To ensure that you have the best possible holiday experience, we ask you to read the following information carefully. If you have any questions, please discuss them with us before you depart.
Hand Luggage – pack essential items for a day or two in your hand luggage, in case your bags go astray and take a few days to catch up with you, especially if you have any tight connecting flights.
Documents – take a copy of your travel insurance policy with you, and leave a copy of your passport with a reliable contact at home, in case the originals are lost or stolen.
Electronic Devices – ensure these are all fully charge before travel, as you may be required to switch them on at airport security.
Mobile Phones – make sure they are set up for international calls and if you plan to use travel apps such as Google Translate (which is invaluable when travelling in Latin America) or Google Maps, ensure you check your data package with your provider in advance. Alternatively turn off date roaming to avoid large phone bills. Be aware that some rural areas may not have mobile or WiFi coverage.
Clothing – as the tropics are hot and humid, pack in layers according to the season including T-shirts, shorts, jeans, sunhat, sunglasses, bio-degradable sunscreen, swimming costume and flip-flops for the beach. Pack a fleece for the Pantenal and in the winter months. If you are visiting the Pantanal or Amazon, pack lightweight but long sleeved shirts and long trousers to protect against mosquitos (safari clothing is ideal for this). Take proper walking shoes, a day pack, good head lamp and long socks (so you can tuck in your trouser legs and keep the insects out). Pack raingear and take a generous supply of insect repellent to spray on your neck, wrists and ankles and avoid using perfume, as this attracts mosquitos. Sanitising hand cleaner and eye drops can be handy, especially if you wear contact lenses.
Medicines - if you travel with prescription drugs, carry an adequate supply in their original bottles/packaging & keep them in your hand luggage, as if lost they may be difficult to replace.
Accessories – pack your phone (with charger and a spare battery pack), camera (with spare memory cards and batteries – a 200 mm zoom lens is good for wildlife photography) and binoculars (large 8x40 is best). We suggest one pair per person, as it can be frustrating to share.
Plugs – Type N (similar to European 2-prong, but with third grounding pin). Type C plugs also work. Pack a universal adapter as well as a hand basin plug/stopper, as these are not always provided.
Books – pack a good travel guide and a Portuguese phrase book. Knowing a few simple greetings will go down well. Also pack a generous supply of English reading material for quiet evenings and when waiting for flights, as these will be hard to come by.
Water – tap water is generally safe for brushing teeth, but drink only bottled water.
Food – Brazil cuisine varies widely by region. The larger cities such as Rio and Sao Paulo have a huge array of restaurants ranging from local churrascarias, where they bring meat out on skewers (generally the cheaper cuts of meat are brought out first, so wait for the really tender pieces) to high quality Sushi bars, Korean, Brazilian and fantastic seafood. The cuisine on the eastern coast around Salvador is uniquely Bahian and has African influences. Vegetarians and food allergies are well catered for.
Taxis – in cities use only regulated yellow taxis, which run on a meter. Your hotel can also arrange a private car (fixed fee).
Self-Drive – driving is on the right, although there are very few areas we would recommend self-driving in Brazil. Remember that all road signs will be in Portuguese and very little English will be spoken. Any valid European or American driving license is accepted as long as it has a photograph and signature. It is advisable to hire a sat-nav, as signage can be sparse in rural areas. Also pack some CDs as the local radio stations can be a little limited, and always allow some extra time to stop for photographs along the way.
Tourism Tax - all hotels in Brazil add an optional local tourism tax, which funds the local Tourist Board. It is charged directly to each guest on check out, but it can be rejected.
Safety – take all sensible precautions. Leave valuable jewellery/watches at home, wear a money belt and be alert when outside your hotel. In particular avoid taking out large wads of cash in public view and keep your spare cash, passport and a spare credit card in your hotel safe.
Wild Animals – attacks by wild animals are rare, but we cannot guarantee that attacks will not occur so observe all sensible precautions. We cannot be held responsible for injuries caused during an incident with a wild animal.
Indemnities - please be aware it is likely you will be required to sign indemnities for safaris and any other potentially hazardous activities.
Pack for a Purpose - if you have a little space in your suitcase, local schools & communities always appreciate gifts of pens & pencils, stationery, deflated footballs etc. Specific requests from communities can be seen on the 'Pack for a Purpose' website.
Tipping – this is not compulsory, but if you wish to tip because you have received good servive, we suggest the following per adult:
- guides/drivers: R 30 + R 20 = R 50 per day (can be reduced for longer stays).
- waiters: 10% (if not already added to your bill).
- porters: R 5 per bag.
It is not necessary to tip drivers doing short transfers (eg to the airport).
Your Safety - consult the UK Foreign Office website for the latest travel advice www.fco.gov.uk.