ABOUT BRAZIL

Why choose Brazil as your Destination?

Brazil is the largest and most populated country in Latin America (more than 190 million inhabitants).

Brazil economy is the 6th in the world ranking and the biggest in Latin America (source: PCI ranking).
Rio de Janeiro is among the top five most beautiful cities in the world, it is the second largest city in Brazil and the cultural capital of the country with several scenic beauty and natural resources. The city provides a harmonious and agreeable environment for its inhabitants and visitors, for both leisure and work. It is also recognized that one of its main virtues is the kindness and hospitality with which its residents welcome all visitors.
São Paulo is the biggest Brazilian city and the third metropolis in the world, handles 75% of the trade fairs business in Brazil. It has been generating over 220 thousand direct and indirect jobs in the Brazilian market.

The City of Rio de Janeiro receives annually more than 2 million foreign tourists, which according to EMBRATUR makes it the most visited city in the country, with an approximate share of 33% of the total number of foreign tourists. With its ample infrastructure of tourism services, Rio de Janeiro is ranked among the top destinations in the world in reception for cultural, commercial, technical and scientific events – fairs, symposiums, congresses, conventions and exhibitions.
Although Brazil is exuberant by nature with more than seven thousand Kilometers of coastline, it has the largest forest in the world, several National Parks, rivers and a lovely people.

Capital: Brasilia.
Area: 8,5 million sq Km.
Shoreline: 7.400km of coasts and beaches.
Population: 178 million.
Language: Brazilian Portuguese.
Religion: Brazil is officially a Catholic country but it is also noted for the diversity and flexibility of many religions as Candomblé (also called Macumba) an Afro-Brazilian religion or Evangelical churches.
Type of Government: Federal Republic.
Current President: Michel Temer.

Currency: Real (R$), but dollars are easily changed in hotels, authorized banks and travel agencies. International credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants. In big cities it is possible to draw cash using Cirrus or Maestro cards.

Time Zone: Brazil spans four time zones:

Fernando de Noronha Islands:2 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Eastern states: 3 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Western states (except Acre): 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Acre state: 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Visas: All foreigners must possess a passport. Passports must be valid for at least six months after arrival date. Pursuant to intergovernmental agreements countries that do require a visa for entering the country, the visa must be obtained at the Brazilian consulate. For further information, please contact your local embassy or consulate. Brazilian regulations require that you show your passport when travelling from one city to another. Please have it on hand for such occasions. At other times, we suggest that you keep it in the hotel safety deposit box and carry a photocopy of the passport identification page. To check if your country needs Visa, please check on link bellow: www.mre.gov.br/ingles/consular_service/foreigners.asp

Eletric Current: In the majority of Brazilian cities the electric current is either 110 or 220 volts. For example, Bahia (Salvador) 127 volts; Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo 110 volts, Brasilia 220 volts. Although plugs may look different, no adaptors are normally needed for hair dryers, recorders, electric shavers, etc.

Seasons & Climate:

Summer from December 22nd to March 20th
Autumm from March 20th to June 20th
Winter from June 21st to September
Spring from September 23rd to December 21st

Flora & Fauna: Brazil’s biggest terrestrial mamals are jaguar, puma, maned wolf, tapir, giant anteater, deer, capybaras, giant river and giant armadillo. It’s rich in monkeys species, pinks and grey dolphins are found in the Amazon rivers and at coastline.Reptiles as alligators, anaconda snake, sea turtles and lizards are endemic to Brazil and has more than 1700 species of birds (including about 200 endemics). Also Brazil is a paradise for plant lovers and botanists. Its magnificents trees, beautiful flowers, fascinating epihytes and enourmous variations in edible fruits and nuts. Highlights are orchids, bromeliads, palms and cactis.

National Parks: 50 (sum 17 millions hectares of lands). The most wellknown and accessible are Itatiaia, Serra dos Órgãos, Iguassu falls, Chapada dos Veadeiros, Guimarães and Diamantina, Lençois Maranhenses, Abrolhos and Fernando de Noronha Island.

World Heritage Sites: 19 (Charming colonial towns, impressive forts, large palaces, baroque churches, old cobblestone routes, surprising museums and shipwrecked galleons).

Arts & Culture: Brazilian people find their roots on four continents: Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. Indian and Africa tribes, Portugueses, French and Dutch adventures, European, Asian and American migrants have created a unique Ethnic mix and a rich culture.

Music & Dance: Music is an incredibly important part of Brazilian culture. Wherever you go, you will find people playing, singing and dancing Samba, Bossa Nova, Forró, Funk, MPB (Music Popular Brasileira) and Brazilian Rock.
Architecture: Brazil has some very fine colonial architecture cities as Salvador, Olinda, Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Paraty and others and a an modern capital Brasilia.

Master architect names: Aleijadinho & Niemeyer.
The best Brazilian painters: Candido Portinari.
Literature: Brazil’s greatest writers: Machado de Assis, Jorge Amado and Paulo Coelho.
Cinema: Famous world movies Orpheus, Pixote, Central Station, Cidade de Deus, Tropa de Elite and others.

Gastronomy: Brazil has a very eclectic cuisine, inspired by cooking traditions of indigenous peoples, Africans, Europeans and Asians. Ingredients from all over the world have found new partners in Brazilians fruits, spices and fish and Brazilian cooking offers new delights for all kinds of tastes.

North: The Indian influences on Brazilian cooking have the best been preserved in the Amazon. Fish, fruits, nuts and roots are the basic ingredients.

Northeast: The hot cuisine, dominated by sun and sea and especially in Bahia, you find African recipes with new ingredients.

Centuries of sugarcane production have resulted in many sweet solutions for dessert.

Centre-West: In this region of wide open spaces with big rivers and accupied by migrants from other parts of Brazil, you will find dishes adapted from other regions of Brazil.

Southeast: A large population from many origins, means a great diversity of dishes from all regions of Brazil.

South: The south is the birthplace of churrasco (barbecue), a gaucho tradition that has spread all over Brazil. But you will also find dishes that preserve European cooking traditions.

Events

January: The summer Holiday month. Many parties and shows on the beaches. Religious events celebrate the New Year and the Epiphany.
February: Carnival Time! Big parade in Rio de Janeiro or street celebrations specially in Olinda, Recife and Salvador.
March/April: The week before Easter is Holy week and there are many beautiful celebrations, especially in colonial towns.
May: The Divine Holy Spirit is celebrated during a ten-day festival in many places. Paraty (RJ), Pirenópolis (GO) and Alcantara (MA) are three places that organize imaginitive processions and pageants.
June: June (country bumpkin) parties all over Brazil. Campina Grande (PB) and Caruaru (PE) compete for the “biggest” party of all. In the North the Bumba-meu-boi pageant reigns (São Luis, Paritins).
July: In this winter holiday month there are several cultural events.
August: The best cowboys of Brazil compete in the city of Barretos. Gramado (RS) holds its yearly Film Festival.
October: The Oktoberfest in Blumenau (SC) and the famous Cirio de Nazaré Procession Religious Festival in Belém.
November: The shrine of Padre Cicero in Juazeiro do Norte (CE) attracts an impressive pilgrimade.
December: Christmas in the tropics. Reveillon is celebrated on the beaches.