Brazil is an unforgettable destination to visit. With the vibrant Amazon rainforest, vivacious cities such as Rio de Janeiro which has the annual carnival, and beautiful beaches, we bet that you’ll love your trip to this destination! However, there are important things to be aware of when planning a trip to Brazil. This post about tips for traveling in Brazil will help!
1.Make sure that you are vaccinated
If you are visiting the Amazon rainforest (and you should, it’s amazing!) on your trip to Brazil, you should definitely have vaccines. Yellow Fever, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A are essential jabs for this part of the country.
It is also advisable to have a Tetanus booster and your rabies vaccine. If you are bitten by an animal, you will still need to get some post-exposure vaccines to protect from rabies, but you have more time to get them and you will not need immunoglobulin, which is essential for non-vaccinated people and is sometimes in short supply in rural hospitals.
2.Protect against mosquitos
Once you are vaccinated, it’s also important to protect against mosquitos. Mosquitos in Brazil can transmit diseases like Zika virus and Dengue fever, and there is some risk of Malaria. Depending on where you are going, you might want to take Malaria tablets. Whether you take them or not, make sure that you use a strong insect repellent and cover your arms and legs with loose clothing.
3.Only plan to see part of the country
Brazil is a huge country – one of the biggest in the world – and you should only plan to see part of it while you are there. For example, you might decide to spend your time just traveling in Rio de Janeiro and around – or you may prefer to see the Amazon rainforest for a few weeks! If you try to squeeze too much in, you’ll end up feeling exhausted, so focus on a small area for your first trip. You can always return!
4.Know the laws
Brazil has some unique laws, and it’s important to be aware of them before you go to make sure that you don’t accidentally break them.
First things first, drugs are very illegal, despite the fact that you may see them in use frequently. Avoid any type of drugs, including cannabis – you could get in trouble with the police or find yourself caught up in gang feuds. If you are in a situation where drugs are being used, it is best to remove yourself so you don’t risk getting caught up in any police or gang action.
Gambling also has complicated legalities. It was made illegal in 1941, although there have been plenty of attempts to overturn this law. Brazilian congress does have some bills pending to see if the law can be overruled, but at the time of writing it hasn’t.
There are only a few casinos that offer authorized betting games. Internet gambling is also not looked on favorably, however if you want to gamble online in Brazil you can use foreign online casinos. Although you’ll probably be having so much fun exploring that you won’t have enough time!
5.Learn some Portuguese
Brazil is an ex-Portuguese colony, which means that they speak Portuguese. If you already know some French, Spanish or another romance language, Portuguese is fairly easy to pick up. If not, it will help if you learn the basics – even if you only know how to say “hello”, “thank you”, and “where is the bathroom?”.
Locals tend to look favourably on people who speak their language, and if you make an effort to speak some Portuguese, you’ll have more people willing to help you if you encounter any trouble.
6.If you are robbed, let the thief have your items
This brings us on to the next point! Robberies do happen in Brazil, some of which are violent. If somebody robs you, especially if it is at knife or gunpoint, don’t try to be a hero – give them everything that they ask for. Money and phones can be replaced, but your life cannot.
7.Make sure that you know your embassy’s details
If you do get in trouble in Brazil, it will help you out a lot to have your embassy details already written down. Most of the embassies are in Brasilia which is the capital, but you will also find consulates in other major cities.
If you lose your passport or access to money while in Brazil, your embassy will help you to arrange a replacement document and access money. Knowing the details of your nearest embassy or consulate will save a lot of stress if something bad does happen while you’re in Brazil!
8.Get used to Brazilian customs
Brazilian people are generally very warm, friendly and open people. If you meet any locals, whether they be friends of friends or even just people you start chatting to, don’t be surprised if they give you a hug without knowing you very well!
It is also considered rude to eat with your hands, to leave a social setting without saying goodbye, and to ask about people’s income or age. However, Brazilians are very forgiving people, so if you accidentally do something that is thought to be rude, just apologise and everybody will move on!
9.Don’t drink tap water
To make sure that you stay healthy, it’s best to not drink the tap water in Brazil. There is no guarantee that it has been cleaned and it could make you sick. Furthermore, avoid eating raw food, like salad, unless you know that it has been washed in filtered water.
One last thing to remember is that you should also not throw toilet paper down the toilet, as this can block the drains.
Are you ready to visit Brazil?
Brazil is a mesmerizing country. The cities, the nature, and the people make it one of the best destinations in the world to visit. We’re sure that you will absolutely love this country, particularly if you follow our tips for visiting!
