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GENERAL INFORMATION
Currency Exchange | Electric
Current | Public Holidays | Time
Tipping | Visa | Vocabulary
Currency Exchange
All banks and casas de câmbio (exchange houses) recognize travelers'
checks and foreign currency, but there is also a flourishing black market
trade in foreign currency, which offers about 20% above the official rate
- this is strictly illegal in Brazil.
Electric Current
Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo provide 110 or 120 Volt 60 Cycle alternating
current (AC). Salvador and Manaus have 127 Volt service. Recife, Brasília
and a number of other cities have 220 Volt service.
Public Holidays
| Fixed dates: |
January 1st |
New Year's Day |
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April 21st |
Tiradentes' Day |
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May 1st |
Labor Day |
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September 7th |
Independence Day (1822) |
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October 12th |
Nossa Senhora de Aparecida |
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November 2nd |
All Souls Day |
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November 15th |
Proclamation of the Republic |
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December 25th |
Christmas Day |
| Movable: |
Carnival (4 days preceding Ash Wednesday) |
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Corpus Christi |
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Easter |
| Local Holidays: |
January 25th |
São Paulo |
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January 20th |
Rio de Janeiro |
Note: It is government policy in Brazil for certain holidays to be
taken on Monday if those holidays fall during the week; however, the
church wishes to continue holding festivals on the traditional days.
If plans are likely to be affected by such a holiday it is advisable
to check the situation with the Information Office before traveling.
Please note also that as far of the traditional holidays are fixed by
municipalities there may be some variation from region to region.
Time
Brazil spans several time zones:
Brazilian Standard Time: GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 in summer).
Amazon time zone (except Acre): GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 in summer).
Acre State: GMT - 4 (throughout year).
Tipping
A tip ranging between 10 to 15% is customary in bars, restaurants and
hairdressing salons, if not already included on the bill.
Visa Requirements
All American citizens are required to obtain a VISA to enter Brazil. Please
check Visa Information.
Vocabulary 
Important words and phrases to know.
| Boa tarde (bowa tahr-gee) |
good afternoon |
| Boa noite (bowa noy-chi) |
good night |
| Bom dia (bone - gia) |
good morning |
| Loja de cāmbio (law-ja gi kuhm b o) |
money exchange |
| Obrigada (o brie gaw dah) |
thank you (woman speaking) |
| Obrigado (o brie gaw dough) |
thank you (man speaking) |
| Por favor (pohr-fah-vohr) |
Please |
| Praia (prrr-aya) |
beach |
| Tchau (chow) |
bye |
| Um cafézinho (un kah-feah-zee-yo) |
a Brazilian coffee |
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