Traveling to Brazil? Things to Know, Before You Go

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This is a guest post by Katie Robinson, a travel writer and blogger living in Chile 

Travelling to Brazil? Need advice? Read on…

Are you travelling to Brazil for the first time? Perhaps it will be your first time in South America. When I was preparing my first trip to South America I was fed up with people telling me to be careful of every little thing… not to do this and to avoid that. Travelling in South America is not dangerous, but it is very different and there are a few things you should bear in mind to avoid any problems.

Below are some travel tips for Brazil and South America

• Investigate before you travel
  To make the most of your trip I would advise you to do lots of research on the place you will be visiting. Make sure you know the top tourist attractions you expect to visit, which areas of the city, town or resort are best avoided and if you plan on visiting a number of cities, you should buy a road map so that you plan your routes and familiarize yourself with the area before you go. Google street maps will even give you a good idea of the setting.
• Where to go?
  Brazil is famous for its white sandy beaches, wildlife, nature, landscapes, Amazon rainforest, culture, heritage and urban jungles. I would recommend you first decide what you want to see and experience, then look for a place that is nearby.
• Flights to Brazil
  The cheapest time to travel to Brazil is during the low season. The high season is usually from December until the end of February and June until mid-August. You are also more likely to find cheap flights to big cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. From there you can take a low cost flight with a Brazilian airline such as TAM Airlines to your next destination.
• Visas
  For tourism of up to 90 days in Brazil, many countries do not require a visa. However, travellers from the US, Canada and Australia do need a visa. To avoid any problems, make sure you check the official rules and regulations with the Brazilian embassy in your home country. If you are travelling for tourism, make sure you have return airline tickets. You will be asked to prove that you will be leaving the country at some point within the 90 days period.
• Immigration & customs
  Before your flight lands you will be asked to fill out some documents for immigration and customs. Make sure you keep your entry card as you will need it and your passport to leave the country. Declare all items you think you should in the “customs” form as your suitcase will be scanned on arrival and you could be fined if you have something that should not be there. If you declare it, it will just be taken off you if it is illegal to take it into the country.
• Safety
  Brazil is safe if you are. Like in any big city, you should be careful not to walk around poor areas or dangerous areas at night, especially if you are wearing flashy clothing or jewellery. Even during the day you should try not to draw attention to yourself or carry lots of cash around. Keep this in mind, use common sense and you will be fine. It’s also wise to purchase international calling cards ahead of time in the event something does go wrong and you need to call home to cancel bank cards or organize an emergency flight home.

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Have you traveled to Brazil? Care to share your tips and recommendations?
Share your feedback in the comments section below

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Author Bio: Katie Robinson is an experienced travel writer and blogger. She is currently living in Chile and writes for Spotted by locals, eDreams and is a guest blogger for a few other blogs

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