Field guide

Brazil

Americas • South AmericaBrasíliaBrazilian real (BRL) · R$

BR, Brasil, Federative Republic of Brazil, República Federativa do Brasil

This page stitches together our stored feeds—expect warm, human-readable snippets rather than dry data tables.

Snapshot metadata

Last generated December 24, 2025 at 2:39 AM

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Names & aliases

BrazilFederative Republic of BrazilBRBrasilRepública Federativa do Brasil

Quick facts

Need-to-know at a glance

Capital

Brasília

Currency

Brazilian real (BRL) · R$

Languages

Portuguese

Population

213,421,037

Area

8,515,767 km²

Calling code

+55

Driving side

Right-hand

Pre-trip intel

Safety & entry

Advisories and border basics from our stored feeds.

Safety outlook

Brazil - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Updated to add risk indicator for kidnapping . Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do not travel to these areas due to crime:  Anywhere within 160 km/100 miles of Brazil’s land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This restriction does not apply to the Foz do Iguacu National Park or Pantanal National Park.  Informal housing developments, such as favelas, vilas, comunidades, or conglomerados, at any time. Brasilia’s “Satellite Cities” at night. This includes Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa. Country Summary:  Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, can occur in urban areas, day and night. There was a kidnapping for ransom of U.S. travelers. Gang activity and organized crime are widespread and often tied to the recreational drug trade. Assaults, including with sedatives and drugs placed in drinks, are common, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Criminals target foreigners through dating apps or at bars before drugging and robbing their victims. U.S. government employees are advised not to use municipal buses in Brazil because of a serious risk of robbery and assault, especially at night. If you decide to travel to Brazil:   Stay aware of your surroundings.  Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.  Do not accept food or drinks from strangers and always watch your drinks.  Use caution when walking or driving at night.  Avoid going to bars or nightclubs alone.  Avoid walking on beaches after dark.  Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry.  Be alert to date drug scams. Stay alert when visiting banks or ATMs.  Be careful at major transportation centers or on public transport, especially at night. Passengers are at higher risk of robbery or assault when using public buses in Brazil.  Use increased caution when hiking in isolated areas.  Develop a communication plan with family, employer, or host organization so they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. Specify how you'll confirm you're safe (text, calls, etc.), how often, and who you'll contact first to share the information.  Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.  Review the  Country Security Report  for Brazil.  Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .  Visit the CDC page for the  latest Travel Health Information   related to your travel and return to the United States.  We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your  travel insurance provider  about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.  International Borders – Level 4: Do Not Travel  Given security risks, U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel within 160 km/100 miles of the international land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Travel to the Foz do Iguacu National Park and Pantanal National Park is allowed.  Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .  Informal Housing Developments (commonly known as favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados) – Level 4: Do Not Travel  Given crime concerns, U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel to informal housing developments in Brazil. Do not travel to informal housing developments, even on guided tours. Neither tour companies nor police can guarantee your safety when entering these communities. Even in areas that police or local governments deem safe, the situation can change quickly. While some informal housing developments have clear boundaries, other such areas may be less obvious, and may be identified by crowded quarters, impoverished conditions, or irregular construction. Exercise caution near these communities as gang fighting and police clashes sometimes move beyond the confines of these areas. Check the Safety and Security Section on the  country information page  and consult  the maps on the Embassy’s website  for details about favelas.  Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Visit our website for  Travel High-Risk Areas .  Brasilia’s “Satellite Cities” – Level 4: Do Not Travel  Given crime risks, U.S. government employees working in Brazil must obtain special authorization to travel to Brasilia’s Administrative Regions of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .  (Updated May 29, 2025 at 12:00 AM)

Anywhere within 160 km/100 miles of Brazil’s land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This restriction does not apply to the Foz do Iguacu National Park or Pantanal National Park.
Informal housing developments, such as favelas, vilas, comunidades, or conglomerados, at any time.
Brasilia’s “Satellite Cities” at night. This includes Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa.
Stay aware of your surroundings.
Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
Do not accept food or drinks from strangers and always watch your drinks.

Full advisory

Source: U.S. Department of State

Entry & Docs

Visas, customs & paperwork

Not available.

Source: Wikivoyage

On the ground

Getting around & connectivity

Practical notes from Wikivoyage sections.

Transport

Getting around

The main border crossings are at: * with Uruguay: Chuy/Chuí, Bella Unión/Barra do Quaraí, Artigas/Quaraí, Aceguá/Aceguá, Río Branco/Jaguarão, and between Rivera/Santana do Livramento * with Argentina: Paso de los Libres/Uruguaiana, Santo Tomé/São Borja, Bernardo de Irigoyen/Dionísio Cerqueira, Tobuna/Paraíso (Santa Catarina), Comandante Andresito/Capanema, and between Puerto Iguazu/Foz do Iguaçu * with Paraguay: Ciudad del Este/Foz do Iguaçu, Salto del Guaira/Guaíra, and between Pedro Juan Caballero/Ponta Porã * with Bolivia: Puerto Suarez/Corumbá, Cobija/Brasileia/Epitaciolandia and San Matías/Cáceres * with Peru: Iñapari/Assis Bra…

The main border crossings are at:
with Uruguay: Chuy/Chuí, Bella Unión/Barra do Quaraí, Artigas/Quaraí, Aceguá/Aceguá, Río Branco/Jaguarão, and between Rivera/Santana do Livramento
with Argentina: Paso de los Libres/Uruguaiana, Santo Tomé/São Borja, Bernardo de Irigoyen/Dionísio Cerqueira, Tobuna/Paraíso (Santa Catarina), Comandante Andresito/Capanema, and between Puerto Iguazu/Foz do Iguaçu
with Paraguay: Ciudad del Este/Foz do Iguaçu, Salto del Guaira/Guaíra, and between Pedro Juan Caballero/Ponta Porã
with Bolivia: Puerto Suarez/Corumbá, Cobija/Brasileia/Epitaciolandia and San Matías/Cáceres
with Peru: Iñapari/Assis Brasil
with Colombia: Leticia/Tabatinga No road connections on either side of the border.
with Guyana: Lethem/Bonfim

Source: Wikivoyage

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, SIMs & staying online

Not available.

Source: Wikivoyage

Local wisdom

Etiquette, tipping & staying well

Etiquette & respect

300px|thumbnail|The carnival in Rio Owing to Brazil’s continental dimensions, varied geography, history and people, the country’s culture is rich and diverse. It has several regional variations, and in spite of being mostly unified by a single language, some regions are so different from each other that they look like different countries altogether. Music plays an important part in Brazilian identity. Styles like choro, samba and bossa nova are considered genuinely Brazilian. Caipira music is also in the roots of sertanejo, the national equivalent to country music. MPB stands for Brazilian Popular Music, which mixes several national…

Owing to Brazil’s continental dimensions, varied geography, history and people, the country’s culture is rich and diverse. It has several regional variations, and in spite of being mostly unified by a single language, some regions are so different from each other that they look like different countries altogether.
Music plays an important part in Brazilian identity. Styles like choro, samba and bossa nova are considered genuinely Brazilian. Caipira music is also in the roots of sertanejo, the national equivalent to country music. MPB stands for Brazilian Popular Music, which mixes several national styles under a single concept. Forró, a north-eastern happy dancing music style, has also become common nationwide. New urban styles include funk - a name given to a dance music genre from Rio's favelas that mixes heavy electronic beats and often raunchy rapping - and techno-brega, a crowd-pleaser in northern states, that fuses romantic pop, dance music and Caribbean rhythms.
A mixture of martial arts, dance, music and game, capoeira was brought to Brazil by African slaves, mainly from Portuguese colonies Angola. Distinguished by vivacious complicated movements and accompanying music, it can be seen and practiced in many Brazilian cities. Later immigrants from Japan brought their traditional martial arts with them, which gradually evolved into a unique style known as Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
In classical music, the Modern Period is particularly notable, due to the works of composers like Heitor Villa-Lobos and Camargo Guarnieri, who created a typical Brazilian school, mixing elements of the traditional European classical music to the Brazilian rhythms, while other composers like Cláudio Santoro followed the guidelines of the Second School of Vienna. In the Romantic Period, the greatest name was Antonio Carlos Gomes, author of some Italian-styled operas with typical Brazilian themes, like Il Guarany and Lo Schiavo. In the Classical Period, the most prominent name is José Maurício Nunes Garcia, a priest who wrote both sacred and secular music and was very influenced by the Viennese classical style of the 18th and early 19th century.
Candomblé and Umbanda are religions with African roots that have survived prejudice and persecution and still have a significant following in Brazil. Their places of cult are called terreiros and many are open to visit.
Indigenous traits can be found everywhere in Brazilian culture, from cuisine to vocabulary. There are still many indigenous groups and tribes living in all Brazilian regions, although many have been deeply influenced by Western culture, and several of the country's surviving indigenous languages are in danger of disappearing completely. The traditional lifestyle and graphic expressions of the Wajãpi indigenous group from the state of Amapá were proclaimed a [https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/oral-and-graphic-expressions-of-the-wajapi-00049 Masterpiece of the World's Intangible Heritage] by UNESCO. The vast majority of the world's last uncontacted peoples reside within the dense Amazon rainforest of Brazil.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tipping guidance

While tips can sometimes be given for some services, delivery or tourism, tips are very uncommon. It is usually not expected in cabs, although rounding up the fare occasionally takes place. Many restaurants include a 10% delivery charge in the note, with no further tips being required. Such a charge often depends on the municipality. Tipping bartenders is not customary.

While tips can sometimes be given for some services, delivery or tourism, tips are very uncommon. It is usually not expected in cabs, although rounding up the fare occasionally takes place. Many restaurants include a 10% delivery charge in the note, with no further tips being required. Such a charge often depends on the municipality. Tipping bartenders is not customary.

Source: Wikivoyage

Health & wellness

When visiting the Midwestern states of Brazil, the relative humidity can be below 30% during the dry season from June to September. It is important to drink plenty of water to avoid the unpleasant effects of dehydration. Food from street and beach vendors has a bad hygienic reputation in Brazil. The later in the day, the worse it gets. Bottled and canned drinks are safe, although some people will insist on using a straw to avoid contact with the exterior of the container. Bear in mind the heat and humidity when storing perishable foods. Tap water varies from place to place, (from contaminated, saline or soaked with chlorine to plain drinkable) and Brazilians themselves usually prefer to have it filtered. In airports, bus stations, as well as many of the cheaper hotels and malls, it is common to find drinking fountains (bebedouro), although not always safe. In hostel kitchens, look for the tap with the cylindrical filter attached. In more expensive hotels, there is often no publicly accessible fountain, and bedrooms contain minibars, selling you mineral water at extremely inflated prices — buying bottled water from the store is always the best alternative. Vaccination against yellow fever and taking anti-malaria medication may be necessary if you are travelling to the Midwestern state of Mato Grosso or the northern (Amazon) regions. If you're arriving from Peru, Colombia or Bolivia, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required before you enter Brazil. Some countries, such as Australia and South Africa, will require evidence of yellow fever vaccination before allowing you to enter the country if you have been in any part of Brazil within the previous week. Check the requirements of any country you will travel to from Brazil. In coastal Brazil there's also a risk for dengue fever, and the Zika virus outbreak in Latin America hit Brazil hard with more than 60,000 confirmed cases in 2015 and 2016. Beware that air conditioning in airports, intercity buses etc. is often quite strong. Carry a long-sleeved garment for air-conditioned places. Although Brazil is widely known as a country where sex is freely available, it is sometimes misunderstood regarding HIV. Brazil has one of the best HIV prevention programs and consequently, a very low infection rate compared with most countries. Condoms are highly encouraged by governmental campaigns during Carnaval, and distributed for free by local public medical departments.

When visiting the Midwestern states of Brazil, the relative humidity can be below 30% during the dry season from June to September. It is important to drink plenty of water to avoid the unpleasant effects of dehydration.
Food from street and beach vendors has a bad hygienic reputation in Brazil. The later in the day, the worse it gets. Bottled and canned drinks are safe, although some people will insist on using a straw to avoid contact with the exterior of the container. Bear in mind the heat and humidity when storing perishable foods.
Tap water varies from place to place, (from contaminated, saline or soaked with chlorine to plain drinkable) and Brazilians themselves usually prefer to have it filtered.
In airports, bus stations, as well as many of the cheaper hotels and malls, it is common to find drinking fountains (bebedouro), although not always safe. In hostel kitchens, look for the tap with the cylindrical filter attached. In more expensive hotels, there is often no publicly accessible fountain, and bedrooms contain minibars, selling you mineral water at extremely inflated prices — buying bottled water from the store is always the best alternative.
Vaccination against yellow fever and taking anti-malaria medication may be necessary if you are travelling to the Midwestern state of Mato Grosso or the northern (Amazon) regions. If you're arriving from Peru, Colombia or Bolivia, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required before you enter Brazil. Some countries, such as Australia and South Africa, will require evidence of yellow fever vaccination before allowing you to enter the country if you have been in any part of Brazil within the previous week. Check the requirements of any country you will travel to from Brazil. In coastal Brazil there's also a risk for dengue fever, and the Zika virus outbreak in Latin America hit Brazil hard with more than 60,000 confirmed cases in 2015 and 2016.
Beware that air conditioning in airports, intercity buses etc. is often quite strong. Carry a long-sleeved garment for air-conditioned places.

Source: Wikivoyage

Scams & street smarts

Traveling to the border area with Venezuela, Colombia and Peru (especially in the rivers of this region) is not safe due to threats of violence and kidnapping by armed groups such as drug traffickers, pirates and foreign guerrillas. Armed groups are also a problem in slums of the metropolitan areas of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, where drug gangs and illegal militias have territorial disputes. 2025-08-26 https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/brazil https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/brazil https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/brazil/ https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/brazil-travel-advisory.html https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/brazilO Brasil não é para principiantes. "Brazil's not for beginners." Tom Jobim, Brazilian musician By law, everyone must carry a photo ID at all times. For a foreigner, this means your passport. However, the police will mostly be pragmatic and accept a plastified color photocopy. Not carrying a photo ID can lead to problems and delays if stopped by police or in case of a medical emergency.

By law, everyone must carry a photo ID at all times. For a foreigner, this means your passport. However, the police will mostly be pragmatic and accept a plastified color photocopy. Not carrying a photo ID can lead to problems and delays if stopped by police or in case of a medical emergency.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tempo & rhythm

Climate & timezones

Ground truth from Open-Meteo, REST Countries, and webcams.

Climate (Capital proxy)

AprMayJunJulAugSep

Jan

22°C

262 mm

Feb

22°C

224 mm

Mar

22°C

190 mm

Apr

22°C

76 mm

May

21°C

15 mm

Jun

19°C

11 mm

Jul

20°C

2 mm

Aug

22°C

8 mm

Sep

24°C

60 mm

Oct

23°C

168 mm

Nov

23°C

199 mm

Dec

22°C

231 mm

Source: Open-Meteo Climate

Timezones

UTC offsets

UTC-05:00UTC-04:00UTC-03:00(+1 more)

Webcam IANA zones

America/Manaus1 cams

Source: REST Countries

Webcam aggregate: Webcam DB aggregates(prisma://webcams)

Practicalities

Money & essentials

Money & costs

GDP per capita: $10,310.549 · 2024

GDP (PPP): $22,338.477 · 2024

Inflation: 4.4% · 2024

Currency: Brazilian real (BRL) · R$

Source: World Bank GDP per capita

Power & plugs

View plug reference for Brazil

Source: WorldStandards (plugs)

Highlights

Top places to explore

01
Jericoacoara
the 4th biggest city in Brazil, blessed with beautiful beaches. Home of the Iracema Beach street market. A good base for exploring the beaches of the northeastern coast, including . Famed for forró music and comedians.
02
Amazonas
Located in the heart of the Amazon, is the capital of State and it is also the biggest city of the Amazon. At Manaus the rivers Negro and Solimões meet to become the Amazonas River. The best place to go to visit the Amazon rainforest. It is a gateway to the Anavilhanas and to Jaú National Park.
03
Olinda
A major city in the Northeast region, originally settled by Dutch colonizers. Nicknamed "The Brazilian Venice", it is built on several islands linked by many bridges. Rich in history, art and folklore. Do not miss neighboring and Porto de Galinhas. The city is also a gateway to the amazing archipelago of Fernando de Noronha.

Source: Wikivoyage

Cams