
Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas,
Barbados, Belgium, Chile, Colombia,
Denmark, Equador, Spain, the Philippines,
Finland, Great Britain, the Netherlands,
Ireland/Eire, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Morocco, Monaco, Namibia,
Norway, Paraguay, Peru, San Marino,
Sweden, Switzerland, Surinam, Trinidad-Tobago
and Uruguay. As to Venezuela, visa
is not required if intended stay is
shorter than 60 days. Visas are mandatory
for all other countries.
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VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: An
international certificate of vaccination
against polio is compulsory for children
aged between three months and six years.
An international certificate of vaccination
against yellow fever is compulsory for
travellers who, within the three months
prior to their arrival in Brazil, have
visited or been in transit through any
of the following countries: Angola,
Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,
Colombia, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon,
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia,
Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan,
Venezuela and Zaire.
Additionally, vaccination against yellow
fever is recommended for all travellers
when visiting the following states of
Brazil: Acre, Amazonas, Amapá,
Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhão,
Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia,
Roraima and Tocantins. Please note that
yellow fever vaccinations take approximately
10 days to become effective. Non-compliance
to vaccination requirements upon arrival
will entail denial of admittance into
Brazil.
If there is any doubt about the need
for vaccinations, please contact your
local Brazilian Embassy.
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GOODS.
Should the traveller be in possession
of any consumption goods upon
landing, he or she will have to
write down a temporary admission
document at the Customs Control
office at the airport. He will
then present his passport proving
his tourist condition. When leaving
the country, - preferably through
the same airport he arrived so
as to avoid bureaucracy -, the
tourist must once again present
both the document and the goods
to the Customs.
Goods bought on free shops are
exempt from temporary admission
statements. Just a reminder: you
must keep the proof-of-purchase
document until you leave the country.
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| CAR
RENTALS / AIR TAXIS. In Brazil,
one may rent a car or hire an
air taxi at every State capital’s
airport. Such services are delivered
by a countless number of companies,
including international ones.
Get informed in your own country
with your travel agent on prices
and options regarding these services.
In Brazil, get in touch with the
airports for further information.
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MEANS OF PAYMENT. Use
national currency, the Real,
exchange of which can be made
through banks and authorised
agencies. Credit cards are generally
accepted, chiefly VISA, MasterCard,
American Express and Diners.
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GUIDES, ROUTES AND MAPS.
Usually sold on good bookstores
and news-stands. PANROTAS is the
best buy for air travel information.
When it comes to guides, QUATRO
RODAS is the one of highest repute
as it offers good quality maps
as well. Official maps can be
found at any State bureau from
the Brazilian Institute for Geography
and Statistics (IBGE). |
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WORKING
HOURS. Banks and Exchange Agencies:
Monday through Friday, usually between
10 AM and 4 PM.
Commerce: doors are open at 9 AM and
usually close at 6 PM, except in the
shopping centres, where shops stay open
through 10 PM.
Restaurants: open usually as of 11 AM.
However, in the North-Eastern, Northern
and Mid-west regions restaurants may
close during the afternoon shift only
to open again at 6 PM. Service ends
between midnight and 2 AM.
PUBLIC
TELEPHONES. Brazil is provided with
a wide range of telephone services.
Calls can be placed at the telephone
companies, where tokens and phone cards
are available for sale, as well as at
public telephones.
To complete an international call from
Brazil (DDI) dial or press the international
prefix (00), followed by the code for
the intended country, then the city
code and finally the desired telephone
number.
Although direct international calls
are faster and more economical, it is
also possible to call with the help
of an operator. Just dial 000111 and
inform the country, city and the telephone
number to be contacted. You can also
call collect. To do so just inform the
telephone number and person or extension
for whom the call is meant. A call will
only be completed if the desired person
or extension answers.
International collect calls may also
be made from public telephones. Dial
or press 000107 and let the operator
know which country, city and number
you are trying to contact. Charges will
be reversed to the person contacted.
Your international phone card may also
be used. Just dial or press the number
above and then enter your sign-in code.
The operator will ask for further information
before completing the call.
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CONVENTION
CENTRES. In Brazil, South
America’s main business
centre, modern and well-equipped
convention centres are available
in the country’s main cities:
Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo,
Brasília, Salvador, Olinda,
Goiânia, Curitiba, Foz do
Iguaçu, Belém, Belo
Horizonte, Manaus, Fortaleza and
Natal. These are excellent facilities
for the promotion of fairs, exhibits
and great events. For further
information, call the Event Promotion
Department at EMBRATUR. The telephone
number is (061) 225-1614. |
TIPPING. It is not a habit
in Brazil to tip taxi drivers.
In hotels, it is common to offer
10% over the bill price to the
doorman and the luggage carrier.
In most restaurants, tips, amounting
to 10% of the expense, are usually
included in the bill. Therefore,
check the expenses before paying.
In case the tip has not been charged,
adding 10% over the service value
is the usual practice. |
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INFORMATION. Besides
EMBRATUR (Tel. 21-273 2212),
travellers may obtain information
from the State Tourist Secretariats:
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Alagoas
Amapá
Amazonas
Bahia
Ceará
Brasília
Espírito Santo
Maranhão
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso do Sul
Minas Gerais
Paraíba |
(82 3265252)
(96 2232331)
(92 6331733)
(71 3594299)
(85 2612527)
(61 3222964)
(27 2239090)
(98 2325722)
(65 9811291)
(67 7264361)
(31 242914)
(83 2412898) |
Paraná
Pernambuco
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio de Janeiro
Rio Grande do Norte
Rondônia
Roraima
Santa Catarina
São Paulo
Sergipe
Tocantins |
(41
2546743)
(81 2314930)
(51 2281311)
(21 2405357)
(84 2317142)
(69 2231747)
(95 6232419)
(482 2311253)
(11 2390094)
(79 2314621)
(63 2151156) |
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