Brazil is a country in South America that is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east. It is the fifth-largest country by geographical area, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world.

Capital: Brasilia
Largest City: Sao Paulo
Geography: 3,287,597 sq mi

Entry Requirements:
All U.S. Citizens and Canadian nationals, including infants, must have both a passport that is valid for six months past the date of first entry into Brazil, and a tourist visa, which is obtained from the Brazilian embassy or nearest consulate. The visa is valid for five years.

Getting There:
Flying Time to Rio/Salvador from:
Los Angeles: 17 hrs 5 min
Atlanta: 13 hrs 45 min
New York: 13 hrs 50 min
Chicago: 15 hrs 35 min
Miami: 7 hrs
Vancouver: 20 hrs 10 min
Toronto: 13 hrs 55 min

Population:
Brazil: 183.888.841
Sao Paulo: 11,000,000
Rio de Janeiro: 6,100,000
Salvador: 2,700,000

Religion:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Candomble (Animist)

Language:
The language of Brazil is Portuguese. English is spoken by some of the staff at hotels, and tourist businesses.

Currency:
The currency of Brazil is the real (R$). The real comes in coin denominations of R$1 and 50, 10, 5, and 1 centavos; bank notes of R$1, R$5, R$10, R$50, R$100.

Major Credit Cards are widely accepted. ATMs (MasterCard Cirrus and VISA Plus) are available.

Time Zone:
Brazil covers four time zones. The time in most of Brazil visited by foreign tourists is three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-3). This is true of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasiiía, Bahia, Minas Gerais etc.


Popular Shopping Items:
Indian Ceramic arts, Woven bags/baskets, Painted figures, and Lace.
Gemstones: Esperssartita, Tourmaline, Ametist, Greengold, Quartz, Topaz and Diamonds.
Leather:shoes, belts, wallets, purses, luggage and hats.
Other: hammocks, picture books, anything to do with the Brazilian football (soccer) team, Guarana products, and thongs.

Electricity:
In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the current is 127 volts (60 cycles) but many of the larger hotels also offer 220 volts. Transformers to boost the current from 110 volts to 220 volts are available in most hotels.

International Travel Warehouse

Brazil History

&

While traveling in Brazil,
Do's & Don'ts

Official name:	Republica Federativa do Brasil (Federative Republic of Brazil) Brazil is the English spelling for Brasil
Flag of Brazil:	Green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress).
Brief History 1500: Portuguese fleet lands on Brazil. 1502: Rio de Janiero is named (translated - River of January). 1503: Brasil is named after the Indian name of 'pau-brasil' (brazilwood). 1763: The capital is moved from Salvador to Rio de Janiero. 1822: Brazil proclaims its independence from Portugal. 1850: The importation of African slaves ends. 1855: Rio de Janiero holds the first Carnival celebration. 1888: All remaining slaves are freed. 1888: Brazil recruits agricultural laborers from Germany, Italy, Portugal& Spain 1908: Japanese immigrants arrive to work on coffee plantations. 1917: Ernesto dos Santos records 1st Samba, titled "Pelo Telefone" 1923: The Copacabana Palace resort opens, which also offers gambling. 1946: Gambling is outlawed in Brazil. 1951: Ipanema replaces dirt roads & cottages with luxury apartments & shops 1960: The capital is moved from Rio de Janiero to Brasilia. 1964: The song "The Girl from Ipanema" is released. 1970: Copacabana's beach is widened and the mosaic sidewalks are installed. 1984: Rio's Sambadrome opens for Carnival. 2016: Rio De Janiero to host the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, august 5-21, 2016. The first to be held in South America.
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While traveling in Brazil, Do's & Don'ts Do's Learn Brazilians love to dance and like to see foreigners demonstrating their enthusiasm with regional rhythms. Therefore, learn with them, as there will always be someone willing to teach you. Purchase Jewels made with gold and Brazil's semi-precious stones are among the best and most beautiful in the world. Aside from that, they are a great investment. Taste Even if you're not keen on soft drinks, try the Guarana, Brazil's most famous and typical non-alcoholic beverage, made from a small berry taken from the Amazon Rainforest. It is so popular that it even competes with the Coke! Travel Brazil is huge and much more varied than you can imagine! From one region to the other the landscape changes completely. Those who only visit Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguacu and Manaus, for instance, will see less than 10% of what the country has to offer. Get dressed To be sure, Brazilian women wear the smallest bikinis, but only at the beach! Out of that environment they cover their bodies to get there and they leave, too. So, no walking about the streets wearing just a bikini and close-cut shorts only at the water's edge. Don'ts Getting a tan Brazil is a tropical country so you can expect bright sunlight the year around. But don't be fooled by the gentle breeze that hides the heat of the beaches, neither should you be eager with the abundance of sun. Begin leisurely. Comments Brazilians are quite informal and fun loving with each other but they do not take too kindly to seeing foreigners making comments on them or their way of life. Sif you have any, it's better to keep them to yourself. Charity If you start handing over coins to every child in need that comes to you, soon you'll end up surrounded by a veritable nursery of kids of all ages. Don't hand out money. If you wish, give them sweets, they'll appreciate it more. Experimenting Brazilian cuisine from certain regions can play havoc with some less accustomed stomachs. That said, be careful when venturing to experiment with local specialties. Keep you eyes open also for signs of lack of cleanliness. Not everything that is sold on the streets is good for you. Source: Enjoy Brazil Magazine, Year 1, #3; "Do's | Don'ts"

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