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General Information



Tourism Agency


The official tourism agency of the XXVII IAU General Assembly is Blumar Incoming Tour Operator & DMC. Some information like hotel location and reservation, transfers, general information about Rio de Janeiro city and Brazil, is being prepared by Blumar for the XXVII th IAU General Assembly.

Brazilian Tourism Ministry


The Brazilian Tourism Ministry keeps a frequently updated site in 8 languages (Portuguese from Brazil and from Portugal, Spanish, American and British English, French, German and Italian) with touristic information overall in Brazil.

Some words and facts about Brazil


You are in one surprise after the other, no matter what your opinion is about Brazil's tourism attraction, you will be surprised.

There is no sense in trying to define it. Brazil is much more than a mixture of races, cultures, climates, colors and landscapes that don't fit into a tourism guide. It is a world of mysteries that worlds can't define but luckily for you can be revealed live and in color region by region. All you need to do is travel.

Brazil in the world

Brazil's figures are impressive: its population is just over 180 million inhabitants; it has a territory covering more than 8.5 million km2, a 7,367-km coastline, and 5,658 municipal districts.

Although 92% of Brazilian territory is located in an inter-tropical zone and warm weather predominates (with average temperatures above 20o C), the country also sees occasional snow and has semi-arid regions.

Democracy and Respect for Differences

Brazil is undergoing changes. We are one of the biggest democracies in the world, with more than 115 million voters.

The fairly heterogeneous Brazilian population is made up of native Indians and Afro-descendants (we have the second biggest black population in the world) as well as descendants of European, Asian and Arab origin.

All religions can be found in Brazil, too. They coexist without any kind of conflict or discord. Religious sentiment is a personal, individual affair. What is collective and public is the notion that all citizens, Brazilians and foreigners alike, are entitled to profess and practice their beliefs in Brazil.

Diversity renders Brazilian culture one of the richest in the world

Brazil is renowned worldwide for the creativity of its people. This is apparent in Brazilian music, in contemporary dance, in film, painting, literature, in the country's futuristic architecture and design.

It can equally be seen in complicated samba dance steps, in the production of handicrafts, in sophisticated, colorful indigenous artifacts, and in street markets.

The creativity is complemented by a wealth of cultural expressions. Characterized by diversity and acceptance, Brazil has staked out its place on the international circuit of major cultural events.

The country offers a wide variety of cultural events, museums, art galleries and international exhibitions

Lifestyle and Gastronomy

We know differences do not have to be conflicting. Quite the contrary, in Brazil they are cause for celebration. In fact, there is one particularly significant trait that expresses Brazilian identity to perfection: the countless popular feasts.

Brazilians love celebrations. It is an integral part of the national character to celebrate, party, and bring friends together for any reason.

In fact, even a simple roadside meal can be a festival of flavors. Brazil has a huge variety of fruit, vegetables, meat, flavors, sauces, seasonings and spices, so the dishes could only be unique!

There is a bit of everything: regional specialties, dishes for different seasons of the year, some based on religious traditions, others that came with the immigrants and were adapted to the new country.

The most popular dish is called feijoada, always served piping hot. It was created by the African slaves from the leftovers of the Portuguese masters' meals. It goes with both the national spirit, cachaça, or the drink made from it, caipirinha, blended with sugar and fresh lemon - and other tropical fruits - another very Brazilian creation.

Biodiversity

The Pantanal marshland is the biggest floodplain in the world.

The Amazon is the biggest tropical rainforest in the world with the greatest biodiversity on Earth, comprising 34 different ecosystems. A single hectare of forest may have up to 300 types of trees. One in every five plant species in the world grows in the Amazon Rainforest. Some estimates reckon there are more than 10 million living species in the Amazon, but the actual number is incalculable.

The Amazon River has more than 1,000 tributaries.

Brazil has 53 National Parks. As much as 8.13% of its territory is protected in the form of conservation units.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro delights people with its scenery, hospitality and infectious cheerfulness. The "wonderful city" - famous all over the world for its beautiful beaches, curvaceous geography and way of life of its people - welcomes visitors with open arms and offers an infinitive number of attractions throughout the year.


Beautiful nature with the biggest urban forest in the world, 2 bays, lagoons, 90 Km of beaches and mountains. One of the cultural capitals of Brazil - museums, cultural centres, historical buildings, musical events, movies, theatres. Great choice of restaurants, shopping malls, tourist sights.

Tours in Rio

There are many sightseeing options in Rio de Janeiro.



Corcovado Mountain: by car or by electric tram through the Atlantic rainforest the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking an outstanding sight of the whole city.


Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar): a trip on a cable car to the peak of the hill. The view is spectacular. Other options include the Botanical Garden, the historic heart of Rio, museums and galleries, Santa Teresa with artists studios, old houses and a trolley car, the Lagoa and beaches with their kiosks and live music.

Surroundings

There is a variety of choices in neighboring cities: Buzios with paradisiac beaches, guest houses with rustic decoration and a sophisticated nightlife; Angra dos Reis, surrounded by 365 islands; Paraty, a national heritage for its colonial architecture; Teresópolis, Friburgo and Petrópolis with its cool mountain climate and historical Palace, now an Imperial Museum.

Useful Information

Visas and Passports - An entry visa is not required for holders of passports from European or South American countries. As a matter of reciprocity, a visa is required for those from the United States. Tourist visas can be renewed for a period of 180 days per year. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the planned date of arrival in Brazil. Visit our page with more Visa information.

Voltage - In the majority of Brazilian cities the electric current is either 110 or 220 volts, although it is advisable to confirm the voltage before plugging in any appliances.

Car rentals - Rental cars, with or without a driver, are available for tourists at the main airports and in city centres.

Taxis - There are large fleets of taxis in most cities. Regular taxis, with a meter, can be hailed in the street. Radio-taxis can be called by phone. They have air-conditioning, and are more expensive.

Tipping - Most restaurants and bars include a 10% service charge in the bill. It is usual to leave a little more if the service was good. When it is not included in the bill, the general rule is a tip of between 10% and 15%. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped.

Currency - The currency in Brazil is the Real (abbreviated to R$). Dollars and traveller's cheques can easily be exchanged at hotels, authorised banks and travel agencies. International credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants. On average, tourists can consider an exchange rate of around USD 1 = R$ 1.85 (by September, 2007).

Transport - The bus is the most popular form of transport for travelling between states. For air travel, the main national airlines cover most domestic flights. There are also regional airlines, offering high levels of comfort and safety.

Communications - Any part of the world can be reached in real time by phone, fax or e-mail. The Brazilian cell phone market is the second largest in the world, with 650 thousand new lines sold every month.

Language - Portuguese is the national language, but the Portuguese spoken in Brazil is quite different, in accent and intonation, from the language spoken in Portugal. English and Spanish are widely spoken by hotel staff.

Time Zones - Brazil covers four time zones. The time in Brasilia (the capital city) is the official time in Brazil, three hours behind GMT (London) for most of the year.


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National Organizing Committee - NOC
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