BrazilCome celebrate life!

in association with TAP Portugal

Brazil

Brazil: Contents

BrazilCome celebrate life!

Published byTravelPlus Media

Published by:TravelPlus Media Limitedon behalf of TAP Portugal

Publisher: Simon Avenel-WardSub Editor: Christine JennerGraphic Designer: David JennerPrinted by: Esquire Print Ltd

Special Thanks:The Brazilian Tourist BoardTourist Boards/Departments of the Regions

Design and Production:TravelPlus Media LimitedPO Box 1121Yalding MaidstoneKent ME18 6WUUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0) 1892 730678www.travelplus.co.uk

© TravelPlus Media Limited 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any

means electronic, photographic or otherwise without the prior

permission of TravelPlus Media Limited and/or TAP Portugal.

Photos are used with the permission from the respective owners

and/or copyright holders or are royalty free. Due to the large

number of images used and the equally large quantity of

photographers and resources it is impossible to credit each

photo individually.

Come celebrate life!

Brazil

4

12

8 10

1714

20 22 23

2624 25

Brazil

Salvador

Recife

Rio de Janeiro

NatalFortaleza

Brasília Belo Horizonte

Porto Alegre

InsightWorld Cup Olympic Games

São Paulo

18

WITH AN AREA OF 8.5

million sq kilometres

(3.3 million sq miles)

and a coastline of almost 7,500 km

(4,500 miles), Brazil is the world’s

fifth largest nation in terms of

area. It is larger than all of Europe

combined or the continental

USA, and 35 times larger in area

than the United Kingdom. Brazil

currently has a population of over

190 million, making it the world’s

fifth most populous nation.

There are 18 metropolitan areas in

Brazil with a population of over one

million, of which São Paulo is the

largest with 20.5 million residents

and Rio de Janeiro second with

11.3 million. In short, Brazil is

simply too big to ignore. Due to

its size and population it should

come as no surprise that Brazil

has more than one international

gateway; what may surprise you

is that it is the national carrier of

Portugal, TAP Portugal, that flies

internationally to more cities in

Brazil than any other international

carrier. Currently TAP Portugal

serves São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro,

Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Salvador,

Recife, Porto Alegre, Natal and

Fortaleza from Portugal. Brazil has

a very efficient and sophisticated

domestic airline system that

services these gateway airports

so you can get anywhere in Brazil

quickly and comfortably by air.

Brazil is a fantastic and diverse

destination for both business and

pleasure. For business it is one

Brazil

4

of the world’s largest economies

and markets, both of which are

only likely to grow and develop

in the future. Brazil is home to

the world’s third largest stock

exchange; it is one of the world’s

top eight agricultural producers; it

has the largest healthcare market

in Latin America; Embraer S.A. is

the world’s third largest com-

mercial airline manufacturer;

Brazilians are the largest con-

sumers of luxury products in

Latin America; the country is

the seventh largest producer of

vehicles in the world and 45% of all

energy consumed in Brazil comes

from renewable sources. This

country is not just about business

and commerce however...

Braz

il

Brazil is one of the world’s great

playgrounds and there are

options to suit just about every

taste and budget. It offers modern

cosmopolitan cities, many of

which have their own beach life,

as well as tiny out-of-the-way

villages that have rarely seen a

foreign visitor.

The natural wonders of Brazil are

unrivalled. It is home to over 60%

of the Amazon Rainforest, which

is responsible for generating over

half the planet’s oxygen while

the Amazon River, over 6,760

kilometres (4,200 miles) in length,

pours enough fresh water into the

Atlantic on a daily basis to supply

the entire water needs of the UK

for over two years.

The Amazon is responsible for

a tenth of the world’s 10 million

living species and 30 per cent

of all known plant and animal

species but the planet’s greatest

diversity of bird and wildlife

6

is contained in the Pantanal

Conservation Area, while the

crystal clear waters of the rivers

around Bonito are home to an

astounding 263 species of fish.

The main attraction of the south,

and one of the world’s great natural

wonders, are the waterfalls at Foz

do Iguaçu on the Argentine border.

Five times larger than Niagara the

275 individual falls stretch nearly

3 kilometres (1.8 miles) across

the Iguaçu River. The main fall,

the Devil’s Throat, is the largest

waterfall in the world in terms of

volume of water per second.

Also in the south there are the

great cities of Porto Alegre,

Florianópolis, and Curitiba,

the exceptional beaches of

Santa Catarina and the majestic

highlands of Rio Grande do Sul.

The country currently boasts 17

UNESCO World Heritage Sites as

well as the iconic Rio attractions of

the statue of Christ the Redeemer

and Ipanema and Copacabana

beaches. To these you can add

Carnival, samba, the Brazilian

football team, and perhaps,

most importantly, the Brazilian

people themselves who always

offer a genuinely warm wel-

come to any visitor. Brazil has

many, many highlights just waiting

to be discovered. So what’s

stopping you?

Braz

il

AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN

as Cidade Maravilhosa

“Marvellous City” Rio de

Janeiro does not disappoint.

Whatever your expectations Rio

is more beautiful, breath-taking

and vibrant than any words or

photos can describe. As a major

city Rio de Janeiro has all you

might expect and more. Excellent

restaurants, sophisticated night

clubs, charming bars, musical

extravaganzas, theatres, movie

houses, museums, art galleries,

fashionable stores and world class

sport. As a tropical resort, Rio

offers mile after mile of golden

beaches, near perfect weather the

year round, hotels to appeal to

just about every taste and budget,

folklore, a vibrant music scene and

delicious local cuisine.

In addition, there are the

natural attractions of the city

that have made Rio famous

and celebrated throughout the

world. The mountains and sea

that surround it that have given

this, the world’s largest tropical

city, its unique beauty and it

is these same topographical

features that have dictated how

the city has spread along the

coast and inland since first being

discovered by Europeans in the

early 16th century.

From the summit the of

Corcovado mountain in the

Tijuca Forest National Park the

statue of Christ the Redeemer

looks over the city, Sugar Loaf

mountain and Guanabara bay.

This area of water is so large that

the first explorers assumed it had

to be the mouth of a great river

and called it River of January

or... Rio de Janeiro. Copacabana

and Ipanema may be the best

known of the city’s beaches but

Rio: Rio de Janeiro

8

Rio can boast fifty miles of beach

shoreline. São Conrado beach is

great for surfing and hiking on

the nearby trails while Barra da

Tijuca beach is the longest in the

city and is less crowded; and you

can enjoy the beautiful natural

surroundings of Abrico beach in

the nude if you wish.

Rio is famous for football (soccer)

and the big matches are still

played at the Maracanã Stadium

(as the Estádio Jornalista Mário

Filho is better known), which was

opened for the 1950 FIFA World

Cup and could then handle

crowds in excess of 200,000.

Nearly 60 years on the stadium

is still one of the largest in the

world hosting concerts and other

sporting events and is expected

to host matches during the 2014

FIFA World Cup including the

Final, as well as the opening and

closing ceremonies of the 2016

Summer Olympics.

Rio is one of the most musical cities

in the world. It is the birthplace of

both samba and bossa nova and

and its musicians remain at the

forefront of Brazilian musical trends.

The city’s carnival is also the world’s

biggest and most famous, while

the celebrations on Copacabana

Beach to see in the New Year are

some of the most spectacular,

and not to be missed. Don’t

take our word for it, go and see

for yourself.

9

THE CITY AND STATE OF

São Paulo go to prove that

at times size really does

matter. São Paulo is the largest

city in South America and the

fourth largest urban area in the

world. With a population of 11

million the city is the largest in the

southern hemisphere, while the

metropolitan area’s population of

close to 20 million puts it on a par

with New York and not far behind

the entire population of Australia.

In terms of layout São Paulo has

more in common with Los Angeles

than New York, in that rather than

having one dominating centre

such as Manhattan, it is a sprawling

metropolis with many different

centres of activity. In total, it covers

an area five times that of Paris.

São Paulo is notorious for its traffic

congestion so visitors arriving on

business should check the venues

of their meetings in advance and

book a hotel accordingly to avoid

frustrating hours stuck in traffic.

Happily São Paulo offers the best

and most diverse selection of

hotels in South America with all

the major brands represented and

spread across the metropolis.

If São Paulo is not the actual capital

of Brazil, it is certainly the business

heart of the country and of South

America housing the headquarters

of many major corporations. The

economy of the state of São Paulo

alone is larger than the economy

of any South American country,

so when the business leaders of

São Paulo talk, the region listens

and it is no wonder that the city is

considered an Alpha World City.

The paulistanos (sometimes known

as paulistas) as the residents of

the city are called, are known for

working hard, but also for playing

hard. They know their city does

not have the beauty and charm

of neighbouring Rio, but that is

São Paulo: São Paulo

10

not going to stop them using

their leisure hours to the full,

especially at night. São Paulo’s

nightlife caters for every taste

and budget, as well as every age

group and sexual persuasion.

Bars and clubs abound and the

city is a haven for clubbers, yet

also offers world-class opera and

ballet. On almost any given night

it will be possible to catch leading

international acts and major

Brazilian artistes performing in

the city.

The nightlife of São Paulo is

unrivalled in Latin America and

the same can be said for the

shopping. Shoppers can choose

between traditional shops,

modern shopping centres such as

Iguatemi, Morumbi and Cidade

Jardim, or exclusive boutiques,

the most famous of which are

found in and around Rua Oscar

Freire, the city’s Rodeo Drive.

São Paulo is a truly world class,

cosmopolitan city and prides itself

on its gastronomic excellence,

offering not only the best of

Brazilian cuisine, especially the

churrascarias (or steak houses)

and barbecues, but also a truly

eclectic mix of restaurants serving

dishes from the four corners of

the globe. The city also boasts

world-class museums, art gall-

eries, monuments and parks. Its

sporting credentials include the

Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit at

Interlagos, the São Silvestre Road

Race and, of course, football. The

city will host football matches

during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

11

THE FIRST EUROPEAN

ships landed in Brazil

in April 1500 at Porto

Seguro in the south of Bahia and

commander Pedro Àlvares Cabral

claimed the land for Portugal.

In 1549 the city of Salvador

was founded on the triangular

peninsula that separates the Baia

de Todos os Santos (Bay of All

Saints) from the Atlantic Ocean. It

is one of the oldest cities in Brazil

and the New World and was the

first colonial capital of Brazil, a

position it held until succeeded

by Rio de Janeiro 1763. For many

years Salvador was the most

important seaport in the southern

hemisphere and a major centre

for the sugar industry and the

slave trade. It was through the

slave trade that the links between

Africa developed as almost five

million West African slaves arrived

and Salvador is now the centre of

Afro-Brazilian culture in Brazil.

Estimates suggest that over

80% of the current population of

Salvador has some trace of Black

African ancestry. It is no surprise,

therefore, that African influences

can be found in the region’s

cuisine, music, dance, dress, arts

and crafts, and even religion. From

Olodum to capoeira, Candomblé

to the typical dress of the Baianas,

the African cultural legacy is there

to be discovered, explored and

appreciated.

The historical centre of Salvador

still contains a wealth of Baroque

colonial architecture dating from

the 17th to the 19th centuries.

At its heart is the Pelourinho

where colonial mansions and

churches have been restored to

their former glory. The entire area

is a UNESCO World Heritage

Site. The week long Carnival in

Salvador rivals the one in Rio for

sheer exuberance and numbers

of participants.

Salvador, like Rio, is a major tourist

attraction in its own right, as well

Salvador: Bahia

12

as being an important centre

of trade. It is the fifth largest

metropolitan area in Brazil, with

a population of 3.6 million, and

the ninth most populous city in

Latin America.

The state of Bahia, which is the

size of France, is a popular holiday

destination for all Brazilians

and a growing number of inter-

national visitors. Bahia’s coastline

stretches over 1,100 kilometres

(685 miles), most of which are

magnificent, untouched beaches

lined by swaying palm trees.

Accommodation is in picturesque

pousadas and inns, or modern

international resort properties.

Popular destinations along the

coast to the south of Salvador

include Porto Seguro, Arraial

d’Ajuda, Trancoso, Itacaré,

Itaparica and Morro de São Paulo.

To the north is Praia do Forte and

Costa do Sauípe.

No less spectacular are the

national parks of the interior of the

state, most notably the Chapada

Diamantina. Created in 1985 it

offers innumerable trails through

spectacular unspoilt scenery. The

Cachoeira da Fumeça at 380m is

the highest waterfall in Brazil: so

high that the water vapourizes

and therefore never hits the

ground. The village of Lençóis,

400 kilometres (250 miles) inland

from Salvador, is considered the

best base for visitors interested

in exploring the natural beauty of

the Chapada Diamantina.

13

FORTALEZA, IN THE NORTH

east, is the seventh most

populous metropolitan area

in Brazil with nearly 3.4 million

inhabitants, making it slightly

larger than metropolitan Curitiba,

and just smaller than Recife.

With an extensive coastline of

over 570 kilometres (350 miles)

of mostly-unspoilt sandy beaches

and near perfect weather all year

round (it is less than 4º south of

the equator), the state of Ceará,

and especially the coastal region

close to Fortaleza, has been a

popular holiday destination for

Brazilians for a number of years.

Fortaleza is the closest of the

major Brazilian cities to Europe,

and flight time between Lisbon

and Fortaleza is around seven

hours: only slightly longer than

the journey between Fortaleza

and Porto Alegre in the south of

the country; this illustrates of the

sheer size of Brazil.

Fortaleza has the nightlife and

infrastructure you might come

to expect from a major holiday

destination, the Monday night

party at Bar do Pirata (on Iracema

beach), being famous or infamous

in its own right for over two

decades. Bars reataurants and

accommodation are plentiful

at the main beaches. Iracema

is lively with a slightly boho

vibe, Meireles beach is popular

with locals and tourists alike; at

Mucuripe you can see jangadas

(traditional fishing boats) and

Futuro beach is regarded as the

best for swimming and surfing.

Further down the coast is Porto

das Dunas, a spectacular beach

and home to what is considered

to be Brazil’s best water park and

the largest aquatic park in South

America. Fortaleza will be a host

city for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Other popular destinations in

Ceará are Canoa Quebrada and

Jericoacoara. Canoa Quebrada is

located 182 kilometres (113 miles)

east of Fortaleza and was once a

sleepy fishing village, but is now

better known for its bohemian

lifestyle and laidback bar and

restaurant scene. Buggy tours are

a popular option and take visitors

along the relatively deserted

beaches to giant dunes backed

by red sandstone cliffs.

Fortaleza: Ceara

14

A trip to Jericoacoara is an

adventure in its own right as the

isolated village is not accessible

by normal vehicles, at least not

the final 23 kilometres which is

across the dunes. It is located over

300 kilometres (186 miles) west

of Fortaleza and is basically five

streets lined by simple houses.

Many visitors are charmed by

the idyllic setting and stay much

longer than intended. There

is accommodation to suit all

budgets from simple pousadas

to boutique hotels. Sitting on the

northern tip of the Ceará coast,

visitors to Jericoacoara can see

both the sun rise and set across

the sea. Untouched beaches, sand

dunes, and freshwater lagoons

surround Jericoacoara. It can also

be one of the windiest spots on

the entire Brazilian coast making it

a mecca for wind and kite surfers.

15

Fly with TAP Portugal from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester via Lisbon with convenient connections to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasilia, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza and in conjunction with our partner Airlines, onward flights to all other major Brazilian domestic airports.

With TAP Portugal you can explore the pristine beaches of the north-eastern coastline, uncover the natural wonders of the Iguaçu Falls, feel the vibrant pulse of Brazil’s iconic cities and discover extraordinary wildlife in the rainforest of the Amazon and the wetlands of the Pantanal.

THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF BRAZIL

NATAL IS KNOWN AS THE

City of the Sun and is a

major tourist destination

on the northeastern tip of Brazil

but is relatively unknown to most

Europeans. Unlike Salvador and

Recife, Natal was never a major

business or trading centre, and

the sandy soil kept it from being a

producer of sugarcane.

There is no historic centre to speak

of, although one city landmark is

the well-preserved Forte dos Reis

Magos, a five-pointed fort that

dates back to 1598 and the birth

of the city.

Tourists head for Natal for its sun,

sea and sand. The centre of Natal’s

tourist trade is Ponta Negra

beach, where the majority of the

best hotels are located. Visitors

looking for something less built up

will head south to the small fishing

village of Tibaú do Sul which

offers high-end accommodation

and wild beaches, many of them

backed by sea cliffs. Another

popular spot is Praia da Pipa,

well known for surfing and its

restaurants and nightlife, while

Baia Formosa is best known for its

dolphins. No visit to Natal would

be complete without a visit to

the magnificent sand dunes

located a short distance to the

north at Genipabu.

Hire a buggy and driver and set

off on a drive and an experience

that you are unlikely to forget in

a hurry. You can ask the driver to

take you on a ride “com” or “sem

emoção”. That means “with”

or “without emotion”. This will

dictate the height of the sand

dunes the driver will negotiate in

the buggy as well as the speed.

Accidents are few and far

between, and the drivers are

extremely skilful. During the trip

through the dunes you can stop

and take a ride on a camel or learn

to sand-board down the dunes.

Natal: Rio Grande do Norte

17

RECIFE IS THE PORTUGUESE

word for “reef” and it is the

reefs that sit off the coast

of Pernambuco that have helped

make the beaches of the state

so special and sought after: the

reefs helping to break up the

waves rolling in from the Southern

Atlantic Ocean. This includes the

beaches of Recife itself, including

the popular Praia de Boa Viagem.

Recife, the state capital, is not

only a tourist destination but also

an important port and industrial

zone. It is also Brazil’s second

most important centre of medical

excellence with over 400 state-of-

the-art hospitals and clinics.

Recife and neghbouring Olinda

boast a fine collection of colonial

buildings and churches dating

from the 16th and 17th century.

Olinda, one of Brazil’s best-

preserved colonial centres, is

recognised by UNESCO as a

World Heritage Site and its

carnival celebrations, along with

those of Recife, are amongst

Brazil’s most popular and are

driven by the region’s signature

frevo beat.

Like Salvador, Recife grew and

was influenced by its mix of

Portuguese settlers, Amerindians

and the black African slaves. The

city also reflects the influence of

the Dutch settlers who invaded

and controlled Recife and Olinda

from 1630 to 1654. It housed

Brazil’s first Jewish community

and the first synagogue in the

Americas was founded in the

city close to the main docks. It

is still open to visitors. When the

Portuguese and Amerindians

fought back and retook the

city, many of the Dutch Jewish

settlers fled north to set up New

Amsterdam, a city that is better

known today as New York.

The beaches in and around

Porto de Galinhas, a resort

south of Recife, are outstanding

with the added attraction of

being able to visit the reef in

front of the village and swim

Recife: Pernambuco

18

in natural tidal pools teeming

with exotic tropical fish. The

beach has been voted ‘Best

Brazilian Beach’ by a Brazilian

tourism magazine no less than

eight times. The village itself

has terrific character and charm

that is reflected in its bars and

restaurants. Accommodation

ranges from international low-

rise five star resorts to delightful

pousadas and inns.

Other popular areas along the

coast of Pernambuco include

Tamandaré, Itamaracá and, for

surfers, Maracaípe. Inland, the

city of Caruaru is famous for its

traditional handicrafts and Nova

Jerusalém hosts the famous

Paxião de Cristo (Passion Play)

each Easter.

One of Pernambuco’s most

popular destinations is located

354 kilometres (220 miles) off the

coast in the Atlantic Ocean. It is

a 21-island unspoilt archipelago

known as Fernando de

Noronha. The main island is only

10 kilometres long and 3.5 wide

(6 miles by 2) and has a population

of around 3,000. As well as its

outstanding beaches and laidback

lifestyle, Fernando de Noronha

offers the best diving in Brazil.

The diversity of marine life, high

density of dolphins and concerns

for the protection of endangered

species led UNESCO to declare

the islands a World Heritage Site

in 2001.

19

BRASÍLIA IS A PURPOSE

built capital city constructed

in the heart of Brazil for a

country of the future. Today the

city is a UNESCO World Heritage

Site and famous for its daring,

original modernist architecture

and innovative urban planning.

It was Brazil’s 21st president

Juscelino Kubitschek that gave

the go ahead to start construction

as soon as he took office in 1956

and on 22 April 1960 he was able

to inaugurate the city as Brazil’s

new capital. The diplomatic

and political communities had

to transfer from Rio de Janeiro

to Brasília and that gave the

opportunity for many countries to

build state-of-the-art embassies

that reflected the spirit of their

countries. If you view Brasília’s

unique layout as an aeroplane,

the principal government and

public buildings are to be found

in the ‘fuselage’, while the ‘wings’

contain the residential areas along

with a great many of the city’s

bars, restaurants and hotels.

Running through the ‘fuselage’

is the ‘Monumental Axis’ (Eixo

Monumental), which is lined by

the most important government

buildings including the huge

Palácio do Itamaraty that houses

Brazil’s foreign ministry.

The nose of the fuselage is home

to the Houses of Parliament

(Congresso Nacional) and the

office of the president (Palácio

do Planalto). Outstanding

architectural features include

the Congresso Nacional (one of

architect Oscar Niemeyer’s most

famous creations) that consists of

two 28-story-high towers flanked

by the futuristic dome of the

Senate and the ‘saucer’ of the

Chamber of Deputies. Another

Niemeyer masterpiece is the

Metropolitan Cathedral designed

Brasília: Federal District

20

to resemble a crown of thorns.

You can arrange guided tours

of the Congresso Nacional, the

Palácio do Planalto and Palácio

do Itamaraty through good

travel operators and it’s also

possible to watch parliamentary

debates from the public gallery.

The city’s distinctive pyramid-

shaped National Theatre (Teatro

Nacional) is also a very striking

building. Its auditoriums are used

for a wide range of cultural events,

including concerts by Brasília’s

own symphony orchestra. Due to

Brasília’s strategic location, it is

relatively easy for people touring

Brazil to visit, if only for a 24-hour

stop over. Located in the heart

of Brazil, Brasília has excellent

flight connections to Rio and São

Paulo as well as the key cities in

the Northeast.

Flights between Rio, São Paulo

and Manaus (the gateway to the

Amazon) often stop in Brasília.

There are also frequent flights

to Cuiaba, one of the gateways

to the Pantanal, while close by

is the spectacular Chapada dos

Veadeiros National Park.

Brasília is also an important

economic centre because of its

administrative function but other

important industries include

construction and food processing

as well as publishing, printing, and

computer software.

Due to the working nature of

Brasília, visitors will often find

that hotel rates are considerably

cheaper at weekends.

Brasília is a major centre of

spiritualism with many mystical

communities located on the

outskirts of the city and in the

neighbouring state of Goiás.

21

MINAS GERAIS IS ONE

of Brazil’s best-kept

international secrets,

but possibly not for long. Perhaps

being a landlocked state and the

fact that it sits in the shadow of

São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro has

led to it being overlooked.

The state capital, Belo Horizonte,

is a vibrant and modern city with

a lively night scene of bars and

restaurants, especially in the

Savassi and Funcionários districts.

Rua da Bahia, in the city centre, is

also a good place to party with the

locals. Belo, as it is often referred

to, is the third largest city in Brazil.

It is a planned city, laid out in a

grid system, making the centre

easy to get around on foot or by

public transport. The area of the

city known as Pampulha is often

regarded as the early blueprint

for Brasília and the driving force in

the 1940s for its development was

the city’s then mayor, Juscelino

Kubitschek, who became the

country’s president in 1956 and

made the building of the new

capital a priority.

Many of the architects and

landscapers that Kubitschek used

in Pampulha, would go on to work

on Brasília, most notably Oscar

Niemeyer and Roberto Burle

Marx. Pampulha, and Belo in

general, have many outstanding

examples of Niemeyer’s

architectural genius. Pampulha is

also home to the Mineirão, one of

Brazil’s largest football stadiums,

which will be totally refurbished, if

not rebuilt, to host games during

the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Belo Horizonte is just the gateway

to the real treasures of Minas

Gerais. The state has many historic

and colonial towns that sprung

up in the 17th century after the

discovery of gold and precious

stones. Many of the towns have

changed little architecturally

since being first built, so it is no

surprise that a number of them

such as Ouro Preto, Congonhas

and Diamantina are now UNESCO

World Heritage Sites while São

João del Rei, Tiradentes and

Mariana are also of historic

interest. Visitors to these charming

historical towns can stay in a

variety of picturesque pousadas,

inns and lodges in this area.

Belo Horizonte: Minas Gerais

22

THIS SOPHISTICATED AND

prosperous city is at the

centre of the fourth largest

metropolitan area in Brazil and one

of the top cultural, political and

economic centres of the country.

Porto Alegre is the capital of the

state of Rio Grande do Sul and lies

where the delta of five rivers form

the Guaíba Lake at the northern

end of a large freshwater lagoon

known as Lago dos Patos (Lagoon

of the Ducks). The many islands

on the lake form an archipelago

where a unique ecosystem gives

shelter to abundant wildlife.

The city has many parks including

Parque Farroupilha, which, at

37 hectares (91 acres) is the largest

green space within the city and

is a favourite with locals and visitors

but there is also an extensive

Botanical Gardens housing import-

ant scientific and conservation

facilities as well as a museum and

zoo. There are a number of well-

preserved neoclassical buildings to

discover including the Cathedral

Metropolitana.

There is a vibrant arts and music

scene in Porto Alegre and

nightlife to suit everyone. Small,

informal bars with live music

are numerous but there is also

a fashionable and upscale club

scene in the wealthy Moinhos

de Vento area. The Usina do

Gasômetro, a converted 1920s

power station on the banks of the

river has an arts centre as well as

a cafe and a good bookshop.

Within the state of Rio Grande do

Sul in the Serra Gaúcha you will

find the largest wine-producing

centre in Brazil founded by Italian

immigrants in the 1870s. Why not

follow the Rota da Uva e o Vinho

tourist trail and taste the wines

for yourself?

Porto Alegre: Rio Grande do Sul

23

THE 20th FIFA WORLD CUP

will be held in Brazil

between 12 June and 13

July 2014. This is the second time

Brazil has hosted the tournament,

the first being in 1950. It is the

first time two consecutive World

Cups have been held outside

Europe. Brazil has won the tour-

nament a record five times (in

1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002)

and the country has produced

some of the best football players

in the history of the beautiful

game. Of course there will be

fanatical home support but the

Brazil team occupies a special

place in the hearts of millions of

football fans worldwide and they

are often named as supporters’

second favourites after their

own national team! There will be

12 host cities: Rio de Janeiro, São

Paulo, Manaus, Belo Horizonte,

Natal, Fortaleza, Curitiba,

Salvador, Brasilia, Cuiabà, Recife

and Porto Alegre. Each host city

is the capital of its state and all

the main regions of Brazil are

represented to ensure that as

many Brazilians as possible get

the opportunity to attend and to

spread the financial and economic

benefits. The opening ceremony

and first match involving the

Brazilian team will be held at the

newly constructed Arena de São

Paulo (or Corinthians Stadium) in

São Paulo and the final match will

be at the world famous Maracanã

Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian government and

other partners are investing not

only in the construction of new

stadia and the renovation of others,

but in developing the transport

and tourism infrastructure. Around

600,000 visitors are expected

with the hope that when they

see all Brazil has to offer they will

want to return. The tourist board

is launching new advertising

initiatives to show the world all

Brazil’s splendours both natural

and man-made and to encourage

visitors to all regions of the country.

FIFA World Cup: 2014

24

THE IOC ANNOUNCED

in October 2009 that

the Games of the XXXI

Olympiad would be held in Rio

de Janeiro from 5 to 21 August

2016 with the XV Paralympic

Games following from 7 to 18

September. During the Games

representatives of 205 nations

will compete in 28 sports in over

30 competition venues in the

city. The Paralympic Games will

involve more than 4,200 athletes

competing in 22 sports. It is the

first time the Olympics have been

held in South America and Rio’s

intention is that the organisation

and infrastructure will be in

place for the Games through

the upgrading and extending

of existing stadia as well as the

provision of new facilities.

Rio, as the most visited city in the

southern hemisphere, already has

an extensive road, rail and metro

network that will be enhanced

by the extension of Metro Line

1 and provision of new stations

and improved traffic flow through

the creation of new transport

corridors. More than 100,000

people will be involved in the

organisation of the Games, of

which 70,000 will be volunteers.

The breath-taking natural surround-

ings of Rio complement its cultural

and recreational facilities and all

are enhanced by the joie de vivre

that inspires the cariocas (those

born in Rio) and those lucky

enough to visit the city.

On 12 August 2012, at the

2012 Summer Olympics closing

ceremony, Mayor Eduardo Paes

received the Olympic Flag, via

Jacques Rogge, President of the

IOC from London’s Mayor Boris

Johnson and Rio officially became

the Olympic City.

The motto of Rio 2016 is ‘Viva sua

paixão’ or ‘Live your Passion’ and

this extraordinary city invites you

to the biggest party on the planet.

Olympic Games: 2016

25

ACCOMMODATIONBrazil offers an excellent selection of

accommodation to suit every taste and

pocket. Large cities have a wide range

of hotels that include everything from

the budget brands, deluxe international

properties, to privately owned boutique

properties and even youth hostels. Tourist

areas offer the option of large, sophisticated,

all-inclusive resort properties belonging

to internationally known brands, Brazilian

chain hotels, as well as small, privately

owned establishments, the pousadas, that

may only have two or three rooms and be either

very simple and rustic or super sophisticated.

International brands operating in Brazil

include Golden Tulip, Grand Hyatt, Hilton,

Iberostar, Ibis, Inter-Continental, Marriott,

Mercure, Novotel, Orient-Express, Pestana,

Sofitel, Sol Meliá, Starwood and Superclubs,

while Brazilian hoteliers include Atlântica,

Blue Tree, Fasano, Othon, Transamérica,

Tropical and Windsor. Price in Brazil is the

best indication to the degree of comfort you

can expect, the facilities that go with it, and

the location.

AIRPORTSMost international flights land at the main

airports of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

where there are connecting flights to most

other major Brazilian cities. Rio and São

Paulo have their main international airports,

as well as smaller airports closer to the city

centre which are used for the air-shuttle

between the two cities and a number of other

short regional services. Rio’s airports are

Galeão (GIG) for international and domestic,

and Santos Dumont (SDU) for the shuttle;

while São Paulo’s are Guarulhos (GRU) for

international and domestic, Congonhas

(CGH) for the shuttle. TAP Portugal is unusual

in that it offers direct flights from Lisbon not

only to São Paulo and Rio but also to Belo

Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife

and Salvador.

CLIMATE90% of Brazil is within the tropics, but

more than 60% of the population live in

areas where altitude, sea winds, or polar

fronts moderate the temperature. Plateau

cities such as São Paulo, Brasília and Belo

Horizonte have milder climates averaging

19°C (66°F). Rio, Recife, Natal and Salvador

on the coast have a warmer climate that

is balanced by the Trade Winds. Rio, for

example, has an average temperature of

around 26°C (80°F) that climbs into the

low 40s (around 100°F) during the summer. In

the southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre

and Curitiba, the climate is similar to parts

of Europe, with frosts occurring in the winter

months (July – August). Summers are hot. In

Brazil the seasons are the reverse of those in

Europe and the US: Spring: 22 September to

21 December Summer: 22 December to

21 March Autumn: 22 March to 21 June

Winter: 22 June to 21 September.

CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATIONAt immigration non-Brazilians will have their

passport, visa (if required) and any other

immigration formalities checked. Like most

airports, the airports in Brazil have separate

lines for national passport holders and

foreign visitors. Foreign passport holders

should make sure they get their passports

stamped. Visitors who miss getting the stamp

will have to get clearance from the Federal

Police to leave the country.

DRESSBrazilians, even in the major cities, dress casually

outside the office. None of the top restaurants

insist on collar and tie, although the occasional

club does. Collar and tie still predominate in

formal office and business surroundings in São

Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília.

Brazil: Insight

26

DRINKThe legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages

in Brazil is 18. Brazil produces or imports most

of the major international brands. Brazilian

beer is a light lager that is served in draught

form (chopp) or bottled. The national drink

is cachaça, made from crushed sugar cane,

which is the basis of the popular caipirinha.

Soft drinks are equally popular including

Brazil’s own Guaraná. Brazil is, of course, the

world’s largest coffee producer.

LANGUAGEThe language of Brazil is Portuguese. Spanish

and English are the most widely understood

foreign languages.

MONEY, BANKS & CREDIT CARDSThe Brazilian monetary unit is the real,

(plural, reais). There are 100 centavos (C)

to the real (R$). The official exchange rate

is published daily in the newspapers. The

US dollar and increasingly the Euro are the

most widely accepted foreign currencies.

In the main cities there is little problem in

changing other currencies, such as pounds.

There is also an extensive network of ATMs

at which visitors can use their cash or

credit cards to withdraw reais. Most major

international credit cards are accepted

in Brazil. The most widely accepted are

MasterCard and Visa. The majority of the

major banks are Brazilian, but many foreign

banks have an agreement with one or more

of the major players.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYSAs well as the national public holidays listed,

individual states and cities also have their

own separate holidays. National Holidays:

1 January (New Year’s Day); February/March

(Carnival); Good Friday; 21 April (Tiradentes);

1 May (Labour Day); Corpus Christi;

7 September (Independence Day);

12 October (Our Lady of Aparecida);

2 November (All Souls Day); 15 November

(Proclamation of the Republic); 25 December

(Christmas Day).

RESTAURANTSEating out is one of the many joys of visiting

Brazil. Brazilians enjoy their food and eating

out is often the main focus of the evening.

Brazil offers a huge diversity of culinary

delights and influences including a wide

variety of regional culinary styles, most

notably those of Bahia and Minas Gerais.

There is a clear influence in the cuisine of

Brazil of its early discoverers, the Portuguese.

Other visitors have also left their mark,

including the French, Spanish and Dutch.

The West African slaves also had an impact,

especially on the cuisine of the northeast.

More recent immigrants have also had a say

on how Brazil eats, especially those from Italy,

Germany and Japan.

SAFETY & SECURITYBrazil, including the main cities of Rio,

Salvador and São Paulo, is no more

dangerous than anywhere in Europe or

North America and violent crimes against

tourists are rare, hence the headlines if they

do happen. Brazil is politically stable with no

natural enemies and no terrorist activities.

Being sensible and streetwise is the key to a

trouble-free and enjoyable stay.

TIMEThe time in the areas of Brazil most popular

with foreign visitors is generally three hours

behind Greenwich Mean Time. This is true

of Rio, São Paulo, Brasília, Bahia, Minas

Gerais. Brazilian “summer time” runs from

October until mid-February. During this

period, clocks in Brazil go forward one hour

in most of the southeast. If in doubt check:

www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

TIPPINGMost hotels add a service charge to the bill,

usually 10%. Most restaurants also add 10% or

more to the total of the bill, but must make it

clear that they have done so as they are not

meant to. Brazilians don’t normally tip taxi

drivers, although they may round the total up.

27