Expert: Ken Rapoza Cruz - 12/19/2007

Question
Hi,  

My name is Ian and my Fiance Rosana, me and my 9 year old daughter are traveling to Brazil Feb 29 through Mar 16 2008.  I was hoping you could give us some expert advice on what to see and do and how to travel within Brazil.  We plan on flying into Sao Paulo renting a car and staying there for 3 days then driving to Rio for another 3-4 days, we need some advice on what else to do and see while we are there.  We don't have lots of money to spend, but enjoy nightlife, the outdoors, the beach, food and music.  Can you help us plan our itinerary and give us tips on what we need to watch out for and what we need to do for advance preparation?

Thanks for your help,

Ian

Answer
It is the holidays and I dont have a lot of free time, but I can tell you a few things.

First, your money wont go very far here. The Brazilian currency is very strong. $1 = about R$1.75.

Sao Paulo city...some great places to see if I were you would include a dinner at the Edificio Italia restaurant on Av. Ipiranga, at night. Great view of this mammoth city and its very New Yorkish...piano bar...very kitsch.  Dinner for three will cost you about $150 though.  The Ibirapuera Park is nice, but nothing compared to Central Park so I surely wouldnt call it a must see.

Now if you're going to spend any additional time in the state of Sao Paulo, Id go to some of the beaches along the Sao Paulo coast, like Sao Sebastiao, Maresias, stop over in Paraty on teh Rio border and stay there. Then of course you MUST do Rio de Janeiro. IF you are in Brazil, RIO is a must.

Now, in Rio, you dont want to look like a millionaire..so...

Dont wear expensive watches or jewelry.
Dont wear socks with sandals, youll look like a tourist.
Dont carry more than R$100 in your wallet.
NEver carry dollars.
When at the beach and one of the cabana boys offers you a chair for say, R$5, buy it. That cabana will guard your goods and it will be much safer for you.
My advice would be to get a hotel in Ipanema that has its own cabana, whereas you dont have to worry about your belongings if you run into the sea.

It will be hot in Feb and March, bring sunscreen.

You will need tourist visas.  They will cost you about $90 each and the wait could take you as long as two months, so you better hop on this asap if you havent already.

Good luck.

Boa Viagem.

Ken