GENERAL: Brazil is more than beaches and Carnival, but that would be enough reason to travel there. Brazil is the largest country in South America, taking up almost half of the continent, extending from north of the Equator to south of the Tropic of Capricorn. It's population of around 180 million is the largest in South America. It's 2 major cities, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero are among the largest in world. The nation's natural beauty is reflected in its variety of geographic locations, from Sugar Loaf Mountain in the city of Rio de Janeiro, to the magnificent Iguazu Falls in the south, to the Amazon basin in the North, there's something for almost every taste... snow skiers excepted.

It's population is unique for Latin America and provides a rich backdrop of sights and sounds for the traveler. It is the result of Native Americans, Portuguese settlers, and African slaves, Japanese (the largest Japanese population outside of Japan!), Italians, Germans…just about everyone. There is even a town built by US Confederate soldiers that left the USA after the Civil war, really. Portuguese cultural influences dominate, with Portuguese as the primary language and Roman Catholicism as the principal religion. Don't spend too much time on Spanish if your going to Brazil, they will understand you but you won't understand them. In tourist areas someone who can speak English, Italian or German can usually be found.

The Amazon Basin, which spans the width of northern Brazil, and an extensive highland plateau, known as the Brazilian Highlands, which covers most of the south and southeast are it's two main geographical areas. These provide a wide selection of flora, fauna and just stuff to do and see, if you can ever get off its miles and miles of glorious beaches! As to the Amazon it is navigable to ocean going ships as far as Iquitos, in Peru, and its major tributaries are suitable for inland navigation.

Back to the beaches. The Brazilian coastline varies considerably. The coast of the northeast is smoother, with substantial areas of beaches and dunes along the northern strip. However spectacular areas for the sun and surf minded traveler exist throughout.

WEATHER AND WHEN TO GO: In Brazil it varies but most of Brazil can be comfortably visited throughout the year. However, the south can be very hot and humid in summer (December to February) and non-stop rain in winter (June to August) and you may want to avoid those times. The rest of the country has brief tropical rains throughout the year, which rarely affect travel plans. During the summer (December to February) many Brazilians are on vacation, and that can make travel difficult and expensive. Summer is also the most festive time of year, as Brazilians escape their apartments and take to the beaches and streets. School holidays begin in mid-December and go through to Carnival, usually held in late February. Of events Carnival deserves special mention. It begins at midnight on the Friday before Ash Wednesday and lasts for five days. It is celebrated all over Brazil and there are more authentic versions than the glitzy tourist version held in Rio, but Rio's is a fantastic spectacle nonetheless. Actually Salvador de Bahia's verson is a bit wilder!

GETTING THERE AND GETTING IN: Brazil has frequent flights (in many cases daily) from most International origins to either Rio or Sao Paulo.

PAPER WORK TO GET IN: U.S. citizens must have a passport & visa obtained in advance from the Brazilian consulate in the US. This can be obtained via telephone at (212) 827-0976 or 917-777-777. Minors (under 18) traveling alone, with 1 parent or with 3rd party must present written authorization by the non-accompanying parent or legal guardian, specifically granting permission to travel. This must be notarized and authenticated by a Brazilian embassy or consulate and translated into Portuguese. Contact: Brazilian Embassy, 3009 Whitehaven St., NW, Washington, DC. 20008. (202)745-2828 for more info. Customs and tax: Duty Free Allowance - 400 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco or 25 cigars; 2 liters of alcohol; up to US$500 worth of goods bought duty free. Tourists may bring only 1 of each of following items - radio, tape deck, typewriter, film & camera. Meat & cheese products from various countries are prohibited.

GETTING AROUND: From the major cities there is a fairly extensive highway system although in some case the roads are not too well marked. If you are going to drive into the hinterland you should get a map in English, and don't let your fuel gauge drop below 1/2, just in case you get a little lost and need gas. There is a pretty well developed domestic air line service to most of the cities outside of Rio or Sao Paulo you would want to visit.

STAYING THERE: Brazil has a very well developed tourist infrastructure so there are a lot of hotels and resorts. It would not be a good idea to travel to Brazil without at least hotels in your main destination cites pre-reserved. The hotels on this site are selected because they do provide acceptable levels of tourist facilities for the foreign traveler and have a good reputation for service. While there are less expensive hotels that cater to local travelers many do not have the level of accommodation that a foreign traveler needs.

SECURITY AND CRIME PREVENTION: Brazil is like any place. When traveling don't go into places that look dangerous, because they probably are! Don't bring your gold Rolex , 3 carat diamond ring or carry a lot of cash or leave your luggage or valuable unattended in an insecure place. Of course crime against tourists is greater in areas surrounding hotels, discotheques, bars, nightclubs and other similar places that cater to visitors, especially at dusk and evening hours. Big cities have specialized tourist police units to protect tourists. Rio has proportionately high amount of crime against tourists (of course so does New York, Miami etc). Just say no!..penalties for possession, use and trafficking in illegal drugs is harsh. Offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines.

CURRENCY: Brazilian current currency is the Real where 1 RI = 100 centavos etc. All banks money exchange houses will change travelers checks and foreign currency. Generally, MasterCard, Amex, Diners and Visa are accepted. Traveler's checks are changed at hotels, banks and tourist agencies. Tourists can't exchange US$ checks for US currency. Sometimes travelers get a discount or better rate when paying a hotel or restaurant in foreign currency or travelers checks. Visa is the best card to carry for cash advances, finding an ATM that accepts your particular card can be difficult, though. The exchange rate is about 3 Reals to the US dollar and does not fluctuate very much.

TIME: In most of country, time zone GMT -3 hours. Those us not familiar with what Greenwich Mean Time is that makes it 2 two 3 hours later that the east coast of the USA on the average.

ELECTRICITY: This can vary by the city you are visiting, for example; Rio and Sao Paulo 110 volts AC, 60Hz, in Bahia (Salvador) and Manaus 127 volts AC, in Brasilia and Recife 220 volts AC, 60Hz. So ask at the hotel so you don't ruin your shaver or hairdryer. Most hotels do provide 110-volt & 220-volt outlets, but again, ask so you may avoid smoke and electrical sparks in your room!

Hotel, Airline and tour reservations are handled by Discover Brazil Tours a fully accredited travel provider, in conjunction with SAIH, Inc. , a United States company with offices in Miami Florida fax 305-382-9446, phone 305-382-9443. email reservations@brazils-hotels.com Mailing for Discover Brazil Tours is 9010 SW 137 Ave, #118, Miami, FL 33186. If you prefer to make your reservation direct or would like more information please call toll free 1-800-524-3666 from the USA, from other countries call 305-382-9443. The USA reservation center is open 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM East Coast Time, Mon/Fri.