(Last updated: 7 June 2011)

Visas

Australians require visas when travelling to Brazil. The visas and further information can be obtained from the Brazilian Embassy in Canberra.

Climate

Most of Brazil is tropical country, however, there are significant regional differences. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons in Brazil are at the same time of year as they are in Australia. Weather patterns in São Paulo are similar to those experienced in Sydney and Rio de Janeiro weather is similar to the Gold Coast.

The north, central and northeast regions are mostly hot, with the average temperature range being between 27°C and 32°C all year.

In the southern states, (São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) winter temperatures average at 14°C.

For weather details in Brazil, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.

Airports

São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the international gateway cities to Brazil and are served by major international air carriers.

The São Paulo International airport, Guarulhos, is located in the outskirts of São Paulo and it takes between 40 and 60 minutes by car to reach the main areas of the city.

If you arrive between 7.00am-9.30am and 4.00pm–8.30pm in São Paulo, be aware of long traffic delays where it could take up to two hours to reach the city.

The Rio de Janeiro International airport, Galeão, is located in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro and it takes between 40 and 60 minutes by car to reach the main areas of the city.

The national flag carriers are Gol and TAM.

The shuttle service between the domestic airports of Rio de Janeiro (Santos-Dumont) and São Paulo (Congonhas) takes around 50 minutes. In both cities, the domestic airports are close to the commercial area.

Ground transport

All taxis in Brazil are legally required to have meters. At São Paulo international airport, taxis charge set fares to the city (approximately US$50). The client pays what they see on the meter, except for some cities such as Curitiba, where a ‘table of prices’ is used based on what is shown on the meter. It is not recommended to rent cars or to take buses.

Due to the great number of vehicles on the streets, bottlenecks occur frequently in Sao Paulo. Allow extra time if you need to catch a plane, attend a meeting or have an appointment.

Hotels

Major domestic and international chains operating throughout Brazil include:

• Hilton
• Hyatt
• Intercontinental
• Marriot
• Mercure
• Sheraton

Security and health

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Brazil. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Several Brazilian cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Natal, and Recife have established specialised tourist police units to patrol areas frequented by tourists.

Some safety tips to consider:

• Don't carry valuables such as jewellery, expensive watches, passports and air tickets with you.
• By law you must carry a passport with you at all times, but many travellers opt to carry a photocopy when they are in the city. If this is the case, ensure that your passport is locked in the hotel safe.
• Don’t take anything to the beaches in Rio de Janeiro – that includes a camera, bag and jewellery.

Emergency numbers:

Police – 190
Fire department– 193
Ambulance – 192
Chemist (24-hour) – 136

If you are an Australian citizen requiring immediate help in an emergency or urgent circumstances and are calling from within Brazil, assistance is available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade consular centre in Canberra by calling for free: 000 861 1040.

If you are a calling from a country other than Brazil you should call Canberra reverse charge/collect on: +61 2 6261 1446.

Health

In the event of an emergency, please contact one of the following hospitals in Brazil:

Sao Paulo

Albert Einstein Hospital
627 Avenida Albert Einstein (Morumbi)
Tel: +11 3747 1233

Hospital Nove de Julho
Rua Peixoto Gomide, 625
São Paulo SP, 01409-001
Tel: +11 3147 9000

Rio de Janeiro

Hospital Barra D’Or
Ayrton Senna, 2541
Barra da Tijuca
Tel: +21 2430 3639

Hospital Copa D’Or
Rua Figueiredo Magalhães, 875
Copacabana
Tel: +21 2524 4769

Tipping

Tips/gorjetas are not mandatory. At restaurants, tips are about 10 per cent and are already included in the bill. Don’t tip taxis, only round up the fare charge.

Time zones and time differences

Brazil is 13 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). There are two main time zones in Brazil. The exceptions are the states Rondonia, Amazonia and Acre, which are 14 hours behind AEST.

To find out the current time in Brasilia, view the World Clock.

Dialling codes

Brazil's country code is 55.

For calls to Brazil from Australia dial: 0011 + 55 + area code + telephone number.

For calls from Brazil to Australia dial: 0021 + 61 + area code + telephone number.

For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.

Business hours

Office hours are usually from 9.00am- 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Supermarkets, department stores and shopping centres are generally open from 10.00am-10.00pm, Monday to Saturday and from 2.00pm-8.00pm on Sunday.

Banks are open from 10.00am-4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Public holidays

January 1 – New Year's Day
April 21 – Tiradentes Day
May 1 – Labour Day
July 9 – Civil Holiday (São Paulo State only)
September 7 – Independence Day
October 12 – Our Lady Aparecida
November 2 – All Souls Day
November 15 – Proclamation of the Republic
December 8 – Immaculate Conception (Some rural areas)
December 24 – Christmas Eve (Half day)

Banks

Major domestic and international banks operating throughout Brazil include:

• Banco do Brasil
• Banco Itau
• Santander
• HSBC

Currency

The official currency in Brazil is the Real (R$). Oanda has up-to-date exchange rates. Only bring US currency or travellers cheques as Australian dollars are unable to be exchanged in Brazil.

Oanda currency converter

Electricity and water

Most cities' power supply (including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro) is 110 volts, except in Brasilia - 220 volts. Two-pin plugs are the most common.

It is recommended to drink bottled water.