Brazil is a country that stands out among its neighbours for a lot of reasons. It’s big; it’s home to so many cultures and it’s been bestowed with plenty of gifts from nature. The beaches, the jungles and the friendly locals. If you are planning Brazil escorted tours, here are some tips to help you out.
Plan your trip in advance
If you are interested in attending major festivals in Brazil like the New Year or Salvador’s Carnival, then plan your trip about six months beforehand. The best places to stay are all booked up early so if you do want a good one, you’ll have to act fast.
But what if you aren’t there for an event
Then avoid planning your trips in the peak seasons which are July to August and December to February. Plan your trips in months other than these so that the beaches aren’t overcrowded and you get to stay in good places.
It’s big!
Like we said, Brazil is huge, and a large part of it is occupied by real estate. So where should you head off too? The most popular spots for the tourist are close to the coast, and that is where you would find majority of the population.
How does all this affect you as a traveller? Plan your trip really carefully, but unless, you can devote a few good weeks to the country, you are likely to miss an interesting attraction. It’s a huge challenge to decide which places you should visit and which you can skip, considering the length of the trip. But anyways, if you consider pre-planned Brazil escorted tours, you don’t have to worry about this part.
Keep some cash with you
Because most of the ATM machines are in the major cities, and beyond them, they are very few in number. And by the way, inform your card issuer of the trip. And remember your PIN code as well.
But still, to be on the safe side, you should get cash from any back when you land in Brazil. It would make things easier for you.
Travel may not always be perfect
Brazil coach tours are comfortable indeed, but problem is that busses can’t take you everywhere, definitely not across this rivers. And then you would need to board boats of all sizes and shapes. Sometimes the journey may be a bit uncomfortable as you rock across the waters, but nonetheless, when you do reach your destinations, you are sure to have the times of your lives. So yes, the discomfort is worth it.
For those of you who get sick on the boats, do take some over the counter medicine, pills that help you prevent nausea, or talk to your doctor beforehand.
Skip the hotels
Why and where would you stay then? Brazil has a much better and more appealing accommodation option that is known as pousada – it’s cosy, comfy and managed by local families. So you get to connect with the natives, and in the process, you avoid costs associated with large, expensive hostels.
We’ve stayed at these places, and trust us, when we used to get up in the morning, we’d find the laundry all done, and were welcomed to a table decorated with delicious breakfast dishes, and all of this, we got at much lesser rates than those of a hotel.
Learn Portuguese
If you want to converse with the locals that is. Most of the natives don’t know English, and even if they do, they aren’t good at it which makes communication difficult.
Generally, only two kinds of people know English in Brazil. One are those who attend the best schools and the second are those who are employed in the tourism industry.
Oh, so you already learnt some Spanish as school? It won’t be enough so we suggest that you start learning Portuguese if you do want to visit Brazil. And this is especially if you are looking forward to interacting with the locals. So learn the language; it’ll help you more than any guidebook.
Avoid urban beaches
The small coastal towns have a lot more to offer than urbanized beaches, so you can easily avoid the latter. They don’t really expose you to the culture, and are mostly occupied by hawkers and prostitutes. So instead of the metropolitan beaches, take out some time for sandy miles along Porto de Galinhas, Praia da Pipa and Canoa Quebrada.
Wear sandals or flip flops
If you’ll be spending most of the trip along the sandy beaches. And yes, you can wear flip flops too, not just on the beach, but elsewhere as well. Brazilians have made them an everyday routine, whereas most of the cultures consider them to excessively casual.
What if were to wear tennis shoes? You’ll stand out especially if you pair them with shorts, so unless you plan to hike a trail or have an evening party to attend in town, avoid shoes. Wear flip flops most of the time, and if you don’t have them, you can easily buy them from any store when you land in Brazil.
Futebol rules here
Got a jersey of your favourite football club in your wardrobe? As much as you may like it, just don’t wear it in Brazil. The locals are all what you would call ‘crazy’ football fans, and love talking about it every single time. If you have any interest in the game, it’s good way to break the ice with the natives.
Pack lightly
A tip that is useful for any country which you are visiting, not just Brazil. Pack as lightly as you can, and keep only the bare minimum amount of things with you. Keep your passport safe and leave other valuables back at home.
And oh, you do wouldn’t need your heels, your dress shoes or that fancy gown for the matter.
Door2Tour offers Brazil escorted tours round the year. Visit our website for more information.