Climate
90 per cent of Brazil lies within the tropical zone, with temperatures ranging from 18-40°C. In the temperate far south it can snow in winter, but in the Amazon temperatures rarely drop below 23°C.
South of the equator most of the rain falls in the form of tropical showers in the summer between December and April, although Rio can be subjected to days at a time of drizzle in the winter.
The north of the country, principally the Amazon, enjoys a drier season from June to September.
Below are two graphs showing average 24-hour temperature and rainfall for Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia in the northeast, Manaus in the Amazon rainforest and London for comparison.
Average 24-hour Temperature (in oC)
Average Rainfall (in mm)
Festivals & Holidays
Carnival, which falls in the five days before Ash Wednesday, is celebrated in most Brazilian towns and cities as a mass street-based event. It is dominated by the samba beat, extravagant costumes and non-stop drinking and dancing.
The most famous carnivals are those of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Olinda in the north.
Reveillon, or New Year's Eve, is another excuse for a party with fireworks and rituals, that of Rio being the most spectacular. Elsewhere, there are festivals celebrating wine, beer and even livestock.
Currency
The local currency is the real. Current exchange rates are available via Google currency conversion or the OANDA currency converter. It's not advisable to try to acquire Latin American currency before travelling, if a currency is available in high street banks or exchange outlets the exchange rate is usually very poor. You can change US dollar cash or travellers checks locally and obtain cash advances via ATMs in most towns and cities. We’d advise that you tell your bank you intend to use your card abroad before you set off.
Visas
British citizens can find up-to-date information on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Citizens of other countries should consult their embassy before travel.
Vaccinations
We recommend that you always check with your own travel clinic or health professional before you travel, for advice specific to your requirements. The NHS Fit For Travel website contains for up-to-date health advice and lists the common vaccinations for travellers to Brazil.
A valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travel to many parts of Brazil. Vaccination must take place at least 10 days prior to the date of entry to Brazil for the certificate to become valid. Proof of vaccination against polio is necessary for children entering Brazil aged between three months and six years. For more details of official vaccination requirements, please refer to the website of the Brazilian Embassy. More details here.