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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
No Visa required for South Africans
VISA INFORMATION
WEATHER
The climate of Brazil comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large area and varied topography, but most of the country is tropical. Brazil hosts five major climatic sub-types: equatorial, tropical, semiarid, highland tropical, temperate, and subtropical. The different climatic conditions produce environments ranging from equatorial rain-forests in the north and semiarid deserts in the northeast, to temperate coniferous forests in the south and tropical savannahs in central Brazil. Many regions have starkly different micro-climates.
An equatorial climate characterizes much of northern Brazil. There is no real dry season, but there are some variations in the period of the year when most rain falls. Temperatures average 25 °C (77 °F).
Over central Brazil rainfall is more seasonal, characteristic of a savanna climate. This region is as extensive as the Amazon basin but has a very different climate as it lies farther south at a higher altitude. In the interior northeast, seasonal rainfall is even more extreme. The semiarid climatic region generally receives less than 800 millimetres (31.5 in) of rain, most of which generally falls in a period of three to five months of the year and occasionally less than this, creating long periods of drought.
South of Bahia, near the coasts, and more southerly most of the state of São Paulo, the distribution of rainfall changes, with rain falling throughout the year. The south enjoys subtropical conditions, with cool winters and average annual temperatures not exceeding 18 °C (64.4 °F).
The best time to travel is all year round.
GENERAL INFORMATION
| Country: | Brasil |
| Capital City: | Brasilia |
| International Airports: | Main airports GRU in São Paulo and GIG in Rio de Janeiro. |
| Area: | 8,515,767 km² |
| Population: | 210,147,125 |
| Time Zone: | UTC-2 to -5 (BRT) |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic & Protestant |
| Language: | Brazilian Portuguese |
| Currency: | Brazilian Real |
| Exchange Rate: | Please consult your local bank as exchange rates fluctuate. |
| Credit Card Payment Availability: | Available everywhere |
| ATM Accessibility: | Easily accessible. |
| Dialling Code: | Brazil + 55 Rio de Janeiro + 21 |
TRAVEL TIPS
| Electricity: | The power plugs and sockets are of type N. The standard voltage is 127 / 220 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. |
| Water: | It is advisable to drink only bottled or distilled water. |
| Business Hours: | Shopping malls – Mon – Sat – 10:00 – 22:00 Sundays from 15:00 – 21:00 Street shops Mon – Fri – 10:00 – 22:00 & Sat – 10:00 – 18:00 |
| Banking Hours: | Monday – Friday – 10:00 – 16:00 |
| Photography Restrictions: | No restrictions. |
| Tipping: | This is optional and usually you round up the bill. No tipping is expected in restaurants. |
| Vaccination Requirements: | Yellow Fewer is required for tourists coming from South Africa – please consult your medical practitioner or travel clinic |
| Dress Code Restrictions: | No dress code restrictions. |
| Peculiar Customs to Observe: | None |
FESTIVALS
Brazilian Grape Festival of Caxias do Sul- February / March
Carnival – throughout Brazil- 46 days before Easter
June Parties (Festa Junina) – June.
Saint John’s Festival of Campina Grande -June
Parintins Folklore Festival – amazon States – late June
Divine Holy spirit party – June
Sao Paulo LGBT Pride parade – June
Bumba -meu-boi do Maranhão – July
Paraty’s International Book Fair – July
Cultural and gastronomic festival of Tridents – August – September
Day of Our Lady of Aparecida – October
Oktoberfest
Círio de Nazaré – Belém – October
Natal Luz – Illuminated Christmas – October / December
The Brazilian Grand Prix – November
New Year’s Eve in Copacabana
MAP
“They have a joy for life in Brazil unlike any country I’ve ever seen.”
– Morena Baccarin