Common Questions

Q: What documents do I need to enter the country?
A: A valid passport with the expiration date at least six months from the end date of travel is required to enter Brazil. A 90 day visit without a visa is allowed if you are a citizen of the UK, France, Germany or most West European countries. Citizens from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and most other non-European countries must secure a Brazilian Visa prior to departure! Visas cost $100 (they do take Visa/Mastercard) and are good for multiple reentries for five years. You will usually have to leave your passport overnight.

Brazilian Consulate Jurisdictions in the US:

Brazilian Embassy - Consular Service in Washington D.C. District of Columbia Serves states of Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia 3009 Whitehaven Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-238-2828 Fax: 202-238-2818 E-Mail: consular@brasilemb.org Homepage: www.brasilemb.org

Consulate General of Brazil in New York States of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and The Bermuda Islands 1185 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), 21st Floor New York, NY 10036 Tel: 212-827-0976 / 917-777-7777 Fax: 212-827-0225 E-Mail: consulado@brazilny.org Homepage: www.brazilny.org Brazilian Trade Bureau: www.braziltradeny.com

Consulate General of Brazil in Boston States of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont The Statler Building 20 Park Plaza - Suite 810 Boston, MA 02116 Tel: 617-542-4000 Fax: 617-542-4318 E-Mail: cgbos@consulatebrazil.org

Consulate General of Brazil in Chicago States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin 401 North Michigan Avenue - Suite 3050 Chicago, IL 60611 Tel: 312-464-0244 / 464-0245 Fax: 312-464-0299 E-Mail: bras-cg@ix.netcom.com, or cgchgo@ix.netcom.com

Consulate General of Brazil in Houston States of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas 1700 West Loop South - Suite 1450 Houston, Texas 77027 Tel: 713-961-3063 / 961-3064 / 961-3065 Fax: 713-961-3070 E-Mail: consbras@brazilhouston.org Homepage: www.brazilhouston.org

Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles States of Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and in the state of California the counties of Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura 8484 Wilshire Blvd. - Suites 711-730 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Tel: 323-651-2664 Fax: 323-651-1274 E-Mail: brconsular@earthlink.net

Consulate General of Brazil in Miami States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas 2602 S. Bayshore Drive - Suite 800 Miami, FL 33133 Tel: 305-285-6200 to 285-6209 Fax: 305-285-6229 E-Mail: consbras@brazilmiami.org Homepage: www.brazilmiami.org

Visa services are available in many large cities if you cannot get to a Consulate in person. Embassy World

Q: Is Brazil safe?
A: Because the standard of living varies greatly in Brazil due to economic fluctuations, theft in Brazil has been a problem.

Take the same precautions you would in large, unfamiliar cities in the US. Tourists should not walk alone after dark, don't wear expensive jewelry, take care with handbags, don't carry cameras loosely around your neck, find a good way to conceal your money, etc. Carry a copy of your passport when going out for the day or evening, not the original. Make sure your luggage is locked when traveling by bus or airplane. Don't leave unlocked valuables in your hotel room. Beware of pickpockets!

For more information you can call the US State Department's Travel Advisory hot-line at: (202-647-5225), or call the US Consulate in Rio (55-21-2292-7117). Rio also has a special 'Tourist Police' unit (511-5112)

US State Department's Travel Advisory Web site

Q: Do I need inoculations before going to Brazil?
A: Typhoid, Yellow Fever and Hepatitis A are present - get inoculated. Always have a check-up if bitten by a dog or any animal, because of the possibility of rabies. There have been reports of a TB epidemic. Avoid non-pasteurized dairy products. Malaria is a serious threat in the tropic zones, but not in the eastern coastal zone.

Contact your local doctor before you leave if you are not sure about appropriate shots. For complete information, we recommend you call the CDC (Center for Disease Control) hotline at 404-332-4559 for recorded messages about disease prevention when traveling or log onto the website at: www.cdc.gov . For information regarding traveler’s medicine clinics and providers log onto the International Society of Travel Medicine web site at: http://www.istm.org/

The NHS of Scotland has a very informative site for travelers as well:

Q: Will I be met at the airport upon arrival.
A: Yes, and our private transport will drop you off at the airport for departure as well.

Q: What is the time difference between my city and Brazil?
A: Salvador do Bahia and Rio de Janeiro are 1 hour ahead of US Eastern Standard Time. Daylight savings time in Brazil will begin Sunday, October 12, 2003 at midnight local time.

Q: I don't speak Portuguese. Will I have trouble communicating with people?
A: Learning even simple words and phrases shows a great respect for the culture and is appreciated by the locals. However, our bilingual trip leader will be with you most of the time to assist (and even encourage) communication.

Q: Is there tipping? How much?
A: A 10% tip is customary in restaurants that do not add gratuity. Most people still leave a small tip even if a service charge has been added. Taxi drivers are usually not tipped. The CX trip leader will tip our hotels' housekeeping staff.

Trip and Day leaders - there is no obligation to tip. This is at the discretion of each traveler at the end of the day or end of the trip. Consult your CX travel advisor for more details about how past travelers have handled this.

Q: What about money for things not included in the trip costs?
A: We have estimated the costs of certain items that you should budget for which are not included in the trip price, such as international
airfares, airport departure taxes, some meals, etc.

Costs and Details

Q: Should I bring travelers checks, credit cards or US dollars?
A: ATM's that accept Cirrus or Plus system bank cards from US banks are common throughout the country. This is generally the most convenient way to take out money in local currency (the Peruvian Sol). However, check with you individual bank to assure that your ATM card will work in machines in Peru. And ask about any fees your bank may apply.

ATMs through MasterCard/Cirrus
ATMs through Visa/Plus

Q: What is the local currency in Brazil and its exchange rate with the US dollar?
A: The money used in Brazil is called the 'real' ('ray-al'). As of early 2003, the exchange rate was roughly 3.2 reales ('ray-al-ace') per 1 US dollar. To get the most current US dollar/Brazilian real exchange rates, use the link below.

Current Exchange Rates