Brazil

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“Brazil is not what you see but what you feel. Once you spend time here – a week, two weeks – you get in the vibe. It’s really intoxicating.”

– Francisco Costa

I find it difficult to describe Brazil. Like the quote above by Francisco Costa, it’s not just what you see but what you feel visiting Brazil. The entire country is alive with spirit and you can feel the personality of the culture through the colors, music, food, and of course the people.

I lived in Brazil for 3 months and loved every second. While there can be challenges to traveling the country such as language and safety, I still rate it as one of my favorite countries to travel through because of the rich experiences through the intoxicating culture as well as the vastness and diversity of land mass. There is so much to see and do in Brazil, I believe I’ll return again, and again and encourage everyone to visit at least once.

HOW IS BRAZIL FOR SOLO TRAVEL?

Brazil, in my opinion, can be a great place for solo travel if you have a bit of previous travel experience. Although an incredible country, rookie solo travelers could have a difficult time in Brazil with the strong language barrier, navigating how to explore such a large country and following precautionary safety practices.

However, for those who either speak Portuguese and/or feel they are very street smart or have a lot of experiences traveling, Brazil could be your next favorite destination. I always recommend doing your own research and following safety precautions such as my recommendations here.

Know Before You Go

Language

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Few people speak English, and I relied heavily on Google translate here.

Currency

Brazilian Real

SYMBOL: R$

ABBREVIATION: BRL

CONVERSION: The currency rate is subject to change but typically 1 USD ~ R$5.

Plugs Used

Brazil uses plug types C & N (the same as Europe) so you will need an outlet converter. The standard voltage is 127/220V supply voltage and 60Hz. This is very similar to the U.S. so you do not need a travel adapter if you are from the USA. I had no trouble plugging in my curling iron or laptop from my outlet converter.

Visa

U.S. citizens can travel without a visa to Brazil if staying for less than 90 days as a tourist. Visa information is subject to changes so double check here.

Health

To check health advisories and what vaccinations are needed to travel to Brazil check the CDC website and the TravelState.gov information page. As of my time there in February – May 2022, COVID masks were very rarely required and worn. I think the only times were on some buses.

Safety

There’s usually a lot of concern surrounding safety in Brazil. Before traveling anywhere I suggest checking the U.S. Government Travel Advisory just for your own knowledge.

To answer the question, “Is Brazil safe to travel to?” Read this blog post.

In summary, I do believe Brazil is safe enough to travel to, however there are a number of precautions you should take. Read this post to learn more about what you should and should not do to stay safe in Brazil.

SOME PLACES YOU COULD VISIT:

São Paulo

RIO DE JANEIRO

SALVADOR

CHAPADA DIAMANTINA

IGUASSU FALLS

PARATY

ILHA GRANDE

FLORIANOPOLIS

Resources for your trip:

Best Time to Visit:

Brazil is huge and so the weather will change based on region. However, destinations on the coast which are popular to visit are sunniest and warmest November – March. Because Carnival is the end of February to the beginning of March this is the most popular time to visit.

However if you hate intense heat, but also don’t want to deal with cooler winter weather, April is a really enjoyable time to visit, as well.

add these to your BRAZIL packing list

Typical Costs

Living costs in Brazil tend to be cheaper than in the U.S. but for the budget traveler, some things in Brazil may be pricier compared to other destinations in Latin America such as tours. But even still, the dollar is worth 5x the Real so it is possible to have incredible experiences without breaking the bank.

ACCOMMODATION

FOOD

TOURS

TRANSPORTATION