Brazil Travel Guide

Brazil — Shopping

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Shopping

In Rio and São Paulo, major shops and markets stay open quite late in the evening. Rio and Salvador specialize in antiques and jewelry. Special purchases include gems (particularly emeralds) and jewelry (particularly silver). Belém, the city of the Amazon valley, specializes in jungle items, but visitors should be careful not to purchase objects that have been plundered from the jungle, contributing to the general destruction. Travelers should also be aware there may be restrictions on import to their home country of goods made from skins of protected species.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1900. Supermarkets are open Mon-Sat 0800-2200. Major shopping centers also open on Sundays 1500-2200. All the above times are subject to local variations and many shops open until late in the evenings, especially in December.

Currency

Real/Reais (BRL; symbol R$) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of R$100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of R$1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, and 1 centavos.

Currency Exchange

All banks, cambios, travel agencies and authorized hotels exchange recognized traveler's checks and foreign currency. The US Dollar is the most widely accepted foreign currency.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

Most major international credit cards are accepted (Visa more so than other cards), though not universally. There is an extensive network of ATMs around the country.

Travelers Checks

Traveller's checks are becoming increasingly difficult to cash and visitors will find that they often lose money when doing so. Withdrawing cash directly from ATMs is preferable. Banks will not cash traveler's checks into foreign currency, including US Dollars. Some hotels will accept payment in traveler's checks.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign and local currency up to amounts equaling R$10,000. Amounts higher than R$10,000 must be declared.