If you are a U.S. Passport Holder, you do not need a visa to travel to Brazil for tourism, business, transit, artistic or sport activities. For other types of travel, you will need to contact your nearest consulate to apply for a visa.

Passport holders of Japan, Canada, and Australia also do not need a tourist visa. You can stay in Brazil up to 90 days and after you can also request to stay an additional 90 days.

Visitors must provide proof of vaccination, printed or online, in Portuguese, English or Spanish. Unvaccinated visitors must give proof of a negative or not detected antigen or RT-PCR test taken one day before boarding. 

Source: Visit Brazil

Brazil has three major international airports in Rio de Janeiro, Sāo Paulo, and Brasília

Antonio Carlos Jobim/Galeão International Airport (GIG) is Rio de Janeiro’s international airport on the Ilha do Governador. You can also catch domestic flights from this airport or at the Santos Dumont Airport. To reach your destination from GIG, take an Uber. It will cost around 10 USD and will be a lot faster and safer than taking the bus.

Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU)
is São Paulo’s international airport that also has domestic flights. The other domestic airport is the Congonhas Airport. GRU is located pretty far from the city center, so it is also recommended that you take an Uber to your destination.

Brasília–Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB) is another large international airport in Brazil that serves internationally and domestically. If you want to spend a lot of time in Brasília then definitely try to find a flight here! Otherwise, it is a lot more common to fly first to GIG or GRU.

The cheapest and easiest way to explore Brazil is to take domestic flights. GOL airlines has very cheap and reliable flights throughout the country.

There are, unfortunately, very few passenger train routes in Brazil. Vale has 2 lines, one that goes from Belo Horizonte to Vítoria and another that goes from Pará to São Luís.

In general, there are a lot more cross-country buses than trains. The buses also all have a very reasonable price. Check out this website to find reliable times and destinations.

Brazil is a safe place to visit, and travelers from different countries visit Brazil annually. That being said, foreign travelers should follow the same procedures as any other country to stay safe, especially in big cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

In case of an emergency, the phone number for the federal police is 194. The phone number for an ambulance is 192. The number for a fire is 193.

Safety tips:

Try to invest in a fanny pack and if you are going out at night, keep your valuables under your clothes. Avoid taking your phone out on the street, but rather, step into a store to check directions or make a call. Do not walk alone at night, especially on deserted city streets or empty beach areas. Uber from place to place after 10 p.m.

For Female Travelers:

Female travelers should follow the tips above, in addition to these:

Foreign women may receive attention from Brazilian men, but it’s important to not show any signs of distress or disturbance. Stay about your business, and keep moving forward. Keep an eye on drinks, especially when going to any sort of club or party.

Brazil as a whole generally has a tropical climate. As you move farther south, there are more temperate temperatures and the high plateaus can sometimes even experience snowfall.

The Amazon’s average temperature is from 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F.) The Northeast experiences the warmest climate, sometimes climbing to 38 °C (100 °F) in the dry season. São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul’s weather can be compared to southern United States, while Rio de Janeiro is a lot more humid and tropical.

Other than the Northeast region, precipitation is fairly high so pack a raincoat and some closed-toe waterproof shoes!

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Here are a few phrases and words to help you get by:

Bom Dia: Good Morning

Boa Tarde: Good Afternoon

Boa Noite: Good Night

Oi a gente: Hey guys!

Obrigada: Thank you

Por Favor: Please

Sim: Yes

Não: No

Tal vez: Maybe

Desculpo(a): Sorry

Onde fica o banheiro?: Where is the restroom?

Eu preciso um médico. I need a doctor

Você pode falar ingles?: Can you speak English?

Brazilians are generally extremely friendly and helpful when greeted properly. Saying hello, please, and thank you in Portuguese will go a long way.

Brazilians also tend to stay positive and hide their negative feelings. You could easily become a Debbie Downer of the group if you are being too negative.

In Rio, girls greet girls or guys with two kisses or a kiss and a hug. In São Paulo, it is one kiss for girls/girls with guys. In general, Brazilians are also very touchy so don’t let that startle you, unless someone is going too far then just let them know.

For appearance, you can wear nearly whatever you would like. Brazilian culture – especially in beach cities like Rio – is fairly casual. Wear your swimsuit on the beach only and then buy a canga (sarong) to cover up when you leave.

Do not bring your own towels, chairs, and umbrellas. Rent those at the beach and just bring a canga.

The real (plural: reais) is the official currency of Brazil. The conversion is around 5 reais to 1 USD.

Tipping is not required since most restaurants include a 10% service fee in the bill.

The standard voltage is 110 volts with a Type C or N plug. You will need a plug adapter if coming from outside of Brazil. Your converter should look like this: