Organize your stay Rio De Janeiro
Money Rio De Janeiro
Currency. The real (R$), plural reais, has been Brazil's currency since 1994. Although inflation is now under control, the currency fluctuates widely.
Exchange rate. In July 2024, the exchange rate was R$ 5.93 to the euro. The currency is convertible. There's no need to order it in France. It's best to change money in Brazil. On arrival at international airports, avoid the unattractive exchange offices before customs. Never change money on the street. Banks and some tourist agencies will change your euros at the official rates they advertise. Small tourist agencies in Rio sometimes change at more advantageous rates than the official one.
Credit card. ATM withdrawals are possible if you have an international credit card. Check with your bank before you leave. Blue cards are accepted in many places. Before you leave, find out about withdrawal rates and commissions, as well as foreign withdrawal limits, which may be temporarily increased. We recommend that you travel with a small amount of cash, and only withdraw as much as you need.
Budget & Tips Rio De Janeiro
Budget. Brazil is no longer a cheap country. The current collapse of the real is making the cost of living cheaper for European visitors, but the budget for a trip to Brazil is still quite high. You should expect to pay 50 euros for a small daily budget per person, 80-100 euros for a medium budget and 150 euros for a comfortable budget. In the big cities, accommodation can be a major expense. As everywhere, rates for hotels and other tourist services vary according to season and event. During the summer vacations, from December to February (including the Carnival period) and the July school vacations, prices double or even more in Rio or Paraty, for example. Prices also vary depending on the event. In "conventional" restaurants, the bill can quickly become steep. It's possible to eat by the kilo, but for a moderate price. Prepared dishes (PF, prato feito) are generally inexpensive.
In the low season, if you travel only by bus (or book your flights in advance), stay in decent but simple hotels and eat in inexpensive restaurants (self-catering by the kilo), you can travel more cheaply. In high season, you'll want to avoid the tourist spots, unless of course you've made them your preferred destination. Don't go to Ouro Preto at Easter, or to Paraty during the FLIP book festival. An airplane flight, the occasional car rental and a guided tour can add significantly to the average budget, while solo excursions (not just anywhere!) and lazy days in a hammock on the beach can lighten it. Don't hesitate to haggle over all the tourist services on offer, especially in low season when customers are scarce. For example, the price of guided excursions (national parks, etc.) can be discussed. It's important to remember, however, that quality service comes at a price, and that very low market prices can sometimes be at the expense of safety and/or respect for communities and the environment. Furthermore, you must respect the work of others and negotiate within acceptable limits.
The Gol and Azul airlines offer attractive pass systems for domestic flights, which can only be purchased in France or in the traveller's home country after the purchase of a round-trip ticket to Brazil.
Tipping. In restaurants, 10% is added to the amount you pay, which goes to the waiters. This means you don't have to leave a tip, with the exception of a few restaurants where the 10% is not included. But there's nothing to stop you leaving a tip if you enjoyed the service.
Haggling. Negotiating the price of goods, which has skyrocketed in recent years, is a common custom, especially in street markets. Resist the merchants' talent for making you feel guilty for offering a lower price, and take your chances by asking for up to 20% off. For even juicier bargains, opt for cash payment and bulk purchases. In small shops struggling to get by, and in certain places far from tourist areas, it's best to refrain from haggling.
Taxes. Displayed prices may sometimes be taxed, but the practice is not uniform, and displays are not always self-explanatory. In some hotels, you may have to add 5% ISS or 10% service tax (or both!) to the posted price; ask at reception. In bars and restaurants, the 10% service charge is not indicated on the menu, but is always included in the bill.
Passport and visas Rio De Janeiro
Travelers from Europe must be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Brazil. For many years now, Europeans have been able to travel to Brazil without a visa for tourism or business for a period not exceeding 90 days. An extension for a further 90 days can be requested. After that, you must leave the country. For a work visa, the procedure is complex, and you generally have to go through the company hiring you.
Immigration card. This is filled out on the plane or at land customs. This card shows your date of entry and your final date of exit. It is given to you on arrival at the airport. You will be asked for it when you leave. Make sure you don't lose it. If you do lose it, contact the federal police in the city where you are staying.
Transit. Crossing from one country to another by land, notably between Brazil and Bolivia, Argentina or Paraguay, is generally done without any formalities (if you are European). It's up to you to take the necessary steps (exit stamps, entry into the country), in Brazil with the policia federal and, in other countries, with immigration offices. If you forget to regularize your situation, you may run into problems later, at the airport, when you leave the country. That said, the staff at the policia federal are friendly and understanding, and most visa problems seem to be amicable.
Tip. Before you leave, photocopy all the documents you'll be taking with you. Take one copy of each document with you and leave the other with someone in France. In the event of loss or theft, this will make it much easier to renew them with the consular authorities. You can also keep copies on the official website (mon.servicepublic.fr). Simply create an account and scan your identity papers and other important documents into the confidential area.
Driver's license Rio De Janeiro
During a stay under tourist visa, not exceeding 180 days, French and European citizens can use their national driving license or have an international driving license issued. According to information from the French Embassy in Brazil, "a non-Brazilian citizen has the right to drive during his stay in Brazil, for a maximum of 180 days, provided he has a valid foreign or international license ("Habilitação Internacional para Dirigir"), which he will present with its sworn translation into Portuguese and an identity document". You'll need this permit to rent a car.
Health Rio De Janeiro
There are a few points to be aware of to avoid health problems during your trip. Travelling to Brazil means taking precautions against certain diseases, even if there are no major health risks.
Covid-19. The pandemic claimed more than 500,000 victims in Brazil, mainly due to the carelessness of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who denied that the virus was dangerous and delayed the implementation of vaccination campaigns. Today, the disease is nothing but a bad memory. A vaccination passport or a negative PCR test are no longer required to enter Brazilian territory.
Water. We strongly advise against drinking tap water anywhere in Brazil. Use only bottled mineral water - more expensive than beer! - or filtered water.
Food hygiene. The most common ailments are intestinal problems. A change of diet is already a source of disturbance, but when spicy food is added to the mix, sometimes prepared under conditions of hygiene that bear little relation to those to which we are accustomed, the result is usually severe diarrhoea, also known as tourista. Take an antidiarrheal, an intestinal disinfectant and stay well hydrated (no fruit juices). If the diarrhea persists or is accompanied by blood loss or mucus, consult a doctor. To avoid these inconveniences, buy sealed water bottles, boil water (coffee and tea are "safe" drinks), avoid raw vegetables or unpeeled fruit, avoid ice cubes, don't brush your teeth with tap water and always carry disinfectant tablets.
Bites and stings. Malaria is present in northern Brazil, so it's important to protect yourself against mosquito bites. Prevention requires treatment prior to departure, especially if you plan to visit the heart of the Amazon rainforest (no need for Manaus, but ask the Institut Pasteur about the Amazon rainforest). On site, use powerful repellents and wear appropriate clothing (pants, long-sleeved sweatshirt, socks). At night, use a mosquito net and, for added safety, anti-mosquito sprays. These precautions also protect against dengue fever, yellow fever and leishmaniasis, diseases also transmitted by mosquito species present in Brazil. As for bites, especially from dogs, rabies is still active in Brazil, so disinfect the wound immediately and consult a doctor as soon as possible. And don't forget that wounds in hot, humid climates take a long time to heal, and can even become infected. There are many parasitic and skin infections in Brazil. So treat them as quickly as possible with an antiseptic and leave them in the open air as often as possible, rather than covering them with a bandage.
Sunburn. Beware of sunburn! Despite its humid climate, the Brazilian sun is just as dangerous as anywhere else. So be extremely careful, and avoid long, repetitive exposure. In all cases, and whatever the duration of exposure, it's imperative to use a high factor sunscreen and don't hesitate to cover up with light canvas clothing and wide-brimmed hats. Fair-skinned children are particularly vulnerable. Excessive solar radiation is dangerous for the skin. In the short term, sunburn and other solar allergies have no health consequences other than a few untimely aches and pains. In the long term, however, UV radiation causes accelerated skin aging and even cancer. It's worth pointing out that the clouds that sometimes hang over the Brazilian sky don't filter out UV rays: by the time you feel the heat of the sunburn on your skin, it's already too late!
Yellow fever. According to the Institut Pasteur, travellers over 9 months of age going to the North and Centre-West regions, as well as part of the Nordeste region (Maranhão, south-western Piauí, western and extreme-southern Bahia), the South-East region (Minas Gerais, western São Paulo and northern Espírito Santo) and the South region (western Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) are advised to get vaccinated against yellow fever. Travellers from Congo and Angola will need to show their vaccination certificate when entering Brazil. If you are traveling to Bolivia, you will also need to show a vaccination certificate when returning to Brazil.
Bilharzia is the tropical disease with the highest mortality rate after malaria (200 million people worldwide). After an incubation period ranging from three weeks to six months, the disease manifests itself through high fevers, blood in the urine and allergic skin reactions. The best prevention is to limit contact with unsalted stagnant water. Once detected, bilharziasis is easily treated.
Malaria. Malaria is also known as malaria. If you are travelling through a country that is a malaria transmission zone (in all humid or equatorial zones, the entire Amazon region in Brazil, the North and Central-West regions, as well as part of the Nordeste region), consult your doctor about the appropriate preventive treatment: it differs according to the region, the period of travel and the person concerned. Avoiding treatment is possible if your stay is less than seven days (and provided you are able to consult a doctor in the event of fever within a month of your return). In addition to pills, reduce the risk of contracting malaria by avoiding mosquito bites (repellent and covering clothing). The risk of being bitten is highest between sunset and sunrise, near stagnant water and shady areas. More detailed information is available at www.saude.gov.br/malaria. Check with a doctor in France before leaving for prophylaxis (tropical diseases). In all cases in Brazil, protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Mandatory vaccination Rio De Janeiro
There are no compulsory vaccinations for French nationals visiting Brazil. Nevertheless, vaccinations and preventive treatments are recommended. It is important to speak to your health care professional several months before departure to plan for any vaccinations and prophylactic treatments. According to the Institut Pasteur website (www.pasteur.fr), vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended, whatever the conditions and duration of your trip to Brazil, and for hepatitis B, vaccination is recommended for long stays. For yellow fever, vaccination is recommended if you are traveling to high-risk areas in Brazil. Against typhoid, in case of prolonged stays or in precarious hygiene conditions (children: from age 2): one injection 15 days before departure. There is no malaria in the states of Rio and Minas Gerais.
Security Rio De Janeiro
Rio and Brazil have the reputation of being a dangerous country for tourists. This is certainly an exaggeration, but there's no denying that violence is omnipresent in metropolises and medium-sized towns - a paradox in one of the world's most welcoming nations. Nor is this violence specifically directed against tourists. Brazilians are the main victims. The fault lies squarely with an iniquitous social organization, where wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few. The world's eighth largest economy is unable to feed a tenth of its population, leaving a third in extreme poverty. The risks incurred by tourists are mainly limited to theft. A few precautions and a little common sense are usually enough to avoid trouble. As a general rule, large urban centers, where all the world's misery is concentrated along with hordes of tourists, present the greatest risks. Small towns and villages, far from the noise and fury, are less considered "risk zones", but it's also worth remaining vigilant. On the whole, where there are lots of people around, there are fewer risks (apart from pickpockets, of course).
It's important to move around as if you were a local, not to be ostentatious, and to keep your papers in the hotel safe. Dress locally. Take the cab at the station head or have it called by the restaurant or hotel.
For the latest information on local safety, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs. Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, which sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.
Time difference Rio De Janeiro
There is a 3 to 5 hour time difference between France, Switzerland or Belgium and Brazil, depending on summer or winter schedules and time zones. When you arrive in Rio, you'll need to set your watch back (when it's 3pm or 5pm in Paris, Geneva or Brussels, it's midday in Rio). Brazil spans three time zones: the South, Sudeste, Nordeste and the eastern part of the North and Centre-West are at GMT-3h, while the rest of the country is at GMT-4h, with the exception of Acre and the extreme west of Amazonas, which are at GMT-5h.
In practical terms: when it's 3pm or 5pm in Paris, Geneva or Brussels, it's midday in Rio; it's 10am in Montreal and 3am in French Polynesia. Almost the whole country lives on Brasilia and Rio de Janiero time, except Boa Vista, Cuiabà, Manaus and Porto Velho; in the west, it's an hour earlier. When it's noon in Rio, it's 11 a.m. in Manaus.
Spoken languages Rio De Janeiro
Although familiar with tourism, Brazilians speak few foreign languages. Brazilian Portuguese is spoken throughout the country. Except in the big cities and with tourism professionals, you'll meet few English- or French-speaking interlocutors. However, Brazilian Portuguese is relatively easy to learn. Its grammar is simpler than that of academic Portuguese, and the Brazilian accent will sound much more familiar to your ears than that of Lusitanians. What's more, Brazilians are very patient and indulgent towards travellers who try to express themselves in their language. If you make the effort to speak to them in Portuguese, you'll generally find that your interlocutor is a good listener, and will use a great deal of ingenuity to help you. Portuguese is a Latin language, and many of the words in its vocabulary have the same roots as those in our own language. If you have a good knowledge of Spanish, you'll quickly make yourself understood. If you have no notion of Spanish, a little Franco-Portuguese or Franco-Brazilian dictionary will get you started. And it's part of the pleasure of traveling to be able to communicate with the locals you meet and immerse yourself in their world. Learning Brazilian Portuguese is not very difficult, and we strongly encourage anyone who loves Brazil to do so. There are several excellent methods of learning Brazilian Portuguese. Just make sure it's Brazilian Portuguese, as the Portuguese spoken in Portugal has certain differences. Locally, in the major cities, you may easily find Portuguese teachers by looking in the classified ads.
Communication Rio De Janeiro
For longer stays, we recommend you buy a rechargeable SIM card from a local cell phone agency, compatible with your smartphone (beware of mini, micro or nano formats). You now need a CPF (you can have a CPF drawn up at the post office). With a CPF, the agent will install the new card directly into your phone. Having Internet access on your phone makes it easier to get around (Uber-type applications come to mind), search for information and pay using the PIX system. It's also common to have to make or receive calls to organize your visits, so it's very useful to have a Brazilian number.
Use your cell phone. If you want to keep your French plan, you'll need to activate the international option (usually free) before you leave, by calling your operator's customer service department. You can buy a flat-rate pass from your provider, which gives you access to the 4G network and a prepaid volume of data, calls and SMS.
Who pays for what? The rule is the same for all operators. When you use your French phone abroad, you pay for the call, whether you make it or receive it. In the case of an incoming call, your correspondent also pays, but only the price of a local call. All calls made to or from abroad are out of the bundle, including those to voicemail.
Phone booths and prepaid cards. There are fewer and fewer phone booths. They are disappearing from many places, as widespread access to cell phones makes them less and less used. For international calls. From Brazil, you can use a phone booth (orelhao/oes, literally "big ears"), which works with local operator cards (Telemar in Rio and Telefonica in São Paulo, for example) that you can buy at newsagents and post offices (cheaper). Remember to buy several cards, as credits will run out quickly! The most practical way is to buy a card. Embratel card, on sale at most newsagents. This will cost you a minimum of R$10 and will enable you to make calls without having to change cards every thirty seconds! From 7pm and at weekends, calls are cheaper. Please note that many newsagents and souvenir stores will try to sell you a more expensive Embratel card.
To make P.C.V. calls in Brazil. From a public phone booth (orelhao), dial 9, followed by the number of the chosen operator (Embratel or Intelig), the area code without the zero and finally the number of your correspondent. For international calls, dial 00 01 07.
Electricity and measurements Rio De Janeiro
110 or 220 V, voltage in Brazil may vary. If you don't have a bivolt device, check before plugging it in.
The two-hole plugs, without earth connection, meet French standards. You'll sometimes find newer three-hole sockets too (different from French ones, though), but not everywhere. You can buy a universal adapter in France before you leave, so you can use your computer, for example - otherwise, it won't be possible!
Distance and temperature measurements are the same as in France. Brazilians use the metric system and degrees Celsius or centigrade.
Luggage Rio De Janeiro
Travel light, especially if you plan to see a lot of the country. An ergonomic backpack is certainly the most practical piece of luggage. Brazil offers a wealth of hiking and trekking opportunities, which an awkward suitcase could turn into a nightmare. Luggage is picked up free of charge in the luggage hold of coaches, where the ticket given to the owner of the luggage will be requested on collection. For day trips and short excursions, a small bag is a must.
Adapt your bag to your stay. Depending on your itinerary (farniente on the beach or intensive trekking in the mountains) and the season of your departure (it can snow in winter in the south), the contents of your bag can vary greatly. That said, the weather is usually fine and warm. You'll probably spend most of your stay in a T-shirt and flip-flops. Take along cotton T-shirts or blouses; a K-way or rain poncho; a cap; a pair of sandals or flip-flops (to be purchased locally!); two pairs of light pants or shorts; a swimsuit; a pair of sneakers; a flashlight; a Swiss Army knife; a toiletries and medical kit; sunglasses; a good thick novel for those long boat or bus journeys, to be exchanged in an Alliance Française once you've finished; a pocket dictionary or Franco-Brazilian lexicon; a padlock to close your bag, a photocopy of your passport; emergency numbers in case of loss/theft of your belongings; earplugs; a small pair of binoculars to get a better look at the animals; a cultural exchange currency: books, comics, photos. And a camera, of course. Remember to bring a nice shirt or blouse and pants for certain places or events.
Take warm and/orcovering clothes - a little wool for chilly nights (this can happen almost anywhere, especially in autumn and winter) and for freezing nights spent in air-conditioned buses, a long-sleeved shirt and pants for mosquito-ridden regions; winter clothes for the southern region in winter or even in Ouro Preto.
