Seven Tips for First Time Travelers to Brazil

As the late, great Tom Jobim said, “Brazil is not for amateurs”. Though for many around the world, it is a bucket list trip. I have to say, visiting Rio, and seeing Christ the Redeemer was certainly on my bucket list. My first time to Brazil did not disappoint, and it better prepared me for my second trip. A few things have changed since I visited last. Most importantly, travelers from Australia, Canada, and the U.S. will need a visa starting on April 10th, 2024.

According to www.gov.br, they “strongly recommend that all travelers with scheduled trips apply for a visa with a minimum of 90 days' advance notice to avoid unnecessary disruptions. The virtual platform for requesting and issuing electronic visas (e-Visas) for citizens of Australia, Canada, and the United States is available to users at the electronic address https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/.”

Now for the Tips!

1. Pack Light!
   My friends from Brazil explained how they always sheath wrap their checked luggage when they fly to and from Rio. They mainly do this to deter theft, however it’s also beneficial to protect your luggage from damage, and weather-proofs it. This is partly why I choose to only pack a carry on. That’s right, no matter the length of my trip, I always manage to get by with a light backpack and my hard case guitar. This can be a hassle, especially on full flights, but I’ve never had my luggage lost, tampered with, or stolen. Now, some of you reading this may think, what about all my shoes? I know, you do sacrifice your outfit choices when you travel light. However, you can buy most things you really need where you’re going.

2. Purchase Travel Insurance
   This one is not debatable. Not only is it guaranteed piece of mind if something awful happens to you, it covers simple things like lengthy flights delays, and cancellations. Let’s be honest, these scenarios are much more common in the post-covid airlines industry. I actually cashed in on my travel insurance both trips I took to Brazil. One was a four figure return. Like I said, not debatable. Also, don’t buy the cheapest plan. For me, the middle tier was a good fit. Read the whole policy! Know what is available to you. Print your insurance cards and their international phone numbers, have them with the photocopy of your passport.

3. Prioritize Safety
   This starts with simple street smarts. Do not wear shiny jewelry, or watches when you are out and about exploring. For good reason, it is advised to not use your iPhone in busy public areas. Most step in a store to order their Uber. While Brazilians will know you’re a foreigner, don’t make yourself a target. You need to carefully research your itinerary. Know the neighborhoods where you are staying, and where you plan to explore. Know where the problematic areas are. Talk to the hosts at your accommodations when you arrive, and share your plans. A lot of safety concerns are blown out of proportion, and taking the proper precautions before you leave will not only help your situational awareness, but allow you to have a life changing trip–In a good way!

4. Learn. The. Language.
   This goes for anywhere you travel internationally. However, at the bare minimum be able to say hello (Oi), goodbye (Tchau), and thank you (Obrigado/Obrigada). A lot of times Brazilians will greet you with the phrase Tudo bem? It’s an informal greeting that translates to ‘All good?’ It’s basically like saying, how are you? The more you learn and practice Portuguese before you leave, the better received you will be by locals. It’s amazing how many Uber drivers told me how good my Portuguese was, when my language teacher loved to tell me how I sounded like an eight year old boy. It just goes to show you, a little effort goes a long way! What I found super helpful was to have google translate on my phone. This way I could type what I was trying to say, and show it to the person when they couldn’t seem to understand me. However, you will need data for this. Preferably a local sim card!

5. Get a Brazilian Sim Card
   If you’re spending an extended amount of time in Brazil, you will make your life a thousand times easier if you get a local Sim card. Now the tricky part is you typically need a CPF, which is like the Brazilian equivalent of a social security number. An easy workaround for this is having an international plan on your phone. The new iPhone doesn’t have a Sim card. Though, there are apps that sell virtual Sims now at a decent price. Having a Sim card is essential for ordering an Uber, which you will need to use lots of data for. Uber, from what I understand, and from my personal experience in Brazil, is relatively safe. Though please do your due diligence, and draw your own conclusions. I used it to get everywhere, even after midnight, and never had a problem. It’s super cheap too, compared to the states–Like five times cheaper! This is mainly because 1 USD right now is equivalent to 4.95 Brazilian Reais. This leads me to my next tip.

6. Bring Cash
   You can pretty much pay for anything with an international credit card in Brazil. To put it in perspective, the lady wandering the streets selling homemade treats busted out a card reader. All the while balancing the basket holding her prized desserts on her head. Honestly, the only place on my extended trip that didn’t take credit cards was the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro. I learned this the hard way, after Ubering across the entire city, only to not have enough cash on hand. I’m really glad I returned, as this was the only place I saw monkeys on my trip. It was a highlight of my first trip! Personally, I didn’t need a lot of cash, nor did I want to travel with a lot of cash on hand. Chase credit card holders can exchange USD for BRL at any Chase bank, you don’t even need to have an open bank account at the time. Just make sure you call ahead and give enough time for your order, because it takes at least a few business days. I prefer to use credit cards because you always get the exact exchange rate of the day. Just make sure you call ahead and let your credit card companies know you’re traveling to Brazil! Also, make sure you have zero international fees. There are a ton of cards that offer no extra fees for international charges these days. Feel free to reach out if you have questions about this.

7. Enjoy the Magic of Brazil
   Now that you’re prepared, you are set up to have the bucket list trip of a lifetime. Don’t forget to have a roadside Caldo de Cana (Sugarcane Juice), and a heaping bowl of açaí for me!
   
   If you’re interested in learning how I traveled twice to Brazil for practically free, you can book a 1:1 travel consultation with me today at Free Smiles Productions. Fill out this form and I’ll get back to you asap! https://www.freesmilesproductions.com/consultations. You don’t have to be a musician to reach out, I have traveled to ~20 countries, and am happy to assist all curious and adventurous individuals looking to book the trip of a lifetime. Falo com vocês mais tarde, migos! Talk to you later, friends!