Brazil Guide FINAL:BRAZIL 3 19/9/09 17:35 Page 28
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BRAZIL: The Knowledge
ACCOMMODATION
TAP Portugal is unusual in that it offers covers some 1,800 miles (2,900 km).
Brazil offers an excellent selection of
direct flights from Lisbon not only to São Domestically there is an extensive internal
accommodation to suit every taste and
Paulo and Rio but also to Belo Horizonte, bus service linking all the main Brazilian
pocket. Large cities have a wide range of
Brasília, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife and cities. While this is an inexpensive way to
hotels that include everything from the
Salvador. view the country, distances can be
budget brands, deluxe international
considerable. Fortaleza, the capital of the
properties, to privately owned boutique
AIR TRAVEL
state of Ceará, for example, is as far from
properties and even youth hostels.
Given the size of Brazil the fastest and most
Rio as Buenos Aires.
effective way of getting around the country
Tourist areas offer the option of large,
is by air. The main national carriers include CAR RENTAL
sophisticated, all-inclusive resort properties
Azul, Gol, TAM Airlines and Varig that use Most of the big international car rental
belonging to internationally known brands,
certain airports as hubs for serving regions companies such as Avis and Hertz operate in
Brazilian chain hotels, as well as small,
of the country. In the southeast São Paulo the major cities alongside local companies.
privately owned establishments, the
(GRU), rather than Rio (GIG), is the main hub. The rental agencies accept most credit
pousadas, that may only have two or three
Other hubs include Porto Alegre (POA) and cards but tend to restrict the minimum age
rooms and be either very simple and rustic
Curitiba (CWB) in the south; Brasília (BSB) in of the driver to 25. As a visitor, all that is
or super sophisticated.
the central west; and Salvador (SSA), Recife required to drive in Brazil is a full valid
(REC) and Fortaleza (FOR) in the northeast. British or European driving licence. It is
International brands operating in Brazil
preferable to take a licence with a photo.
include Golden Tulip, Grand Hyatt, Hilton, BRAZILIAN EMBASSY &
Iberostar, Ibis, Inter-Continental, Marriott,
CONSULATE IN THE UK
CLIMATE
Mercure, Novotel, Orient-Express, Pestana,
For information about visas, vaccinations,
90% of Brazil is within the tropics, but more
Sofitel, Sol Meliá, Starwood and Superclubs,
weddings, etc, the Consulate General should
than 60% of the population live in areas
while Brazilian hoteliers include Atlântica,
be contacted. The Embassy handles
where altitude, sea winds, or polar fronts
Blue Tree, Fasano, Othon, Transamérica,
diplomatic, political, economic, commercial
moderate the temperature. Plateau cities
Tropical and Windsor. Price in Brazil is the
and cultural issues, as well as housing the
such as São Paulo, Brasília and Belo
best indication to the degree of comfort you
Brazilian Tourist Office (Tel: 020 7629 6909. /
Horizonte have milder climates averaging
can expect, the facilities that go with it, and
E-mail: tourism@brazil.org.uk).
19°C (66°F). Rio, Recife, Natal and Salvador
the location. on the coast have a warmer climate that is
Brazilian Embassy
balanced by the Trade Winds. Rio, for
AIRPORTS
32 Green Street
example, has an average temperature of
Most international flights land at the main
London W1K 7AT
around 26°C (80°F) that climbs into the high
airports of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
Telephone: +44(0)20 7399 9000
30s-low 40s (over 100°F) during the
where there are connecting flights to most
Web: www.brazil.org.uk
summer. In the southern Brazilian cities of
other major Brazilian cities. Rio and São
Porto Alegre and Curitiba, the climate is
Paulo have international airports, as well as Brazilian Consulate General
similar to parts of Europe, with frosts
smaller airports closer to the city centre 3 Vere Street
occurring in the winter months (July-
which are used for the air-shuttle between London W1G 0DH
August). Summers are hot.
the two cities and a number of other short Telephone: +44(0)20 7659 1550
regional services. Rio’s airports are Galeão Web: www.consbraslondres.com
In Brazil the seasons are the reverse of
(GIG) for international and domestic, and
those in Europe and the US:
Santos Dumont (SDU) for the shuttle; while
BUSES IN BRAZIL
São Paulo’s are Guarulhos (GRU) for
Spring: 22 September to 21 December
Despite the distances involved, it is possible
international and domestic, Congonhas
Summer: 22 December to 21 March
to travel from Brazil to another country by
(CGH) for the shuttle.
Autumn: 22 March to 21 June
bus. The journey to Buenos Aires from Rio
Winter: 22 June to 21 September
de Janeiro, for example, takes 44 hours and
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