Anyone who has been to Rio will know that Brazil has a rythm in its soul. Its cities are vibrant, jungles are steamy and its beaches are pristine.
13 March 2008
Full Name: República Federativa do Brasil
Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Population: 186,772,000
Capital: Brasilia
Major Cities: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador de Bahia
Area: 8,511,965 sq km (3,286,488 sq mi)
Major Languages: Portuguese
Major Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestantism, Spiritism
Currency: Brazilian Real BRL R$
Internet domain: .br
International dialling code: +55
Flying Time: 12 hours from the UK
Time Zones:
GMT/UTC -2 (Fernando de Noronha archipelago)
GMT/UTC -3 (Brazil Standard Time)
GMT/UTC -4 (Central Brazil Time)
GMT/UTC -5 (Acre Standard Time)
Climate: This varies depending where you are in Brazil. There are five climatic regions: equatorial, tropical, semi-arid, highland tropical and subtropical. The plateau region including cities such as Sao Paulo and Brasilia have a mild climate. Temperatures hover around 66°F (19°C). Coastal areas including Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Natal and Salvador have warmer climates. For example Rio temperatures hover around 80°F (26°C) rising to 100°F (38°C) in the summer.
In the southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba, the subtropical climate with some frosts occurring in the winter months (July to August) when temperatures can fall below freezing.
In the Amazon temperatures rarely rise above 90°F (32°C), and days are generally warm, wet and humid. The region has two seasons: a rainy season (November to May) and not-so-rainy season (June to October).
Situated in the tropical South Atlantic, Rio de Janeiro is warm all year round. Summers, between November and March, are very hot and humid. Winters are cool and dry, never cold, with some precipitation, lasting only from June to September.
Best time to go: Brazil's summers is during December to February. At this time the locals are on holiday and travel and hotel prices rise. At this time from Rio southwards there is high humidity. However, this is the time when Rio's Carnaval takes place and you may think it's a price worth paying to experience this most hedonistic of festivals.
The Amazon is possibly the worlds rainiest place and during January and May travel is difficult and best avoided.
The cheapest time to go is during the low season in Brazil's winter (but not July is this is school holiday month). At this time temperatures in Rio hover around around 23°C (73°F), but you will experience a mix of rainy and brilliantly sunny days.
Visas: UK passport holders and Irish Nationals do not require a visa for either business or holiday travel for stays of up to 90 days from date of issue. A valid passport is required. A valid passport and a visa are required by US nationals; both single and multiple entry visas are available. Visas must be used within 90 days of issuance.
Voltage: 127/220V 60Hz
Weights & Measures: Metric
Health: A yellow fever vaccination is recommended if you are travelling to rural areas and other parts. Typhoid and Hepatitis A immunisation is also recommended. Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria are prevalent and insect protection is strongly advised. Malaria exists below 2,953ft (900m) in most rural areas, and outbreaks of dengue fever occur frequently, and seem to be on the increase. Chagas disease, caused by a parasite, is widespread in rural areas of Brazil. Until recently infection was believed to be from insect bites only, but an outbreak in March 2005 that has caused three deaths in Santa Catarina was traced to the ingestion of sugar cane juice contaminated with the faeces of vector insects, and further cases were linked to the ingestion of bacaba wine from roadside stalls; visitors are advised to seek medical advice urgently if any of the symptoms occur (fever, nausea, muscle aches and pains and/or swelling at the site of the insect bite). Tap water is heavily treated resulting in a strong chemical taste; bottled water is, however, freely available for drinking purposes. Milk in rural areas is not pasteurised. Travellers are advised to take along medication for travellers' diarrhoea. Hospitals in the major cities are fairly good, but medical costs are high and medical insurance is strongly recommended