Brazil Country & Tourist Information

Location
South America.

Area
8,547,404 sq km (3,300,171 sq miles).

Population
188 million (official estimate 2006).

Population Density
22 per sq km.

Capital
Brasília.
Population: 2.3 million (official estimate 2004).

Government
Federal Republic.

Language
The official language is Portuguese, with different regional accents characterising each state. Spanish, English, Italian, French and German are also spoken, particularly in tourist areas. Four linguistic roots survive in the indigenous areas: Gê, Tupi-guarani, Aruak and Karib.

Religion
There is no official religion, but approximately 70% of the population are Roman Catholics. A number of diverse evangelical cults are also represented, as are animist beliefs (particularly spiritism, umbanda and candomblé).

Time
Brazil spans several time zones:
Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 from third Sunday in October to third Saturday in March).
Western Standard Time: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from third Sunday in October to third Saturday in March).
North East States and East Parà: GMT - 3.
Amapa and West Parà: GMT - 4.
Acre State: GMT - 5.
Fernando de Noronha Archipelago: GMT - 2.

Electricity
Brasília and Recife, 220 volts AC; Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, 127 volts AC or 220 volts in larger hotels. Plugs are of the two-pin type. Most hotels provide 110-volt and 220-volt outlets, transformers and adaptors.

Head of Government

Head of State
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva since 2002.

Telephone
Country code: 55. Rio’s airport provides 24-hour telecommunication services. Shops with private phone booths are available in most towns and cities. Public telephones accept telephone cards (cartões telefônicos). Some older telephones may require metal discs (fichas), which can be obtained from cash desks or newspaper kiosks. International calls from Brazil are expensive.

Mobile Telephone
Mobile coverage is generally very good. Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies, but travelers should check with their service providers. Coverage and cost vary from state to state. It is possible to rent mobile phones, which can be collected at the airport or delivered to a hotel.

Internet
Hotels generally provide Internet access to guests. Internet cafes can be found in main towns and cities, and there are often Internet booths at airports. In smaller towns, public access is sometimes available at post offices.

Media
Brazil’s constitution guarantees a free press. There are thousands of radio stations and hundreds of TV channels in Brazil, South America’s largest media market. Media ownership is highly concentrated and home-grown conglomerates such as Globo, Brazil’s most successful broadcaster, dominate the market, operating TV and radio networks, newspapers and pay-TV. Brazilian dramas and soaps are exported around the world. Game shows and reality TV are hugely popular.

Post
Services are reasonably reliable. Sending mail registered or franked will eliminate the risk of having the stamps steamed off. Airmail service to Europe takes four to six days. Surface mail takes at least four weeks.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200.

Press
• In Rio de Janeiro, there is an English-language publication, the Rio Visitor, which gives tourist information.
• The Brazil Post (website: www.brazilpost.com) is a global news service providing information on the latest stories and current affairs in Brazil.
• Daily newspapers include O Dia, O Correio Braziliense and O Globo.
• International magazines and newspapers are also available throughout the country.

Radio
• Radiobras operates Radio Nacional.
• Globo runs commercial station Radio Globo.
• Radio Cultura offers cultural programming.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan* Founding of Rio de Janeiro.
25 Jan* Founding of São Paulo.
19-21 Feb Carnival.
6 Apr Good Friday.
8 Apr Easter Day.
21 Apr Tiradentes.
1 May Labor Day.
7 Jun Corpus Christi.
7 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Our Lady Aparecida, Patron St of Brazil.
2 Nov All Souls’ Day.
15 Nov Republic Day.
24 Dec Christmas Eve.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan* Founding of Rio de Janeiro.
25 Jan* Founding of São Paulo.
4-6 Feb Carnival.
21 Mar Good Friday.
23 Mar Easter Day.
21 Apr Tiradentes.
1 May Labor Day.
22 May Corpus Christi.
7 Sep Independence Day.
12 Oct Our Lady Aparecida, Patron St of Brazil.
2 Nov All Souls’ Day.
15 Nov Republic Day.
24 Dec Christmas Eve.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve.

Note
*Regional observances only.

Contact Information:

Brazil Embassy and Tourist Office in the UK
32 Green Street, London W1K 7AT, UK
Tel: (020) 7399 9000 (embassy) or 7629 6909 (tourist office).
Website: www.brazil.org.uk  
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1300 and 1400-1800.

Brazilian Consulate General in the UK
6 St Alban’s Street, London SW1Y 4SQ, UK
Tel: (020) 7930 9055.
Website: www.brazil.org.uk/consulate
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1600.

Brazilian Embassy in the USA
3006 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 238 2700 or 2828 (consular section).
Website: www.brasilemb.org

Brazilian Tourism Office in the USA
@Brazil Information Center, 2141 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite E-2, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: 1 800 727 2945.
Website: www.braziltourism.org


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