A BRIEF HISTORY

The Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered Brazil in 1500.   He  first sat foot on Brazilian soil in  Bahia on  the  beach  today  called  Cabrália  near   Porto Seguro.   From  then  on,  various  export  cycles  has  dominated  Brazil's  economic development and consequently  cultural  development.

The First of these cycles was based on the exportation of Brazil-wood, used to make dyes and paints. During the 17th century, Brazil became the world's largest  producer of sugar.  In this period, a large number  of  African slaves  were  brought  to  Brazil to work in the sugar cane plantations.  Gold and diamonds eventually replaced sugar as the country's major export product.  By the second half of the 19th century,  Brazil was deep into a new cycle with  coffee  as  the  major  export.  Today,  coffee is still one of Brazil's major sources of income.  The  late  19th-century  rubber  boom  also brought prosperity   and   development  to  the   north  of  Brazil,    previously   ignored  by  the international economy.

When  Napoleon  invaded  Portugal  in  the  early  1800's,    Dom  João  VI,    King  of Portugal, fled to Brazil where the Portuguese court continued to run the empire. Ports were  opened  to  international   (mostly British)  commerce,    and   the  colony  grew substantially.   In  1789,  one  of   Brazil's  first  movements   for   independence   from Portugal  was  crushed.  Its  hero,   Tiradentes,  became  a  national symbol of liberty. Independence was finally proclaimed by Dom Pedro I (Dom João's son) in 1822.  He became Brazil's first Emperor. His son, Dom Pedro II, reigned for 49 years until 1899 when  the  country  becomes  a  Republic.  In 1888,  slavery  was  abolished.

In 1940 Brazil  began  a  new  phase characterized by industrial development.  At the same time, agricultural technology advances  giving further  impetus  to  the industrial surge and accelerating financial expansion.   In  spite  of  a  large  and  ever  growing internal  domestic  market,  Brazil continues  to  be  a  major  exporter  of  agricultural products as well as manufactured items such as heavy  machinery,  shoes  and  steel products. 

 

PEOPLE
Brazil's inhabitants are descendants of a mixture of people. Portuguese colonizers mixed with the native Indians and African slaves (mostly of Yoruba and Quimbundu origin, corresponding to modern-day Nigeria / Benin and Angola). Dutch and French colonization also took place in the Northeast.  In the 19th century, waves of German, Italian, Polish and Japanese immigrants added new elements to the mixture. Brazilians are perhaps one of the most racially mixed people in the world.

 

LANGUAGE
Portuguese is the national language, but Brazilian Portuguese is very different in accent and intonation from the language spoken in Portugal or in other former Portuguese colonies. Some people suggest that Brazilians actually speak "Brazilian" much in the same way that Americans might be said to speak "American" rather than English.

 

RELIGION
Catholicism is Brazil's largest religion, but a number of faiths are practiced in Brazil.  Protestants, Jews, Evangelical Christians and spiritualist religions of African origin like Macumba, Candomblé and Umbanda are all present in Brazil.

 

CLIMATE
Climate varies according to latitude and altitude. Seasons are the exact reverse of those in the U.S. and Europe (except in the North of Brazil - North of Equator!). The average yearly temperatures are about 82?F in the North and 68?F in the South.

 

OFFICIAL CURRENCY
  Real ( R$).

 

POPULATION
Brazil has about 156 million inhabitants made up predominately of the white, black and native Indian races. The population is mostly concentrated along the coast, mainly in the southeastern region, where the two largest metropolises, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located.

 

GOVERNMENT
Brazil is a Federal Republic divided into 26 states with the Federal District of Brasilia, it’s capital.

 

THE REGIONS
  North  - The Amazon is the world's largest biological reserve. The right place for ecological adventures and unique opportunities at the outer frontier of our civilization.
Northeast  - Is a yearlong continuous summer with a very agreeable climate and with the continent's most beautiful beaches, and a strong "easy going" popular culture.
  Midwest  - Here, one will find the stark contrast of newborn and the    timeless. On one hand, Brasilia, the nation’s Capital. On the other hand the   Pantanal of Mato Grosso, a virtual ecological sanctuary. 
  Southeast  - Brazil's urban face is in this area; Rio, São Paulo, the largest metropolis in Latin America and the state of Minas Gerais with its architecture of the past.
  South  - This part of the country presents a decidedly European     atmosphere. South was colonized mainly by German, Italian and Polish    immigrants. Here are also one of the world’s largest waterfalls: Iguassu Falls.

 

TAXIS
Taxis are plentiful in most cities throughout Brazil.  Regular, metered taxis can be hailed on the street. They are generally of one color. Ex. in Rio; Yellow with a blue stripe. A Taximeter is used. Two different fare rates dominate through out the country. Rate I, day-rate from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm and the night rate (higher) for the remaining time. Radio-dispatched taxis are larger and air conditioned, but more expensive. These are found at airports and hotels or can be summoned by phone.

 

TIPS
Taxi-drivers in Brazil do not normally receive tips from Brazilians, who generally only rounds the fare up to nearest round figure. A 10% tip will be very gratefully accepted at restaurants, though most restaurants today include the tip in the bill. An additional 5% does magic if one plans to return to the same restaurant.

 

MAIL
National and international postal services are operated by the National Post Office (EBCT).  (One of the best in the world!). Post offices are open Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon.

 

TELEPHONES
There are telephone booths throughout the cities and suburbs. Telephone cards available at almost any newsstand.

 

WATER SUPPLY
Water is suitable for human consumption in most cities. There are many brands of bottled mineral waters.

 

BUSINESS HOURS
Most shops in Brazil are open from 9 am - 6:30 or 7 pm, weekdays, and from 9 am - 1 pm on Saturdays.  Some shops may close earlier, and many shopping centers stay open as late as 10 pm.  Banks open from 10 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday, in most parts of the country with small regional variations. In some regions, shops may also close for lunch.

 

ELECTRICAL CURRENT
In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the current is an almost exclusively 110 or 120 volt, 60 cycles, AC.  Salvador and Manaus have 127-volt service.  Recife, Brasilia and a number of other cities have 220-volt service. Most hotels provide 110-volt and 220-volt outlets.

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A visa is required for foreign citizens wishing to visit Brazil. Passports should be valid for six months from the intended date of arrival in Brazil. Tourist and transit visas are generally processed within two working days. They can be obtained through the nearest Brazilian consulate. One Passport-sized photograph along with a valid ticket and duly completed application form are required to apply for visa, valid for 90 days (tourist) or 10 days (transit). Brazil has agreement with a number of countries for which citizens receive a tourist visa upon arrival, smoothly and without any hassle. Brazil's policy on this matter is strictly reciprocally! If your country demands that Brazilians visiting your country have a visa, you can be sure, you need a visa to visit Brazil.

 

CUSTOMS
Besides clothing and personal effects, tourists entering Brazil may bring one of each of the following items: radio, tape player, typewriter, movie and still cameras, Tourists are allowed to buy for up to US$ 500 of merchandise in the local duty free shops.

 

TIME 
In most of the country, the time is three hours earlier than Greenwich (London) Mean Time. This changes during the summer when daylight savings time goes into effect (clocks move forward one hour). The time in Rio is two hours later than New York except when daylight savings time is in effect in either country.

 

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 
January 1 - New Year's Day 
February (variable date) - Carnival (Mardi Gras)
March/April (variable date) - Good Friday
March/April (variable date) Easter
April 21 - Tiradentes Day 
May 1 - Labor Day
June (variable date) - Corpus Christi
September 7 - Independence Day
October 12 - Our Lady Of Aparecida Day
November 2 - All Souls’ Day 
November 15 - Proclamation of the Republic
December 25 - Christmas

 

CARNIVAL DATES
During Carnival, most hotels in Rio de Janeiro and in Salvador require a minimum stay of 5/7 nights.  The beach resort hotels, where many Brazilians take a full week's holiday, tend to require a minimum stay of 9/10 nights.  Usually, special rates are charged.  The dates of Carnival until the year 2002 are shown below:

2000    Mar 04 - Mar 08

2001    Feb 24 - Feb 28

2002    Feb 09 - Feb 13

CAR RENTAL 
Chauffeur driven or self-service rental cars are available at all major airports and in most large cities.  Look under "auto locadoras" or "locadoras de automóveis" in the phone book for Hertz, Avis, National, Localiza, Unidas, Nobre, lnterlocadora, etc.  An international driver's license is required for foreigners.

 

SHOPPING
Shops are generally open Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 am through 7:00 pm and - Saturdays from 9:00 am through 1:00 pm.  Many Shopping Centers are open until 10:00 pm.

 

BANKING
Banks are open Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 am through 4:00 pm.