One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is a country of powdery white-sand beaches, verdant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises, with its attractions extending to otherworldly landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and coral-fringed tropical islands. This is a place known for the Amazon Rainforest, relaxing beaches, soccer games, vibrant cities, and beautiful people. The culture here is unlike anywhere else, with festivals, music, events, and food that stand out in Latin America. This is why Travel from USA to Brazil with your team is a excellent choice.
Brazil is a tourist-friendly country that’s full of history and accessible from many parts of the world. Simply put, Brazil is one of those top travel destinations that everyone should see in their lifetime. Read below to find out more about Brazilian specificities and everything you should know before a first trip to this amazing country.
US travelers no longer need a visa to visit Brazil
Since 2019 the Brazilian government announced that travelers from the United States, Australia, Japan and Canada will no longer need a visa to enter. US citizens just need a valid US passport, but there’s no need for a visa if they are traveling to Brazil for tourism, business, transit, artistic or sport activities, with no intention of establishing residence. Visitors can stay in the country for 90 days from the date of their first entry and request an extension to 180 days within a 12-month period.
Covid-19 vaccination requirements
The Brazilian government changed the rules for travelers entering the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The new rules have already entered into force and must be followed by travelers and operators of air, water and land transport. The recommendation is reaffirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which emphasizes that testing and quarantine policies should be regularly reviewed and possibly be suspended, when they are no longer needed. Finally, WHO also states that alternative travel options should be offered to unvaccinated individuals, such as by using detection tests.
Brazilians and foreigners must provide a proof of complete vaccination against Covid-19 or an antigen test or RT-PCR test, with a negative or non-detectable result for Covid-19, carried out one day before departure. The proof of vaccination or the test result must be presented before boarding to the airline or company in charge of the transport services.
Rules for children: Children under the age of 12 are exempt from providing any proof of vaccination or tests. Children over the age of 12 are covered by the same general rules. Therefore, they must provide either a proof of complete vaccination against Covid-19 or a proof of an antigen test or RT-PCR test, with a negative or non-detectable result for Covid-19, carried out one day before departure.
What is the duty free allowance for Brazil?
The following goods may be Travel from USA to Brazil by travelers over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
- 12 litres of alcohol
- 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars and 250g of tobacco
- 20 items (such as small gifts) worth up to USD $10 each (or USD $5 if arriving via land)
The total value of the above items should not exceed USD $500 if arriving via air or sea or USD $300 if arriving via land, river or lake. In addition to the USD $500 limit, travellers can buy goods up to USD $500 in value at the duty-free shop on arrival in Brazil. The following limits apply:
- 24 units of alcohol
- 20 packs of cigarettes made outside Brazil, 25 cigars and 250g of tobacco
- 10 toiletry items including cosmetics
- Three of the following: watches, toys, games or electronic items
Restricted items which you must declare and have prior authorization for include firearms and ammunition, drugs (other than prescribed drugs for personal use), animals, animal products, plants and seeds.
Currency and exchange rates in Travel from USA to Brazil
The currency in Brazil is the REAL (R$). Both traveler’s checks and cash can be easily exchanged at exchange counters. International credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, shops, travel agencies, car rental companies, and other companies that provide services to tourists.
Changing money in Brazil is simple; just take your bank or credit card with PIN (Personal Identification Number, which you must set up with your bank before your trip), and use ATMs – they are now ubiquitous in Brazil, to be found in most supermarkets, many pharmacies and all airports, as well as banks. Only Visa cards can be used to withdraw cash advances at the ATMs of Banco do Brasil and Banco Bradesco; only MasterCard at HSBC, Itaú and Banco Mercantil. One important thing to note is that for security reasons most bank ATMs stop dispensing cash after 8pm, although Banco 24 Horas in large supermarkets will dispense until 10pm. Airport ATMs are the only ones that dispense cash all hours.
Travel from USA to Brazil: Time
Most of Brazil is three hours behind GMT, but the states of Amazonas, Acre, Rondônia, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul are four hours behind – that includes the cities of Manaus, Corumbá, Rio Branco, Porto Velho, Cuiabá and Campo Grande.
The outlet is European and the voltage varies
For Brazil there are two associated plug types, types C and N. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins. Plug type N is the plug, which has two round pins and a grounding pin. Brazil operates on a 127/220V supply voltage and 60Hz. The power supply in Brazil is 127V, however some of the newer hotels operate at 220V.
How pharmacies and medical treatment work?
Most standard drugs are available in pharmacies (farmácias), which you’ll find everywhere – no prescriptions are necessary. A pharmacy will also give injections (unless you have already had one, you’ll need a tetanus jab if you get bitten by a dog) and free medical advice, and they’re a good first line of defense if you fall ill.
If unfortunately you need medical treatment during your travel, forget about the public hospitals. You can get good medical and dental care privately: North Americans will think it fairly inexpensive (a doctor’s visit will cost on average US$40–75 and drugs are relatively cheap).
Spanish is not the widely spoken second language or native language
Many tourists that arrive in Brazil are under the false impression that if they know a bit of Spanish they will be fine, yet Portuguese is official language in this country. However, most Brazilians learn Spanish and English due to the requirements of the business industries.
While Portuguese and Spanish may be fairly similar, this does not mean that speaking Spanish will automatically make traveling around Brazil easier. In addition, the English language is not widely spoken. However, some residents in São Paulo along with a few of the more popular tourist’s destinations in Rio de Janeiro know how to speak English.
Extra: Get to know the best places to enjoy sports, nature and culture in South America!
Is it standard to tip in Brazil?
Given that wages are generally quite low in Brazil, many workers in the service industry rely on tips to make up their salary. The 10% tip is often added to the bill in restaurants but if the service has been particularly good, there is no harm in leaving a little extra on the table. Other people who might expect to be tipped are hotel staff (bell boys, concierge staff etc.), taxi drivers and tour guides.
Is WiFi widely available in Brazil?
Brazil’s big cities are filled with WiFi spots. Restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, malls and some public plazas all have decent connections and are usually free for customers. In rural areas, including the Amazon, WiFi will be scarce but travelers will probably be able to find some sort of connection somewhere but it might be a lot slower and unreliable than what you are used to in US.
Book taxis via airport agencies or just use Uber
On arriving at an airport in Brazil, book your taxi through one of the agencies or call uber opposed to using the unofficial cabs. Even though Uber is a bit more expensive, there will be no additional charges when you arrive at your destination. There is also no change in the price due to traffic, which means you will arrive at a hotel without having to take unnecessary routes.
At last, but not least, bear in mind that:
With GT DMC, everything about your incentive travel to Brazil will be under professionals at all times and you and your teammates won’t have to worry about most travel issues. We are a 100% Brazilian company and we know the best ways and opportunities from USA to Brazil in a safe, fun and uncomplicated way. Contact us and get to know more about our work model.
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