Brazil Travel Guide

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Country Facts

Location

South America.

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.

Area

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

Time Zone

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.

Population

194 million (2009).

Population Density

22.7 per sq km.

Capital City

Brasília. Population: 2.3 million (2008).

Government

Federal Republic.

Head of State

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva since 2002.

Religion

There is no official religion, but approximately 74% of the population are Roman Catholics. A number of diverse evangelical cults are also represented, as are animist beliefs (particularly the Afro-Brazilian religion of candomblé).

Recent History

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a former shoeshine boy and metal worker, became Brazil's first left-wing president in four decades when he beat his government-backed rival by a wide margin in the 2002 elections. He secured his position as the people's choice with a landslide victory in presidential elections in October 2006. The Lula government has faced a difficult balancing act between social welfare and the economy. Lula's left-wing ideals and commitment to social reforms sparked fears about the future of the Brazilian economy. While the economy slowed it was not the picture of doom that critics painted. At the start of his new term as president, Lula announced a target of 5% growth to be fuelled through tax cuts on investments and ensuring government spending does not grow faster than the economy.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +55. Rio's airport provides 24-hour telecommunication services. Public telephones accept telephone cards (cartões telefônicos), which can be obtained from 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. An unlocked GSM tri- or quad-band cell phone works in Brazil, with SIM cards widely available. Minutes can be added via cartões pre-pago (prepaid cards), available at newspaper kiosks.

Internet

Many hotels provide Internet access to guests. Internet cafés 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. Novelas (soap operas) and reality TV are hugely popular.

Post

Services are generally reliable. Airmail service to Europe takes about one week. Surface mail takes at least four weeks.Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
24 Dec Christmas Eve
25 Dec Christmas Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
20 Jan *Founding of Rio de Janeiro
25 Jan *Founding of São Paulo
4 Mar - 8 Mar Carnival
21 Apr Tiradentes
22 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
23 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

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
20 Jan *Founding of Rio de Janeiro
25 Jan *Founding of São Paulo
17 Feb - 21 Feb *Carnival
6 Apr Good Friday
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
*Regional observances only. **To be confirmed.

Contact Information

Brazil Embassy and Tourist Office in the UK

32 Green Street, London W1K 7AT, UK
Tel: (020) 7399 9000.
Website: www.brazil.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1300 and 1400-1800.

Brazilian Consulate General in the UK

3 Vere Street, London W1G 0DH, UK
Tel: (020) 7659 1550.
Website: www.consbraslondres.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230 and 1300-1630.

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