Brazil is home to one of the most vivacious cultures you will ever have the opportunity to discover. From the Afro-Brazilian artisans in the Northeast to the 'beach-at-lunch hour' city life in the South, Brazil is a country full of contrasts. Brazil's geography is as diverse as its population with the swamplands of the Pantanal, the rainforests of the Amazon and the imposing mountains and beaches of Rio somewhere in the middle. Brazil seems miles away from its South American neighbors, not only because of its Portuguese-speaking inhabitants (the country was a Portuguese colony until 1822 when it achieved independence), but also for its European customs and personality. Today Brazil is South America's strongest economy with its strength in natural resources that is apparent throughout the landscape.

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Although it is possible to find English in certain parts of the country, it is generally only spoken by the mid - upper class in the larger cities such as Rio and to an extent, São Paulo. Higher end establishments will usually have at least one person on staff who speaks English, however in the mid to low-range categories it can be rare. When possible, we have highlighted places where English is and is not spoken. Having a good grasp of Spanish will definitely help you get by, but lengthy conversations will prove difficult.

Brazil has long been viewed as an extremely dangerous country. Locals will tell you that this is blown out of proportion and that you simply need to be cautious (while the murder rate in upscale districts of Rio de Janeiro is comparable to other big cities, the toll in shantytowns rises to around 250 per 100,000, a rate rivaling many war zones), although recent violence may change their views. Keep in mind that their idea of cautious is much stricter than our own. For instance, it is typical to not stop at a red light after dark for safety reasons. It is also commonplace to not wear expensive jewelry or display other items of wealth in public as they will immediately identify a target. As a tourist, you will be even more susceptible to these problems, especially if someone notices you are struggling with the language. Don't be so worried as to not leave the hotel and enjoy your stay, but always practice caution in your actions while traveling thoughout Brazil. Keep a photocopy of your passport on hand, or better yet, scan it and send it to your email account. Avoid walking around with large amounts of cash. Note to Travelers: please see our blog about the recent eruption of violence in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil is deceptively large. Keep in mind when you are planning travel that this is the 5th largest country in the world and that trying to see it all in two weeks will be virtually impossible. Distances are great between Brazil's major highlights. A good way to effectively cover the country is with a Brazil Pass.  These passes are issued by both Varig and TAM and allow you to specify a certain number of flights during a specific period. See our Tips for Getting There & Around for more details.