Brazil’s weather makes it an ideal, year-around vacation
spot. Still, remember, in southern areas like Rio, the weather gets extremely
humid in the summer (December-February) and seriously rainy in the winter and
fall (August-December). Usually, however, the tropical rains of Brazil will not
hinder any travel plans.
During the summer
many Brazilians are on vacation, making travel more difficult and expensive.
School holidays begin in mid-December and go through to Carnaval, usually held
in late February. Still, a little advanced planning should help you be able to
make the trip whatever time of year is best for you.
Also, stay
attentive to ticket prices. A little research can help you dramatically lower
the cost of round-trip plane fare to Brazil. Prices can reach over $1,000 for
tickets, but they can be had for around $600 by the astute traveler.
The Prerequisites
If you are looking to go to
Brazil for the first time, be prepared to get prepared. Obviously, a passport
is needed. A visa is also necessary for most nationalities, including the U.S.
and Canada. To get a visa, one needs to go to the nearest Brazilian Consulate. If
that is not possible, there are proxies available who can go the consulate for
you, as well as Internet companies that can help.
The cost of a visa is $100
(which is subject to change). If you use a proxy or other service, expect to
pay more. The visa is good for five years, though it must be used within 90
days and can only be used for trips of no longer than 90 consecutive days.
Remember, you will need a flight
schedule before the visa will be given to you (it normally takes three days to
a week for your visa to be approved. The visa itself will just be a stamp in
your passport.
If you treat the
workers at the consulate politely, you should have no trouble getting your visa when you need it,
and then, you are ready to go.