Brazil Travel Forum

We are looking for a good Amazon River Tour... any suggestions of cruise lines and/or companies we might contact...

I am flying into Manaus in January and would like to know the best way to get from the airport to the dock. How much should it cost and what do I ask for in Spanish.

Looking for suggestions on how to spend our honeymoon in the amazon. We will probably fly in and out of Manaus, with time not really being an issue. We would like to keep costs reasonable though!
We are thinking of having a few days in a lodge to start with, somewher private and comfortable, and then be a bit more aventurous. Any suggestions on boat trips, accomodations, tours (my partner is particularly interesting in seeing Indians...), would be much appreciated :)
We're in our 20s, and fit - although i'm not too interesting in challenging sweaty hikes for days on end ill be honest! This will in March 2010.
thanks

Oi!

I'm planning a trip for 3-4 weeks to Brazil.
I will spend New Year probably in Rio, but I'm also very interested in nice nature sights. I won't go north this time, so the Amazon I'll do another time (Brazil is way too big to do in 1 time). Can anyone tell me where I can find really amazing sights and which stand out & take your breath away?
I've already been to Iguazu.

Cheers!

I am planning a dance holiday to Brazil over Carnaval 2010. I will be in Rio de Janiero 2 weeks before Carnaval starts and would love to get some intensive daily samba lessons, (I have been doing samba the last 8 months? can anyone suggest a good local dance teacher or studio? prefferably who speaks english??? very excited to hear your reply@!!!

Hey everyone thanks in advance for your advice.

I am relocating to Curitiba for a short term job posting and will first land in GRU. Do you guys advise me to take a plane, or take a bus to Curitiba? I am not sure the city of GRU has buses that will take me straight there.

The only reason I would consider the bus is the luggage allowance. I know the trip to get to Tiete and then busing it Curitiba can be considerably long. I am not sure about prices though- anyone has an idea?

Finally, would you recommend flying Web Jet? I saw that they have cheap prices to fly from GRU to CWB, only restriction is the 23kg luggage allowance. My flight will land in GRU at around 11:30am, and the next flight to fly to Curitiba is at 15:30. would that be enough time to grab my luggages, etc?

Many thanks for your help.

Hi,
I'm planning a 3-4 week trip to Brazil from 26 December.
People are talking about the lack of safety now, especially in the big cities (Rio, Sao Paolo, Salvador etc).
I'm used to travelling in Latin America but I'm still kinda worried. People from a travel agency even tried to discourage me from going to Rio.
Are people exagerating or is it all ok if you just keep your wits about? (no fancy clothes or watches, no walking alone in the night, staying out of favelas etc). Should I avoid some cities or not?

i will ber arriving after midnight on the translitoral bus from guarulhos airport to the petrol station on canal 2....can you give me the name od a taxi company that i can ring at that time

We are two girls thinking of going by bus to Salvador from recife on 11/12th Feb 2010 for the Salvador carnival ( that starts on the 11th)
Does anyone know if this is possible (11th is a Thursday)
We arrive in Recife onthe 8th so can't book until then. Do you think this is leaving it too late & it will be difficult to get a seat because of carnival. Also does anyone know how much it is, how long it takes or if you can prebook on line at all!!!
Thanks

Hi,

I'll be visiting Rio de Janeiro with a couple of friends for New Year's. We were thinking of making reservations in a Restaurant on the 31st of December... but I've been reading that most festivities are in the streets and at Copacabana Beach.

Maybe we won't make a reservation in a Restaurant and just spend late afternoon.... after 18:00 walking along Copacabana, Ipanema, etc... and eating and drinking (especially drinking) in Food Stalls and bars along the beach?

Does this sound logical? Are they open?

Than at midnight we hope to be at Copacabana Beach to see the fireworks!

Does this look good? Any other recommendations? What else can we do/see on New Years?

Thanks,

Michael

Hola ,

I’ll be in South America in November and have drafted an impossible itinerary and now I can use all of your help to get it right. I do travel at a fast pace and take countries by storm instead of smelling the roses but transport limits anybody’s options

This is/was my initial plan
7/nov Flight Bxl - Rio
8/nov Rio
9/nov Rio
10/nov Iguazu BR
11/nov Iguazu AR
12/nov Buenos Aires
13/nov Buenos Aires
14/nov BA to PM
15/nov Perito Moreno
16/nov Perito Moreno
17/nov Travel to Atacama
18/nov Atacama Laguna Miscanti y Miniques & Valle de la luna
19/nov Atacama Chuquicamata & El Tatio Geyser
20/nov Atacama Buffer day
21/nov Chile - Bolivia
22/nov Uyuni
23/nov Uyuni
24/nov Uyuni
25/nov Uyuni or La Paz
26/nov La Paz
27/nov Coroico
28/nov Fly La Paz - Rurrenabaque
29/nov Rurrenabaque
30/nov Rurrenabaque
1/dec Rurrenabaque
2/dec Lago Titicaca
3/dec Copacabana & Isla del Sol
4/dec Arequipa
5/dec Colca Canyon
6/dec Colca Canyon
7/dec Cuzco
8/dec Machu Picchu sunset
9/dec Machu Picchu sunrise - fly Cuzco to Lima
10/dec Lima
11/dec Flight Lima - Atlanta
12/dec Atlanta
Flight Atlanta - Brussel
13/dec Back Home


My draft plan is indeed too tightly scheduled as I find out while booking flights/buses/tours..
My original plan was to fly between these destinations :
Rio - Iguazu - Buenos Aires - Perito Moreno - Calama/San Pedro de Atacama
But Perito Moreno is indeed too remote and takes a lot of time and money to reach, then also difficult to continue to Calama as this seems to be a small airport. Besides I prefer nature to cities and as I only planned to spend 2 days in Buenos Aires that is an expensive flight from Iguazu. So in case I skip BA and PM I can continue from Iguazu to Calama, unless the flight from Rio is a lot cheaper but then I should book an all in tour from Rio to Iguazu (return flight + park entrance + hostel).
Do you know by chance if there are any interesting offers ? I did some research on the internet but most sites are in Portuguese, difficult for me.
I'll land in Rio on November 8th , where I will spend 1 or 2 days so I can book a tour to Iguazu starting from November 9th or 10th to spend 2days there as I want to see both the Brazilian as the Argentinian side of the falls and preferably also go as close as possible by boat.
Do you also know which airline proposes a good connection from Rio (or Iguazu) to Calama (Chile) ?

If rio-iguazu-rio is not worthwhile then I might still fly to BA and continue by bus through North Argentina towards Atacama. How many days should I foresee for this, with stops in Mendoza and Salta? Can I include nightbuses to win some time?
Which option would you recommend? 1. Rio - Atacama or 2. Iguazu-BA-Mendoza-Salta-Atacama

I've been told about corrupt customs agents on the CL-BO border, now you tell me it's AR-CL.... it's all part of the fun I guess

Do tour operators offer to visit the nice places in Atacama and also drop you off at Uyuni? Do you have a website or email of the tour operator that can do all this?
Can I book the Salar de Uyuni tour towards La Paz, starting from Uyuni ?
So far I found there are only 2 buses a week from Atacama to Uyuni , but hope that is not true
http://www.sanpedroatacama.com/ingles/ir.htm
Should I also include a buffer day to cross the Bolivia-Peru border?

Is it true that the Salar de Uyuni is flooded by rain in nov-dec? Does that not spoil the scenery? Hopefully I can get to see it at sunrise, the best moment of the day to enjoy nature's beauty.

Can I book an all-in tour from La Paz to Rurrenabaque(flight, safari, accomodation, .. booze?)

Re Machu Picchu I understood so far that the entrance to the site is unlimited, but they only allow 500p/day on the Inca Trail, which I'm not doing due to lack of time. On the other hand I should be very early there to get a ticket for the Huaynu Picchu on the other side so I can enjoy the sunrise from there. Is all this correct?

Sorry for this huge bunch of questions, but I'm looking forward to go to South America for the first time and really want to make the best out of it

feel free to contact me directly on christian.buchheit@gmail.com as I read those emails a few times a day

Muchas gracias para ayudarme
hasta luego,
Christian

i arive in rio on wednesday the 21 st of october when is the next match to be held at the maracanana stadium and who are playing cheers

My husband and I have travelling around South America for 3 months and have found ourselves stuck with 5 days to kill but are at a loss with what to do.

We are currently in Foz do Iguassu and aim to leave here on Monday. We are planning on going to Sao Paulo, Paratay then Ilha Grande ending up in Rio but don´t know what to do between now and then.

We were thinking of the Pantanal but due to the long bus ride on a crappy bus (used to luxury in Argentina!) and expensive accomodation (as we would not be up for slumming it!) we are trying to think of alternatives. How about going past Rio and up to the North Eastern towns of Ouro Preto and Diamante? Is the Pantanal really worth it? We spent 4 days in the middle of the Amazon in Peru in lodges so will the Pantanal offer anything different?
Any advice greatly received!
Lucy

Hello, thanks in advance for your advice.

I am traveling with two friends, we are mid 30s, single, like to have fun, bars, party, beach etc. I would like to stay in a safe and accessible area of Rio. I have narrowed it down to Ipanema, Copacabana, or the small area where they meet, arpoador. The cost is not as important as finding the right place. This is a once in a lifetime trip with two friends and I don't mind spending more for the right place.

We have decided it would be best to rent an apartment, and have found quite a few, but I would really like to hear about the areas from someone who know Rio well.

Thanks again!

I am planning to spend a few days on Ilha Grande as part of a 3 week trip to Brazil in January. Is this a good time to visit the island? Will it be possible to find somewhere to stay at this busy time? Any tips would be much appreciated.
Thanks

can anybody give info on bus connection Itabuna . Ilheus v.v.
Empresa ? Horario ? Tarifa ?

Can anybody give information on the train of Cia. Vale do Rio Doce which is/was going from BH to Vitoria ? It would be very helpful if the train is still transporting passengers, to know time table and tarifs.

I am trying to find out who the dsl or cable internet providers are in the area, any help ? we are thinking of moving to the area but dsl or cable internet is a must for work purposes

I am interested in renting an apartment in joao pessoa near Tambau' for a month. I asked at a few places the last time I was there and was told a year's lease was necessary in the buildings where I inquired. Anyone know of any leads or contacts to find a place? Also anyone familiar with the beaches north of the city?

Thanks

Hi everyone – Im going to be staying ipanema from 22nd oct – 3rd November and have a few queries ...
Firstly – I can’t seem to get the website for the Babilonia hype market to work – is the market still on? I’ve heard its every second weekend – does anyone know if its on 24th and 25th October or 31st October and 1st November? And is it in the jockey club as I hear it moves around to different locations?
Also – is it easy enough to hire and get around on a scooter bike in Rio? I’m a very experienced driver and I’m very use to crazy foreign driving and heavy rain – but are there major problems with bike theft? Any ideas about how much it would cost for a few days?
Also – I’ve heard that it is a public holiday on the 1st Nov for All Saints Day. Does anyone know if there is any sort of parade arranged or any special events arranged over that weekend that would be worth checking out?
I’m also considering a Flavela tour – but not a mainstream type that would involve a A/C bus and 50 other tourists – I’d be looking for a more intimate small scale local outfit. Any suggestions?
I’m also considering handgliding – and I have heard ‘Superfly’ is good – any comments?
Any advice on any of the above or any other ideas on alternative things to do would be much appreciated! Thanks for your time. Cheers - Vic

Hi everyone – Im going to be staying ipanema from 22nd oct – 3rd November and have a few queries ...
Firstly – I can’t seem to get the website for the Babilonia hype market to work – is the market still on? I’ve heard its every second weekend – does anyone know if its on 24th and 25th October or 31st October and 1st November? And is it in the jockey club as I hear it moves around to different locations?
Also – is it easy enough to hire and get around on a scooter bike in Rio? I’m a very experienced driver and I’m very use to crazy foreign driving and heavy rain – but are there major problems with bike theft? Any ideas about how much it would cost for a few days?
Also – I’ve heard that it is a public holiday on the 1st Nov for All Saints Day. Does anyone know if there is any sort of parade arranged or any special events arranged over that weekend that would be worth checking out?
I’m also considering a Flavela tour – but not a mainstream type that would involve a A/C bus and 50 other tourists – I’d be looking for a more intimate small scale local outfit. Any suggestions?
I’m also considering handgliding – and I have heard ‘Superfly’ is good – any comments?
Any advice on any of the above or any other ideas on alternative things to do would be much appreciated! Thanks for your time. Cheers - Vic

How much does it cost during this time to get into clubs, go to the christ statue, and drinks at the club??

ill be there for about 8 days and was wondering how much money i should bring.

i will be travelling to rio in nivember, one thing that i can`t get an answer to is the " service charge " in restaraunts and bars. can anyone tell me how much will be added on to the final bill? e.g 5% 10% 15% ??? any answers would be greatfully appreciated by anyone. many thanks darren, manchester uk

Hi,

I am going to be visiting the Brazilian side of the Iguaçu Falls with friends on the 4th of January 2010. On this day we have a flight to Buenos Aires at 17:45, which requires we be at the airport at around 15:30.

If we are at the Falls at 09:00 AM and spend our time there until 14:30 will we be able to see all of the Brazilian side and do a 10 minute helicopter ride?

Thanks!

Michael

Hi,

does anyone know at what time does the border crossing from Foz do Iguaçu to Cidad del Este close? I'm planning to visit Cidade del Este while I'm in Foz do Iguaçu and would really apreciate the info.

Thanks,

Michael

Hi all:

I was intending on moving to Brazil for a few months to study portuguese, learn more about the culture, and make contacts in the bar/tourism industry. My dream/goal one day is to open a bar in South America (Brazil or Argentina). Naturally, I plan on saving up money and working in the states and then moving to Brazil. But first I'd like to make a few trips down south...ie stay for a few months. So at first I was looking at Salvador, thinking the city was actually safer and cheaper than Rio. After reading up on the city and receiving a sobering account of living in Salvador, I'm not not so sure.

So alas I've turned my attention back to Rio. Would it be unreasonable to find an efficiency/studio apartment/1 bedroom furnished, or even a room..... for US$500-700/month? Also, I understand most places require some type of long term lease, typically more than a year. Is there a way to get around that? Where do people live if they plan on staying 6 months or less? What are the best neighborhoods? I'm looking for a safe place obviously, but not overly touristy. My goal is to get to know Brazilians, not foreigners. Is health insurance needed? I speak intermediate/advanced portuguese so I would be able to get around. Obviously a million and one questions! I am looking to move in January. Any help is appreciated!! Also, I was originally looking to work in a bar or restaurant but now see that would probably be very difficult to do.

Hello all:

I am planning on moving to Salvador sometime in January (at least that is what I hope) to improve my Portuguese, make some contacts, and see the country. One of my dreams is to open a bar or restaurant in Brasil, at some point in the future. To that end I have a strong desire to work in a bar or restaurant, or something related to that. I understand getting a work visa is next to impossible. Is it unrealistic to think I can find a job in the service industry and work under the table? I.E. as a server, barback, etc?

Also, can anybody help me with the most basic of things, ie, housing, other jobs I can get, and good things to know?! I'm not really trying to make money...it's more about making contacts. As far as language goes I'm fluent in Spanish and have taken about a year of Portuguese, so I would say I'm intermediate/advanced but still have room for improvement. Obviously so many questions so if anyone is on Orkut, facebook, or gmail, lets connect! I will give you my info.

By the way I have lived in the Dominican Republic before so I am familiar with the developing world, although I'm hoping Salvador is a little more developed than Santo Domingo! Lets keep in touch guys and thanks!

Hi,

I will be visiting the Iguaçu Falls with a group of friends in January 2010. We will be arriving from Rio de Janeiro on the 3rd of January at 12:35 and departing from the Argentinian airport tu Buenos Aires on the 5th of January at 17:45.

Based on our Timetable what do suggest our Itinerary be? We want to visit the Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian side and we would also like to do some shopping in Cidad del Este, Paraguay.

Thanks!

Michael

Me and a friend just booked an 11 night stay at the lancaster othon hotel in copa. It has 2 beds and a living area with sofa so we are gonna see if any friends wanna go also. As in 2 people per bed and maybe one on the couch to lower the huge price of the trip.

But it has come to my attention that u cant bring people to your hotels or certain hotels dont allow this.

Is there any way around this so we can split the room 4 ways instead of 2??

And also i have friends in brasil and i cant invite them back to my hotel to watch the fireworks?

Ok we are booking the trip either tonight or tomm. Pretty much we only have like two options for hotel stay within our budget. I think we are gonna stay at Lancaster Othon Hotel on Atlantic Av. We plan to get hotel/flight for 2100$.

We are both 23 and plan to enjoy the beach and go out at night to some bars and clubs. We also plan to visit the Christ statue and maybe one other major attraction. What are some of the best bars and clubs we should go to during our stay? And how much money will we need to bring for a 10 day stay?