Brazil holidays

Brasilia

185,000,000

GMT -2 hours

Portuguese is the official language in Brazil. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and larger shops.

Brazilian Reals

Petty crime is far from uncommon in South American cities. We don’t want to alarm anyone, just remind you of standard safety precautions. Always remember to leave

passports, traveller’s cheques, jewellery and valuables in the hotel safe. Leave room keys with the hotel reception. Almost a quarter of Rio’s population live in favelas (shanty

towns) which look colourfully attractive but tourists should not enter these areas.

Rio de Janeiro - For many Rio is the gateway to South America itself and its allure is endless. Rio is situated between the ocean and a steep hillside and is home

to over nine million ‘Cariocas’ as the inhabitants are known. The Cariocas pursue pleasure and the festival atmosphere in Rio prevails, with Carnival being the most popular time. The city is divided into a north zone and south zone by the Serra da Carioca, a steep mountain range in the Parque Nacional da Tijuca. Centro is the business district which is thriving by day and quiet by night. Rio offers endless sightseeing opportunities. For history buffs, there are numerous museums such as the Museo Historico Nacional which used to be an old fortress and a military prison. For art lovers, the city is home to many museums, theatres and galleries such as the Museo Nacional de Belas Artes housing some of Brazil’s best paintings and the Teatro Municipal where Rio’s greatest opera and theatre performances are held. Churches worth visiting include the Nossa Senhora do Caramo (Carmelite Church) which was the former church where the emperor of Brazil was crowned and the CatedralMetropolitana with its gigantic stainedglass windows. Rio is, of course, famous for its beaches where people go to see and be seen. Probably the most famous beach in the world is Copacabana which is a hive of activity by day or by night and Ipanema, Rio’s richest and most chic beach resort. The Parque Nacional da Tijuca is a great place for walking, climbing, picnics and the impressive lookout of the Corcovado (meaning Humpbacked Mountain) which is nearly twice as high as Sugar Loaf. The Corcovado has become the symbol of the city for here stands the statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) with arms outstretched over the bay. It became the national monument in 1931 and is over 30m tall and weighs over 1000 tonnes. Sugar Loaf (Pao de Acucar) is the famous rock which stands guard over the entrance to Guanabara Bay and soars 1,300 foot. The best way to reach the summit of this spectacular landmark is by cable car.

Brasilia - Brasilia is Brazil’s capital city and the heart of the commercial centre of the country. The highlights of the city include the Congresso Nacional (National Congress) which is noted for the counterpoint of its dome and inverted dome, Brasilia’s Cathedral, the Praca dos Tres Poderes (Plaza of the Three Powers) home to the legislative and federal government, and the Parque Nacional de Brasilia which is an ecological reserve popular with locals.

Iguacu Falls - The Iguacu Falls which border Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are one of the wildest and most beautiful wonders of the world where a whole ocean of white water tumbles over the cliff edge and plunges into the abyss below, sending up clouds of rainbow spray. The Falls are higher than Niagara and wider than Victoria consisting of over 275 separate waterfalls. The best panoramic views of the falls can be seen from the Brazilian side and the best close-up view of the falls can be seen from the Argentinian side. The most aweinspiring views of the falls can be gained by walking along the many bridges, ramps, stone staircases and walkways used in the filming of the Hollywood movie “The Mission”. Be careful as you are likely to get wet!

The Amazon - The mystical attraction of both the river and the jungle envelop tourists who venture here. The Amazon River flows from its source in the Andes to its mouth on the Atlantic traversing the whole width of the South American continent covering 4,000 miles. It is the second longest river in the world after the Nile. The forbidding Amazon jungle covers over 60% of the nation’s total territory, a size which is larger than Western Europe but has a population of just 16 million. It is possible to take a 2.5 hour boat journey from the town of Manaus via the Encontro das Aguas (the “Meeting of the Waters” where the Rio Negro and Solimoes rivers join together) to pass small river settlements, frontier homesteads and unique fauna and flora. You can stay at the Amazon Village and even take a walk beneath the jungle canopy.

Sao Paulo - Sao Paolo has grown from a sleepy Jesuit mission post to become the financial hub of Latin America. It is also vying for the post of Brazil’s cultural centre too. Most visitors will come to Sao Paulo at some point as it is a crossroads between the major cities and sights in Brazil. Salvador - Salvador was Brazil’ first capital and overlooks the Bahia de Todos os Santos (All Saints’ Bay). Salvador has a strong Portuguese influence with beautiful churches and mansions. The city has also preserved the music, art, dance, religions, festivals and folkways of the thousands of African slaves settled there by the Portuguese. Salvador also has some of Brazil’s best artisans who sell their wares in the local markets.

Costa do sauipe - On Brazil’s east coast about one and a half hours drive from the World Heritage city of Salvador, lies the resort of Costa do Sauipe. The 425 acre eco-friendly resort boasts miles of tropical virgin beaches. At the heart of the resort is Vila Nova do Praia, a quaint seaside village. A good choice to mix and match the lively city of Rio and the beaches of Costa do Sauipe.

A full valid EU passport is required. We recommend that it's valid for at least 6 months after you return to the UK. No visa is required for British citizens.

•   February/March: Carnival. Celebrated all over Brazil but most famously in Salvador and Rio.
•   February/March: Parade of Champions. At the end of the week following the Carnival the leading samba schools of Brazil parade through the streets of Rio.
•   December: National Samba Day. A huge musical party celebrating the national dance of Brazil.

11½ hours to Rio de Janeiro

The average daily year-round temperature is about 32 degrees C, but the humidity may make it feel hotter. November to March is the hottest period but there tend to be cooling sea breezes which make life pleasant and the temperatures also drop at night. From June to September Brazil experiences short, sharp and sweet downpours which cools the  atmosphere. August is the best time for touring as temperatures are slightly lower and

therefore few insects can be found.

110/220v 60HzHz. Either European plugs with two circular metal pins, American style plug with two flat blades above a circular grounding pin or Japanese style plugs with two parallel flat blades are used.

There are no compulsory vacinnations for Brazil but we would recommend that clients check the current advice before travelling with their GP.

Most restaurants levy a 10% service charge automatically. However, if service has been good you should give the waiter an additional 5 %. Taxi drivers should be tipped

approximately 10% of the fare. Porters expect one USD for 2 suitcases.