Our Brazil specialists are experienced and passionate about the country - between them they have spent many weeks a year researching new experiences and ensuring everything is of the highest standard. They know Brazil inside out.
Practical Information
There are different schools of thought when it comes to travelling to Brazil.
There are those visitors who want to make the most of the country in one visit, and therefore see the main highlights such as Rio, Iguaçu, the Amazon and Salvador. Doing this entails many hours of flying over this vast country (the flight from Sao Paulo to Manaus alone takes four hours), but for the visitor who does not plan to return to Brazil then it is a worthwhile endeavour.
The other idea is to break Brazil up into different regions, and concentrate on a particular area, such as the south, or the northeast.
Our specialists, who are all well-travelled around the country, will be able to advise on the best trip for you and give honest opinions on the many sights that Brazil has to offer.
Language
The official language is Portuguese, English is spoken in the main tourist areas.
Food and Drink
Brazil has many different styles of regional cuisine, all of which feature a large variety of exotic spices, flavours and influences. The nearest Brazil gets to a national dish is feijoada, a meat stew cooked with black beans and garlic. Try to sample some of the exotic fruits (many of which only have Brazilian names such as cupuacu and jaboticaba). To drink, try cachaça, a sugar cane rum best enjoyed in a caipirinha, a cocktail with lime, sugar and ice.
Tipping
Tipping for good service is an accepted fact. Amounts are obviously discretionary.
Money
The Brazilian currency is the real. ATMs are widespread, especially in the major cities. Most machines take all credit cards, as well as Cirrus and Plus cards. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, as are bank debit cards. If you want to bring traveller's cheques, they should be in US dollars.
Under The Skin
Read
Paulo Coelho is probably Brazil's most famous author.
Listen
Samba, forró and reggaeton.
Watch
'City of God'. Not for the faint hearted but a great film. Do not, whatever you do, let it put you off visiting Rio.
Eat
Moquecas in Bahia are to die for! Prawn or seafood in general are the best. Try a Churrascaria - a barbecue restaurant where waiters come round offering you delicious cut after delicious cut of all kinds of meat until you're full to bursting.
Drink
Caipirinhas - the stronger the better!
Word
'Saudades', ('happy memories').
Trademarks
Carnival, coffee, Brazil nuts, samba.
Get your authentic Havaiana flip flops for a fraction of the price you can in the UK. Also pick up some Cachaça to recreate caipirinhas at home. Brazil is also great for leather goods and cheap, good quality hammocks and swings, especially in the North East.
