By Aaron Luz · 25 years in tourism · Last reviewed October 2026
Everything I make every first-time client read before we plan a single day. Not the tourism-board version — the version I'd tell a friend.
By Aaron Luz · 25 years in tourism · Last reviewed October 2026
Requirements depend on your passport and change from time to time — always confirm on the official Brazilian government site or with your nearest consulate before booking flights. Many Western passports currently enter visa-free or via a simple e-visa; a few (including the US, at times) have gone through periods of requiring an e-visa. Don't rely on a blog post from two years ago — check the current rule for your specific passport a few weeks before you fly.
Brazil runs on Pix (instant bank transfer) for locals, but as a tourist, your international card works almost everywhere in cities — restaurants, hotels, ride-shares. Carry some cash (reais) for small vendors, beach kiosks, and tips. Withdraw from bank-branded ATMs (Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itaú) inside a mall or bank branch, not standalone street ATMs, and never at night.
Get an eSIM before you land (Airalo and Holafly both cover Brazil) so you have maps and translation working the moment you land — don't wait to find a SIM shop at the airport. Wifi is generally reliable in hotels and cafés in every city on this site's guides.
Brazil is not uniformly dangerous, and it's not uniformly safe — it depends entirely on which street you're on, at what time, and how you're carrying yourself. The pattern I see cause problems is always the same: tourists in the wrong neighborhood after dark, phone out, looking lost. Avoid that combination and the numbers change completely in your favor. Each destination guide on this site has a specific safety section for that city — read it before you go, not after something happens.
"Will I be robbed?" — Possible anywhere in the world; unlikely if you avoid isolated areas at night and don't display expensive items on the street.
"Is the water safe?" — Drink bottled or filtered water in most cities; tap water is treated but travelers' stomachs often react regardless.
"Do I need vaccines?" The CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination for travelers going to many areas of Brazil, including the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and their coastal islands. A recommendation is not the same as an entry requirement, and the right answer depends on your route and your health. Check the current CDC page for Brazil and talk to a travel health clinic a few weeks before you go. Last reviewed: October 2026.
— Aaron
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