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The FIVE BEST Web Sites to Visit Before Heading to Brazil...Oct 25 '04 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line If you're reading this review, you have web access. Here are the *5 BEST* web sites to visit if you're thinking of visiting Brazil! Brazil is a huge country and it has as many sites worth seeing as there are travelers itching for a memorable vacation. No matter Green-minded eco-travelers will find many of the world's best jungles, rivers, mountains, and wetlands somewhere in the millions of square miles of Brazilian backcountry: who doesn't view a trip down the Amazon as the world's greatest eco site? About the only folks who don't think the Amazon is number one are the folks who think Brazil's Pantanal region is an even more phenomenal work of nature. Yep, green-minded travelers definitely want to do Brazil. Cosmopolitan, sophisticated jet-setters will, of course, gravitate towards places like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. After all, Sao Paulo is one of the world's biggest cities (if not THE biggest), and Rio is one of the world's liveliest (if not THE liveliest). Urban adventurers definitely want to do Brazil. Beach bums head to Brazil by the score. After all, with thousands of miles of coastline, and hundreds of islands all along the coast, Brazil's geography just has got to attract sun and sand lovers. It helps that Brazil is well south of the infamous "hurricane zone" and doesn't usually get severe storms. The only question is which beach do you head to?? Eggheads too would do very well to consider a Brazilian vacation. After all, there's a ton of fascinating places with great stories behind them throughout Brazil. Do some intellectual digging, if not actual archaelogical digging. Anthropologists continue to marvel and wonder at the indigenous tribes that continue to inhabit the more remote areas of Brazil's dense jungle interior. History buffs find lots to peak their curiosity, especially if they head to some of the old colonial era cities --- like Ouro Preto, with its almost 500 year old colonial past, or Salvador with its rich tapestry of cultural influences and deep African flavor. As if depth and substance weren't enough, Brazil is also a very affordable destination where, outside of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, you can easily find 4- and 5-star hotels for as little as US$30 per night, and decent, clean, safe lodgings for as little as $5 per night. Beers cost as little as 30 cents in most bars, and even in downtown Rio on the Copacabana, they're only 60 cents. A meal usually runs about $4 (when you see a lunch or dinner menu with a price of R20 (US$7) or higher, always ask if its for two people --- it usually is. The airfare to get to Brazil can be expensive, but once you're there, prices are cheap! I guarantee you, you can travel WELL in Brazil for LESS than you pay to travel cheap to a Disney "resort". Real McCoy cheap and good, or fake thrills expensive and mediocre. Your choice... But don't just take my word for it. Go click around on the web for a while and see for yourself what kinds of adventures you can have by taking a trip down to Brazil. That's just what I did before I went, and here are the sites that I thought were the BEST starting points... ***** Embratur www.embratur.gov.br This is the top dog of "official" government-run tourism web sites. It is operated by the Ministry of Tourism. The best thing it has going for it is its breadth --- this is a site that gives good coverage to every region of the country. Great overview information and I appreciate that there is not a single ad on the site. Lots of beef, but no bull. ***** Brazil Tourism www.braziltourism.org This is also an "official" site, but its run by the tourism office of the Brazilian Embassy in the U.S. I like the site's attractive, professional design and easy usability. The best starting point is the "Destinations" link which takes you to an outstanding list of deeper, region-specific sites. Once you know where you want to go, these deeper sites are the places to explore! (Great list of tour operators too, in case you're more comfortable with a guided tour than with tromping around on your own.) ***** Brazil Max www.brazilmax.com Calls itself "The Hip Gringo's Guide to Brazil". Pretty good summary because it is gringo-oriented, and it is most certainly hip. These guys have done their homework and they have some excellent depth and cultural perspective. If you're the sophisticated, intelligent type of traveler who likes going places with cultural significance, then this is an excellent site for you to check out. The articles are well-written and with enough depth to really give you some useful insight. ***** Brazil Nuts www.brazilnuts.com Yes, it is a commercial site that wants you to book tours, but it still has a lot of useful info and is worth exploring even if you have no interest in booking a trip through these folks. I thought their "Destination" pages presented a lot of info with a good level of both breadth and depth, and their links to "Flat Rentals" would be very useful for anyone thinking of spending more than a week or so in one place (sure would be cheaper and more fun to rent an apartment and live like a local than to live out of a suitcase in a hotel, don't you think?) ***** Gringoes.com www.gringoes.com This is more of an ex-pat kind of site than it is a real tourism site, though there is some very good info (mostly well chosen "short and sweet" overviews) for travelers under that Travel Info tab. For the most part though, I used this site to prowl around and get an idea of the culture, the sports, the business climate, and things like that. Good place to start looking for soccer scores and weather forecasts. And Of Course... It should also go without saying that you always prowl the usual travel info sites like www.who.int for health information and travel.state.gov for any updated crime reports or travel advisories (the Brazil information is on travel.state.gov/travel/brazil.html). Also, do visit the Brazilian embassy page or your closest Brazilian consulate because most folks reading this will need a visa. Here are a couple things to note: Visas: Mandatory for visitors from many countries, especially from the U.S. There are NO "airport visas" in Brazil --- if you don't have a visa issued by a Brazilian embassy or consulate, you will be immediately expelled from the country at your own expense and neither the U.S. embassy nor your airline will be able to help you. For American citizens, a visa costs $100 for 5 years (they are free to citizens of many countries --- the price and the amount of hassle you have to endure just depends on how badly your own country screws with Brazilians. The U.S. government treats Brazilians badly as a matter of official policy, so U.S. citizens pay the most and have to endure the most red tape). Welcome to the world of "turnabout is fair play". Vaccines: None are required to enter Brazil if you're coming from the U.S. or Canada, but you'd be an idiot to not get Yellow Fever, Typhoid, and Hepatitis (A and B) if you're headed into the back country (especially if you're going into the Amazon area). Malaria should be a concern for you too. If you're only going to Rio or Sao Paulo, you may need none of these, but the Hep A and B vaccines are smart for everywhere in Latin America. As always, go to www.who.int or www.cdc.gov to get official info, or consult a doctor who specializes in tropical illness or travel medicine. Departure Tax: Yes, the government does charge a $36 tax (R100), but most U.S. carriers build it into the ticket price and charge you when you buy your airfare. Other carriers may not, and if you bought your ticket through some discount sources it may not be pre-included. If not, you'll have to pay it in cash at the airport before you can board your flight home. Bottom Line... Brazil is an awesome place to visit. One of the most incredibly diverse countries on Earth. Everyone should experience its magic at least once in their lifetimes. This list points to a few of the better, more comprehenive web sites to whet your appetite for an unforgettable Brazilian adventure. Until next time, see you on the road. As always, look for me in the cheap seats.  |
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by artemis8
by knotheadusc
