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1 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers
CONTENTS
Introducing
Brazil………………………………………………………………………………………
……pg. 3

Options……………………………………………………………………………………
…………………….pg. 4

Travel
Budget………………………………………………………………………………………
…………pg. 6

Required
Documentation……………………………………………………………………………
…..pg. 7

Health
Precautions…………………………………………………………………………………
………pg. 8

Travel
Problems……………………………………………………………………………………
………pg. 9

2 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers

INTRODUCING BRAZIL
HISTORY: The county of Brazil is now officially known as Federative Republic of Brazil. Brazil was named after
pau-brasil which was a wood that the early explorers brought back to produce a red dye. It was under the reign of
Portugal since April 1500, on the arrival of the Portuguese fleet commanded by Pedro Álvares Cabral. The native
inhabitants mostly consisted of the nomadic Tupí-Guaraní Indians. Adm. Brazil gained its independence in 1822,
however still, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888. It was then
declared a republic by the military in 1889. Brazil underwent more than half a century of populist and military
government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully gave up their power to civilian rulers.

LOCATION: Brazil is located in Eastern South America along the coast of the Atlantic Sea. Its geographic
coordinates are 10 00 S and 55 00 W. It has a total area of 8, 514, 877 square kilometers and is the 5th largest country
in the world and is also the largest in
America. Many countries that border
Brazil include Argentina, Bolivia,
Peru and Paraguay.

CLIMATE: Based on Brazil’s

location the climate is mostly tropical
but it tends to become more temperate
in the south. However, the temperature
varies from place to place and time of
the year.

CULTURE: Brazil is the only

Portuguese speaking nation in America making the language an important part of Brazil’s national identity and
culture. Brazil’s culture is derived from Portuguese culture, based on its strong colonial ties with the Portuguese
empire. The Portuguese introduced Brazil to the Portuguese language, Roman Catholicism and colonial architectural
styles. However, some of their cultures were also heavily influenced by African, indigenous and non-Portuguese
European cultures and traditions. The indigenous Amerindians influenced Brazil's language and cuisine and the
Africans influenced language, cuisine, music, dance and religion.

CUISINE: Brazilian cuisine varies region by region which reflects the country's mix of native and immigrant
populations Feijoada is considered the country's national dish which is a stew with beans, beef and pork. Brazil has a
variety of candies such as brigadeiros ("brigadiers") and beijinhos
("kissies"). The national beverage is coffee and cachaça is Brazil's
native liquor. Cachaça is distilled from sugar cane and is the main
ingredient in the national cocktail.

SPORT: Soccer is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian

national soccer team is ranked among the best in the world according
to the FIFA World Rankings, and has won the World Cup tournament
five times. Some variations of soccer have originated in Brazil: beach
soccer, futsal (indoor soccer) and footvolley.

MUSIC: Brazilian music is a mixture of various regional styles

influenced by African, European and Amerindian forms. The different
cultures created a unique style of music, among them the famous samba.

3 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers

OPTIONS
As a backpacker you have two options to organise your travel arrangements. You can organise it yourself or you can
use an agent. An agent is a person or organisation that conducts businesses on behalf of you. There are many
advantages when using an agent such as:

- Qualified staff who are experts and will be aware of problem areas when travelling
- Access to cheaper holiday packages
- Travel insurance at a reduced premium

It may be wise to use a travel agent when you first go to Brazil, as they can organise all your documents and visas.
However, booking with a travel agent means that the costs are generally higher and there is less freedom of choice.
i.e. you cannot make your own decisions on what airline to take or hotel to stay in.

Friendly Planet recommends you, as an Australian backpacker to organise the travel arrangements yourself as this is
cheaper option and you can make your own decisions on where to stay. The disadvantages include that it is time
consuming and you may not be aware of all the legal documentation the trip requires. However if you have this
travel guide Friendly Planet, A Guide for Australian Backpackers in Brazil, then you’ll learn about this in the
documentation section later on.

WHAT TO SEE IN BRAZIL:

Must See: O Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue: This was
proclaimed one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 alongside the
prestigious Great Wall of China. It is a 38 metre tall monument which overlooks
Rio de Janeiro standing on Corcovado Mountain. It was finished in 1931 and is
made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, constructed over a period of 9 years.

Rio de Janeiro: Rio is the capital of Brazil and flying in at night is a breath
taking scene. You will see why the bay itself is featured as one of the Seven
Wonders of the Natural World. It is home to the famous Christo Redentor (Christ
the Redeemer) and the Pau de Acucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) plus the beaches of
Copacabana and Ipanema. Rio is a city with lots to offer both in terms of
sightseeing and nightlife.

Amazon: The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. It contains one-third of

all the living species on earth and is crossed by 10 of the world's 20 largest rivers, including the Amazon River.
From here you can spot animals at night, visit local native villages by canoe and even go fishing for piranhas.

Recommended: The Pantanal: This is an enormous marshland where you can find several species of wild cat,
alligators and a variety of bird species. It’s an animal lover’s paradise and the price you pay is totally worth it.
Reformed poachers will take you on tours by day and night, on horseback, canoe or jeep.

Salvador da Bahia: Salvador da Bahia is the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. Try taking Forro/Samba dance lessons
or the really daring could have a go at Capoeira - an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art featuring high flips and spinning
kicks. You can also travel around the surrounding Bay of All Saints to discover towns like Cachoeira. Boat out to
nearby islands or head inland to the roaming mountain-scape of Chapada Diamantina where you can trek for weeks
at a time across great plateaus, through rocky gorges and ravines spotted with waterfalls and subterranean caves.

4 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers

THINGS TO DO:

Football: Watch a game of football in Rio's Maracanã Stadium. It was the largest stadium in the world when it was
built. Football is part of Brazil’s culture and is perfect for a day of ‘relaxing’ in the hectic timetable of a backpacker.

Festivals: Be sure not to miss out on the Carnival! Rio is famous for its week-long display of show-stopping samba.
Consisting mostly of partially naked men and women dressed as wild fantasy figures such as peacocks and
mermaids, dancing energetically to Brazilian music when they parade down the street.

ACCOMMODATION:

Albergues (youth hostels) offer cheaper rates of 20 BRL and below, often with breakfast included. However r
pousadas or Albergues are unlikely to have hot water showers. Here a few hostels that Friendly Planet recommend:

- Rio de Janeiro - Rio Rockers: - Salvador - do Porto:

 Sheets included  Bed(s) in 4-bedded
 Breakfast included,  Sheets included,
 Male/female rooms (not coed)  Breakfast Buffet incl.,
 24.25 AUD (per night, per bed)  male/female rooms (not coed)
 19.95 AUD (per night, per bed)
Contact Information:

Address: Contact Information:

Rua Toneleiro
Address:
376 - Copacabana
Rua Barao do Sergy 197
Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Barra-Salvador, Bahia.
22030-000
CEP 40140-040
Brazil
Salvador
Tel. 55 21 3511 2221
Brazil
Fax. 55 21 3511 2221
Tel. +55 71 3264a6600
reserva@riorockers.com.br
Fax. +55 71 32646452
liaferraz08@hotmail.com
- Manaus - Hostel Manaus:
 Bed(s) in 6-bedded Dorm
 Shower and toilet
 Sheets & Towels included
 Breakfast included
 Male/female rooms (not coed)
 12.95 AUD (per night, per bed)

Contact Information:

Adress:
Rua Lauro Cavalcante, 231
CENTRO - Manaus
AM Brazil 69020-230
Brazil
Tel. 55 (92) 3233 4545
hostelmanaus@hotmail.com

5 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers

TRAVEL BUDGET

6 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
When travelling overseas you must be aware of all the entry requirements when visiting a country. The national
language spoken in Brazil is Portuguese so it would be wise to learn some simple phrases e.g.

Hello = Olá Excuse me/pardon me = Com liçenca

Goodbye = Adeus Sir = Senhor

Good morning = Bom dia Madam = Senhora

Good afternoon = Boa tarde Yes = Sim

Good evening/night = Boa noite No = Nao

Please = Por Favor Do you speak English? = Fala ingles?

Thank You = Obrigado(a) Where is? = Onde é que é?, Onde fica...? Onde é...?

You're welcome = De nada How much is it? = Quanto custa?

I'm sorry = Desculpe Where is the bathroom? = Onde fica a casa de banho?

The first thing you’ll need when travelling to Brazil, or anywhere overseas, is your passport. A passport is an official
document granting permission to travel between countries. You must have a valid passport before departing
Australia and it must be current for at least six months. You will also need a visa to gain entry into Brazil. A visa
takes anywhere from 2 days to 15 days to process in the Brazilian Embassy/Consulate depending on the consulate
that we need to send the application to. However; during the busy season (during the fall-winter) visas may take
longer to process because of the great demand for Brazilian visas.

A : This is the issue date of the visa, typically the day that they receive the visa
from the Consulate or Embassy.  To enable your visa, you must enter Brazil
within 90 days of this date.

B : This is the type of visa. This particular picture is of a "tourist" visa.  If a

business visa is issued it will indicate so with a "II" being displayed in this area.

C : This is the amount of days the visa is valid.  In this case the visa is valid for
1825 days from the date of issue (A), or 5 years.  Typically, a tourist visa is
issued for this amount of days.  Business visas are granted for shorter periods of BRAZILIAN VISA
time

7 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers

You will also need to pay a departure tax when leaving however in Australia it is already included in the cost of
your airfare.

Brazil is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever (see Health section). Some
airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to
board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline. If you have visited Brazil in the last six days
prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever
Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia.

On arriving back in Australia, a backpacker must have the following documents:

- A completed incoming passenger card

- Valid Passport
- Customs Statement

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
Before visiting Brazil it may be wise to get vaccinations for the following diseases:

- Diphtheria
- Hepatitis A
- Tetanus
- Typhoid
- Yellow Fever (recommended if visiting rural areas)

Immunisation regulations can change at short notice. Please take medical advice in the case of doubt.

Food and Drink

Water should not be drunk unless boiled or sterilised first. Even filtered water in more remote areas should be
avoided and bottled water should be drunk instead. Pasteurised milk and cheese is available in towns and is
generally considered safe to consume. Milk outside of urban areas is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Only eat
well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Health Care

Full insurance is strongly recommended as medical costs are high. The standard of medical care is generally very
good in major towns and cities. English-speaking medical staff can be found mainly in São Paulo and Rio de
Janeiro.

8 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers

TRAVEL PROBLEMS
STOLEN/LOST PASSPORT:

Australian passports can be sold for a high amount of money and therefore are a primary target for thieves. You
should store your passports in hotel safe and other valuables such as air tickets. If your passport is stolen this will
cause a great deal of stress and trouble. You will need to report the loss online or to the nearest Australian
diplomatic or consular mission as soon as possible.

To report your lost passport online, you must know your passport number. You will be required to confirm your
identity, and then asked about the circumstances of the loss. If you wish to replace your passport at this time, you
can also complete the appropriate passport application form online.

It is an offence in Australia to not report the loss/theft of your passport. By reporting the loss, your passport can be
immediately and permanently cancelled, and cannot be used to enter or leave any country, therefore reducing the
chances of its misuse by terrorists and criminals.

STOLEN/LOST CREDIT CARD:

If your credit card is lost or stolen, the first thing to do is to contact your financial institution. The faster you contact
your credit card provider the less chance that someone will be able to use your money. As soon as you report the
theft your card will be frozen and cancelled, which means thieves can’t do any further damage to you with the card.

To help your bank track any unauthorised activity, try and have your account details ready and details of your last
known transaction. Most financial institutions will not hold you responsible for any fraudulent charges as long as
you notify them within a reasonable time frame Your credit card provider will have to re-issue a new card to you
and that can be a lot of hassles because it takes a while and most likely you need to pay bills in the meantime. In
some cases you also have to pay a fee to get a new card issued to you.

9 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers

BRAZIL:

Brazil, the only Latin American state to speak Portugese, not Spanish, is the largest country in America with a
landmass and population greater than that of the rest of South America put together. From the lush rainforests of the
Amazon Basin to the teeming nightlife of Rio, Sao Paulo and Salvador, Brazil offers backpackers an experience that
is one of its kinds.

K1782319
10 – Friendly Planet: Brazil: A Guide for Australian Backpackers
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