Visitor Information

Visitor Information--The Brazilian national tourism agency, Embratur, has a good site at www.embratur.gov.br. The agency also has representatives overseas:

In the U.S.: 6 W. 44th St., Suite 1401, New York, NY 10036 (tel. 212/997-3360; fax 212/997-3363; e-mail: ebt_usa@verizon.net).

In the U.K.: 18 Greyhound Rd., London, W6.8NX (tel. 20 7385 9975; e-mail: tourism.office@ebt-londres.com.br).

The Brazilian Embassy in the U.K. has an outstanding website including links to all the state and many city tourism websites: www.brazil.org.uk.

Other Brazilian embassies abroad also provide good tourist information:

In the U.S.: 3006 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/238-2700; fax 202/238-2827; www.brasilemb.org).

In Canada: 450 Wilbrod St., Ottawa, ON K1N 6M8 (tel. 613/237-1090; fax 613/237-6144; www.brasembottawa.org).

In the United Kingdom: 32 Green St., London W1K 7AT (tel. 020/7399-9000; fax 020/7399-9100; www.brazil.org.uk).

In Australia: 19 Forster Crescent, Yarralumla, Canberra ACT 2600 (tel. 02/6273-2372; fax 02/6273-2375; www.brazil.org.au).

In New Zealand: 10 Brandon St., Level 9, PO Box 5432, Wellington 6001 (tel. 04/473-3516; fax 04/473-3517; www.brazil.org.nz).

Eco-Tourism--The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines eco-tourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." You can find eco-friendly travel tips, statistics, and touring companies and associations -- listed by destination under "Travel Choice" -- at the TIES website, www.ecotourism.org. Ecotravel.com is part online magazine and part eco-directory that lets you search for touring companies in several categories (water-based, land-based, spiritually oriented, and so on). Also check out Conservation International (www.conservation.org) -- which, with National Geographic Traveler, annually presents World Legacy Awards (www.wlaward.org) to those travel tour operators, businesses, organizations, and places that have made a significant contribution to sustainable tourism.

At the moment, eco-tourism is very trendy in Brazil. Unfortunately, many of Brazil's "eco-tourism" operators offer nothing that even comes close to the ideals of eco-tourism. Often, Brazilians will label any tourism that takes place in nature as "eco-tourism," without any concern for preservation, sustainable local development, and so forth. Whenever possible, we have tried to highlight companies that practice real eco-tourism. This often means that they cost more than some of the other operators but we believe that your experience will be better and that the payoff for the environment and the community will be worth it as well.

What to Bring to Brazil--A few items are so expensive in Brazil that you should stock up before coming -- film and other camera supplies, for one. Brazilian batteries are not only expensive, but they also seem to last only half as long as American varieties. Most toiletries can be purchased at reasonable prices at farmacias (drugstores). Contact lens wearers should bring enough solution to last their trips, as lens fluid is insanely expensive (US$13 for a travel-size bottle).

What shouldn't you pack? Clothes and shoes in Brazil are inexpensive and of good quality; pack light and pick up some local fashions after you arrive. Bring a swimsuit for the first day, but then buy a Brazilian one. Generally speaking, summer (Nov-Mar) is hot everywhere. Jeans and heavy cotton T-shirts are too thick. Bring a light rain jacket and one light long-sleeved shirt to guard against overeager air-conditioning.