Brazil in September

L_D_N

Off to Brazil for a week touring (Rio, the falls, rainforest etc.) then a week on the beach near Salvador I think (actually in a hotel but you know what I mean). Any tips on things to do, clothes to take and so on? Especially for the second week. Any experience of the type of food on offer?

Thanks,

Lorraine

richardw

If you are flying on Varig, you may need to check with your travel agent about your flights, I've heard about some cancellations.

L_D_N

Varig - I haven't heard of them, are they an internal flight operator? Cheers for that, will do some checks. God, worrying before we've even left now!

gentlepurr

hi!

i've just come back from venezuela, during which time we stayed in the rainforest, en route to angel falls. i would suggest packing long trousers, and long sleeved blouses/shirts, both in as lightweight material as you can find, protects you against the mozzies in the eves.

all i can say is enjoy! and be prepared for anything, including tree frogs in the loo, and tarantula's in the bathroom! - no, i'm not joking, just always check for creepy crawlies before you climb into bed, or put your shoes on in the morning!

enjoy!

xx

lily_the_pink

There are 2 public holidays in Brazil during September - 7th and 20th. These fall on a Thursday and a Wednesday respectively. However Brazilians try and take a "sandwich" holiday whenever possible - so would book the Friday off work in the case of a holiday falling on a Thursday, and the Monday and Tuesday or Thursday Friday off work (or the whole week) in the case of Wednesday.

I only mention this in terms of booking public transport - might be more people travelling around those dates.

wigginsmum

It's been a long time since I went to Brazil (and it was dirt cheap back in the Eighties - a full meal for about £2), but the mozzies at Iguacu Falls were lethal. Watch out for crime in Rio, particularly getting on/off buses - we were mugged twice. Don't walk on the beach after dark. If you're anywhere near Ouro Preto, do go - it's an old mining town, and you get to go down the mine on a little trolley thing.

One thing we saw was a lot of facades - 18th century style painted onto building fronts but with no building behind. There's a lovely train journey down to Curitiba through some really spectacular scenery.

In Rio the obvious touristy things are the Corcovado (huge statue of Christ), and Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car.

The slums (favelas) are pretty shocking though, and it's fairly normal for beggars to come into restaurants.

Also worth seeking out the Japanese communities - a lot of them went over in the 19th century to grow coffee.

devon-gnome

Hi I've been to Brazil twice and would agree with gentlepurr about the creepy crawlies. Also, they are HUGE. I bought a mosquito net when there and fixed it to the ceiling so that I was sleeping under it; made me feel much safer. I used a roll-on insect repellant and didn't get a single bite until my last day when I forgot to use it; my ankles were swollen with the mozzie bites and it took weeks for them to get better.
I also suggest that you keep valuables, money, passport and tickets in a purse belt INSIDE your clothing. Whilst there, I saw a 'cycle-by' purse belt snatch from a tourist who had momentarily taken it off to adjust the strap. Also, in the poussada where I was staying, the rooms were regularly broken into and raided for spoils when the guests were out for the day. I don't want to generalise because I'm sure this isn't the norm but best to think ahead just incase.
Final bit of caution; if staying in 'basic' accommodation, DO NOT TOUCH THE SHOWER WHILST UNDER IT because it's likely to be LIVE.
Positive things; lots of wonderful food; all sorts of different and exotic fruits and vegetables and lots of meat. It seems to be the custom to offer lots of choice and you just mix and match whatever you fancy.
The markets are worth visiting though not if they are obviously touristy ones.
I found eating out to be really cheap; look for the restaurants that the local office workers use at lunchtimes - I found those to be the best.
Precious stones and crystals are plentiful, cheap and worth buying if you like that sort of thing. Also, leather goods are cheap and really well made. (I bought a leather backpack which is in daily use and is still going strong 3 years later.)
Also, there's a lot of lovely countryside; waterfalls etc.
The people are friendly though they do seem to like their music and tvs to be on full volume...Oh and some carry guns. I'm making it sound a bit like the Wild West which is not my intention. I suppose it depends on which part you're going to. (I was in the state of Goias; about an hour's drive from Brasilia.)
I could go on but that's enough because everyone's experience of Brazil is going to be different.
Have a wonderful time!!!

L_D_N

Thanks everyone for all your tips. I am paranoid about mozzies - much to the annoyance of my friends but had forgotten about taking a net to sleep under. Got bitten by something nasty in a witch doctors hut in South Africa a couple of years ago so already have my industrial strength repellant on hand.

Great info on the area, thanks so much - it's always good to know what you are letting yourself in for!:T

lily_the_pink

wigginsmum wrote:

Watch out for crime in Rio, particularly getting on/off buses - we were mugged twice. Don't walk on the beach after dark.

I would echo this advice - street crime in Rio gets worse by the year (no wonder with the levels of poverty vs the rich and influx of European and North American tourists). I know (South Americans as well an British friends) who have been relieved of their watches on the beach, held up at knife point at 9 in the morning one block from cococabana (this is par for the course for middle class Brazilians ie it isnt just Brits and Yanks who get picked on my the 12 year old street urchins). All of them though would go back despite being robbed or nearly robbed. Just be as street aware as you can be and dont wear a flashy watch, or carry loads of spare cash around. Make sure you have passport photocopies - and leave one back home in case that gets stolen too.

L_D_N

Great info Lily the pink, thanks for that.

Has anyone got any thoughts on what money to take? I know we can't get Brazillian currency here so travellers cheques good - someone told us sterling better than USA?

Also, we are arriving at our hotel around 6pm and have to find our own evening meal. Does this mean we need some sort of cash we can use to hand? Friends have been caught out like this in Tunisia, finding that nowhere was open to cash in travellers chqs until next morning.

Are we better to take US dollars or sterling do you think?

wigginsmum

When I went 20 years ago, they preferred USD to sterling, but it might have changed now.