Latin America - Brazil - Country Information

If travelling is your passion, then Brazil is your destination. With its breath-taking natural beauty, such as the Iguassu Falls, one of the highlights in South America; or the mighty Amazon forest, biologically the richest and most diverse region in the world, Brazil is a country like no other. Experience the exciting nightlife, sun kissed beaches and spectacular scenery of Rio de janerio and make your trip truly unforgettable.

Key Facts
Full Country Name	República Federativa do Brasil
Area	8.51 million sq km
Population	175 million
Capital	Brasília
Time Difference	Brazil West is 4 Hours Behind GMT Brazil East is 3 Hours Behind GMT
Visa	A visa is not required
Currency	Real
People	55% European descent, 38% mulatto, 6% African descent, 1% other. (In reality, these figures are skewed by whiteness being equated with social stature in Brazil.)
Language	Portuguese
Dialling Code	00 55
Electricity	110/220V 60 Hz

Visas:

A visa is not required

Health risks:

Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Polio, TB, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever

When to Go:

Situated on a narrow alluvial strip between the mountains and the Atlantic, Rio de Janeiro is one of the healthiest cities in the tropics due to the trade winds, which cool the air. In summer (December to February), Rio is hot and humid, with temperatures in the high 30°C (80°F); the rest of the year, temperatures usually hover around 25°C (77°F). Throughout the tropics, rain is always a possibility; this usually takes the form of brief, heavy downpours in the afternoon. The Amazon is hot and humid all year round, with temperatures averaging at a reasonable 27°C (80°F). The Pantanal, a huge lowland plain of 77,220 square miles in Mato Grosso State has a semi-humid tropical climate.  At Iguassu Falls, on the Iguassu River near the border with Paraguay and Argentina, it is hot (around 27°C) and humid throughout the year. However, unlike most other South American countries, Brazil does not include any part of the Andes Mountains, so no area of the country has permanent snowfields.