Trip dates

Arrival: March 26 (overnight flight March 25)

Departure: April 1

Passport & Visa requirements

This trip visits Brazil. In order to enter this country, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.

We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.

U.S. & Canadian passport holders do require a visa for entry into Brazil.  You can obtain an e-visa online here and should allow sufficient time for processing, so don’t wait until the last minute to apply! You can expense the cost of the visa which is $40, plus $4.24 in processing fees. You may expense both through Expensify with a proper receipt. You can find a lot of helpful information in the FAQs as well. If you hold a passport from another country, please visit the Brazilian Consultant website online to confirm any specific entry requirements.
 
We also encourage you to speak with your doctor at least 60 days prior to departure to discuss any vaccinations they may recommend for your visit.  While the Brazilian government does not require any vaccinations for entry into Brazil, there have been recent cases of  Yellow Fever and a vaccination is highly recommended by the CDC. Some vaccinations may require multiple visits, so please plan ahead and speak with your doctor or a local travel clinic for more information. Cultural Care will not reimburse the cost of vaccinations.

Transportation

A representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.

All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach. 

Flight Itineraries

Cultural Care Au Pair will reimburse roundtrip flights from your home gateway to Rio (GIG). You may fly into/out of a gateway other than Rio (GIG) however internal travel will not be reimbursed. If you choose to arrive early and fly into Sao Paulo then your travel from Sao Paulo to Rio will not be reimbursed as this is considered personal travel.

Baggage Allowance

Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that Cultural Care travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches. Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on bag.

Weather

Temperatures vary from mid-80s during the day to low-70s at night. Rain may be common so a rain jacket is recommended.

Clothing & Packing tips

Loose-fitting, layered clothing that can accommodate varying temperatures will be most comfortable. Quick-dry material is best for hot days outside and a warmer layer may be needed for chilly evenings and early mornings.

Comfortable closed-toes shoes, such as sneakers or lightweight hiking boots, are best for walking during the day.

Sun protection is very important. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat to protect your face and the back of your neck from the sun.

Occasional rain showers are common during certain seasons, so lightweight rainwear may be necessary during this trip.

Insect repellent, binoculars and a flashlight are highly recommended.

Health

At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov. The Brazilian government strongly recommends that travelers receive a yellow fever vaccination before visiting certain areas of Brazil although proof of vaccine is not required. Cultural Care will not reimburse for vaccines.

Bring a small first aid kit, including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication and any prescription medications in your carry on luggage.

If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the trip and any possible delays encountered.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Brazil varies from region to region. Some staples like beans, coconut, dende oil, codfish, and shrimp, can be found throughout. The caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail, is made with cachaça (a clear spirit distilled from sugar cane, like rum) mixed with sugar, mint and lime.

Electricity & air conditioning

Brazil operates on 127-220 volts and uses Types C or N plugs with two round pins or three round pins, respectively. We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter. The strength of the air conditioning in some South American hotels may not be as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.

Time Zone

Rio de Janeiro is 3 hours ahead of EST. When it is noon in New York it is 3pm in Rio.

Currency

You will use the Brazilian real in Brazil. You may be able to purchase Brazilian Real in advance from your local bank or a foreign currency exchange retailer, such as Travelex. We recommend that you carry as little local cash as possible as well as small amounts of U.S. dollars (only crisp bills printed in 2004 or later).  International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour. Visa is the most widely accepted credit card. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.