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BRASILE
Some useful information
VISA
If you don't want to go to all the trouble, ask your travel agent to take
care of your visa. Remember they need to sell those tickets! There's
usually an extra fee for services like this, though. After doing our
homework, we found out it is not all that hard to do it yourself. Here is
what you need:
• passport valid for at least an additional 6 months
• copy of round-trip ticket
• 1 recent passport-size photo (color or B&W)
• some kind of proof you have spending money to bring
• certificate proving you took the right vaccines, depending on where you
are coming from, or going to
• a visa application form (available at the Brazilian consulate or
embassy).
According to messages we get from visitors, you do not need a visa if you
are coming from Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Holland, Belgium,
Portugal, Spain, and other Western European countries.
What to Wear & Bring
The first thing to keep in mind while packing, is that Cariocas dress
casual and light. The second is that if you forget anything, you will find
something similar at local stores. Now let's see what makes sense and what
doesn't.
Bring your favorite pair of sneakers. You will be walking around a lot,
and you need very comfortable walking shoes. A pair of casual shoes will
do for the evening. You will need dress shoes only if you are coming on
business, or planning to go to the more sophisticated nightclubs. If you
forget the beach sandals, buy a pair of Havaianas at local shops.
Comfortable clothes are a question of survival. Choose natural fabrics
that breathe like cotton, and linen. Bermudas or cargo shorts with lots of
pockets are great for the day. The latest trend are the longer ones,
especially for men. In addition to the mandatory pair of jeans, bring
casual pants like chinos or khakis for the evening.
You don't need anyone to tell you that you will need plenty of T-shirts.
You may add a couple of tank tops as well, though they are not allowed at
some restaurants. If you plan to go clubbing, this is basically all you
need. Otherwise bring something dressier for the evening, like a Polo
shirt, or a button-down. Remember again you may sweat, so pack something
suitable (some colors are better than others).
Bring a nice sweater if you are coming during the colder months. Bring a
sweat suit even if you are coming in the summer, as you may want to sleep
in it when you turn the air-conditioner full blast at night. A favorite
casual jacket is a good addition, if you are coming in the winter or fall.
A light rain jacket is always a good addition, as it does rain in Rio.
There are hot and sunny days even in the winter. You need something to
wear at the beach. Pack your favorite bathing suit or bikini to wear on
the first day. Many guys wear surfer's trunks, and take them off every now
and then to keep the tan line in check. Carioca men favor wider swimming
briefs, and bikini briefs are not considered sexy even among gay men.
A suit and tie are not really necessary, unless you are coming on
business. Now a special note to socks: Keep your knee-length socks back
home, they are a fashion no-no in Rio. If you want to look like you
belong, go for shorter socks, and do not pull them all the way up. Socks
are never to be worn with sandals, either. Last but not least, black
umbrellas at the beach look very funny - especially if you are fully
clothed.
Gadgets, accessories & etc.
110 V and 60 Hz is how electricity goes here. Few hotels have dual voltage
in the bathroom. Make sure your electric razor, toothbrush, and hair-drier
are suitable to our standards, or they will only take up precious space in
your luggage. You may also need an adapter plug. The outlets will take
round or flat plugs, but not the one where one is wider than the other.
Computer outlets are standard around the world, but modem connections are
only found at the most expensive hotels.
You already know that you are not supposed to bring your tiaras and
priceless jewels with you. Sometimes it is very hard to tell a fake from
the real thing, so avoid realistic-looking and flashy items. There are
digital clocks all around town, so watches are also optional. If you like
to keep track of time, bring something cheap and replaceable. The best
advice for you not to become a vic is not to look like one.
Women who cannot live without a heavy layer of make-up may experience
their faces melting in the summer heat. Wear as little make-up as you can
live with, and make sure it is suitable for hot weather. Invest on top
quality sunscreen, and let your skin breathe freely. Brazilian women
generally wear very little eye-shadow, and also go easy on mascara. Nobody
wears make-up at the beach. Bring a high SPF sunblock lipstick instead.
Quality shampoos, grooming, and beauty products are easily available at
import stores and better supermarkets. You will find major brands like
Revlon, Pantene, Finesse, Klorane, Neutrogena, Clairol, and other biggies.
If you are very fussy or extremely allergic, though, please bring a little
of everything you feel you may need!
The same holds true for chewing gum, candies, and all those essential
unessentials we tend to become attached to. If you have smoked the same
cigarettes since the beginning of times, do bring a carton from home. You
may find Brazilian cigarettes too strong for you.
Weather: The Climate
Rio de Janeiro is at sea level, near the Tropic of Capricorn. It has a hot
and damp tropical climate. Being on the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons
are reversed, as in Australia and Africa.
There are definitely more sunny than rainy days. Two weeks or more without
a single drop of rain are not uncommon. A simple sudoeste wind (Southwest
) is enough to make doors start banging, though, announcing an inevitable
storm - a treat to watch from the safety of your hotel window.
Other factors that influence the weather in Rio are El Niño and its sister
La Niña. And then there are the ocean drifts. When the currents turn, a
chilly water comes from the Antarctic - and sometimes stranded penguins
end up at the beach!
Summer is probably Rio's most popular season. It starts to get hotter
around October, and summer vacations start in mid-December. On sunny days,
digital thermometers in Ipanema and Copacabana may read 40° C, about 104
F. If you do not turn on the air conditioner, when you leave the shower
start wondering if you forgot to towel off, or if you're already breaking
a new sweat!
The tropical summer sun is very hot after 10 a.m. If you have fair skin
(and even if you don't), take it easy and do not push your luck. Some
sessions at a tanning salon to condition your skin before you go on board
may be a good idea. Only it will not save you from a wearing a serious
sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. Summer nights are fresher, but not
necessarily fresh.
According to a popular song, March is rain season, and the beginning of
fall. Sometimes fall takes a while to catch up. A sure sign is when the
hundreds of amendoeira trees in the streets start turning gold and red,
before losing their leaves. Nights are cooler, and sometime around June
winter eventually comes along.
Spring is the most agreeable season in Rio. With less humidity in the air,
the sunny days are especially bright. This is when you get the prettiest
pictures from overlooks like the Sugarloaf and Corcovado hills. It is a
wonderful time to visit the Tijuca Forest, Botanical Gardens, and the
Flamengo Reclaim. Expect temperatures ranging from 20 to 30° C (70-90 F)
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Climate |
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG |
SEP |
OCT |
NOV |
DIC |
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TEMPERATURE |
23/29 |
23/29 |
22/28 |
21/27 |
19/25 |
18/24 |
17/24 |
18/24 |
18/24 |
19/25 |
20/26 |
22/28 |
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HUMIDITY |
82/70 |
84/71 |
87/74 |
87/73 |
87/70 |
87/69 |
86/68 |
84/66 |
84/72 |
83/72 |
82/72 |
82/72 |
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Weather |
Showers |
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Hot
Humid |
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Credits:
Ipanema.com |
