The Guide of Travel Experts

The guide of travel experts
World Cup Brazil 2014

by Glaucia Perry

Pick your city and enjoy the hottest places in Brazil!
Find the best tips and advice from a well-travelled
native-born Brazilian.

The guide of travel experts by Glaucia
Perry

An objective and simple guide for a tourist to make the most of their
World Cup visit to Brazil. This guide specializes in the following:

Discover the delicious flavors from different regions of Brazil. Find
good places to drink and relax. Discover the Brazilian nightlife.

Explore the tourist centers of each city safely. In this guide you
will find addresses of hospitals, stadiums, recommended hotels ($ -
up to $ 150, up $ $ $ 250 $ $ $ - more than $ 350 per night), malls,
consulates, and international airports of the twelve host cities of
the World Cup World.

Includes mini LGBT guide to every city hostess, table timetable, and local
games.

Buy a map and note the information presented in the guide.

Economical and very useful.

Updated in March 2014.

Thank you for choosing this guide and enjoy the World Cup in Brazil!

Dedicated to my beloved husband Vincent.

About Brazil ............................................................................................................... 20
The host cities of the World Cup Brazil 2014 ............................................................... 22
Recommendations before your travel .................................................................... 22
Special Notes of Consideration: ................................................................................. 24
When you arrive in Brazil: ........................................................................................... 26
Medical Assistance: ........................................................................................................... 26
Disease still common to the region: .......................................................................... 26
Safety in Brazil: ................................................................................................................. 29
The Violence in Brazil ...................................................................................................... 29
Important words in Portuguese: ............................................................................... 30
Maintain Contact: ............................................................................................................. 31
Brazilian Currency: ......................................................................................................... 32
Real Money vs Fake bank-notes: ................................................................................. 32
Be careful while you use the ATM: ............................................................................. 35
General emergency numbers for lost or stolen credit cards: ......................... 35
Welcome to Belo Horizonte ....................................................................................... 36
How to get to Belo Horizonte: .................................................................................... 38
By bus ...................................................................................................................................... 38
By plane .................................................................................................................................. 38
Places to Visit in Pampulha: ........................................................................................ 38
.................................................................................................................................................... 41
Shopping in Belo Horizonte: ....................................................................................... 41
Where to eat in Belo Horizonte? ............................................................................... 43
Where drink in Belo Horizonte? ................................................................................ 45
Nightclubs: ............................................................................................................................ 47
Where sleep in Belo Horizonte? ................................................................................ 49
Hospitals .............................................................................................................................. 52
Public hospitals: ................................................................................................................. 52
Private hospitals: ............................................................................................................... 52
Drug stores- Phones: ........................................................................................................ 53
Free rescue and ambulance service ........................................................................... 53
Stay safe ............................................................................................................................... 53
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ......................................................................................... 55
Consulates ........................................................................................................................... 56

Mineiro Stadium or Minas Arena............................................................................ 61
Stadium Address: ............................................................................................................... 61
Welcome to Braslia ................................................................................................... 63
How to get to Braslia: ................................................................................................... 64
By plane .................................................................................................................................. 64
By bus ...................................................................................................................................... 65
By car....................................................................................................................................... 65
Getting Around in Brasilia: .......................................................................................... 66
By bus ...................................................................................................................................... 66
By taxi ..................................................................................................................................... 66
By Subway ............................................................................................................................. 66
By Car ...................................................................................................................................... 67
What to see in Brasilia? ................................................................................................. 69
Brasilias Cathedral .......................................................................................................... 69
Museums, art galleries and theaters: ...................................................................... 73
Wonderful places to tour and sports: ..................................................................... 75
Sporting Activities: ............................................................................................................ 75
Water Sports: ....................................................................................................................... 75
Shopping: ............................................................................................................................ 76
Where to eat in Braslia? .............................................................................................. 78
The Best Bars in Brasilia: ............................................................................................. 82
Where to sleep in Brasilia? .......................................................................................... 84
Hospitals:............................................................................................................................. 85
Free rescue and ambulance service: ......................................................................... 85
Public Hospital: ................................................................................................................... 85
Private Hospital: ................................................................................................................ 85
Contact By phone ............................................................................................................... 85
Be Safe: ................................................................................................................................. 86
Useful Phone Numbers: ................................................................................................ 87
Consulates: ......................................................................................................................... 88
Some beautiful places around Brasilia ................................................................... 90
Man Garrincha Stadium .............................................................................................. 91
Welcome to Cuiab .................................................................................................... 92
How to get to Cuiab: ..................................................................................................... 92

Museums and Parks: ...................................................................................................... 93
Shopping: ............................................................................................................................ 94
Where eat in Cuiab? ..................................................................................................... 95
Where to drink in Cuiab? ........................................................................................... 99
Where to sleep in Cuiab? ............................................................................................ 99
Beautiful places to see around Cuiab: ............................................................... 103
Preparing for Pantanal ............................................................................................... 105
Hospitals ........................................................................................................................... 106
Public Hospital: ................................................................................................................ 106
Private Hospital: ............................................................................................................. 106
Be safe in Cuiab ........................................................................................................... 107
Consulates: ...................................................................................................................... 108
Useful Phone Numbers ............................................................................................... 108
ARENA PANTANAL STADIUM ................................................................................. 109
Schedule: ............................................................................................................................. 109
Welcome to Curitiba ................................................................................................ 110
Curitiba ................................................................................................................................ 110
Visiting Curitiba: Frost on a July morning .......................................................... 110
How to get to Curitiba: ............................................................................................... 111
By bus ................................................................................................................................... 111
By plane ............................................................................................................................... 111
By train ................................................................................................................................ 112
By car.................................................................................................................................... 112
Getting Around in Curitiba: ...................................................................................... 113
What see in Curitiba? .................................................................................................. 114
Churches: ............................................................................................................................ 126
Parks: .................................................................................................................................... 127
Shopping: ......................................................................................................................... 136
Where eat in Curitiba? ................................................................................................ 137
Bars in Curitiba .............................................................................................................. 144
Address: ............................................................................................................................... 145
Where sleep in Curitiba? ........................................................................................... 146
Address: ............................................................................................................................... 146
Hospitals ........................................................................................................................... 148

Free rescue and ambulance service ........................................................................ 148
Public Hospital: ................................................................................................................ 148
Consulates ........................................................................................................................ 151
Joaquim Amrico Guimares ................................................................................ 154
Arena da Baixada Stadium ........................................................................................ 154
Welcome to Fortaleza .............................................................................................. 156
How to get to Fortaleza: ............................................................................................. 157
By Plane: ............................................................................................................................. 157
Traveling To/From the Airport: ............................................................................. 157
By Bus: ................................................................................................................................. 157
By Taxi: ................................................................................................................................ 158
Transportation around Fortaleza: ......................................................................... 159
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 159
By subway: ......................................................................................................................... 161
Most tourists will not go more than 5 blocks from the sea, except for the
airport and bus station, and perhaps a shopping mall. ................................ 161
By moto taxi: ..................................................................................................................... 161
Rental car: .......................................................................................................................... 162
By bicycle: ........................................................................................................................... 162
Places to see in Fortaleza: ......................................................................................... 163
Address: ............................................................................................................................... 167
Beaches in Fortaleza: .................................................................................................. 168
Urban beaches & Beach Worries: ............................................................................ 168
Iracema Beach: ................................................................................................................ 168
Sports & Outdoors .......................................................................................................... 172
Golf: ....................................................................................................................................... 174
Movie Teather (Cinema): ............................................................................................ 174
Festivals: ............................................................................................................................. 175
Learn Portuguese in Fortaleza:................................................................................ 175
Shopping ........................................................................................................................... 175
Malls ................................................................................................................................... 177
Where eat in Fortaleza? ............................................................................................. 177
Address: ............................................................................................................................... 179

Breakfast: ......................................................................................................................... 179
Where drink in Fortaleza? ........................................................................................ 180
Where sleep in Fortaleza? ......................................................................................... 184
Hostels: ................................................................................................................................ 184
Pousada Villa Marina: .................................................................................................... 185
Hospitals ........................................................................................................................... 187
Free rescue and ambulance service: ...................................................................... 187
Public Hospitals: .............................................................................................................. 188
Private Hospitals: ........................................................................................................... 188
Laundries ......................................................................................................................... 188
Be safe ................................................................................................................................ 189
Helpful tourist police "Delegacia do Turista": ................................................... 189
Good places to visit around Fortaleza ................................................................. 191
Consulates ........................................................................................................................ 192
USEFUL PHONES ........................................................................................................... 193
Visas or Stolen Passport ............................................................................................ 194
PLCIDO ADERALDO CASTELO (CASTELO STADIUM) ............................. 195
WELCOME TO MANAUS ........................................................................................... 196
How to get in Manaus? ............................................................................................... 197
By plane: ............................................................................................................................. 197
By boat: ............................................................................................................................... 198
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 198
Walking in Manaus ....................................................................................................... 199
Location: ............................................................................................................................. 199
Bus: ........................................................................................................................................ 201
Boat: ...................................................................................................................................... 201
Walking in Manaus ....................................................................................................... 203
See the boto! ................................................................................................................... 206
Where eat in Manaus? ................................................................................................ 209
Restaurants: .................................................................................................................... 210
Where drink in Manaus?............................................................................................ 213
Where sleep in Manaus? ............................................................................................ 215
Address: ............................................................................................................................... 217
Address: ............................................................................................................................... 217

Address: ............................................................................................................................... 217
Jungle Accommodation: ............................................................................................... 218
The weather in Manaus .............................................................................................. 220
Hospitals ........................................................................................................................... 220
Public Hospital: ................................................................................................................ 221
Be Safe ............................................................................................................................... 221
Contact .............................................................................................................................. 221
By phone: ............................................................................................................................ 221
Places to visit .................................................................................................................. 222
Consulates ........................................................................................................................ 223
Useful Phones ................................................................................................................. 224
VIVALDO (VIVALDO LIMA) OR ARENA AMAZNIA STADIUM .............. 225
WELCOME TO NATAL ............................................................................................... 226
The city has different areas: ...................................................................................... 227
How get around in Natal ............................................................................................ 228
By plane: ............................................................................................................................. 228
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 229
By car: .................................................................................................................................. 229
By buggy: ............................................................................................................................ 229
What see in Natal? ........................................................................................................ 230
Historic Center ............................................................................................................... 232
Beaches ............................................................................................................................. 236
Tips to enjoy Natal ....................................................................................................... 239
Shopping ........................................................................................................................... 241
WHERE EAT IN NATAL? ............................................................................................ 242
Where drink in Natal? ................................................................................................. 245
Where sleep in Natal? ................................................................................................. 247
Esmeralda Praia Hotel: .................................................................................................. 248
HOSPITALS ...................................................................................................................... 249
Public Hospital: ................................................................................................................ 249

Stay safe ............................................................................................................................ 250
CONSULATES .................................................................................................................. 251
Enjoy beautiful places around Natal..................................................................... 252
USEFUL PHONES ........................................................................................................... 256
By phone ............................................................................................................................. 256
ARENA DAS DUNAS OR DUNAS ARENA STADIUM ........................................ 257
WELCOME TO PORTO ALEGRE .................................................................................. 258
How get in Porto Alegre ............................................................................................. 259
By plane: ............................................................................................................................. 259
By train: ............................................................................................................................... 259
By car: .................................................................................................................................. 260
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 261
By boat: ............................................................................................................................... 261
Lotao:............................................................................................................................... 261
Taxis: .................................................................................................................................... 261
Walking: .............................................................................................................................. 262
Good places to visit in Porto Alegre ...................................................................... 263
Museums & Art .............................................................................................................. 264
Parks .................................................................................................................................. 265
Shopping ........................................................................................................................... 268
Shopping malls............................................................................................................... 268
Where eat in Porto Alegre?....................................................................................... 269
Address: ............................................................................................................................... 271
$$$ ......................................................................................................................................... 272
Where drink in Porto Alegre? .................................................................................. 274
Where sleep in Porto Alegre? .................................................................................. 277
Address: ............................................................................................................................... 279
Porto Alegre Airport: ...................................................................................................... 280
HOSPITAL ........................................................................................................................ 281
Public Hospital: ................................................................................................................ 281
Be Safe ............................................................................................................................... 282

Maintain Contact: ........................................................................................................... 286
BEIRA-RIO OR JOS PINHEIRO BORDA STADIUM ......................................... 287
WELCOME TO RECIFE ............................................................................................... 288
How to get in Recife? ................................................................................................... 290
By plane: ............................................................................................................................. 290
From the airport: ............................................................................................................ 290
By car: .................................................................................................................................. 290
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 291
By sea: .................................................................................................................................. 291
Getting around in Recife ............................................................................................ 292
By taxi: ................................................................................................................................. 292
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 292
By subway: ......................................................................................................................... 292
Where to walk in Recife? ........................................................................................... 293
Beaches: .............................................................................................................................. 293
Churches: .......................................................................................................................... 294
Take pictures: ................................................................................................................. 297
Museums .......................................................................................................................... 300
Other Historic Buildings .............................................................................................. 308
Parks: .................................................................................................................................... 309
What do in Recife? ........................................................................................................ 311
Movie Theather /Cinema: ........................................................................................... 312
Soccer: .................................................................................................................................. 312
Roller hockey: ................................................................................................................... 312
Events: ............................................................................................................................... 313
Shopping ........................................................................................................................... 313
Where eat in Recife? .................................................................................................... 315
Local specialties: ............................................................................................................. 315
Restaurants: .................................................................................................................... 316
Beach food .......................................................................................................................... 320
Where drink in Recife? ............................................................................................... 322
Bars: ...................................................................................................................................... 322
Hospitals:.......................................................................................................................... 329
Free rescue and ambulance service: .................................................................... 329

Public Hospital: ................................................................................................................ 330
Be safe ................................................................................................................................ 330
Taxi Precautions: ............................................................................................................ 330
Consulates ........................................................................................................................ 331
Honorary Consulates ................................................................................................... 331
Contact By phone:......................................................................................................... 334
Useful Phone Numbers: ................................................................................................ 334
Tourist Information: ...................................................................................................... 334
Tourist Police D.P.T.U.R:........................................................................................... 334
Beautiful places around Recife ............................................................................... 335
Itaipava or Arena Pernambuco Stadium ............................................................ 340
WELCOME TO RIO DE JANEIRO ................................................................................. 341
Districts ............................................................................................................................. 342
Centro (City Center): ..................................................................................................... 342
Zona Sul (South Zone): ................................................................................................. 342
Zona Norte (North Zone): ........................................................................................... 342
Zona Oeste (West Zone): .............................................................................................. 342
About Rio de Janeiro .................................................................................................... 343
History ............................................................................................................................... 345
How to get to Rio de Janeiro .................................................................................... 346
By plane: ............................................................................................................................. 346
By Taxi: ................................................................................................................................ 348
How to get around Rio de Janeiro .......................................................................... 350
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 350
By car: .................................................................................................................................. 350
By boat: ............................................................................................................................... 350
What see in Rio de Janeiro? ...................................................................................... 351
By Bike: ................................................................................................................................ 352
By subway: ......................................................................................................................... 352
By taxi: ................................................................................................................................. 355
By car: .................................................................................................................................. 356
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 356
Beaches ............................................................................................................................. 359

Sights Rio De Janeiro ................................................................................................... 362
Corcovado: ......................................................................................................................... 362
Museums .......................................................................................................................... 387
Downtown ....................................................................................................................... 387
Parks .................................................................................................................................. 391
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro (February and March) .......................................... 398
Music .................................................................................................................................. 398
Family ................................................................................................................................ 399
Hang gliding and Paragliding .................................................................................. 399
Hiking and Trekking .................................................................................................... 400
Parque Lage Corcovado ............................................................................................. 401
Panoramic flights .......................................................................................................... 402
Favela (Shantytown) tours ....................................................................................... 403
FAVELA TOUR: ................................................................................................................. 404
Learn Portuguese Language and Capoeira ........................................................ 406
in Rio de Janeiro ............................................................................................................ 406
Portuguese Classes: ........................................................................................................ 406
Other Activities .............................................................................................................. 407
Brazilian Samba: ............................................................................................................ 407
Capoeira Classes:............................................................................................................. 407
Shopping ........................................................................................................................... 408
Money: .................................................................................................................................. 408
ATM: ...................................................................................................................................... 408
Where eat in Rio de Janeiro? .................................................................................... 411
AFTER HOURS ................................................................................................................ 420
Where to drink in Rio de Janeiro? ......................................................................... 421
Visit some neighborhoods ........................................................................................ 422
Samba clubs .................................................................................................................... 423
Clubbing ............................................................................................................................ 423
Where sleep in Rio de Janeiro? ............................................................................... 424
Motels: ................................................................................................................................. 425
Oasis Collections:............................................................................................................. 425
Rio Copacabana Apartments: ................................................................................... 426
Be healthy ........................................................................................................................ 426

Useful tips ........................................................................................................................ 432
Consulates ........................................................................................................................ 432
Copacabana Tourist Information Centers: ......................................................... 434
Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) Information Board: ............... 434
Rio de Janeiro Intercity Bus Terminal Information Center: ........................ 434
Rio de Janeiro/Galeo - Antnio Carlos Jobim International Airport: ... 434
Downtown (Centro) Information Board (headquarter): ............................. 435
Rio de Janeiro Tourist Police (Delegacia Especial de Apoio ao Turista -
DEAT): .................................................................................................................................. 435
Tourist Police Address & Contact Information: ................................................ 435
Beautiful places around Rio de Janeiro ............................................................... 436
Maracan Stadium ........................................................................................................ 441
WELCOME TO SALVADOR ......................................................................................... 443
People ................................................................................................................................ 444
How get to Salvador..................................................................................................... 445
By plane: ............................................................................................................................. 445
By Taxi: ................................................................................................................................ 446
By Bus: ................................................................................................................................. 446
By boat: ............................................................................................................................... 447
Getting Around in Salvador ...................................................................................... 447
By Foot: ................................................................................................................................ 447
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 448
By taxi: ................................................................................................................................. 448
By car: .................................................................................................................................. 449
By bicycle: ........................................................................................................................... 449
Explore Salvador ........................................................................................................... 449
Religious sites ................................................................................................................ 454
Museums .......................................................................................................................... 456
Beach and Parks .............................................................................................................. 460
What do in Salvador? .................................................................................................. 461
Go to the beach .............................................................................................................. 462
Where to eat in Salvador? ......................................................................................... 465
Where drink in Salvador? ......................................................................................... 471

Nightclubs ........................................................................................................................ 474
afe ........................................................................................................................................ 481
Hospitals ........................................................................................................................... 482
Contact .............................................................................................................................. 484
Beautiful places around Salvador .......................................................................... 490
Useful Phones ................................................................................................................. 492
Arena Fonte Nova or Octvio Mangabeira Stadium ....................................... 493
WELCOME TO SO PAULO ....................................................................................... 495
Places to visit .................................................................................................................. 496
Number of Residents ................................................................................................... 496
Subdivisions .................................................................................................................... 497
Municipality: ..................................................................................................................... 497
About So Paulo: ........................................................................................................... 499
The People ....................................................................................................................... 500
Orientation ...................................................................................................................... 501
Language .......................................................................................................................... 502
Electricity ......................................................................................................................... 503
How get to So Paulo ................................................................................................... 504
By plane: ............................................................................................................................. 504
Cabbies/Taxis: .................................................................................................................. 506
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 508
Getting around in So Paulo ..................................................................................... 509
On buses: ............................................................................................................................. 510
On the Metro or CPTM trains: ................................................................................... 510
First Metro/CPTM train then bus: .......................................................................... 510
First bus then Metro/CPTM train: .......................................................................... 510
By metr and train:........................................................................................................ 511
Fare and hours of operation: ..................................................................................... 512
Peak hours: ........................................................................................................................ 513
By bus: .................................................................................................................................. 513
By taxi: ................................................................................................................................. 514

By Car: .................................................................................................................................. 515
Rotating transit policy (Rodzio): ............................................................................. 516
Provisory driving license: ............................................................................................ 516
Drinking: ............................................................................................................................. 516
Parking fees: ...................................................................................................................... 517
Driving at night: .............................................................................................................. 517
Valet services: ................................................................................................................... 517
Fuel:....................................................................................................................................... 518
By bicycle: ........................................................................................................................... 518
Cycleway Marginal Pinheiros: .................................................................................. 519
Cycleway Radial Leste: ................................................................................................. 519
On foot: ................................................................................................................................ 520
What to see in So Paulo? ......................................................................................... 521
Historic Center: ................................................................................................................ 521
Parks: .................................................................................................................................... 522
Museums and cultural centers ................................................................................ 525
Panoramic views ........................................................................................................... 528
Special places.................................................................................................................. 530
Theaters and Concert Halls ...................................................................................... 531
Theatro Municipal: ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Leisure ............................................................................................................................... 532
Watch Football (Soccer) ............................................................................................ 533
City tours .......................................................................................................................... 534
Learn Portuguese in So Paulo ............................................................................... 535
Shopping ........................................................................................................................... 535
Central shopping areas ................................................................................................ 536
Shopping Malls: ............................................................................................................... 536
Costs ................................................................................................................................... 537
Where drink in So Paulo?........................................................................................ 548
Clubs ................................................................................................................................... 548
Where sleep in So Paulo? ........................................................................................ 549
Internet Cafs ................................................................................................................. 550
Respect .............................................................................................................................. 550
Police Station .................................................................................................................. 552

Weather in Sao Paulo during June and July ....................................................... 553
Beautiful places around So Paulo ........................................................................ 554
Coastal Region: .............................................................................................................. 555
Countryside: .................................................................................................................... 558
Theme parks: .................................................................................................................. 559
Things You Must See in So Paulo (city) ............................................................. 560
The best samba, feijoada and caipirinha at Saturday afternoon in So
Paulo ................................................................................................................................... 563
Be healthy ........................................................................................................................ 563
Hospitals ........................................................................................................................... 564
Consulates ........................................................................................................................ 566
Useful Phones ................................................................................................................. 568
Itaquero , Arena So Paulo or Arena Corinthians Stadium ..................... 572
Transportation to Itaquero .................................................................................... 573
LGBT Mini Guide for the World Cup 2014 Brazil ........................................................ 575
Belo Horizonte ............................................................................................................... 576
Saunas .................................................................................................................................. 579
Braslia .............................................................................................................................. 580
Saunas: ................................................................................................................................ 584
Cuiab ................................................................................................................................ 585
Curitiba ............................................................................................................................. 586
Fortaleza ........................................................................................................................... 591
SAUNAS ............................................................................................................................... 593
Prostitution ..................................................................................................................... 594
Manaus .............................................................................................................................. 595
Natal ................................................................................................................................... 596
Saunas .................................................................................................................................. 598
Porto Alegre .................................................................................................................... 599
Recife .................................................................................................................................. 600
Sauna .................................................................................................................................... 602
Rio de Janeiro ................................................................................................................. 603

Parties .................................................................................................................................. 608
Saunas .................................................................................................................................. 609
Gay Beaches ....................................................................................................................... 612
Salvador ............................................................................................................................ 613
Saunas .................................................................................................................................. 615
So Paulo .......................................................................................................................... 617
Bars ....................................................................................................................................... 623
Sauna .................................................................................................................................... 627
FIFA Team Groups .................................................................................................... 628
Schedule of matches in the stadiums ....................................................................... 629
Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 632

The World Cup in Brazil

The World Cup FIFA is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.
The quadrennial dispute between the best teams in the world mobilizes
billions of people of all backgrounds, and of all cultures.

The Worlds Cup inflames passions and at the same time reduces
differences, since the people of the different countries, during the 90
minutes a game, create a common bond while sharing the same emotion
at the same time. It is a rare and unique event, and therefore worthy of
universal recognition.

In 2014, Brazil will host the tournament for the second time. The 20
th

FIFA World Cup will take place 64 years after the edition in which the
national team was crowned runners-up in full Maracans Stadium.

Brazil has received a lot of visibility in the media for the status of the
stadiums where the games will take place, which are being upgraded or
built from scratch. However, much is being done at a rapid pace.

The Federal Government is coordinating a program of investments that
will transform some of the most important capitals of the country from
north to south and from all regions: Belo Horizonte, Braslia, Cuiab,
Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro,
Salvador and So Paulo.

Whatever the outcome of the World Cup, there will be an important
legacy left for the Brazilian people in the form of major investments in
infrastructure, job creation and promoting the country's global image.
It is estimated that the FIFA World Cup 2014 will add 183 billion dollars
to the national GDP and mobilize 33 billion dollars in investments,
especially in the area of transport and road systems.

Approximately 3.7 million tourists, (including Brazilians from other
regions and abroad), should generate during the event period, U.S. $ 9.4
billion. In all areas, 700 000 permanent and temporary jobs will be
created.

The Cup Schedule, started with the first important date of July 30
th
of
2011: when there was the draw of qualifying groups, under the eyes of
the world. Since then, the project followed apace for meeting the
timelines and the certainty that, in June 2014, there will be an
impeccable stage for the big event: Brazil, which is sure to be an even
better country in every way.

Fuleco

Fuleco is the mascot of the FIFA World Cup 2014 to be held in Brazil. He
is of the family of the Armadillos , known as Tatu-Bola da Caatinga, it is
also one of the species threatened with extinction in in Brazil due to
urbanization and deforestation ( Source : Wikipedia).

About Brazil

Brazil was discovered by Portuguese colonists on April 22, 1500, while
they were looking for a new route to India to buy spices such as
cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel, etc.

The original indigenous population was massacred by settlers and slaves
were brought from Africa to work in the fields of cane sugar.

Brazil is located in South America, occupying 47% of the area, and has
the largest lusophone community, with 201,032,714 inhabitants (in
according with IBGE, 2013).

Brazil has 26 states and a federal capital (Braslia).

Official Name: Federal Republic of Brazil

Area: 8,514,876.599 Km (Source: IBGE)

Capital: Brasilia

Population: 190,732,694 Million (Census 2010)

Number of Cities: 5,435

Currency: Real (R$)

Nationality: Brazilian

National Dates:
September 7 (Independence Day)
November 15 (Republic Day)

President: Dilma Rousseff

Brazilian Population: Mixed-racial backgrounds: 43.1% White: 47.7%
Black: 7.6% Indigenous: 0.4% Asian groups: 1.1% (Source: IBGE - 2010
census).

Language: Portuguese (Official)

Religion: Roman Catholic (64.6%), Evangelicals (22.2%), No Religion
(8%), Spiritualist (2%), Other (2.2%), Do not know (0.1%). (2010 Census
data)

Life expectancy: 73.4 years (2010 Census)

Illiteracy rate: 9.6% (2010 census).

Per Capita Income: R $ 22,400 (Year 2012).

HDI (Human Development Index): 0.730 - high human development.
Brazil occupies the 85th position among 187 countries analyzed. (Data
released by UNDP in March 2013)

Country Code for Brazil: 55

The host cities of the World Cup
Brazil 2014

BELO HORIZONTE
BRASLIA
CUIAB
CURITIBA
FORTALEZA
MANAUS
NATAL
PORTO ALEGRE
RECIFE
RIO DE JANEIRO
SALVADOR
SO PAULO

Recommendations before your travel

1. Obtain a short-term international health insurance plan. The
Public Hospitals are free in Brazil but they have a lot of problems:
overcrowding, dying people the corridors, high level of infections,
etc. Usually, the nurses dont speak English. If you need first aids,
go to a Private Hospital.

2. Verify that your vaccinations are current. Take the shots at
least four weeks before your travel or six months before if you
need to take vaccine against Hepatitis B (3injections) -- your
body needs time to be immunized. Mark an appointment with
your physician and update your vaccines.
3. Arrange your Passport and Visa to Brazil before your travel.
Many nationalities cant get a temporary visa in a Brazilian
Airport. Check if you need to request the visa from a Brazilian
Consulate office.

Portugal, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay
have facilities to obtain Brazilian visas.

Some of the nations that are required to obtain a visa to enter
Brazil are:

Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Algeria, Australia, Azerbaijan,
Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bosnia, Botswana,
Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Cyprus,
Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands,
Djibouti, Dominica, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea,
Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kiribati Islands, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Latvia,
Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Macau, Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mariana Islands,
Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mauritania, Micronesia, Moldova,
Mongolia, Myanmar / Burma, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Palestinian Authority, Papua /
New Guinea, Pakistan, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi
Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Syria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sudan, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu Islands, United

Arab Emirates, United States, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe .

4. Common Travel Medical Issues:
a. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - During the flight, get up
and walk a little bit, contract the leg muscles while siting,
drink a lot of liquids (water), and avoid alcohol. In severe
cases, blood clots can form in the legs during prolonged
cramped travel. The main symptom is swelling pain in the
foot, calf or ankle. If a blood clot reaches the lungs, it can
cause severe chest pain and difficult breathing. If you have
these symptoms, ask for help immediately.

b. Jet Leg: (Also fatigue or desynchronosis) is a physiological
condition and a consequence of alterations of the circadian
rhythm. Our bodies are accustomed to the rhythm of the
Earths Rotation. When a person travels for long distances
by airplane; particularly trans-meridian travel, the body
experiences symptoms of jet lag. Drinking water and
eating light meals can help.

c. Queasiness, motion sickness: These symptoms appear if
you dont drink enough fluids or eat too heavily prior or
during your trip. Ask your physician for recommendations.
Over-the-counter and prescription medications are readily
available, such as Dramamine (dimenhydrinate). Another
alternative is to drink ginger mixed in water or tea.

Special Notes of Consideration:
The voltage in Brazil is 110/220. Pay attention to the type of
power outlet before you plug in your electronic equipment. You
must buy a plug type N, suitable for Brazil and South Africa. It is

important to note that Brazil doesnt follow the standard for plug
type N. You cant tell the voltage by looking at the type N plug
or receptacle. It is best to ask. A simple universal travel
conversion kit wont help step down the voltage. Check before you
plug your valuable electronics into an outlet.
In Brazil, the Zip Code is referred to as the CEP (Cdigo de
Endereamento Postal). Dont be confused if your GPS asks for the
CEP.
Some addresses dont have number. You will see the abbreviation
in Portuguese: S/N or S/No.
When using the elevator (lift) in Brazil, you will see: TRREO,
T or the number 0, instead of 1. It means you are at the Ground
Floor.
The prices in Brazil can change at any time, especially during the
World Cup.

When you arrive in Brazil:

Medical Assistance:
1. If you need medical assistance, search for the nearest
Private Hospital in your area. See the list of hospitals and
addresses in each section`s city.
2. For an Emergency Case, call 192.

Medical advice should be sought prior to your travel.
Disease still common to the region:

Brucellosis: May be transmitted to humans by consummation of
unpasteurized dairy products or animal contact.
Cholera: It is acquired through ingestion of contaminated food or water.
Cholera is rare among tourists, but it may happen. Symptoms: watery
diarrhea, dehydration.
Dengue: It is transmitted by mosquitoes bites. Symptoms: flulike
symptoms, fever, joint pains, headaches, muscle aches, nausea and
vomiting. Rash also can appear. Do not take aspirin or vasodilators
when you are not sure if you have dengue.
Hepatitis A: That is the second most related infection among travelers
(after diarrhea). It is acquired by contact with infected persons (by
saliva, air, kisses, etc). Symptoms: jaundice, fever, nausea, vomiting and
abdominal pain. There is no treatment.
Hepatitis B: Its a liver infection and its acquired by sexual contact or
infected blood, dental treatments and blood transfusions. Symptoms:
They are the same as Hepatitis A, including dark urine and clear feces.

HIV/AIDS: As with most parts of the world, HIV infection occurs
throughout Brazil. Never trust a person to be un-infected based on their
appearance. Always use condoms during any sexual intercourse.
Malaria: Its transmitted by mosquitoes bites. Symptoms: sweats,
headaches, body aches, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, chills, and weakness.
Malaria can damage the Central Nervous System.
There is a choice to take pills against Malaria. If you are going to Manaus,
talk to your physician about Atovaquone/Proguamil, Doxycycline or
Megloquine pills.
These pills are not 100% effective.
Typhoid: Its caused by ingestion of water or food contaminated by
Salmonella, known as Salmonella typhy. Symptoms: fever, headache,
nauseas, muscle aches, loss of appetite, dizziness and abdominal pain.
There are risk of complication and coma. The vaccine is available. The
treatment is made with antibiotics such as Chloramphenicol, Ampicillin
and Quinolone.
Sylvatic Yellow fever: It is transmitted by the bite of the Haemagogus
mosquito. The only way to completely avoid the occurrence of Yellow
Fever is through vaccination against the disease. Symptoms: fever,
chills, nausea, muscle aches, loss of appetite, muscle aches, backache,
yellow-tinged skin and eyes, bleeding, dark ("coffee grind") stools, and a
decrease in urination. Complications can occur such hemorrhage and
kidney failure. Most of the cases take place on January to June.
Risky areas: Minas Gerais, Bahia, So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Parana and
Rio Grande do Sul (World Cup States).
Travelers Diarrhea: Diarrhea is a major health problem during travel,
affects 30-50% of travelers in Brazil. It is usually caused by the
bacterium E. Coli.

The best way to avoid it is taking care of simple hygiene -- drink only
bottled water during your travel in Brazil (only buy water in safe
places, such as supermarkets; some people sell water from faucets
in a used bottle which they replace the cap and reseal with crazy
glue). Always wash your hands before eating and only eat well cooked
food. Avoid consuming raw vegetables and raw seafood.
This disease tends to resolve itself within five days. However, you can
take a dose of ciprofloxacin 750mg, resolving diarrhea for most
travelers. If diarrhea is more serious and it has the presence of blood,
you should seek a doctor to know its true origin.

Safety in Brazil:

The Violence in Brazil
Unfortunately, not all areas of Brazil will have the strong police presence
and enforcement of laws that you may expect in your home country.
During the World Cup there may be criminals waiting for a chance to
scam, steal, rape, kidnap or kill both the local people and foreign tourists.
Don't trust in beautiful girls asking for help on the streets or to buy them
drinks in the bars. Many kidnappings begin with the strategic help of a
beautiful young woman. Some escorts may be involved with some of the
more brutal criminals.
Go to Brazil to have fun, to meet good people, learn some culture
and a little Portuguese (why not?). But you should try to avoid
problematic situations.
Avoid giving money to beggars and also homeless kids. Many of them
are not real beggars. They rob and steal from tourists and have
henchmen to enclose the victims.
Some robbers can be as young as 10 years old, and are already killers.
Since they cant go to jail, they can be recruited to help the criminals,
carry weapons, sell drugs and kill.
Many robbers use motorbikes to steal from people inside of cars or taxis.
The motorbike containing a driver and passenger is very useful to
escape, due to the steady traffic jams in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Belo
Horizonte.
If you are in group, avoid speaking English aloud. Tourists are a
preferential target of robbers everywhere in the planet!
Buy a good map, avoid walking in suspicious areas and use the subway
(not rail trains). The metro/subway is generally safe for tourists.

Important words in Portuguese:

Caf - Coffe
gua - Water
CEP - Zip Code
Rua - Street
Avenida - Avenue
Praa - Square
Polcia - Police
Hospital - Hospital
Estdio - Stadium
Ajuda - Help
Por favor - Please
Obrigado - Thank you

Maintain Contact:
For national calls: press 0+ operator code + area code (DDD) +
telephone number. For national cover calls, press 90+ operator code +
area code (DDD) + telephone number.

For international calls: press 00 + operator code + country code + city
code + telephone number.

For calls in the same area: use only the phone number (8 numbers
xxxx-xxxx) without the DDD code. Some cells have 9 numbers.

Brazilian Currency:
The real (/rel/; Brazilian Portuguese: [eaw]; pl. reais) is the
present-day currency of Brazil. Its sign is R$ and its ISO code is BRL. It is
subdivided into 100 centavos ("hundredths").
The new Real bank-notes do not have a 1 Real bank-note. The Brazilian
Central Bank doesn't make 1 Real bank-note. The "Um Real (One Real) is
very rare, and some people just keep it in the wallet to bring good luck.

Nowadays, the "One Real" bank-note hasn't monetary value, except the coins.

Real Money vs Fake bank-notes:
Some bad people are keeping fake bank-notes and also old ones to
spread during the World Cup.
Each New Real bank-note has a different size, in according of its value to
help blind people to pay and get correct change. Also old models of Real
bank notes are being used at the same time in Brazil.
The special paper has a kind of cotton fiber and it makes the bank-note
little bit hard. The fake note is made with office paper, and you can
perceive the quality between the real Real and fake note.
I have seen some TV shows where the Police gave some important tips to
identify the real Real:
- The percentage of cotton fiber in the paper makes the note little bit
"wet".
- The most fake bank-notes are in denominations of R$ 20, R$ 50 and R$

100.
- Touch the bank-note one by one. If you get a lot of notes, just take your
time, in a secure place and check them. You must demand a real note
immediately, because if you pay for something with a fake note, you run
the risk of going to the jail in Brazil.
-You can fold a fake bank-note as you fold a paper office sheet. The fold
will be crisp, as opposed to how a real bank-note folds.
-Coins can also be fakes. The metal is rudimentary, you may see defects
in the minting and they are very soft.
Pay attention when you get change in the taxis, hotels, bars, restaurants,
etc. Some Brazilians have already found fake bank-notes in ATM's.

Old (at left, written Model in red), and New (at right) Real bank-note. The
bank notes of R$ 50 and R$ 100 are showed front and back.

Be careful while you use the ATM:
Try to exchange currency in a safe place, some hotels have such a place.
Dont use ATMs in the streets, especially during the night.
If you lose your credit card or if the ATM machine "gobbles up" and
doesn't return your card, cancel it immediately. Many thieves use
technology to steal and reproduce international credit cards retrieved
from real-looking ATMs and then sell them on the black market.
If you are the victim of a robbery involving use of a weapon, please DO
NOT RESIST OR REACT! GIVE THEM THE MONEY SLOWLY. Your life
is more precious than the money!

General emergency numbers for lost or stolen credit cards:
Main phone lines for the major credit lines are:
American Express 0800 785050
MasterCard and Visa 0800 784456
Diners Club 0800 784444

Welcome to Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte ( In Portuguese pronunciation: [bloizti],

lit.
"Beautiful Horizon", or simply "BH" (beh-ah-GAH) to locals) was founded
on October 12
th
, 1897.
In Minas, emerging groups linked to coffee plants from the Forest Area
and South Mine Zone, took the flag moving the capital against the
consolidated interests in the mining region, in economic stagnation and
decay process.
Belo Horizonte is the capital of Minas Gerais State and it has an area of
330,954 km and has 2,375,444 inhabitants. (Source: 2010 Censo IBGE).
A new transformation took place in the 70s, with the arrival of large
capital goods and the installation of the Italian FIAT car factory in the
city of Betim, in the Grande Belo Horizonte" this was the first
automaker to establish itself in the country, outside the Rio - So Paulo .
The 80s and 90s were marked by long periods of economic stagnation.
The population began to demand a higher quality of life, and projects
that did not destroy the environment.

It is in this context that the centennial Belo Horizonte shall constitute
today one of the most important industrial centers in the country. It
contains leading companies in the fields of clothing, footwear,
computers, food, electronics, perfumes and tourism, with companies
nationally renowned. Belo Horizonte also maintains extensive
outsourcing activities and major investments in marketing and
advertising.

The nightlife of the city is of high quality, using modern systems of public
lighting, telephony and telecommunications, becoming the third most
important urban center in the country after So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro,
despite having only a little over 100 years its foundation .
Temperatures during June and July are 15 27 Celsius (59-80.6 F).

How to get to Belo Horizonte:

By bus
BH is a major national hub for bus travel. The bus terminal (rodoviria)
is downtown at the northern end of Av. Afonso Pena (avenue).
Approximate travel times from other capitals:
Braslia - 10 hours
Rio de Janeiro - 7 hours
So Paulo - 8 hours

By plane
BH is served by two airports:
Confins (Aeroporto Internacional Tancredo Neves - CNF) - Rodovia
MG 010 S/N, 40 km - Confins/MG. Phone: (31) 3689-2700. There are
direct flights to the USA, the Caribbean, Europe and most cities in Brazil.
It is located about 40 km from downtown express buses (50 minutes
non-stop, traffic allowing, R$ 19.75). The same company also runs buses
to Pampulha Airport and the Central Bus Station for R$ 8.70.
Pampulha (Aeroporto Carlos Drummond de Andrade - PLU). For
some domestic flights, especially within the state of Minas Gerais, it is
only 9 km from downtown.

Places to Visit in Pampulha:

*Note that a lot of places including museums and the Mangueira Park
are closed on Mondays.
Pampulha - This 1940's neighborhood has some of the highlights of
Brazil modern architecture, including the So Francisco de Assisi Church.
The building is not shocking by itself, until you realize it was meant to be
a church. Not surprisingly, the Catholic Church refused to consecrate it
for more than one decade.

Next to the church, there's the Parque Guanabara, an amusement park
that is small, but worth visiting. In Pampulha lies the world-famous
Yacht Club, founded along with the Pampulha Architectural Complex
designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Visitor tickets to the club can be purchased
at the club. However, they are free if you know someone affiliated to the
club.

The Museu de Arte da Pampulha, the former Pampulha Casino, part of
the Pampulha Architectural Group, focuses on varied artistic trends in
exhibitions, research and conceptualization. In its collection are some of
the most beautiful works of contemporary Brazilian art.

San Francisco de Assisi Church (Igreja So Francisco de Assis):
It is one of the buildings built by Oscar Niemeyer around the Pampulhas
Lagoon, Atlantic Garden neighborhood in Belo Horizonte, at the request
of then mayor Juscelino Kubitschek, in the early forties.

The building is part of the Pampulha architectural complex, which is
complemented with the church of St. Francis of Assisi, Casa do Baile
Pampulha and the Yacht Club.

Address: Avenida Otaclio Negro de Lima, 16585 - Pampulha, Belo
Horizonte - MG, 31365-450, Brazil. Tue-Sun 09 AM-06 PM. Closed on
Monday. Phone:+55 31 3277-7946

Mangabeira Park (Parque das Mangabeiras):This is an amazing
place for nature lovers, a place where the Cerrado mixes with the
Atlantic Forest, this is a great visit for children and family

Address: Av. Jos do Patrocnio Pontes, 580 - Mangabeiras, Belo
Horizonte - Minas Gerais, 30210-090, Brazil
Phone: +55 31 3277-8277

Praa da Liberdade - A beautiful palm tree-lined square, sidelined by
interesting buildings from the 19th century, including the historic seat of
the State Government, and a curvaceous (yes, you can use this word to
describe an Oscar Niemeyer building) edifice from the 60s.
Address :Praa da Liberdade , 0 , Savassi, Belo Horizonte - MG
Phone: (31) 3217-9543

Museum of Arts and Crafts: The Museu de Artes e Ofcios: This
museum is installed in the 19th Century buildings of the former Central
Train Station. Its collection shows the richness of Brazilian popular
work and professions before the country's industrialization.
Location: At Praa Rui Barbosa, Centro. (31) 3248-8600
Hours: Tue, Thu, Fri noon to 7 PM. Wed, noon to 9pm. Sat, Sun, 11 AM to
5 PM. Groups: daily, from 9AM-Noon. Admission: R$ 5. On Saturday,
Free admission.
(info@mao.org.br).

Alta Vila Tower: This tower offers a spectacular view of Belo Horizonte
and its surrounding mountains. On the main floor is the Hard Rock Cafe -
Belo Horizonte. Location: Located in the district of Nova Lima, (Belo
Horizonte city Metro area).

Parque Municipal Amrico Renn Giannetti: This is an oasis of green
right in the centre of downtown. Based on French parks, it has small
lagoons where you can rent a boat or feed the ducks. It has the Casa
Maluca (Crazy House), the Casa dos Pneus and a small amusement park -
three places where children always like to play.

Address: Avenida Afonso Pena - Centro, Belo Horizonte - 30130-000,
Brazil
Phone: +55 31 3277-4161

Museu de Cincias Naturais: Take the Metro to the Gameleira Station,
go NW to the PUC campus, and turn right. There are diverse mollusks,
whales and Brazilian forest animals. A new exhibit is under
construction. Admission: R$ 5.
Address: Avenida Dom Jos Gaspar, 290, Bairro Corao Eucarstico,
Campus PUC Minas, CEP: 30535-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
Phone: (31)3319-4152
E-mail: museu@pucminas.br

Museu Histrico Ablio Barreto: This museum is dedicated to the
history of the city and was created in the only standing farmhouse from
the old Curral d'El Rey farmland replaced by the new planned city.
Address: Av Prudente de Morais, 135 - Cidade Jardim Neighborhood
Phone: -
Shopping in Belo Horizonte:

BH Shopping: This is one of BH's oldest and biggest shopping centers,
with shops, food, cinema and games. It's in Belvedere area and close to
Nova Lima road.
Location: Address: BR 356, 3049 - Belvedere, Belo Horizonte - MG,
30320-900, Brazil
Phone: +55 31 3228-4000.
Hours: Mon- Sat: 10 AM-10PM. Sun 2 PM- at 8 PM.
Shopping Del Rey: Another of BH's oldest and biggest shopping
centers, with shops, food, cinema and games.
Location: Av. Pres. Carlos Luz , 31 , Pampulha, 31.250-010.Belo
Horizonte - MG

Minas Shopping: This Mall has the biggest shopping centers, with
shops, food, cinema and games. Metr station nearby.
Location: Avenida Cristiano Machado, 4000 - Unio, Belo Horizonte -
MG, 31910-900.
Hours: Mon- Sat: 10 AM-10PM. Sun 2 PM -8 PM.
Boulevard Shopping at Avenida dos Andradas:
Location: 3000, Belo Horizonte - MG, 30120-010.
Hours: Mon- Sat: 10 AM-10PM. Sun: 2 PM- 8 PM.
Patio Savassi: Also very refined (and expensive) shopping center in the
heart of Savassi.
Location: Avenida do Contorno, 6061 - Funcionrios, Belo Horizonte -
MG, 30110-929.

Hippie Fair: The fair is one of the biggest in the country and offers crafts
such as jewelry, furniture, souvenirs, clothing and food. This fair receives
from up to 100,000 people every Sunday. This place is definitely worth
the visit.
Location: Avenida Afonso Pena in front of the Municipal Park.
Hours: Open every Sunday, from 8AM to 2PM.

Mercado Central: Traditional market where you can find tofu, whole
grains, cheese, meat, herbs, religious articles, fruit, live birds, pots,

souvenirs and lots of other stuff. It's one the most visited places in the
city.

Location: Av. Augusto de Lima and R. Curitiba.

Where to eat in Belo Horizonte?
Dona Lucinha: Dona Lucinha and her family cook the best traditional
food of Minas Gerais. She is a wonderful lady and has restaurants in Sao
Paulo.

Location: R. Padre Odorico, 38 - So Pedro, Belo Horizonte - Minas
Gerais, 30330-040

Hard Rock Caf Belo Horizonte: You can see Belo Horizonte from this
tower (on the top of the Alta Vista Tower). Good live music on Friday
and Saturday night.

Location: Rua Senador Milton Campos, 115 - Vila Castela, Nova Lima -
MG, 30400-000
Applebees Restaurant: If you go to Belo Horizonte Shopping Mall,
and have a craving for some classic American foods.

Location: Rodovia BR 356, 3049 Belvedere Belo Horizonte.

Churrasacaria Porco: The best steakhouse in BH, while a little
expensive.
Location: Avenida Raja Gabglia, 2671 - So Bento, Belo Horizonte - MG,
30350-540
http://www.porcao.com.br

Churrascaria Fogo de Cho: This steakhouse is similar to Porco.
Fogo de Cho which has branches in the USA. Located near Savassi Park,
this is the most intimate Fogo de Cho location in Brazil, comfortably
seating just 200 guests. Location: Rua Sergipe, 1208- Phone: 55-31-
3227-2730
http://www.fogodechao.com.br

Where drink in Belo Horizonte?
BEWARE: BRAZILIAN LAW HAS A ZERO TOLERANCE FOR DRINKING AND
DRIVING.

Bar do Careca: The Careca (Bald) Bar has a long tradition in the city.
The house was famous for its steady clientele for several years thanks to
its delicious traditional snacks - pot roast, stewed gizzards, pork rinds
with yucca and famous beef tongue. For those who prefer fish, the bar
offers trout accompanied by capers and the catfish stew of shrimp sauce.
Excellent drinks.

Address: Rua Simo Tamm, 395 - Cachoeirinha - Belo Horizonte/MG
Phone: (31) 3421-3655

Bar do Bolo: One of the most famous traditional bohemian enclaves of
BH, Bolo offers simple and tasty food like the famous Mexido do
Bolo.
Location: Rua Vila Rica, 637, MG, Phone: +55 31 3462-1569

Alfndega Bar: Excellent drinks, good service and nice samba.

Location: Rua Viosa, 250, 30330-160 Belo Horizonte
Phone: +55 31 3223-1987
http://alfandegabar.com.br.

Caf com letras: Coffee Shop, Bookstore and Jazz Club. Its not a bar,
but a wonderful place to enjoy music and chat with intelligent people.
There are two locations in Belo Horizonte. Jazz performances, food,
festivals, and more can be found here.
http://www.cafecomletras.com.br/

Caf com Letras Liberdade: Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil - Praa da
Liberdade, 450

Caf com Letras Savassi: Rua Antnio de Albuquerque, 781

Rima dos sabores They have special beers (Medieval, Belgian Strong
Ale Trippel, Golden Carolus Classic, 8.6 Blond, etc) and the best Brazilian
cachaas. I loved this bar!
Location: Rua Esmeralda, 522 - Prado Belo Horizonte.
Phone: +55 31 3243-7120
http://rimadossabores.com.br/wordpress/cardapio

Nightclubs:
Some of the best nightclubs in town are in the Raja Gabaglia Street.
However they can also be very expensive. Try to call ahead to see if you
can get on a list for discounted prices.
Alambique Cachaaria: Check their schedule and be sure to check out
the nights with "Sertanejo" (Brazilian Country) music. If you are into
country music, you may enjoy Brazilian country music as well.

Location: Avenida Raja Gabaglia, 3200 Estoril.
Phone: (31) 3296-7188.
http://www.alambique.com.br/

Swingers: There is usually a long line at the front door to get in. Most of
the customers are young. If you just want to dance, this is a good place.
The DJ plays a mix of everything. Just be careful at this place: any
distraction and people may steal your belongings or just the whiskey
bottles on the table.
Location: Avenida Raja Gabaglia, 4811 - Santa Lcia, Belo Horizonte
http://www.swingerslounge.com.br

Barra Lounge: This lounge is in front of Pampulhas Lagoon. Beautiful
girls, but be careful, they have boyfriends. Brazilian Country Music
performed live. It is a simple place with a lot of tables.

Location: Av. Antnio Carlos c/ Otacilio Negro de Lima - Barragem da
Pampulha - Belo Horizonte
(http://www.barralounge.com.br)

Clube Chalezinho: Good place, mostly young people, but also adults.
Rock, Country and Electronic music. Check their schedule.

Location: Av Mrio Werneck, 530, 30455-610 Belo Horizonte
Phone: +55 31 3286-3155
http://www.clubechalezinho.com.br

Where sleep in Belo Horizonte?
$
Major high-rise hotels are generally on Av. Afonso Pena or at Savassi
neighborhood, while mid-range and budget accommodations are
clustered around the train station.

Albergue da Juventude Chal Mineiro
This hostel is a member of Hostelling International and has a nice
swimming pool for its guests. (From Rodoviaria take bus 9801 (Saudade-
Santa Cruz), at Rua dos Caets, or the subway to the Santa Tereza station).
Address: Rua Santa Luzia, 288, MG, Brazil
Phone: +55 31 3467-1576
http://www.chalemineirohostel.com.br/

Albergue Pousada Sossego da Pampulha:
This hotel is comfortable and cozy.

Address: Av. Cel. Jos Dias Bicalho, 1258 - So Luiz (Pampulha), Belo
Horizonte - Minas Gerais CEP: 31275-050, Brasil
Phone:+55 31 3491-8020 http://sossegodapampulha.com.br

O Sorriso do Lagarto Hostel
Located in Savassi, this hostel has the best location near restaurants,
bars, concert venues, shopping, cinemas, markets and more! They have
Wi-Fi, table games and common areas are child-friendly. They can help
you find anything you want around the city

Address: Rua Cristina, 791 - Sion, Belo Horizonte - MG, 30330-130
Phone: +55 31 3283-9325
http://www.osorrisodolagarto.com.br/belohorizonte/belo-horizonte/o-
hostel

Hotel So Bento: Highlighted in the French guide "Le Guide du
Routard" as the best cost-benefit in town in its category.
Address: Rua dos Guaranis, 438 - Centro. (Located within walking
distance of Mercado Central, Parque Municipal and Minascentro Exhibition
Centre).
Phone: +55 (31) 3025-3399, +55 (31) 3271-3399.
http://www.hotelsaobento.com.br

$$
Normandy Hotel: The Normandy Hotels highlight is its great location,
right at the cultural, commercial and financial hub of Belo Horizonte,
making it a good option for travelers looking for nice accommodations
agility when staying in town.

Address: Rua dos Tamios, 212 - City Centre (Located in the heart of
Belo Horizonte, close to the commercial and financial center).
Phone: (31) 3201-6166. Check in: 12:00; check out: 12:00.
(http://www.normandyhotel.com/ )

Le Flamboyant: Good value for money. The 80s dcor may be a little
out of date, but the flats are spacious and there is a swimming pool for
guests. Besides, the location is excellent: right in the middle of the lively
Savassi neighborhood . Addresses:
Rua: Rio Grande do Norte, 1007 - Bairro Savassi - Phone: 31 3261-52 33
Rua Arturo Toscanini, 41 - Bairro Savassi - Phone: 31 3282-33 88
http://ww.clan.com.br

Hospitals
Belo Horizonte has a good network of hospitals. The main hospital area
of the city is located downtown, close to the Municipal Park, where it is
possible to find lots of healthcare institutions such as hospitals, clinics,
and laboratories.

Public hospitals:
Hospital das Clnicas da UFMG - AvenidaProfessor Alfredo Balena,
110 - Santa Efignia, Phone: +55 31 3409-9300.
Hospital de Pronto-Socorro JOO XXIII Avenida Professor Alfredo
Balena, 400 - Centro, Phone: +55 31 3239 9200.
Hospital Odilon Behrens - Rua Formiga, 50 So Cristvo, Phone:
+55 31 3277-6206 / 3277-6181.
Hospital Risoleta Tolentino Neves - Rua das Gabirobas, 01 - Bairro
Laranjeiras, Phone: +55 31 3459-3200.

Private hospitals:
Hospital Felcio Rocho Avenida do Contorno, 9.530 - Barro Preto,
Phone: +55 31 3514-7000.
Hospital Lifecenter - Avenida do Contorno, 4747 - Serra, Phone: +55 31
3280-4000.
Hospital Mater Dei - Rua Gonalves Dias, 2700 - Santo Agostinho,
Phone: +55 31 3339-9000.
Hospital Socor - Rua Tupis, 1578 - Centro, Phone: +55 31 3295-1399.
Hospital Vera Cruz - Avenida Barbacena, 653 - Barro Preto Phone: 31
3290-1000.

Santa Casa Hospital - Avenida Francisco Sales, 1.111 - Santa Efignia,
Phone: +55 31 3238-8100.

Drug stores- Phones:

DROGAMAJ LTDA - 31 3332-9667 Free Delivery thru the city.
Arajo Drugstore - 31 3270-5000
Onofre Drugstore - 31 3115-1515
Pacheco Drugstore - 31 3489-1300
Droga Raia - 0800 774 4040

Free rescue and ambulance service
This can be requested by a free call to one of two institutions:
SAMU (the acronym for the health emergency service) - Phone: 192 or
the Fire Department - Phone: 193.

Stay safe
When crossing the street, watch for motorcycles, which can appear out
of nowhere and sometimes ignore stop signs. At some intersections with
divided streets, you can cross only one side at once.
Minas has both the military police (Polcia Militar) who are the
enforcers of the law at street level, however not linked to the Brazilian
Military and the civilian police (Polcia Civil) who conduct further
investigations like the British CID. Note, though, that most officers don't
even speak Basic English. The uniform of the Minas Gerais State military
police is brown.
The city has its own police, the Municipal Guard, the uniform is blue and
officers are found in parks, near monuments, schools, hospitals.
The city has seen a recent surge of drug-related crime. It is wise to avoid
walking alone at night or carrying expensive electronics such as cameras,
notebooks, iPhones/iPads or jewelry. It is not uncommon to be mugged
at traffic lights or walking during the day or night.

Despite Brazil's huge ethnic diversity, tourists can be easily identified by
the bad guys as people who carry electronics carelessly and are trying to
figure out where to go. Try to act confident and casual. Be discreet.
If someone mugs you, don't react. Your life is worth more than a few
hundred dollars. Try not to carry large amounts of money or excessive
amounts of electronics.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

Police of Minas Gerais: 190
Fire Department: 193
Ambulance (SAMU): 192

TOURIST INFORMATION Phone: 156 (BH) and 31 3429.0405
(Other Locations)

Pampulha Airport Phone: 3490.2001
Tancredo Neves International Airport - Confins- Phone: 3689.2700

Area code
The area code for Belo Horizonte is 31.

Tourist Tours
There are special buses that go to the main touristic points. They have
Air Conditioning.
Buy your tickets here:
http://www.belo-horizonte.travel/Belo_Horizonte_City_Tour

Consulates

Austria
Rua Jos Amrico Canado Bahia, 199 Cidade Industrial - Cep: 32.210-
130 Contagem MG
Phone / fax: (31) 3333-5363. E-mail: austria@planetarium.com.br
Belgium
Rua dos Guajajaras, 40 10. andar - sala 03 Centro - Cep: 30180-100
Belo Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 3226-5374. E-mail: piet.vanriet@belgobekaert.com.br
Canada
Rua da Paisagem, 220, 3. Andar Vila da Serra Cep: 420 Cep: 30.161-
970 Nova Lima MG
Phone: (31) 3047-1225 fax: (31) 3289-2150. E-mail:
consul.belo@canada.org.br
Chile
Av. Raja Gabaglia, 1578 sala 01 Luxemburgo Cep: 30.350-540 Belo
Horizonte MG Phone / fax: (31) 3286-7249. E-mail:
consulado@consuladochile.com.br
Denmark
Rua Paraba, 1122 10 andar Savassi. Cep: 30.130-918 Belo
Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 3269-8626 fax: (31) 3269-8785

Finland
Rua Comendador Viana , 300 Mangabeiras - Cep. 30315.060 Belo
Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 3024.2696. E-mail: belohorizonte@finconsul.fi
France
Av. do Contorno, 5417 2o. andar Cruzeiro - Cep: 30.110-100 Belo
Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 4501-3649. E-mail: consulat.belohorizonte@yahoo.fr
England
Phone: (31) 3504-6603. E-mail:jose.desousaneto-
hon@fconet.fco.gov.uk hc.belohorizonte@fco.gov.uk
Guatemala
Alameda dos Jacarands, 1145 So Luiz - CEP. 31.275-060 Belo
Horizonte MG. Phone: (31) 3311.4997 Fax: (31) 3491.4961. E-mail:
marcos@cctbg.org
Honduras
Av. do Contorno, 4747 12 andar Serra - Cep: 30.110-090 Belo
Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 3280-1800 fax: (31) 3280-1802. E-mail:
hectorpineda@imol.com.br
Holland
Rua Sergipe, 1167 sala 1102 Funcionrios - Cep: 30.130-171 Belo
Horizonte MG
Fone: (31) 3221-7377 fax: (31)3227-5275. E-mail:
contato@consuladoholandabh.com.br

Hungary
Rua Tenente Anastcio de Moura, 676 Santa Efignia - Cep: 30.240-390
Belo Horizonte MG. Phone: (31) 3465-0101. E-mail:
agnes.farkasvolgy@gmail.com
India
Rua Paraba, 523 Funcionrios - Cep: 30.130-140 Belo Horizonte
MG. Phone: (31) 3264-5444 fax: (31)3055-3836. E-mail:
elson@indiaconsulatemg.org
Israel
Rua Padre Rolim, 375 - Santa Efignia. Cep: 30130.090 Belo Horizonte
MG
Phone: (31) 9970-6691. E-mail:
consuladoisraelminasgerais@gmail.com
Italy
Rua dos Inconfidentes, 600 Funcionrios - Cep: 30.140-120 Belo
Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 3524-1000 fax: (31) 3524-1010. E-mail:
segreteria.belohorizonte@esteri.it
Japan
Rua Paraba, 1352 sala 1401 Funcionrios - Cep: 31.130-141 Belo
Horizonte MG. Phone: (31) 3657 4811 - (31) 3657 4813. E-mail:
consuladohonorario.japaobh@gmail.com
Luxembourg
Rua dos Guajajaras, 40 10. andar - sala 03 Centro - Cep: 30180-100
Belo Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 3226-5374. E-mail: fmoyen32@gmail.com

Malaysia
Av. Prudente de Morais , 621 - conj. 701 - Cidade Jardim - Cep: 30.350-
143 - Belo Horizonte MG - Phone: (31) 3284-7627 - fax: (31) 2512-
1607. E-mail: consuladodamalasia@gmail.com
Mexico
Rua Marqus de Maric, 377 Santo Antnio - Cep: 30.350-070 Belo
Horizonte MG. Phone: (31) 3342-1510 fax : (31) 3297-3066. E-mail:
alfred@corpoconsular.com.br
Paraguay
Rua Guandaus, 60 apto 102 Santa Lcia - Cep: 30.350-640 Belo
Horizonte MG. Phone: (31) 3344-6349 / (31) 9990-3877 / (31) 7116-
0101. E-mail: marcospereiracardoso@gmail.com
Poland
Avenida do Contorno, 6594 - 7o. andar Edifcio Amadeus - Cep:
30.110-044 Belo Horizonte MG. Phone: (31) 3555-3329. E-mail:
sergio.pitchon@poloniamg.com.br
Portugal
Av. Alvares Cabral, 1366 9o. andar Lourdes CEP. 30.170-001 Belo
Horizonte MG
Romania
Av. Baro Homem de Melo, 4350 Estoril - Cep: 30.450-250 Belo
Horizonte MG - Phone: (31) 3298-2200. E-mail:
ricardo.costin@bvl.com.br
Spain
Av. Olegrio Maciel , 454 sala 01 - Cep: 30.180.110 Belo Horizonte
MG. Phone: (31) 3213-0763. E-mail: claalvarez@ig.com.br

Switzerland
Rua Tom de Souza, 350 apto. 901 Funcionrios - Cep.: 30.140-130
Belo Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 3225-1461
Trinidad and Tobago
Rua Curral Del Rey, 581 Padre Eustquio - Cep:30.720-220 Belo
Horizonte MG
Phone: (31) 3411-4970 fax: (31)3413-5350. E-mail:
franciscopontello@thermcom.com.br
Turkey
Rua Alvarenga Peixoto, 295 3. andar Lourdes - Cep: 30.180-120
Belo Horizonte MG - Phone: (31) 2122-6700 fax (31) 2122-6701. E-
mail: mfgn@sgcomex.com.br
Uruguay
Av. do Contorno, 6777 conj. 1301 Santo Antnio - Cep: 30.110-110
Belo Horizonte MG

Mineiro Stadium or Minas Arena

The new complex is a modern multi-purpose arena, an entertainment
space, services, culture and leisure available every day. The stadium
holds 67.000 seats.
Mineiro Stadium was reinvented to meet the stringent parameters of
comfort, cleanliness, accessibility and security, is capable of hosting
mega events to put the city of Belo Horizonte on the international circuit
of large spectacles.
Serviced by public transport, and with easy access by major roads, the
new structure serves not only the demand for leisure and services for
tourists and locals of Pampulha, but also for the entire metropolitan
region of Belo Horizonte.
If you have time, enjoy to visit the Estadio da Independencia (or
Raimundo Sampaio), the site where Englands infamous 1 X 0 defeat by
USA in 1950.
Stadium Address: Av. Antnio Abraho Caram, 1001 Pampulha, Belo
Horizonte Minas Gerais Brasil - CEP (ZIP CODE ): 31275-000

Schedule:
06/14 - Colombia vs Greece -1 PM
06/17 - Algeria vs Belgium -1 PM
06/21 - Argentina vs Iran- 1 PM
06/24 - Costa Rica vs England- 1PM
06/28 octaves(1A vs 2B) 1 PM
07 /08 semifinal (W57 vs W58)- 5 PM

Welcome to Braslia

Brasilia was built (construction began in November 1956) to be the new
capital of Brazil. The idea was to transfer the capital from Rio de Janeiro
to the interior of the country.
To transfer the capital to the interior, the government intended to
populate the region. People all over the country, especially the northeast
(called candangos, meaning ordinary people), were contracted to build
the city, which opened on April 21, 1960 by Juscelino Kubitschek.
At this time, the civic center of the city had already been fully
constructed (Government Palace, Cathedral, Sacred Ministries,
Parliament, Palace of Justice, etc).
Brasilia is home to about 400,000 inhabitants, most of the city's upper
class. The so-called satellite cities --15 to 40 km away concentrate the
remainder of the 2.2 million inhabitants of this great city of Braslia
(Distrito Federal).

Attention:
The temperatures on June and July in Brasilia are warm during the day
(27 Celsius or 80.6 F) and chilly during the night (12 C, or 53.6 F).
The humidity is very low: only 20%! Take care of your skin and throat.

How to get to Braslia:

By plane
Due to long distances and falling prices in air travel, flying has become a
practical way of getting to Brasilia.
The city is a national air travel hub, and there should be plenty of flights.
In fact you may find your plane touching down at Brasilia airport even if
you're not starting or ending anywhere near, such as Salvador to Belm.
On the other hand, despite being a major international capital, getting in
directly from abroad is difficult to impossible in most cases.
Virtually all flights are domestic, and you will have to go through
Brazilian customs and immigration elsewhere and re-board. Currently,
there are only non-stop flights from Lisbon (TAP
Portugal), Bogot (Avianca Taca), Miami (TAM Brazil) and (American
Airlines), Panama City (COPA), Montevideo (Pluna) and Atlanta (Delta
Airlines).
Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB) -
Braslia's Airport Phone:(61) 3364-9000, fax: (61) 3364-9251), is situated
11 km (7 mi) from the city center and has one of the few tourist
information services in town (phone (61) 3033.9488, from 7.30 am to
10.30 pm). It also has an exchange office at the arrivals area, another one
at Banco do Brasil (open Mon-Fri 11:00-16:00, departures area) and
several ATMs.
There is an Executive Bus from the airport to the hotel zone and the
central region for R$8.

Taxis are another convenient means of getting from the airport into the
city. They are relatively expensive for Brazilian standards and the 20-
minute drive to the hotel zone should cost about R$ 30-40.
Regular buses number 102 and 102.1 are frequent and significantly
cheaper. They link the airport to the main bus terminal at Rodoviria,
from where you can catch buses or the subway to other parts of the city.

By bus
Due to its central location, Brasilia is well served by a bus network that
connects it with the rest of Brazil.

The travel times are about 15 hours to So Paulo, 18 hours to Rio, 10
hours to Belo Horizonte and 3 hours to Goiania.
Buses from other states arrive at a bus station
called rodoferroviaria (phone: (61) 3363-4045). This station is located at
the west end of the axis, and is connected to the city by bus (number 131,
frequency each 10-20 minutes, from 5 am to midnight) and taxis.

By car
The drivers coming from the Southern and Center-West of Brazil will
arrive by the Sada Sul. From other states, you'll enter Brasilia by Sada
Norte. After you're inside the Federal District, keep following
the Braslia indicating traffic signs and Zona Central if you're staying at
the hotel sector.
The Eixo Rodovirio Road, that crosses the City's South, Center, and
North sectors, can be identified by the characteristics: the double strip of
yellow raised pavement markers separating the roads in two lanes.

Getting Around in Brasilia:

By bus
Most local buses start from or go through the Rodoviria, at the precise
center of the city, and run along the "wings" serving the residential zones
or through the Monumental Axis.
Red-and-white mini-buses, called Zebrinha (little zebras) or Transporte
de Vizinhana, are very useful for moving around, as they link the central
area of Brasilia (Setor Comercial,Setor de Diverses etc.) to Esplanada
dos Ministrios, the airport and some of the main avenues (L2 and W3).
Unlike many other Brazilian cities, passengers in Brasilia board buses by
the front door. Buses must be flagged down. Otherwise they will only
stop when a passenger requests to hop off. Single fares are R$ 3.00 for
travel within Braslia (Price as March, 2014). There is no advance sale of
tickets. You pay when you get on the bus.

By taxi
Taxis are relatively expensive in Brasilia and usually cannot be hailed on
the streets. Taxi stands, however, are close to all tourist attractions and
any hotel will be able to call a cab or provide the phone number of the
best known dispatch offices.
All taxis must have taximeters and can start charging only after the
passenger has boarded.

By Subway
The Metr subway system started operating in 2001. Its Y-shaped line
starts in the main bus station (Rodoviria de Braslia -- "Central" station)
and makes its first stop at Setor Comercial Sul ("Galeria" station), which
is fairly close to some hotels South of Monumental Axis.
It runs along the south wing, stopping at blocks 102, 108, 112 and 114,
and then going through the suburbs. The subway operates from 6 AM to
11:30 PM from Monday to Friday (some stations stop selling tickets at
10:30 PM), and from 7 AM to 7 PM on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

It's not particularly useful for tourists, as it does not visit the main
attractions but does stop at attractions such as the Buddhist Temple (EQS
115/116, access by "114 Sul" Station); Park shopping mall (next to
"Shopping" station) and a typical fair in the satellite city of Guar (access
by "Feira" Station).
Before going on the subway, remember to have pocket money in
small bills or coins -- the Metro doesn't accept credit cards and won't
give change above R$ 20.

By Car
If you are not using "city tour" services, it would be a good idea to have a
car available. The urbanistic plan of Brasilia was highly based on
individual motorized transportation, so it is not surprising that a visit to
the city will be much more pleasing by having access to a car.
Unlike other large Brazilian cities, traffic in Brasilia is not a major
problem, although there are some traffic jams during the rush hours.
There are public parking lots available at main sites, although it can be
hard to find spots sometimes.
As in other Brazilian towns, there usually are some "watchers"; people
that offers to watch your car (supposedly to protect it from robbers),
expecting to get some money in return. They usually behave like
beggars, although they can turn violent towards the cars if not paid, by
scratching or chipping the paint job. You will avoid some trouble by
giving a little bit of money. Something around R$ 2 reais should suffice.
If this practice bothers you, then you can always park your car a little
further from the main destinations, where there are no watchers, or in a
paid garage, when available.

Also, drivers behave a little differently than in other places in Brazil:
Stop at pedestrian crossings: Pedestrians will wave a hand before
crossing or usually simply start walking. Keep an eye on the sidewalks at
all times. Policemen enforce this rule and you can get fined if you
disrespect it.

Use of horns: Do not honk unless you really need to. The
Brasilienses hate it and really appreciate their driving to be as silent as
possible.
It is paramount to have a detailed map in hand when driving through the
city, especially in the central area. Brasilia has the shape of an airplane.
The access of some streets can be confusing, as there are many elevated
interchanges and ramps.
Do not expect the signs to be clear or universal. There are no signs
telling you on what avenue you are traveling on and streets rarely
intersect. Smaller streets do not have names as they are defined by
being between this and that square.
Once you have an understanding of the logic that rules ramps and
intersections, you can theoretically throw your map away.

What to see in Brasilia?

Brasilia's Cathedral
Brasilias Cathedral is midway along the axis. With its sixteen curved
90-ton concrete pillars and stained-glass panels, is one of the world's
most amazing modernist buildings. Mon and Sat 8AM-5PM, Tue-Fri and
Sun 8AM-6PM. Phone: 3224-4073.
The Three Powers Square (Praa dos Trs Poderes) at the extreme
end of the axis includes the seats of the country's 3 highest authorities:
the Congress, the Presidential Palace (called Palcio do Planalto) and
the Supreme Court.
There's also a "blind justice" statue by the Supreme Court, a small
museum and a model, built to scale, of Brasilia itself. The Brazilian flag in
the square is the largest regularly hoisted flag in the world.

The faade of the Palace of Justice has waterfalls that contrast with its
stern geometrical beauty:
Itamaraty Palace which houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also
stands out among the ministry buildings at Esplanada dos
Ministrios and is open for guided visits from 2 PM-4:30 PM on
weekdays and Sat-Sun 10AM-3:30PM. Phone: 3411-6148.

Torres de TV (Television Towers): Brasilia has two different towers.
This is the newest; the Digital TV Tower, or Torre Nova de TV, designed
by Oscar Niemeyer. A coffee shop will soon be open on the top.

Torre Velha de TV: The oldest is in the middle of the Monumental axis,
Torre Velha de TV (Old TV Tower) that is the best place for a sweeping
panorama of the city. There is also a crafts and food market at the base
of the tower. The tower is open Tue-Sun 8AM-8PM. Free admission.

Juscelino Kubitschek Memorial on the western part of the axis is a
museum dedicated to the life and accomplishments of the president, and
houses his remains as well. It's located underground and has a slightly
spooky 1960's science-fiction feel to it.
Palcio da Alvorada (Palace of Dawn): The President's
official residence. Its arches are the icons of the capital.

Public works of art: Some of the finest Brazilian artists have created
works in Brasilia: Burle Marx (landscape design), Athos Bulco
(geometric tile panels), Oscar Niemeyer (buildings and sculptures)
Ceschiatti and Bruno Giorgio (sculptures). These can be seen on the
streets, open air and for free.
Braslia City Tour: A tour by bus that visits almost all the main
attractions listed in this article. The bus leaves every day from the TV
Tower at 10AM and 5PM.
Phone: +55 61 9298-9416 / 9304-2107 / 9304-1346 / 3356-1707 /
3964-9122.
The "Wing" Sectors, while mostly residential, contain a few notable
buildings:
Dom Bosco Church (Igreja de Dom Bosco): A beautiful modern
church built on concrete and blue stained glass. Dom Bosco was a 19th-

century Italian priest whose writings, some say, prophesied the creation
of Brasilia. It's impossible not to notice the huge crystal chandelier
hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the square church.
Location: Av. W3 Sul, Quadra 702.

Parano Lake (Lago Parano): The Ponto has lakeside restaurants
and a park while the Ermida Dom Bosco (near SHIS QI 29, bus line
100/123) chapel provides gorgeous views of the city from across the
Lake, an excellent place to watch Brasilia's famous sunsets.
You can swim in the lake at the Ecological Park next to the Ermida. You
also can swim in the Centro Olmpico of the Universidade de Braslia.

City Park (Parque da Cidade): Slightly larger than NYC's Central Park,
this wide green area is the city's hot spot for sports such as jogging,
cycling, skating and even kart racing, as well as barbecues and other
outdoor activities.

Brasilia National Park: With the Cerrado vegetation and fauna, plus
natural swimming pools.
Poo Azul: A waterfall forming beautiful blue pools on a quartz rock.
Its in Formosa (in Gois State) about 100km from Braslia.
Parque Olhos D'gua: A park in the northern wing of the city that is
mainly used for jogging. It also has many springs, streams and a small
pond. Many of its facilities include a playground and two outdoor gyms.

Museums, art galleries and theaters:
Although lacking major museums, culture vultures may enjoy the city's
contemporary arts scene, one of the most active in the country. The
"Cultural Centers" hold frequent exhibitions from national and
international artists.
Brasilia National Museum: Monumental axis. It is near of Brasilia
Cathedral. Brasilia's newest museum was built to be the city's home for
renowned national and international exhibitions. As of 2009, the
collections are temporary and is severely lacking both in size and
importance. But give it a try since it's free.
Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB): This museum holds
exhibitions and cultural events. It contains Russian paintings, musical
concerts, documentaries, plays, thematic movie festivals, photography,
and more. There are no permanent exhibitions or attraction, so you
need to check the schedule before going. Or you can just go there and
enjoy what's available.
The easiest way to reach this museum is through its own free bus line
that runs from the city center and back. Open Thu-Sun from 9 AM until 9
PM. Entrance fees may vary greatly or even be free depending on what's
going on. But one thing is certain: it's usually CHEAP!

Location: SCES, Trecho 02, lote 22.
Phone: +55 61 33107087.

Caixa Cultural: Usually holds photography, musical concerts, movies
and contemporary arts exhibitions. Entrance is free most of the time.
Location: SBS, Quadra 4.
Phone: +55 61 32069450.

Espao Cultural Contemporneo (ECCO): This gallery has many
works of contemporary art. They are mostly sculpture and paintings.
Location: SCN quadra 3, Bloco C.
Phone: +55 61 33272027. Open Thu-Sun from 9 AM until 7 PM.

Monetary Museum: Maintained by the Central Bank of Brazil, this
museum has everything related to money; rare coins, paper money from
various countries, medals, gold bars, ancient machinery used to print
and cut etc. It also keeps the biggest gold nugget ever found in Brazil,
weighing 60.8kg.
Location: SBS Quadra 3 Bloco B.
Phone: +55 61 34142093.
Hours: Open Thu-Fri 10 AM until 5:30 PM. Sat 2PM until 6 PM. Entrance
is free.
National Theater Claudio Santoro: Brasilia's main theater features 3
main halls for plays and concerts, art galleries and temporary art
exhibitions. Tickets can be obtained by Phone: +55 61 3325-6239 /
3325-6256, from 12 PM -8 PM.

Wonderful places to tour and sports:
Chapada Imperial: It's a natural park with trekking trails, a camping
area, typical cerrado (local vegetation in Braslia), birds and waterfalls.
Location: It is 50 Km from the city center.
Phone: +55 61 9965-2461 / 9961-9068 / 9984-4437.

Sporting Activities:
Basketball: If you happen to be in Brasilia between January and June,
you should not miss the games of Brasilia's home team Universo BRB for
the national league of basketball. Runner-up of the 2009 season,
Universo is well known for playing great games and drawing a big
audience (for Brazilian Standards), which peaked 11.000 people during
the 2009 finals. The seasonal games happen in Clube da CEB (CEB's
club), at SGAS 904. Regular Ticket costs R$ 1.00.
If you actually want to play basketball, the city's park has plenty of
courts available for public use. Your best chance to catch some locals
playing is going on the weekends.
Golf: Brasilia Golf Club - SCES Trecho 2, lt 2. Phone: +55 61 3224-2718.
Prices per game: R$ 120.00 Tue-Fri and R$ 180.00 Sat-Sun and holidays.
Jogging: This is Brasilia's most popular sport by far. There are running
tracks in the National Park and in the City's Park. The Eixo
Rodoviario road is closed to traffic on Sundays (8AM-6PM) and can be
also used for jogging, cycling and skating. Jogging on weekends in the
City's Park is one the most popular activities amongst locals. Don't miss
the coconut water vendors. 5 Km and 10 Km races happen almost bi-
monthly.
Water Sports:
Wakescola de Braslia: Fairly Expensive. The only Wakeboard School
in the city.
Phone: +55 61 3380-2171 / +55 61 9982-3562.

Club Katanka: "Paddleboard" or as it's called "stand up paddle" on a
surf-like board. This club also offers courses in sailing and windsurfing!
Located in the Clube das Naes near the JK Bridge.
www.katanka.com.br
"Kayak" rentals: Kayaks can be rented in the park at the end of the JK
Bridge. Only R$ 30 per half hour. Single and Double kayaks are available
(Price as January, 2014).

Shopping:
Brasilia's Residential Wings have many local shops such as groceries,
drugstores, bakeries, restaurants, and hairdressers.
The decadent W3 Avenue used to be the equivalent of a city's high street
and still concentrates a large portion of the city's street commerce.
Shopping malls, however, also play an important part when it comes to
shopping in town.
The Setor de Diverses is a fairly nice shopping area at the center of the
city, very close to Rodoviria.
The northern side, called Conjunto Nacional, is a bit more upscale, while
the southern side has interesting small shops with books, music, and
clothing that appeal to the local skateboard-riding youths. Notice that
this southern side at night is very dangerous, being the favorite spot
for hookers and drug dealers.
On Sundays there is a flea market at the base of the Television Tower. Half
of the stands are also open during the week and you can get local crafts
and souvenirs hard to find in shopping malls.
Some off-center places can also be of interest for travelers:

The Imports Market (popularly known as Feira do Paraguai) is the
place to go for cheap electronics (cameras and replacement accessories,
batteries etc.) and other travel items such as backpacks, flashlights and
so forth. From Rodoviaria, take bus 124. Open Tue- Sun, 9 AM-6 PM.

Records and books:
FNAC at the Park Shopping Mall has a good assortment of English-
language travel guides and Brazilian music CDs.
The Livraria Cultura, at the Casa Park mall, has bilingual staff and an
extensive collection of Brazilian CDs and foreign-language literature
(especially in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German).
Both malls are close to each other and can be easily reached by subway
through the (almost self-explanatory named) Shopping station.

Where to eat in Braslia?
My aunt and cousins live in Brasilia, so I tried to visit as many
restaurants as possible. I will list the best for travelers, like me.
Trattoria Rosario: The chef Rosario Tessier, who makes classic
preparations from various regions of Italy. He is from the Amalfi Coast.
The seafood linguine pasta gathers in tomato sauce with shrimp, squid
and octopus are the best in Brasilia.
Address: QI 17, lojas 215/216 - Edifcio Fashion Park - Lago Sul
Braslia
http://www.trattoriadarosario.com.br.

Unanimit: Italian Restaurant: It is a great space, tables and nice staff.
(Look for the Chef Rhally). We started the event tasting breads and
antipasti.
The owner of restaurant sat with me and my friends as he explained
every detail of his life and the construction of his restaurants. His
employees are educated and well-trained. A great dish is Polpettone
alla home " - giant polpettone made of ground beef, pepperoni and
mortadella, stuffed with buffalo mozzarella, pomodoro and the gratin
sauce with mozzarella, accompanied by spaghetti with garlic and oil.

Address: 408 Sul, bloco C - loja 25 - Braslia

Yujin Japanese Sushi:
This restaurant has very beautiful decoration in addition to delicious
sushi. Try the Ika. The hot rolls are just amazing!

Address: ClLS 408, Bloco B Loja 11 - Asa Sul, Braslia, Distrito Federal,
70257-500
Phone: +55 61 3322-7453
http://www.yujinrestaurante.com.br

Beirute Lebanese Restaurant: The Beirut is one of the oldest and most
traditional restaurants in the federal capital. Its trademark tastier fried
kebab in Braslia. The meat and chickpeas also deserve to be savored.
The beer is always cold. The service is first quality in my opinion.
Some LGBT people should have fun here. There is a tip: if you eat lunch
at the weekend, get there early, the place is much sought after, avoid
standing in line waiting.
Address: CLS 109 Bl A, s/n LJ2- Brasilia
Phone: 32441717

El Paso Texas: Tex-Mex Food: Beautiful paintings, sculptures, rustic
folklore and Mexican culture (scrap old photos of personalities such as
Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata cars) adorn the halls of the three units.
At lunchtime, they assemble a vast buffet with tex-mex dishes, like
burritos, chimichangas, tacos with guacamole and chili sauce, spicy
tomato and cheddar.
El Paso Texas is the favorite of American expats and locals alike.
Besides the Tex-Mex dishes, try the great frozen margaritas.
Address: SCLS 404 Sul, bloco C - loja 23 - Braslia
Phone: (61) 3323-4618

Fogo de Cho: Traditional Brazilian steakhouse, with branches in Belo
Horizonte, Sao Paulo and EUA. It features an all-you-can eat salad buffet,
imported cheeses, Brazilian side dishes and 15 cuts of fire roasted meats
that are brought to your table almost non-stop. Service is top-notch. It is
a little bit expensive, but this place worth it.
Address: SHS Quadra 5, Bloco E.
Phone: +55 61 3322-4666.
Hours: Open Mon-Fri Noon until 4PM (lunch) and then 6PM-12AM
(dinner), Sat-Sun 12PM-12AM (non-stop).
(http://www.fogodechao.com/index.php?id=175).

Bottarga Ristorante: French-Italian cuisine. Main dishes from R$ 60
(Risotto) to R$ 110. Good selection of wines (for Brasilia). It is inside of
Espao Maria Teresa.
Address: SHIS QI 05 Conjunto 09
Phone: +55 61 3248-0124.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 12:30PM-3:00PM and 8:00PM-12AM. Sun
12:30-4:30PM
(http://www.espacomariatereza.com.br)

Aquavit:
Run by Danish Simon Cederholm, this restaurant offers a six-course
meal, which changes every month. Inspired by Scandinavian cuisine, the
place is popular with Nordic visitors to Brasilia. It is located in front of
Paranoas Lake. Reservations are a must.
Try the Foie Gras and cachaa and pineapple pudding, lobster and
oysters with green mango, litchi drinking Italian white wine emulsion.

Address: Setor de Manses Lago Norte - ML12 conjunto 1 casa 5 -
Phone: (61) 3369-2301. Open for dinner only, Thu-Sat.

The Best Bars in Brasilia:
BEWARE: Brazilian law has a ZERO tolerance for drinking and
driving.

Bar do Calaf: Famous for its Spanish cuisine and for its parties. On
Monday night, it has one of the best parties in Braslia with American-
style Jazz. On the other days of the week, you can enjoy samba music.
Address: Quadra 02 - Bloco Q - Trreo - Sbs - Braslia, DF, 70070-120,
Brazil
Phone:+55 61 5322-9581
(http://www.calaf.com.br).

Clube do Choro: This bar is considered by many to be one of the best
places for instrumental music in Brazil. This club is also a school
of choro, a genuinely Brazilian instrumental popular music style, usually
played with a flute, guitar and cavaquinho (a small chordophone with
four strings).

Located near of the Oldest TV tower, it has weekly presentations of
national choro artists. Call in advance to check availability, tickets are
limited and often sold out days before the shows.

Address: SDC, Bloco G, Eixo Monumental, Braslia - Distrito Federal,
70070-350, Brazil -
Phone:+55 61 3224-0599
(http://www.clubedochoro.com.br).

Pr-do-Sol Bar: The beer is reasonably priced. However, you have to
order it from the counter. You can see the youth of Braslia over here,
drinking beer and talking about anything. Some consider the whole 408
quadra as a sort of "alcoholic set-up", due to the many bars. This is a
popular bar for University of Braslia students. It is always crowded, so
it is a great place to see different people.
Address: CLN 408 BL C, s/n lj 24 - Asa Norte.
Phone: +55 61 3037-1440

Chiquita Bacana: It is a nice bar in Brasilia. However, it is not a cheap
one (one Stella Artois Long Neck costs R$7), but they have a good
decoration and a good variety of booze and snacks. They have narguiles,
or hookas, to rent too.
Address: 209 Sul, Bloco A - loja 37 - Asa Sul (near 108 Sul metro station).
Phone: +55 61 3242-1212.
(http://www.chiquitabacanachoperia.com.br).

UK Music Hall: Live music with local bands, mostly covers of famous
bands. This location doesnt accept credit cards. There is a separate
room where you can smoke.
Address: Bloco B - Cls 411 - Asa Sul, Braslia - Distrito Federal, 70277-
520
Phone: +55 61 3346-5214
Hours: Open Tue-Sat from 6PM.
(http://www.ukmusichall.com.br).

Where to sleep in Brasilia?
$
Albergue Hostel Brasilia: This albergue da juventude is a member of
FBAJ, the national hostels federation that is a member of Hostelling
International. Although it is cheaper than hotels, it is also more distant
from most urban facilities and attractions.
Address: Setor de reas Isoladas Norte - Camping - Lote 2 (From
Rodoviria, take bus 143).
Phone: (61) 3343-0531/3344-9191, fax: (61) 3342-2476,
http://www.brasiliahostel.com.br
brasilia@brasiliahostel.com.br

$$
Hotel Bristol: Central location with easy access to a shopping center and
bus lines. Bristol Hotel turned out to be a very pleasant, clean, simple
kind of mid-range hotel, with friendly and helpful staff, a decent
restaurant (not exotic, by any means), fast Wi-Fi and a nicely furnished
room and a good bathroom. It's obviously been completely renovated
since some of the quite negative reviews of a few years ago.
Address: SHS Quadra 4 - Asa Sul
Phone: +55 61 3204-6162

$$$
The Royal Tulip Brasilia Alvorada: This large hotel by the Paranoa
Lake and right next to the Alvorada Palace is reputed as the city's best.
Address: SHTN Trecho 1, Conj 1B, Bloco C.
Phone: +55 61 3424-7018 / 3424-7000.

Hospitals:
Make sure your policy allows for foreign medical coverage. If you are
not, you should purchase a short-term foreign travel policy. Check with
your insurance company to see which hospitals and clinics are covered
beforehand.
If you have any allergies or known health problems, it is wise to learn
some Portuguese words to describe the problem, as it is very likely most
of the hospital staff wont speak English except for more qualified MDs,
nurses and social workers.
Although you might not see any initial difference, nurses are divided into
college nurses, technical nurses and auxiliary nurses. You are more
likely to find an English speaker amongst the college nurses (they are
called Enfermeira or Enfermeiro and usually act as sector
supervisors in a hospital).
Free rescue and ambulance service:
This can be requested by a free call to one of two institutions: SAMU (the
acronym for the health emergency service) - Phone: 192 or Fire
Department - Phone: 193.
Public Hospital:
Hospital de Brasilia
SMU Hgum, Bl. Sn
Braslia - DF - CEP: 71220-500
Phone: 61 3362 -6300

Private Hospital:
Hospital Santa Luzia
SHLS Q 716, Cj. E, T without number Asa Sul Brasilia 70390-903
Phone: 61 3445 60000

Contact By phone
The area code for Brasilia is 61.

To get police assistance, dial 190 in any public or private phone.

Be Safe:
Brasilia is a safe city, but usual safety measures should be taken. The
surrounding cities like Taguatinga and Ceilandia aren't tourist
destinations and aren't considered to be as safe as Braslia itself.
In fact, in those cities there are a lot of danger zones, and if you don't
know where to avoid, it's better not to go to them. At night, the area near
the central bus station is not considered to be safe (prostitution and
drugs). Avoid walking alone at night throughout the city.
There are an increasing number of cases of "flash kidnap".
This consists of attacking people near or inside their own car, robbing
and getting away with car, and sometimes driving with the owner to
make them withdraw money from automatic cash machines or even
committing other kinds of violence.
The Local Police give some advice on how to avoid these crimes:
Try to walk with company, avoiding deserted places or those with poor
illumination. Be aware of people approaching to ask for information,
especially at night.
When exiting a bank, verify whether you are being followed, or if there
are suspicious people near your vehicle.
When approaching your car, have your keys ready, to make it easier to
get into the car;
Going home (or to your hotel), do not park immediately. Watch the sides
of the buildings and corners and only then stop the vehicle. Do not react
to any kind of crime, as the criminals do not act alone.
Police officers are usually polite, but as they have to deal with
considerable violence, they might appear harsh in situations where
they have to be alert.
Respect is the key for good interaction.
In case of police intervention at a crime (i.e. when they withdraw their
guns), lie on the ground, put your hands on your head, and don't make
any sudden movements.
Do not react if searched. Follow instructions and, if possible, inform
someone of your situation by phone.

To get police assistance, dial 190 in any public or private phone. For
medical emergency, dial 192.
Although drug consumption does not lead to incarceration, it is still a
crime in Brazil, and being caught with small amounts of illegal
substances may lead to bureaucratic complications when leaving the
country.
Selling or transporting drugs for use of others is considered trafficking,
and that is a serious crime, and will lead to severe consequences. Do not
use or carry drugs of any kind.
Always remember, NEVER show off any of your 'splurging'. Not only will
this be considered as an insult to less fortunate citizens, you will be an
advert for mugging.

Useful Phone Numbers:

Police: 190
Ambulance: 192

International Airport of Brasilia Juscelino Kubitschek: 61 3364-
9000. Address: Lago Sul, Braslia - Distrito Federal, 71608-900.

Consulates:
Argentina, Q803, Lote 12, +55 61 3212
7600 (ebras@mrecic.gov.ar, fax: 00 55 61 3212 7666),
China, Q813, Lote 51, Avenida das Naes, +55 61-
21958200 (fax: +55 61-3463299),
Egypt, S.E.N. Avenida das Naes, Lote 12, 70435-900, +55 61-
3323-8800 (embegito@opengate.com.br, fax: +55 61-3323-1039),
S.E.S. Avenida das Naes, Quadra 807, Lote 30, 70420.900, +55
61-3442-9900 (ambasciata.brasilia@esteri.it, fax: +55 61-3443-1231),
Germany, Avenida das Naes, Lote 25, Quadra 807, 70415-
900, +55 61-3442-7000 (info@bras.diplo.de, fax: +55 61-3443-7508),
Greece, S.E.S. Avenida das Naes, Quadra 805 Lote 22, 70480-900
Brasilia DF, +55 61-3443 6573, Emergencies: +55 61-8128 2822 (+55
61-3443 6421, gremb.bra@mfa.gr, fax: +55 61-3443 6902),
Israel, S.E.S. Avenida das Naes, Quadra 809 Lote 38, 70424-900
Brasilia DF, +55 61-2105-0500 (info@brasilia.mfa.gov.il, fax: +55 61-
2105-0555),
Japan, S.E.S. Avenida das Naes, Quadra 811, Lote 39, +55 61-
3442-4200 (fax: +55 61-3242-0738),
Morocco, S.E.N. Avenida das Naes, Quadra 80, 70432-900 Brasilia
DF, +55 61-3321-4487 (sifamabr@onix.com.br, fax: +55 61-3321-
0745),
Turkey, S.E.S. Avenida das Naes, Quadra 805 Lote 23, 70452-900
Brasilia DF, +55 61-3242-1850 (embassy.brasil@mfa.gov.tr, fax: +55
61-3242-1448),
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, S.E.S.
Avenida das Naes, Quadra 801 Lote 8, 70408-900 Brasilia DF, +55
61-3329-2300 (contact@uk.org.br, fax: +55 61-3329-2369),

United States of America, S.E.S. Avenida das Naes, Quadra 801,
Lote 03, +55 61-3312-7000 (+55 61-3312-7400 after
hours, BrasiliaACS@state.gov, fax: +55 61-3312-7651) .

Some beautiful places around Brasilia
Pirenpolis: An Ancient Portuguese Colonial town
surrounded by several waterfalls.
Chapada dos Veadeiros: A huge National Park with
plenty of Cerrado wildlife and spectacular waterfalls.
Itiquira waterfall: This beautiful 168m-high waterfall is
little more than 100km from Brasilia, a safe and pleasant 2-hour drive
going northwest; exit the city through the Ponte do Bragueto and
continue on highway BR020 to Planaltina and then Formosa.
Alto Paraiso de Gois: This place is 230 km North of
Brasilia. That is the main gate to the Chapada dos Veadeiros region. It's
also known from its hippies and esoteric communities.
Cavalcante: It is 320 Km north of Brasilia. It's part of the
Chapada dos Veadeiros national park. Also known from the Kalunga
communities (decedents of escaped slaves).
Caldas Novas: It is 300 Km south of Braslia. Caldas Novas
is popular for its hot springs that attract travelers all year round.

Man Garrincha Stadium

Man Garrincha (1933-1983) was a Brazilian soccer player very popular.
He had a problem on his legs because the Polio both were curved, but it
was not enough to let Garrincha out of the children games and he was
able to learn soccer.
Unfortunately, Mane Garricha was an incorrigible alcoholic and
womanizer after to get success in the sport. He had 14 children from 5
different women. He lost all his money and died in a penury situation.
The design of the National Stadium in Brasilia Mane Garrincha is signed
by architects So Paulo Eduardo de Castro Mello and his son, Vicente
Castro Mello.
The stadium holds 72.000 seats.
Address: Estdio Nacional Man Garrincha, s/n, Asa Norte, Braslia -
Distrito Federal, 70070-701 Phone: +55 61 3313-5902
Schedule:

06/15 - Switzerland vs Ecuador- 1PM
06/19- Columbia vs Ivory Coast- 1 PM
06/23- Brazil vs Cameroon- 5 PM
06/26- Portugal vs Ghana- 1 PM
06/30- the 8
th
(1E vs 2F) -1 PM
07/05- the 4
th (
W55 vs W 56) 1 PM
07/12- 3rd place contest (L61 vs L 62) 5 PM

Welcome to Cuiab

Cuiab (Portuguese pronunciation: [kujaba]) is the capital city of the
Brazilian state of Mato Grosso and was founded in April 08, 1719.
The temperatures on June and July are very warm for the average (31
Celsius, or 87.8 F), and cooler during the night, occasionally cold (10 C, or
50 F).

How to get to Cuiab:
The capital of Mato Grosso state, Cuiab is a modern, pleasant town of
500,000 that sits in the middle of Brazilian cattle country.
It was not unusual to see folks on the street in cowboy duds, but through
recent years, Cuiab has been greatly modernized. It is still a great place
to stock up on boots, saddles, and other western gear.
The city serves as the main gateway to the northern part of the Pantanal
- the Transpantaneira Highway starts just 98km (61 miles) away - and as
the jumping-off point to the Chapada dos Guimares.

However, in the city there is so much to do and see. There are three
spacious shopping malls, amazing restaurants, and late-night clubs.
There is a beautiful open downtown center where you can find live
music, open air shopping, street vendors, and fresh coconut water.

Museums and Parks:
Down by the renovated riverside port area there's the Museu do Rio
Cuiab and the Municipal Aquarium, Av. Beira Rio s/n (where the
Avenida 15 de Novembro crosses the river; Phone: 065/623-1440. Open
Tue-Sun 9 AM-6 PM.
The aquarium features displays and exhibits on the changing face of the
river, and a small collection of local Pantanal fish.
The centerpiece of Cuiab is a small green square called Praa de
Repblica. The modern but very stylish basilica fronts this square, as
does the tourist information office and the small natural history
museum.
The most important street in Centro (central Cuiab), Avenida Getulio
Vargas, runs northwest from Praa da Repblica.
Most of the city's better hotels and several restaurants cluster around
Avenida Getulio Vargas about 8 blocks from the square.
Directly northeast of Praa da Repblica, here's a small shopping district,
centered on Rua Engenheiro Ricardo Franco.
Two blocks southeast of Praa da Repblica, Avenida Getulio Vargas hits
the broad traffic arterial Avenida Tenente Coronel Duarte.
On the far side of this street there's a large city park, Parque Antonio
Pires de Campos, and on the ridge behind that, the neighborhood of
Bandeirantes, where there are a few cheaper hotels. It takes about 10 to
15 minutes to walk from either Banderiantes to Praada Repblica, or
from Praa da Repblica to the Avenida Vargas hotel enclave.

Shopping:
Pantanal Shopping Mall, one of the biggest in west of Brazil.
Address: 3300, Cuiab - MT, 78050-250 - Phone: +55 65 9276-5451
3 Americas Shopping, finest stores. Address: Avenida Braslia, 146
Jardim das Amricas , Phone:+55 65 3627-5501
Goiabeiras Shopping close to downtown Address: Av. Jos Monteiro de
Figueiredo, n 500 - Duque de Caxias - Cuiab - MT. Phone: 65.3315-
2300. Zip Code: 78.043-900
Native & Regional Arts and Crafts: A number of excellent crafts
stores with native and regional works can be found around Centro.
Feira de Artesanato: At Praa Santos Dumont, at the corner of Avenida
Getulio Vargas. A weekend crafts market Saturday from 8 AM-8 PM and
Sunday from 3PM-9PM.

Where eat in Cuiab?

Itiban Sushi: Japanese Food: Wonderful sushi, good service.
Address: Rua Senador Filinto Muller, 829, Zip Code: 78043-243
Phone: +55 65 3023-7263
http://www.itibanrestaurante.com.br

Confrade Restaurante: A variety of Brazilian Food. Self-service, a la
carte and cheap prices. Good Brazilian Beers.
Address: Av. Mato Grosso, 1000, 78005-030 Cuiab, Brazil
Japidinho: Another good Japanese food option. Address: Avenida
Historiador Rubens de Mendona, 1856 Cuiab.

Rays American Blend: Burger house. Taste: Five stars!

Address: Rua Cndido Mariano, 1329 - Quilombo, Cuiab.

Carpe Diem: Try the Boeuf Borguignon, Bife Ancho, Gnnochi or
Bacalhau. The chefs, Leandro Meert & Davi Perez, prepare everything
fresh. They have great wine.

Address: Rua Presidente Castelo Branco, 273 Quilombo Cuiab
Phone: (065) 3637-2071
http://carpediembistro.com.br

Telepizza: Open since 1989, Telepizza has the best pizza in Cuiaba. The
Margarita Pizza is the best in my opinion. They have also pasta.
Address: Avenida Marechal Deodoro, 1250 - Araes, Cuiab - MT, 78005-
100
Phone:+55 65 3624-2400
http://www.telepizzamt.com.br

Taberna Portuguesa: Portuguese food.

Address: Avenida Ipiranga, 560 - Goiabeira, Cuiab - MT, 78020-810,
Brazil
Phone: +55 65 3321-3661
http://eng.tabernaportuguesa.com/

Regionalissimo: Regional cuisine. Try the Arroz com pequi.

Address: Avenida Manoel Jos de Arruda, Museu do Rio, 78025-170.
Phone: +55 65 3623-6881
Peixaria Popular: The best fish house in Cuiab.

Address: Avenida So Sebastio, 2324, Cuiab - 78020-801, Brazil .
Phone: +55 65 3322-5471

Restaurante Cedros: Arabic Food

Addresses:
1st Location: Praa 08 de Abril - Rua 24 de Outubro, 1046 - Goiabeiras
Cuiab.
2nd Location: Av. Historiador Rubens de Mendona, 3300 - Jardim
Aclimao, Cuiab - Mato Grosso, 78050-250 - Phone:+55 65 3052-0082
www.cedrosrestaurante.com.br

Getulio Grill: Meats, sushi bar and beer, still counts in the weekends
with very busy nightclub.
Address: Av. Pres. Getlio Vargas, 1147 - Centro Norte, Cuiab - Mato
Grosso, 78005-370
Phone: +55 65 3624-9992
www.getuliogrill.com.br

Where to drink in Cuiab?
driving.
Praa Popular (Popular Square) or Praa Presidente Eurico Gaspar
Dutra. This is a public space located in the popular neighborhood of the
city of Cuiab.
This square concentrates many restaurants and bars around it. Between
the streets Rua Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes corner Rua Senador Vilas
Boas and Rua Siro Libanes you can find good bars.

Where to sleep in Cuiab?
$$
Deville Hotel: It's the only luxury hotel in Cuiab, but the rooms are
fairly standard. They're comfortably furnished with a desk, armchair,
and table. The colors and decor are slightly dated, but the bathrooms are
modern and come with bathtubs. It's the amenities that you really get
what you pay for: it's the only hotel in town with a business center, room
service, spacious swimming pool, and sun deck.
Address: Avenida Isaac Pvoas, 1000 - Centro Norte, Cuiab - MT,
78045-200, Brazil
Phone: +55 65 3319-3000

Araras Lodge: Likely the best spot for exploring the Pantanal. The
location by the Transpantaneira at Pocone city is excellent. The lodge
owner Andr Thuronyi has done extensive work to improve the local
wildlife habitat. With only 14 rooms, the lodge is pleasantly small and
rustic. No fancy rooms or amenities; but each guest room comes with a
private bathroom and a hammock on the balcony.

Address: Pocon - MT, Brazil
Phone: +55 65 3682-2800. Site in English and Portuguese:
http://www.araraslodge.com.br/

$
Hotel Mato Grosso Palace: The best hotel in the center of Cuiab, just
a few blocks from the Praa da Repblica. The hotel has just completed
renovating the hallways and rooms. The rooms have had the carpets
replaced with tile, making for a much cleaner and brighter look.
Rooms are either standard or deluxe. The standard rooms are a bit small
and dark (they look out the side of the building). The more spacious
deluxe rooms overlook the front of the hotel and come with a queen-size
bed. The best rooms are the deluxe rooms on the quieter upper floors.

The suites aren't worth the price in my opinion. They are really just two
adjoined bedrooms. The eighth and ninth floor are for nonsmoking only.

Address: Rua Comandante Costa, 643 - Centro Norte, MT, 78005-400,
Brazil.
Phone: +55 65 3614-7777

$$$

Global Graden: Offers by far the best accommodations in Cuiab,
provided you don't require amenities such as a pool, business center, or
room service. Every unit is a full suite; all are spacious with complete
kitchens and lots of closet space - perfect for a family.

To splurge, go for the duplex penthouse. There are four of them on the
top floor, and they are huge! On the top floor there's a sitting room,
kitchen, and a large deck with a barbecue. Down the spiral staircase are
two spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Address: Av. Miguel Sutil, 5555, Ba, Cuiab - MT, 78043-375, Brazil.
Phone: +55 65 3051-5000

Paiagus Palace Hotel: An excellent hotel for its affordable
accommodations in Cuiab. Due to its location on a busy road, it only
takes a 10-minute walk from the Praa de Repblica stands, the Veneza
tries harder, including goodies like free airport transfer, free Internet
access, and a very steep discount during at least half the year.

Rooms are pleasant, with a good-size queen bed, table, writing desk, and
standard-size bathroom.

Address: Av. Historiador Rubens de Mendona, 1718 - Cuiab - Mato
Grosso, 78050-000
Phone: +55 65 3642-5353

Beautiful places to see around Cuiab:
Pantanal Reserve:

I think that three days are enough to get to know the Pantanal. If you
decide to stay longer, you will be able to tour at a more leisurely pace. If
you are there to view the wildlife, you will have a better chance to see
more species.

Take a guided hike, and after sunset, go for a spotlight drive on the
Transpantaneira to see the night creatures: capybaras, tarantulas, and
(with the most incredible of luck) jaguars. It is also strongly
recommended that you take the time to explore the Pantanal as it was
meant to be seen, on the back of a horse.

Watch out! Piranha! Yes, the deadly fish do live in most of these rivers;
so dont be hasty by going for a swim unless the guide gives you the nod.
I highly recommend that you try the fresh Piranha Sashimi while you are
in Pantanal!
Canoeing one of the North Pantanal's small rivers is a great way to spot
monkeys and giant river otters.
After exploring the Pantanal, consider a 1-day or overnight trip to
the Chapada dos Guimares, the highlands to the north of Cuiab. Go
with a tourist guide.
The beautiful red-rock formations, plateaus, and canyons offer excellent
hiking and fabulous views, great waterfalls and swimming holes. There
is some excellent birdlife to be seen, including red macaws.

Chapada dos Guimares
Preparing for Pantanal
Remember you are going into a big and dangerous jungle. Take all the
necessary vaccinations (ask your doctor), have a handy medic kit (with
first aid necessities and pills). Wear only clothes that breath, with long
pants (no shorts unless you enjoy mosquitoes), full-sleeve tops. Lastly,
hold enough water/fluids. Your tour guides will have most of the needed
supplies, but you can never be too prepared. Be careful, as the Pantanal
has venomous snakes everywhere!
The best time to visit Pantanal is in September, October and November.

Hospitals
beforehand.
Free rescue and ambulance service can be requested by a free call to one
of two institutions: SAMU (the acronym for the health emergency
service) - Phone: 192 or Fire Department - Phone: 193.

Public Hospital:
Hospital Beneficente Santa Helena
Address: Avenida Marechal Deodoro, 400
Quilombo - Cuiab - MT
Phone: (65) 2123-0300

Private Hospital:
Complexo Hospitalar So Mateus
Address: Av. Aclimao, 335 - Bosque da Sade
Cuiab - Mato Grosso
Phone: +55 65 3051-2222

Be safe in Cuiab

Be vigilant while on the roads, especially at night.
In airports, hotel lobbies, bus stations, and other public places, pick
pocketing and the theft of hand-carried luggage and laptop computers is
common.
You should "dress down" when in public and avoid carrying valuables or
wearing jewelry or expensive watches. "Good Samaritan" scammers are
common. If a tourist looks lost or seems to be having trouble
communicating, a seemingly innocent bystander offering help may
actually be a participant in a scam. Take care at and around banks and
ATMs which accept U.S. credit or debit cards. Travelers using personal
ATM or credit cards sometimes receive billing statements with
unauthorized charges after returning from a visit to Brazil, or discover
that their cards were cloned or duplicated without their knowledge. If
you use such payment methods, carefully monitor your bank records for
the duration of your visit, and several months afterwards
While the ability of Brazilian police to help recover stolen property is
limited, we strongly advise you to obtain a "boletim de ocorrncia"
(police report) at a "delegacia" (police station) if any of your possessions
are lost or stolen. This will facilitate your exit from Brazil and assist
with insurance claims.
Be aware, however, that the police in tourist areas are on the lookout for
false reports of theft for purposes of insurance fraud.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/brazil.html

Consulates:

France: Rua Professor Vitorino Miranda 43 - Dom Aquino,Cuiab MT
Phone: (65) 613-6118
Spain: Avenida Filinto Mller, s/n - Quilombo,Cuiab MT Phone:
(065) 3688-7600

The area code for Cuiab is 65.

Useful Phone Numbers
Police: 190
Ambulance: 192

International Airport Marechal Rondon (Aeroporto Internacional
de Cuiaba MT).
Address: Av. Joao Ponce de Arruda s/n - Jardim Aeroporto - Varzea
Grande - Mato Grosso MT
Phone: PABX:(65) 3614-2500 / FAX:(65) 3614-2575

Tourist Police They are building an office in the International Airport
for the World Cup. If you need help, you can call the Police at 190.

ARENA PANTANAL STADIUM

The inauguration of the Pantanal Arena, also known as Verdo,
schedule on April 2, 2014. It has two electronic scoreboards 76m of
high resolution and installation of turnstiles and 280 security cameras.
During the World Cup, the stadiums capacity will be 41,390 seats.
Address: Avenida Agrcola Paes de Barros,Cidade Alta,Cuiab MT Zip
Code: 78030-210
Phone: +55 65 3637-7642

Schedule:
06/13 - Chile vs Australia - 6PM
06/17 - Russia vs Korea- 6 PM
06/21 - Bosnia vs Nigeria- 6PM
06/24 - Colombia vs Japan- 4 PM

Welcome to Curitiba

Curitiba is the capital of Paran. Curitiba is the city with the highest
number of inhabitants in the southern region of the country, with
1,776,761, according to the estimate made by the Brazilian Institute of
Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

Founded in the 17th century, Curitiba has become an exemplar
metropolis with many features. Its inhabitants have a constant
preoccupation with green areas, cultural traditions and quality of life.
The first inhabitants were the Portuguese, blacks and native people, after
the immigrants arrived from Asia and Europe.
Visiting Curitiba: Frost on a July morning
Many visitors from outside Brazil are not prepared to feel cold in this
tropical country. This is precisely the case in Curitiba, which is located
off from the tropic parallel, and elevated by an altitude of almost 1000
meters above the sea level.

These factors mean that winters (Jun-Sep) can reach freezing
temperatures especially by night, which make coats and further
protection necessary. Even during the other seasons, cold nights are not
something unexpected, albeit it will rarely go down to freezing levels.
Curitiba is very well served with rain. There is no dry season, and the
locals are unfamiliar with periods of more than 4 or 5 days without
showers. Due to the long periods of light rain, the sky can be gray and
foggy, similar to London at times.

How to get to Curitiba:
By bus
Curitiba's Bus & Train Station (Estao Rodo-ferroviria) is a large
station with 3 terminals (train terminal, interstate bus terminal and
intrastate bus terminal) provides scheduled bus service from Curitiba to
all over Brazil, as well as locations in Argentina, Chile and Paraguay.
Actually the bus is the best way to come from or go through So Paulo
(from Rodoviria do Tiet, the tickets have prices between R$ 71- 120 as
February, 2014) and Rio de Janeiro (from Terminal Rodovirio Novo Rio,
tickets have prices between R$ 158-250, as February, 2014), since the
travel doesn't last too long and the bus terminals are strategically
located downtown in these cities (avoiding traffic jams and long
transfers to distant airports).

By plane
Curitiba is one of the major cities of Brazil and is served by an
international airport, named Aeroporto Afonso Pena, which is in the
nearby city of So Jos dos Pinhais and about 17 km (10.6 miles) from
Curitiba city center.
There are daily scheduled departures to So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto
Alegre, Braslia and other major cities. International destinations with
scheduled flights from Curitiba are Buenos Aires (Ezeiza), Montevideo
and Asuncin, although other destinations may be eventually served on a
non-scheduled basis.
Major airlines such as Gol, Pluna and TAM provide scheduled services to
other cities, including those in Paran State, as well as international

destinations. Other minor airlines, such as OceanAir, Webjet, Passaredo
and TRIP, also serve Curitiba in scheduled and non-scheduled basis.
There are different options of ground transportation between Afonso
Pena Airport and Curitiba city center. Regular city buses depart every
20-30 minutes on business days and cost only R$ 3 (prices as February,
2014).
The Airport Shuttle departs every 20 minutes on business days and is
quicker than the city buses and much more comfortable, but its fare is
R$15.
Taxi cabs are available 24 hours per day, but the fare varies on the final
destination. You can plan on roughly R$ 60 to go downtown. There are
more than 4 rental companies in site.

By train
Due to the Brazilian government decision on not providing passenger
train services anymore, Curitiba is no longer serviced by scheduled
passenger train service.
However, there is a touristic train route that goes
to Paran State's ocean coast, reaching its end in Paranagu. It is
definitely a worthwhile ride for those willing to see natural and Atlantic
Forrest scenery, with many waterfalls, cliffs, peaks and historic sites.

By car
If you come from So Paulo, use BR-116 South. From Florianpolis use
BR-101. From Porto Alegre use BR-116 North.

Getting Around in Curitiba:
Curitiba has a very simple and practical transportation system. The
public transportation consists entirely of buses. A metro line is in
construction. There are several different types of buses, each with a
different function.
Driving can be difficult for those who are not used to the traffic in
Curitiba, especially for first timers. In the central area, there are many
one-way streets, parking restrictions, as well as pedestrian-only and bus-
only streets.
Bus lanes are very common in Curitiba, as the city has over 60 km (38
miles) of them. Most avenues are wide and have spacious sidewalks and
they are mostly laid out in a grid system in the city center area.
Public transportation is probably the best option for those visiting the
city. You can connect for free between the bus routes if you connect
inside the bus depots or the tube stations.
There are also special services,
like the City Center Circulator, which are cheaper than other buses. The
Touristic Route, which serves more than 20 attractions and allows each
rider to visit 4 of them while paying only one fare. There is also the
Airport Shuttle, which is operated with mini-buses between Curitiba
downtown and Afonso Pena Airport.
The best way to come from the airport to downtown uses the city bus
lane called "Aeroporto", whose final stop is on the tube just next to the
airport's main entrance. The fare is R$ 4, cheaper than the Airport
Shuttle (R$ 12.00) and way cheaper than by taxi (R$ 70.00).
The public bus system is overcrowded in rush hours.

What see in Curitiba?
Many tourist attractions are closed on Monday. The tourist buses do not
run on that day either.

The Farol das Cidades: Known as the Lighthouse of Knowledge is
different from the others because of its collection of works, consisting of
videos and CD-ROMs, equipped with computers and connected to the
Internet and to the City Hall, with free access to the population.
Location: Joo Gava Street, s/n - Abranches.
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM, and on Sat 9AM-1PM.
Jerusalem Fountain: The construction of this fountain is in concrete
and masonry has a height of 14.5 meters. The architect Fernando Canalli
designed the fountain.
At the top there are three bronze angels, of approximately 600 kgs each,
sculpted by the artist Lys urea Buzzi, representing the three main
monotheistic religions in the world, who believe in the existence of
angels and for which Jerusalem is a sacred city: Christianity, Judaism and
Islam.

Address: Avenida Sete de Setembro,corner with Avenida Arthur
Bernardes Seminrio.

Memory Fountain: Created by Ricardo Tod, the horsehead in bronze
characterizing the fountain pays homage to the old immigrant colonists,
who with their carts would come from their small farms at the city's
outskirts to sell their agricultural products at the center.
Location: Garibaldi Square - So Francisco.

Maria Lata D'gua Fountain: This fountain, structured in concrete,
occupies an area of approximately 36 square meters and has a 60
centimeters under-water mirror. The highlight from the fountain is a
reproduction of the sculpture "gua pro Morro", from the beginning of
the 1940's, from Erbo Stenzel, one of the most important artists from
Paran.

Location: At Generoso Marques Square - Center, at the vicinity of the
Paranaense Museum. Together with the historic houses, it was
inaugurated on May 15th, 1996.

Arab Memorial: This memorial operates as a specialized library. The
building is reminiscent of the architectural style of the Moorish
buildings, with elements such as the vault, the columns, the arches and
the stained glass windows. With just over 140 square meters of built
area, the Memorial has a cube shape and is placed over a water mirror.
Inside the building over a marble base is a sculpture representing the
writer Gibran Kalil Gibran. It is located at Gibran Khalil Gibran Square
Center.

Location: At Claudino dos Santos Street So Francisco. Opens from
Hours: Mon-Fri, from 9AM to 6PM, and on Saturdays, 9AM to 1PM.

Curitiba Memorial: A space for art and folklore, information and
memory, the past and the future. Built on irregular land, the
architectural project allows the creation of spaces and functional and
creative installations. The dome, resembling a painting, makes evident
the work's role of cultural origin.

Address: Rua Doutor Claudino dos Santos, 79 - So Francisco, Curitiba -
80020-170 - Phone:+55 41 3321-3313
Mocinhas da Cidade Fountain: This fountain pays homage to the
couple and country music duo Nh Belarmino e Nh Gabriela. With
drawings from Fernando Canalli, it has columns with rods, which frame
tiled pictures showing the verses of the song "Mocinhas da Cidade",
immortalized by the duo and recorded for the first time at the beginning
of the 1950's.
Location: at the crossing of Cruz Machado and Alameda Cabral.

Capo da Imbuia Wood/Natural History Museum: This museum
has an internal exhibition of dioramas, taxidermied animals and
dehydrated vegetables.
At the external area is the "Araucarias Path", a wood remnant from the
Araucaria Forest, where an elevated pathway goes through a 400 meters
long path, with 12 windows and panels showing the inter-relations of the
natural elements found at the Araucaria Forest and also the different
products from this vegetable formation.

Location: at Benedito Conceio Street, 407 / Prof. Nivaldo Braga Street,
1225 Capo da Imbuia.
Hours: Open Tue-Sun, from 9AM to 5:30PM.

pera de Arame / Pedreiras Park: It is one of the emblematic
symbols of Curitiba, with tubular structure and transparent ceiling, of
great beauty. Inaugurated in 1992, it caters for all types of shows,
between lakes, typical vegetation and cascades, a unique landscape.
The Opera is part of the Pedreiras Park, together with the Paulo
Leminski Cultural Space, where the Passion of Christ was enacted, and
hosted many other big events since 1989, and can receive, in open air, 10
thousand people seating or 50 thousand standing.

Location: at Joo Gava Street, s/n. Abranches.
Hours: Tue-Sun from 8AM to 10PM.

Japan Square: Its a tribute to the sons of the "Rising Sun", who settled
there dedicating themselves to agriculture.

Scattered around the square are 30 cherry blossom trees sent from
Japan by the Nipponese empire and artificial lakes in the Japanese style.

In 1993 the Japanese Portal, the Culture House and the Tea House were
built.

Location: at Sete de Setembro Avenue, junction with Rep. Argentina
Avenue gua Verde. Culture House Open Tue-Sun 9AM to 6PM.
Tea Ceremony Open - Thursdays from 9AM to 4PM.

Tiradentes Square: The main square in Curitiba and also its birthplace.
On the north end of this square, lies Basilica Cathedral Minor of Our Lady
of Light, centennial in 1993.

Anciently known as Largo da Matriz, the square is the city's initial
landmark. In 1880, because of the emperor D. Pedro II visit to Paran,
the Square became known as D. Pedro II. Nine years later, at the
Republic, it has received the current name of Tiradentes Square.

It is an important public transport terminal and a permanent meeting
point, bringing fond memories to the common curitibano memory.
24 Horas Street: The Street that never sleeps is the synthesis of a city
which also never sleeps. It is 120 meters long and 12 meters wide. It is
composed of 32 arches in metallic tubular structure, a trademark of the
modern curitibana architecture.

There are 34 shops that are open eternally, from the daybreak sandwich
to the bank withdrawal; from the pharmacy to the florist; from books to
milk for the children.
This is a great meeting point for tourists and curitibanos seeking leisure,
pastimes, nightlife and good eating options. At 24 Horas street, it
possible to have free Internet access, day and night. The user just has to
schedule a time.

Location: It is between Visconde de Ncar and Visconde do Rio Branco
Streets Center.

Santa Felicidade: The neighborhood where some of the first Italian
immigrants arriving in Paran settled. Here they dedicated themselves
to agricultural production, planting herbs, making wine and cheese.
Almost in front of the church is the cemetery, with the unique pantheon
made of 18 chapels in neo-classic style, which became heritage through
the Historic and Artistic Heritage. Standing out for their architecture,
the Geraniums House, the Panels House, the Arcades House and the Culpi
House.
The greatest attraction in Santa Felicidade is the gastronomic district of
Curitiba, with a large number of restaurants offering typical food and
wine from the colony. There are also wineries, wine bars, craft stores
and willow furniture. I really look forward to visiting this place again!

Location: at Manoel Ribas Avenue.

So Cristvo/Italian Wood: A place for the typical parties of the
Italian community in the district, such as the Grape Party (in January),
the Wine Party and the 4 Giorni in Italy. It has structures for food and
drink, space for shows and folkloric presentations and a Polenta Pot and
Chicken Party (in July).

Location: At Margarida ngela Zardo Miranda Street, s/n.
Open Mon-Fri 8AM to 5PM.

Historic Area: At Largo da Ordem / Praa Coronel Enas, Praa
Garibaldi So Francisco. This complex contains some of the oldest
buildings in the city. Among these buildings are the Romrio Martins
House, from the XVIII century and the Church of the Third Order of Saint
Francis, from 1737, as well as the architectural examples inspired by the
Germans, from the second half of the XIX century.
On Sunday mornings, people traverse the old stones at the Largo da
Ordem through Garibaldi Square, past the Rosrio Church, the Flowers
Clock, the Memory Fountain and the Societ Giuseppe Garibaldi where
there is a Crafts Fair where vendors sell their wares and you can listen to
live music.

Guara Theater: This is a living memory from the multi-faceted culture
of the curitibanos, and it is one of the biggest theaters in Latin America.
It was demolished in 1930 and rebuilding began in 1952. It was linked
to the celebrations of the Centenary of Political Emancipation of Paran
(19th of December, 1953). It was only finished in the 70's.
There are three auditoriums, the biggest of them containing 2173 seats.

Location: At XV de Novembro Street, s/n, Santos Andrade Square
Centro.

Mercs Tower: The highest point in Curitiba, allowing a 360 degree
vision of the city, from a height of 95 meters. The tower is managed by
Telepar and the Curitiba City Hall, which play educational movies and
provides tourism guidance. There is also the Telephone Museum.
Location: At Rua Prof. Lycio Grein de Castro Vellozo, corner with Rua
Jacarezinho Mercs.
Hours: Tue-Sun 10AM-7PM.

Paiol Theater: Symbol of the cultural change in Curitiba in the 1970's, it
inaugurated the process of recycling the use of buildings which are
valuable for the city's collective memory.
Built in 1906, the old gunpowder barn was restored and recycled in the
1970's, becoming an arena theater.
The poet Vincius de Moraes, with whisky and a song especially
composed for the occasion, Paiol de Plvora, was dedicated on
December 27th 1971. In the inauguration show, besides the "poetinha",
Toquinho and Marlia Medalha also took part.

Location: At Chile Street, corner with Reynaldo Machado Street Prado
Velho.
Hours: Opens daily, from 8:30AMnoon and 1PM-9PM.

Churches:
Rosicrucian Order: The Grand Lodge for Brazil of the Rosicrucian Order
implemented in 1956 in Rio de Janeiro was transferred to Curitiba in
1960. The temple is part of an architectural complex of six buildings in
Egyptian style, a tribute to the first members who would get together in
the secret chambers of the great pyramid.
In the other buildings are the general administration, the Auditorium H.
Spencer Lewis, a memorial with a pyramid and the Curitiba Lodge,
where the library and museum are located, with reproductions of
Egyptian pieces from various dynasties, including papyrus and
mummies.

Location: On 2641 Nicargua Street Bacacheri.
Hours: Open Mon-Fri 8AM-12PM, Sat 2:30PM-5PM.

So Francisco Ruins: A space surrounded by fables, at Rua Dr. Keller,
Joo Cndido Square. The ruins are made of stone, of what should have
been the So Francisco de Paula church, which was never finished.
In 1811 the chapel and the sacristy were finished, but in 1860 the stones
that would finish the construction were used to finish the old Matriz
tower, currently the Basilica Cathedral Minor of Our Lady of Light.

There are stories of tunnels and pirates live in the place, today filled with
leisure and business spaces, stage and grandstand, forming the "Ruins'
Arcades".

Parks:
More information about parks in Curitiba, please visit the web site:
www.parquesepracasdecuritiba.com.br (also in English).
German Wood: It has various features to celebrate and promote the
German traditions. There are 38 thousand square meters of native
forest, which was part of the old farm from the Schaffer family.
The replica of an old wooden church, built in 1933 at the Seminrio
neighborhood, with neo-gothic decorative elements, shelters a concert
hall called Bach's Oratorium.
Other attractions are the John and Mary path, which tells the Grimm
brothers tale, a children's library, the Philosophers Tower, a wooden

observatory allowing a panoramic view of the city and the Ocean Ridge,
and the German Poetry Square, with a reproduction of the Casa Mila
faade, a German building from the beginning of the last century,
originally located in the city center.

Location: At Rua Niccolo Paganini, corner with Rua Franz Schubert
Vista Alegre (Jardim Schaffer).
Hours: The Wood opens daily 6AM-8PM; the Library from 9AM-5PM;
Story Time Sat. and Sun. 2PM.

Barigi Park: With an area of 1.4 million square meters, it is one of the
biggest parks of the city and definitely the most frequently visited. Not
only the city residents and the tourists seek rest in the park. Guinea pigs,
night herons, white herons, skunks, crown sparrows, song-thrushes and
dozens of other native animals make Barigi their home.
Among the features available in the Park there are: barbeques, kiosks,
cycle and model airplanes tracks, multi-sports courts, gym equipment,
car park, restaurant, playground, Automobile Museum, Exhibition and
Convention Center, Steam Train Station and the Environment Municipal
Council headquarters.

Location: At BR-277 Rodovia do Caf, Km 0 Bigorrilho.

Barreirinha Park: The most beautiful park of the city, where one can
appreciate araucarias, cinnamon, bracatingas, Paraguay tea plants and
other native species. This green area, serves as an important regulator of
the air quality in the region. Students and university professors also use
the park for practical Botanic lessons.
The Municipal Forest, next to the park, has a scientific and educational
role it is responsible for the research and production of vegetable
species. Among its features there are woods with over 200 thousand
square meters of typical vegetation, children's library, playground, rustic
cabin, snack bar, barbeques and car park.
Location: On 6010 Anita Garibaldi Avenue Barreirinha.
Hours: Open daily, from 6AM-6PM.
Botanical Garden of Curitiba: Curitiba's trademark, created to
resemble French gardens, rolls out its flower carpet to the visitors right
at the entrance. The greenhouse, with a metallic structure, has botanic
species that are national reference, and also a water fountain.

The native forest is filled with paths for hiking. The Botanic Museum
attracts researchers from all over the world. There is a space for
exhibitions, library and a theater.

Location: At Engenheiro Ostoja Roguski Street, s/n.
Hours: Open from 6AM-9PM during summertime in Brazil; and from
6AM-8PM during the rest of the year.

Gutierrez Wood/Chico Mendes Memorial/ Dolls Theater: It
comprises 18 thousand square meters of green area, with paths and a
natural spring, supplying 1,350 liters of mineral water hourly. It is home
to the Amaznica School and the Dad Dolls Theater.
Location: At Albino Raschendorfer Street, s/n. Vista Alegre.
Hours: Opens daily, from 6AM-6PM.
On the 22nd of March, the Chico Mendes Memorial pays homage to
the Amazonian rubber extraction leader, who was killed in Xapuri,
Acre in 1989.

Iguau Park/ Zoo: The largest urban park in Brazil, with 8 million
square meters. Equipped with car parks, kiosks, and snack bar. The
park offers many attractions, divided in seven different areas: sports,
nautical, fishing, natural wood, public orchards, ecologic sanctuaries and
zoo.
Here, over one thousand animals from 80 species can be seen: birds from
all over South America, reptiles and mammals from many different
origins, kept in an environment as close as possible to their natural
habitat.

Location: At Mal. Floriano Avenue, s/n. Alto Boqueiro.
Hours: Opens from Tue-Fri from 8:30AM-4PM; Sat, Sun and public
holidays, from 8:30AM to 5PM.

Passana Park: Almost 6.5 million square meters are within the
Passana Basin, West of Curitiba and almost 3.5 million square meters
belong to the lake created by the reservoir of the Water Supply Station.
A lot of Nature can be seen from above, from the observatory, where a
panoramic view surprises with its beauty and grandiosity. Ecologic trails
and the Biological Station, an old brickyard, are worth visiting.
Location: At Eduardo Sprada Street, s/n Augusta.
Hours: Open daily.

Pope's Wood: There is a Polish immigration memorial, dedicated on
13th of December 1980, following the visit from Pope John Paul II to
Curitiba, on the previous July.
The area of 46,337 square meters was part of the dispossession
involving the old Estearina candle factory. The seven log houses
comprising the memorial are a live remembrance of the faith and battle
of the Polish immigrants, with objects such as the old cart, the sour
cabbage pipe and the image of the patron saint, the Black Virgin of
Czestochowa. In Curitiba, the Polish immigration started in 1871.

Location: At Wellington Oliveira Vianna Street, s/n- Centro Cvico.
Hours: Open daily from 6AM-8PM; Memorial Tue-Sun 9AM-6:30PM.

Portugal Wood: This is a tribute to the Portuguese-Brazilian bonds,
this space is highlighted by a track following a small brook, where one
can see drawn on tiles excerpts from famous Portuguese language poets,
as well as a tribute to the great Portuguese navigators and their
discoveries.
Location: Rua Ozrio Duque Estrada s/n. Jardim Social.
Hours: Open daily.

Public Promenade: The Public Promenade used to be called Botanic
Garden.
The first public park in Curitiba, it was inaugurated by the president of
the Paran province, Alfredo d'Escragnolle Taunay, on the 2nd of May,
1886. It was the first big sanitation work in the city, transforming a
marsh in a leisure area, with lakes, bridges and islands within the green
area. Pioneer zoo in Curitiba, even today it shelters small animals. The
gate is a copy of what existed at the Paris Dog Cemetery.

Location: Rua Luiz Leo s/n Center.
Hours: Tue-Sun, from 6AM-8PM; the aquarium works from 9AM-5PM,
also from Tue-Sun.

Reinhard Maack Wood: Inaugurated in 1989, the wood is attribute
from the city to the German geologist and researcher based in Paran,
whose work has contributed to the preservation of the environment in
the State.
The Wood has an area of remnant araucaria forest, with unique species
in the whole region; an adventure trail with educational and ecologic
toys for children; recreational equipment; and an environmental
education house.

Location: Rua Andr Ferreira Camargo Street, 70 Vila Hauer. Hours:
Opens on weekends and public holidays from 8AM to 5PM.

Tangu Park: Dedicated in November 1996, this park has a total area of
450 thousand square feet.

Highlights of the park are two quarries linked by a 45 meters long
tunnel, which could be crossed by walk, on a pathway over the water.

The park also features a jogging track, cycle track, observatory, snack bar
and the Poty Lazzarotto Garden.

Location: Rua Dr. Bemben s/n - Pilarzinho.

Tingi Park: Part of the biggest linear environmental park in the
Country, established at the Barigi river margins, it reminds us of the
Indians who used to live there, with the statue of Tindiqera Chieftain.
The Ukrainian Memorial is also there, homage to the immigrants, in a
replica of an orthodox church, originally built in inland Paran State,

hosting a pssankas and icons exhibition. Location: Avenida Fredolin
Wolf s/n - So Joo.
Hours:
Park daily.
Memorial Tue-Sun, 9AM to 6PM.
Crafts Shop Tue-Sun, 2:30PM to 6PM.

Tropeiros Park: Here the gaucho culture is preserved, brought by the
cattle drivers who would pass near Curitiba, conducting the troops
towards the Sorocaba Fair, which gave origin to various cities in the
State.
The park is equipped with installations suitable for rodeos and typical
dances.

Location: Rua Maria Lcia Locher de Athayde, 10.000 Cidade
Industrial.
Hours: It is open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 8AM
to 7PM.

Shopping:
Feira do Largo da Ordem (Largo da Ordem's Street Fair):
This is an open market, which is open on Sunday mornings.
There you can find crafts, paintings, sculptures, typical foods, street
artists, ecological pencils (Natural de Curitiba), old car exhibition and a
lot more.
Feira da Praa da Espanha (Spain Square's Fair):
This is a trade of antiquities, located at the Spain square.

Malls in Curitiba: The best places to go shopping in Curitiba, just like
any place else in Brazil, are the Shopping Malls. Since May 2007, there
are 5 main Shopping Malls.
Mueller (www.shoppingmueller.com.br),
Estao (www.shoppingestacao.com.br),
Curitiba (www.shoppingcuritiba.com.br),
Crystal (www.shoppingcrystal.com.br),
Park Barigi (http://www.parkshoppingbarigui.com.br),
Shopping Palladium (http://www.shoppingpalladium.com.br).
If you like to walk outside, there are some nice places in Batel. Walk
along Carlos de Carvalho Street and its crossing streets.

Where eat in Curitiba?
Curitiba has a good variety of restaurants, ranging from modest to
upscale restaurants.
$
Montesquieu Bar: The owner, Z (Hiroyuki Ota), opened this bar in
1978.

Unfortunately, Seu Z passed away on March, 0, just after my visit,
and his children Emlia and Alvaro still on the business. His son is
pictured above.
On the internet there are all sorts of information about the snack,
sandwich and their owners, but most of it is pure mockery.
These are probably the biggest sandwiches in Brazil. "X-montanha"
(Cheese Mountain) is a sandwich you can customize with layers of bread,
meat, and cheese. It's very inexpensive.

Location: On the Corner of Westphalen and Silva Jardim St. (downtown).
Address: Rua Des. Westphalen, 918 Rebouas - CEP: 81690-200-
Phone: +55 41 3233-7065

Brimos Restaurant Halal: If you walking on the Public Promenade,
you should find this wonderful and simple place. The owners of this
restaurant are Muslim and have confirmed its Halal Status. This is the
only one in Curitiba.
Ali and Aleh Hussein came from Lebanon. Its a mix of snack bar and
butcher shop. Dont go on Saturday during the afternoon (after 2 or 3
PM). Also you will not find Shawarma.
Address: Avenida Presidente Faria, 259Centro - Phone: (41) 3045-
3496

Bouquet Garni Vegetarian Restaurant: They have a wonderful
vegetarian sushi, prepared with seaweed and served on Wednesday and
Sunday. The property also has a store of natural and organic foods where
there are cakes, pies, breads and soy cheese, among other options

Address: Alameda Dr. Carlos de Carvalho, 271, Centro, Curitiba, CEP:
80410180 Phone: (41) 3223-8490.
Web Site: wwww.restaurantebouquetgarni.com
E-mail: mauricio@restaurantebouquetgarni.com

Tun Fang Chinese Restaurant: The Yakissoba is one of the most
famous dishes of the buffet and is made by the owner, Fang Lu Zu. In the
vegetarian version, with vegetables like spinach and cabbage, rice
noodles, crispy shrimp, chicken and chess rice with vegetables and
chopped fried eggs. After the meal, the caramelized banana and fruit
salad are served complimentary. (It should not be missed. It is that
good!)

Address: Alameda Prudente de Morais, 175 - Mercs, Curitiba - Paran,
80430-220, Brasil
Phone: +55 41 3078-9521

$$
Velho Maladoso Italian Food: The Maladosos Family has the most
traditional Italian restaurant in the gastronomic neighborhood of Santa
Felicidade, in Curitiba. After 50 years this restaurant is still a benchmark
of excellence for traditional Italian food.Address: Av. Manoel Ribas,
5852, 82400-000 Curitiba
Phone: +55 41 3273-1014

Taco El Pancho: Good Mexican restaurant.

Address: Av. Bispo Dom Jos, 2295, Curitiba.
Phone: +55 41 3342-1204

Piola Pizzeria: Very nice pizza, pasta and drinks.

Address: Rua Dom Pedro II, 105
Phone: +55 (41) 3225-7725
(http://www.piola.it/index.php?page=show-
local&lang=en&menu_number=3&id=16)

Bar do Vitor Seafood: In business for 44 years, the owner, Francisco
Urban, commands this great restaurant in San Lorenzos neighborhood.
This restaurant is well known among seafood restaurants.

The meal can be composed of cone siri, followed by shrimp moqueca, or
Cods House.

The first recipe with rice, farofa palm oil and mushrooms, while the
second brings the folded grilled fish, covered with scallions, olives and
boiled potatoes.
Their wine cellar includes over 2000 bottles of wine containing 250
different labels. They have everything between the Portuguese Filipa
Pato Bical & Arinto 2010.

Famiglia Originale: Excellent Italian Food, the best Stroganoff Pizza!

Address: Avenida Munhoz da Rocha, 665, Cabral.
Phone:+554130190909.
(http://www.originale.com.br ).
Tropilha Grill: Great Meat and service!
Address: Rua Emiliano Perneta, 700
Phone: +55 41 3085-5444 -
E-mail: curitiba@tropilhagrill.com.br

$$$
Durski: Slavic cuisine (Ukrainian, Polish and Russian) in the Old Town.

Address: Av. Jaime Reis, 254 - So Francisco, Curitiba - Paran, 80510-
010.
Phone: +55 41 3225-7893
(http://durski.com.br/2014)

Le Rechaud: Very good Swiss restaurant. Great for couples, with a very
reserved atmosphere. Enjoy the fondue. They also have excellent wines.

Address: R. Jlia Wanderley, 1050 - Mercs, Curitiba - Paran, 80710-
210.
Phone: +55 41 3339-6006
Ippon Japanese: An all-you-can-eat option (Buffet) is offered for
R$59.00 and a couple pay R$ 98.00 (from Mon. to Sat.). Drinks are not
included. Prices as of February 2014. Worth the money.
Address: Rua Alferes Angelo Sampaio 1651 ,Batel, Curitiba.

Taisho- Japanese Food: The best and most traditional Japanese in
Curitiba. For around R$100, one can eat almost every of this cuisine.

Addresses: Taisho Restaurants are in 3 Locations
Avenida Iguau, 1836 - Rebouas, Curitiba - PR, 80250-190 - Phone:+55
41 3244-6659
Avenida Iguau, 1848 - Rebouas, Curitiba - PR, 80250-190
Phone:+55 41 3244-1129

Rua Marechal Deodoro, 455 Centro - Curitiba
Phone: +55 41 3078-2515

Bars in Curitiba
DRIVING.

Bar do Pudim: One of the most traditional pubs in Curitiba, the Pudding
Bar maintains the same characteristics as when it was opened in 1968.
The menu features recipes that are a trademark of the house, such as the
patty of shrimp and hearts of palm and crab cakes and cod, which topped
the list of requests. Beers: Antarctica, Kaiser and Bavaria.
Address: Praa do Redentor, 322, So Francisco, Curitiba, CEP:
80520010

Bar Babilonia: Open 24 hours, 7 days. Nice place to enjoy some beers.

Address: Alameda Dom Pedro II, 541 Betel- Curitiba
Phone: (41)3566-6464
Flor da Favela: A local bar inspired by Brazil's slums. Colorful
decoration with graffiti, the bar attracts couples and students who get
together for a glass of beer and nice food. Try the "Bolinho de Aipim", a
cassava mini cake with cheese.
Address: Rua Buenos Aires, 80 - Batel, Curitiba. Phone: +55(41) 3232-
5380.
Sheridan's Irish Pub: Good place to get a pint. Dont miss the local
artisanal beers.
Address: Rua Bispo Dom Jos, 2315 - Batel.
Phone: +55(41)3343-7779.
Wonka Bar: Classic club in old downtown. Some of the best local bands
play here. There is a young crowd on the weekends.
Address: Rua Trajano Reis , 326 - So Francisco.
Phone: +55(41) 3026 6272.

Soviet Vodka Bar: Vodkas from all over world.
Address: Rua Bispo Dom Jos , 2277 - Batel.
Phone: +55(41)3022-2042.
Hop'n Roll: Maybe one of the best spots in Brazil for beer lovers. The
Pub has a microbrewery and a beer lab attached and always offers a
varying selection of 12 different beers on the tap. Since Curitiba is trying
to become the center of artisanal beer brewing in Brazil the pub also
offers workshops on the art of brewing. Brazilian and International Food
are served at reasonable prizes. Sometimes there is live rock music
performed.
Address: Rua Mateus Leme 950,
Phone: 41 3408 4486.
Hours: Open at 5:30PM.
O Torto Bar: One of the most authentic bars in the city. This is a very
small place where most people hang out outside of the bar, and on the
street.
Best place to start the night before heading to Wonka Bar, and other local
bars.
Address: Rua Paula Gomes, 354 - Downtown (Very close to 'Largo da
Ordem' and 1 block away from Wonka Bar),
Phone: 41 3027-6458.
Hours: Open 7:00PM - 01:00 AM.

Where sleep in Curitiba?
$
Formule 1 Curitiba: Formule 1 is a very well-known hotel, with spotless
professionalism and good quality, although without charm. The rooms can
accommodate 3 people but the price is the same regardless of how many are
staying there. Breakfast costs extra. Check in: 12.00; checkout: 12.00.
Address:Rua Mariano Torres, 927 Centro.
Phone: +55 41 3218-3838; fax: +55 41 3218-3839)
(f1curitiba.reservas@accorhotels.com.br)

YHI Hostel Roma: A simple, clean and quiet hostel near the city center.
The breakfast is a great buffet.
Address: Rua Baro do Rio Branco 805 (In walking distance from the
Rodoferroviaria, next to the old railway station.).
Phone: 41 224-2117.
$$
Hotel Promenade: (near the central bus station): Modern hotel.
Address: Rua Mariano Torres, 976 Centro Zip Code: 80060-120 -
Curitiba, PR Brasil
Phone: +55 41 3014-4341
http://www.hotelpromenade.com.br/en/

Four Points by Sheraton Curitiba: Address: Av. Sete de Setembro 4211.
Agua Verde.
Hotel Deville Curitiba:
Address: Rua Comendador Arajo 99 - Batel 80420-000 Curitiba (PR).
Phone: +55 41 3883 4777 (guestservice.cwb@deville.com.br), fax: +55 41
3883 4776).
Pestana Curitiba Hotel:

Address: Rua Comendador Arajo 499 - Batel 80420-000 Curitiba (PR).
Phone: +55 41 3017-9900 (reservas@pestanacuritiba.com.br, fax: +55
41 3017-9901).

Hospitals
beforehand.

Public Hospital:
Ibras - Instituto Brasileiro da Sade
Rua Desembargador Westphalen, 3247 Sala 10
Curitiba - PR
Tel: (41) 3319-0825 / 3332-4711
Phone: (41) 3332-4711
Site: http://www.ibrasorg.com

Private Hospital:
Hospital Pinel Fax
Praa Joaquim Menelau Almeida Torres, 70 Hauer Curitiba ZIP
CODE: 81610-010 - Phone: 41 3376-6597

Be safe
Curitiba has been known for many years as a safe city thanks to its low
crime rate compared to Brazilian cities of a similar size, although it's
been on the rise recently.
As any big city, pedestrians must watch out the surroundings when
walking on the streets, even by daylight. Stay away, or move yourself fast
and cautiously, from streets where there are few or no people in the
sidewalks, especially in the adjacencies of the Historical Center, anytime.
Both residents and tourists should avoid rambling long distances after
dusk. In spite of the fact that Curitibans are more reserved people
compared to the average Brazilian, the lack of people in the streets at
night reflects a general fear of thefts and assaults, as most people prefers
to get around by car.
Crime involving tourists is generally non-violent and related to thefts
and pickpocketing. In general, neighborhoods are relatively safe,
however caution should be exerted in the following (particularly, but not
exclusively, at night):
Surroundings of the Main Bus Terminal (Rodoferroviria); if you arrive
late, take a taxi even if your hotel is close
Downtown squares - during the day are fairly safe, nonetheless, after
8PM, are generally hideaway to drug dealers and thefts - give preference
to the streets on the edge of the squares instead of passing through them.
Historical Center
Batel neighborhood - always exercise common sense
Rebouas and Prado Velho, neighborhoods within a distance of 2km
from the city center (southbound)
The neighborhoods on the south side of the city (Sitio Cercado,
Fazendinha, Pinheiriho, Cidade Industrial, Tatuquara), are the poorest
areas and so far the most dangerous places, albeit there is not anything
attractive to the regular tourist. Home of roughly 1/3 of the population,
these places also host the majority of the city's shantytowns. More
avoidable neighborhoods: Parolin (south side), Cajuru and Uberaba
(east) and Campo Comprido and So Braz (west).

At night it is best to get around by taxi. The public transport is almost
entirely off after midnight.
In general, a common-sense approach to personal safety is advised.
Curitiba is a big city, and with it come the usual problems (poverty,
homelessness, drugs, prostitution, etc). Be cautious with your personal
belongings, and avoid walking around empty areas by night.
Care must be taken as a pedestrian as well as most drivers in Curitiba do
not respect the pedestrian crosses and in some cases red lights.
All the advices above are still entirely effective, in spite of the
recent actions of the police aiming to control crime activities. From
this date, however, it is fair to notice about the problems ongoing in So
Francisco neighborhood (surroundings of the Historic Center), which is
located next to downtown and cover streets known for a somewhat
alternative and middle-class night life. Drug dealers and customers are a
current plague there, and there's a sense of danger during the night since
robbery and assaults frequently occur, and are almost entirely related to
drugs.
Crack users can be seen nearly every single street of the neighborhood.
Avoid, with all the means possible, the quieter streets. This report is
related specially to the period after dusk, but even under the daylight
one should exercise attention there. This is definitely the most
problematic area of the town these days, which means: avoid walking
randomly there, and take a taxi to get in or get out So Francisco.


Contact By phone:
The area code for Curitiba is 41.

Consulates
ARGENTINA
Rua Benjamin Constant, 67 Centro
Phone: (41) 3222-0799 / e-mail ccuri@mrecic.gov.ar
AUSTRIA
Avenida Cndido Hartmann, 570 cj 282
Phone: (41) 3336-1166 / e-mail cons_aus@terra.com.br
CHILE
Alameda Dr Muricy, 650 cj 14 Centro
Phone: (41) 3225-1369 / e-mail lcbranco@zaz.com.br
COSTA RICA
Rua Saint Hilaire, 435 gua Verde
Phone: (41) 4322-6030 / e-mail consulsergiolevy@hotmail.com
ENGLAND, GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
Rua Presidente Faria, 51 cj 204 Centro
Phone: (41) 3023-6728 /
EQUADOR
Rua Emiliano Perneta, 680 Centro
Phone: (41) 3225-2003
GERMANY
Rua Duque de Caxias, 150
Phone: (41) 3222-6920 / e-mail ewertctba@yahoo.com.br

HOLLAND
Rua Tibagi 294, suite 1206 - CEP 80060-110 - Curitiba - PR
Phone: (41) 3323-7796 or 3353-2630 / e-mail
holland@telecorp.com.br or nlconsuladocuritiba@terra.com.br
HUNGARY
Avenida Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, 7701
Phone: (41) 3288-4192, 3244- 4290 or 3242-0306 / e-mail
lorandferenczy@yahoo.com.br
ITALY
Rua Marechal Deodoro, 630, 21 andar
Phone: (41) 3883-1750 / e-mail segreteria.curitiba@esteri.it
JAPAN
Rua Mal Deodoro, 630 cj 1804 Centro
Phone: (41) 3322-4919
LEBANON
Rua Baro do Rio Branco, 63 ap 1809
Phone: (41) 3223-9990
PARAGAY
Rua Voluntrios da Ptria, 400 cj 501 Centro
Phone: (41) 3322-6412 / e-mail cgp.curitiba@terra.com.br
POLAND
Avenida Agostinho Leo Jr, 234 Alto da Glria
Phone: (41) 3019-4662 / e-mail kurytyba.k.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl
PORTUGAL
Rua Visconde do Rio Branco, 1358 20. Andar - Centro
Phone: (41) 3233-4211 / e-mail mail@curitiba.dgaccp.pt

SENEGAL
Avenida Prefeito Omar Sabbag, 1231 Jardim Botnico
Phone: (41) 3264-8800 / e-mail grupomourasantos@uol.com.br
SPAIN
Rua Visconde Cerro Frio, 229 Novo Mundo
Phone: (41) 3246-1408 / e-mail
consuladohonorariocuritiba@onda.com.br
ROMANIA
Avenida Sete de Setembro, 4881 cj 111 Batel
Phone: (41) 3242-4688 / e-mail consul@consuladoromenia.com.br
UCRANY
Rua Mal Deodoro, 945 s 801
Phone: (41) 3222-7773 / e-mail consulucr@onda.com.br
URUGUAY
Alameda Dr Carlos Carvalho, 417 cj 3101A an 31
Phone: (41) 3225-5550 / e-mail conurucur@terra.com.br

Joaquim Amrico Guimares
Arena da Baixada Stadium

Arena, Caldeiro, Baixada: these are the nicknames for the stage of Club
Atltico Paranaense.
Officially, however, called Joaquim Amrico Guimares Stadium, in honor
of the founder of the first sporting square Paran and founder of the
International Foot-Ball Club, which, years later, would give rise to Clube
Atltico Paranaense.
Joaquim Amrico Guimares was one of the most respected figures of the
Paran sports scene early last century. He had an early identification
with the turf, being president of the Jockey Club of Paran. In 1912,
decided to found the International Foot-Ball Club, one of the first football
clubs in Curitiba.
Address: Avenida Presidente Getlio Vargas, 1895, Curitiba - PR, 80250-
070,
Phone: +55 41 2105-5616

Schedule:

06/16 - Iran vs Nigeria - 4PM
06/20 - Ecuador vs Honduras- 7 PM
06/23 - Spain vs Australia - 1 PM
06/26 - Algeria vs Russia- 5PM

Welcome to Fortaleza

Fortaleza has over 2.4 million inhabitants. It is capital of Cearas State.
The natural beauty of the beaches, proximity to the cold climate of the
mountains, and the location of the capitals of Cear, Marazion, Baturite
and Guaramiranga are some of the highlights that draw large groups to
the area.
Warm water and yearlong sun, are good reasons to visit the ocean-side
for holiday or business. In some places, winds and waves divide in other
bathers, surfers and water sports in general.
Temperatures range from 23-31 Celsius (73-88 Fahrenheit) with rare
exceptions. There is little to no rain from July - November.

How to get to Fortaleza:

By Plane:
The modern terminal building of the International Airport Pinto
Martins (Telephone +55 85 3392 1200) was opened in 1998. An
extension of the same size should be ready by 2014.
Airport services include a federal police station, post office, health
authorities, Internet cafe, tourist information and travel agencies.
Major airlines fly out of this airport to almost every major city in Brazil
and to the capitals of many South American countries, mostly via So
Paulo. Flights can be checked online.
Direct flights to Europe:
Daily to Lisboa by TAP.
Weekly to Amsterdam, via Natal with ArkeFly, often cheaper if
bought at FlyBrazil.
Weekly to Rome and Milan with Air Italy.
Other international flights:
To Lisbon via Cape Verde every Sunday by TACV.
The direct to Miami route is only available periodically for some reason.
It is currently being offered by Delta. Otherwise the direct route from
Manaus is an alternative to Sao Paulo.

Allow at least an hour for immigration control if you fly in from abroad.
Double it if there is another international flight shortly before yours.
Traveling To/From the Airport:

By Bus:
There is an urban bus 404 Aeroporto/Benfica that runs frequently
between the airport and the main bus station, where you can find buses

to virtually anywhere in Fortaleza. (For safety reason, it is not
recommended to travel via bus at night).
Going to the urban beaches can either be done this way, or by crossing
the parking lot (keep slightly to the right) and the highway (somewhat
on your left) and catch the 027 Siqueira Papicu/Aeroporto, which will
take you pretty straight to Praa Portugal/Shopping Aldeota in 25
minutes, traffic allowing (Also not recommended at night).
From here you can either walk some 7 blocks along Avenida
Desembargador Moreira to the beach of Meireles, or you can wait
for Circular 1 bus that passes within a block of most of the hotels
in Meireles and Praia Iracema.
Reverse this process (Start with Circular 2) to get to the airport, which is
slightly easier as the bus then stops right in front of the terminal, and not
on the highway.
By Taxi:
There are two types of taxis, follow the signs:
Airport taxis are more expensive, and have fixed prices. Most tourist
areas fall within the most expensive zone, charging R$ 32.40 (R$ 48.60
on rate 2).
Regular taxis offer just about the same comfort, and run on the meter,
stopping at about R$ 25 (R$ 40 rate 2) to Praia de Iracema or Meireles.
Bargaining is tough out here, but fairly easy in the opposite direction
(Prices as December, 2013). They run daily from 8PM to 6AM, Saturdays
from 1AM to 8PM, and all-day Sunday, public holidays, and the duration
of the World Cup. Waiting in a taxi is charged R$ 20 per hour.

All 4000-odd taxis in town run on the same meter system, except the
special cabs at the airport
It is mandatory for taxis to display the fare system on one of the
rear side windows. Do not take a cab without such a posting.
Cab drivers in Fortaleza are fairly honest, although a few will put the
meter on rate 2 too often. The meter should always run unless you have
fixed a price before getting into the car.

Most trips that would exceed R$ 10 on the meter are negotiable, and
when you pass R$ 30 on the meter a discount of up to 50% could be
obtained if you bargain well. Taxi stands are easy to find, but it can often
prove easier to negotiate if you hail one off the street.
Average bargained prices to out-of-town-destinations:
Cumbuco R$ 100 return same day and Canoa Quebrada R$ 180.

Transportation around Fortaleza:

By bus:
Terminal Rodovirio Engenheiro Joo Tom (The main bus
station): (has buses to most all of the country, often via connections.
Address: Av. Borges de Melo, 1630 - Ftima, Fortaleza - CE, 60415-762
Phone: +55 85 3230 1111)
Expresso Guanabara has the most extensive network from here, and
also sells tickets near Beira Mar: Loc Autos, Av. Abolio 1840 and Bem
Estar Tur, Rua Tabajaras 580.
Note that most lines within the state of Cear have their last coach
leaving around 6-7 PM. Buses to neighboring towns, within some 100
km, often leave from the train station in the centre.
To Natal 8 times daily (3 of these stopping in Mossor)
by Nordeste and Guanabara R$ 35-150, 6-8 hours.
To Salvador daily at 7 PM by Itapemirim. R$ 190. 22 hours.

Taxi to Beira Mar is about R$ 15 and 10-15 minutes.
The bus 099 Siqueira - Mucuripe / Baro de Studart (on Sundays
this line is substituted by 078 Siqueira - Mucuripe, bus stop around
the corner) will take you the same place in around 25 minutes, --
right from the doorstep of the bus station!
If you are heading for Praia de Iracema (or anywhere else west
of Av. Baro de Studart), take two lefts from the bus station's main
entrance, then cross the street, and take the bus 073 Siqueira -
Praia de Iracema. The bus 404 Aeroporto - Benfica takes you to
the airport in less than 15 minutes.
A second, smaller bus station is in the western suburb of Antonio Bezerra
(1.2 km down the road from the urban bus terminal with the same
name).
Most all lines here are en route between the main bus station and
western Cear (such as Jeri or Sobral).
Access from Av. Desembargador Moreira by bus 076 Conjunto Cear /
Aldeota in about 40 minutes.
A third bus station opened early 2010 in the southern suburb
of Messejana (next to the urban bus terminal with the same name), and
has lines by the companies So Benedito (for Canoa), Fretcar and
Expresso Guanabara mostly en route between the main bus terminal and
the southern and eastern parts of Cear.
Centro/Beira Mar Caa e Pesca is comfy and air conditioned. It runs
Beira Mar and all along Praia do Futuro. Returning it swaps Beira Mar
for Abolio. This bus can get very packed from Praia do Futuro before
sunset. Risk of muggings at Praia do Futuro bus stops after dark.
Circular 1/2 - 24 hours!!! City center - Mercado Central - Drago do Mar
- Historiador Raimundo Giro - Abolico - Desembargador
Moreira/Shopping Aldeota.
Grande Circular 1/2 - 24 hours!!! City Centre - Drago do Mar -
Historiador Raimundo Giro - Abolio - Praia do Futuro - Terminal
Papicu - Shopping Iguatemi.

Centro Iguatemi - This line is comfy and air-conditioned. (Last bus leaves
Iguatemi at 2200, does not run on Sundays.)
Stops include: City center - Monsenhor Tabosa - Abolio -
Desembargador Moreira (Shopping Aldeota), leaves you inside the
Iguatemi shopping mall.

By subway:
Many years in the planning, and quite some time under construction,
always halted by budget quarrels, Metrofor promises to take you there
and back in no time. Whenever it will be operating.

Most tourists will not go more than 5 blocks from the sea, except for
the airport and bus station, and perhaps a shopping mall.
The following main streets will take you from the city centre to the fish
market, by way of Drago do Mar and the beaches Iracema and Meireles,
totaling some 6 km: Avenida Almirante Barroso, Av. Beira Mar (until Rua
Ildefonso Albano, where it's cut off by an artificial beach -the aterro.), Av.
Historiador Raimundo Giro, Av. Beira Mar (from Av. Rui Barbosa).
This last three km section of Beira Mar (literally Sea Side) is by far the
most attractive part of the city, with police stands and patrols making it
fairly safe around the clock, although rather deserted from midnight to
dawn.
From the fish market, where the Avenida Beira Mar with its broad
pavement stops, to the beach of Praia do Futuro is the port area, backed
by a refinery and slums. Walking here at daytime can be risky, -- at night
it's asking for trouble.
By moto taxi:
Depending on the traffic flow, this can be a rather scary experience. In
general about half the price of a cab, starting at R$ 8 for runs up to ten
blocks or so.

Rental car:
Brazilian city traffic makes this option a bit frustrating for anyone who
honks less than once a minute while driving back home. The city is best
covered by bus and cab, but a car can make many daytrips to outlying
beaches.
Rental shops are virtually everywhere. Despite huge signs claiming low
prices, you will hardly end up paying less than R$ 80 for the most basic
car, including fuel.
Beach buggies start at R$ 120. Safety is questionable, as many people
have had accidents on the sand dunes.
http://www.acla.com.br - in Portuguese

Ceara Rent a Car:
Address: R. Alfredo Prudente, 16 Centro Fortaleza
Phone: (85) 3091.7700 / (85) 8811.7000
http://www.ceararentacar.com.br

By bicycle:
This area is not very bicycle-friendly, however, Fortaleza still has a shop
that rents them out.
Espao Bike : Av. Oliveira Paiva, 1520. Phone: (85) 3271-1531

Places to see in Fortaleza:

Colonial Facade at Drago do Mar
Quite an effort has been put into restoring colonial architecture over the
last few years. Still there are no areas that are completely "clean", but
the stretch from the beachfront of Praia de Iracema, via Drago do
Mar and to Praa do Ferreira is steadily improving and worth a walk.
History Train and Step-by-Step History are two free tours offered on
alternating Saturdays in the city center. Show up at Banco do Nordeste,
Rua Floriano Peixoto 941, at 1:15 PM. Both last about 3 hours. Basic
Portuguese is a must. Call for previous registration: 85 8835-9915

Praa do Ferreira is the main city square, with stores, restaurants, a
movie theater and plenty of benches (Corners with Major Facundo x
Floriano Peixoto x Dr. Pedro Borges and Travessa Par).
Praa Jos de Alencar has plenty of greenery and is the place to catch
the city's best street performers.
Theatro Jos de Alencar on the south side of the above square. The
architectural landmark of the city, finished in 1912, has performances
almost every evening. Visits every hour, except at noon.

The Drago do Mar culture center, opened in 1999, it has an Art
Museum, a library, a cinema and surrounding nightlife.

Address: Rua Drago do Mar 81, Praia de Iracema - CEP: 60060-390
Fortaleza
Phone: 55 (85) 3488 8600 / 55 (85) 3488 8608

Museu de Arte e Cultura Popular: Located in an old prison, now
the Centro de Turismo, along with a handicraft market and a tourist
information. Displays many fine examples of folk art as well as boats and
other cultural relics.

Location: Rua Senador Pompeu, 350- Centro.
The best place to see the sunset is either from Ponte Metalica, Praia
Iracema, or the beach by the fish market, Mucuripe.
Parque Ecologico do Coc: The city's largest green area, near
the Iguatemi-Mall. No lawns, but a nice walk in the woods.

Catedral Metropolitana de Fortaleza: A beautiful cathedral designed
by the French architect George Mounier, allegedly inspired by the
Cologne Cathedral. It contains beautiful mosaics. Note the 40-year span
between the start of contstruction and the inaugural mass, above the
main entrance. Location: Avenida So Jos - Centro- Fortaleza

Museu do Cear: This was the seat of state government in the late
19th-century. This museum explains the history of the state of Cear and
its capital. Free entry.
Location: Rua Sao Paulo ,51, one block north of Pr. do Ferreira, center.

Museu do Automvel (Veteran Car Club do Brasil): Some 60 cars on
display, mostly made in US, ranging from 1917 to 1995. Notably two
funeral cars from the 30's.

Address: Rua Desembargador Manuel Sales Andrade 70 (Walk some 7
blocks up Av. Cel. Miguel Dias from Shopping Iguatemi's main entrance,
then turn right.).
Phone: +55 85 3273 3129. 9-12, 14-17,
Hours: closed Mondays and Sunday afternoons.

Estoril: This mansion, built in 1925 as Vila Morena, and later used as a
casino, a restaurant (where it received its current name) and a rather
political bar, is of peculiar architecture. It was virtually rebuilt in the
90's, and is undergoing another refurbishment to be used for public
cultural arrangements.
Address: Rua dos Tabajaras 397, Praia de Iracema (Near Pirata Bar).

Mercado dos Pinhes: This former meat market was imported piece
by piece from Europe and set up in 1897. Refurbished and now used as a
handicrafts fair.

Address: Praa Visconde de Pelotas, Praia de Iracema (Two blocks inland
from the shops at Rua Monsenhor Tabosa).

Mini Siar (Museu de Miniaturas): More cute than really interesting,
this tiny museum has about 25 scale models of Fortaleza's colonial
buildings, and also a couple of scale landscapes. R$ 15 (Price as of
February, 2014).
Address: Rua Jos Avelino 250 (Right of Drago do Mar).
Hours: Tue - Sat 2 PM - 5 PM.

Beaches in Fortaleza:

Urban beaches & Beach Worries:

Don't buy anything from beach (or street) vendors. Their food is a
potential hazard to your health, and most anything they sell can be had
from the beach shacks at a similar price. Souvenirs and clothing is
cheaper and more varied at the Feirinha or Mercado Central.

Many of them will distract you and steal your belongings. Please don't
feel sorry for the kids. If you they get money from a certain part of the
beach, their friends will soon flood that part of the beach. Their income
goes either straight to their parents, or to drug dealers. The city of
Fortaleza provides food and shelter for homeless kids.

There are some locals (although they may claim to be tourists) that
speak some English who approach tourists on the beaches trying to be
overly helpful. In the end they are not. They want your money! Watch
out!
Iracema Beach:
There are two nice city beaches, Praia de Iracema and Meireles. Some
people discourage swimming there, although they are mostly rated
green by authorities. The whole stretch from the Ponte
Metlica (aka Ponte Inglesa) pier to the fish market is paralleled by
the Avenida Beira Mar, a very nice street for an evening stroll.
A string of shacks line the beachfront, which are wonderful for drinking
and people watching. Some of these serve food while you lounge in the
sand. Beach lounge chairs can be rented for up to R$ 40 a day, although
the price for locals is R$ 3-5.
Unless otherwise stated, cross the street for food. The busiest strip (with
the most expensive beer), including the bulk of beggars, prostitutes and
vendors, is right in front of McDonald's. To avoid these, go east of the
market.

Restaurants Near Iracema Beach Here are a selection of restaurants
listed from west (Praia de Iracema) to east (Fish market).
Babagula: Sandwiches and a playground for the children. A Subway
Sandwich Shop is in the same location.
Address: Avenida Beira Mar, 2361 - Meireles, Fortaleza - CE, 60165-121,
Brazil.
Phone: +55 85 3266-7222

Sathut: Dutch-run with some Indonesian food on the menu. The
restrooms are very clean.
Location: At the Sidewalk of Avenida Beira-Mar.
Address: Calado da Avenida Beira-Mar, Fortaleza - CE, Brazil.
Phone: +55 85 8873-8079
Veraneio: The hedges protect you! Address: Av Beira Mar, 3121
Barraca do Joca (Gay Bar): Excellent food and gay friendly people.
Address: Av: Beira Mar 3101, B 25 A, 60165121 Fortaleza, Brazil Phone:
0055-85-88670296 (in Portuguese) - 0031-39-3493763150 (in Italian)

Beira Mar Grill: They have delicious food.

Address: Avenida Beira Mar, 3221 - Meireles, Fortaleza - Cear, 60165-
121, Brasil.
Phone: +55 85 3242-7811

Volta da Jurema Beach: Near Othon Palace. Nice sunset.

Praia do Futuro: The most attractive urban beach is Praia do Futuro,
about 5 km (unsafe to walk) from Meireles. Windy, with rather strong
currents and undertows, swimming can be a challenge, but for a dip it's
fine.
Some 150(!) beach shacks, here a selection from north (closest to
Beira Mar) to south, with their special features:

Marulho: Reggae music and good food.

Address: Av. Zez Diogo, 3007 (Praia do Futuro), Fortaleza, CE 60180-
000.

Croco Beach: Great place to relax after the beach. Here you can find
plenty of gringos, or foreigners.
In Brazil, all foreigners are called gringos. Dont be offended. It isnt
meant as an offensive term, unlike the same words use in Mexico, for
example.)

Live music on Sundays! Taxi drivers get R$ 10 commission for each
person they deliver here, so try to negotiate a discount on the fare!

Address: Av. Zeze Diogo, 3125 - Praia do Futuro. Zip Code: 60182-026 -
Fortaleza - CE

Sorriso do Sol: Reggae music and people smoking cannabis.

Address: Av Zez Diogo, 3300.
Phone: +55 85 3226-5214
Vira Vero: Young Brazilian crowd. If you're lucky, you'll get a table.
Address: Av Zez Diogo, 3345 -Fortaleza CE

Vila Gal: It belongs to the hotel. Perhaps the neatest appearance,
definitely the most expensive!
Address: Avenida Dioguinho, 4189 - Praia do Futuro, Fortaleza - Cear,
60182-125.
Phone: +55 85 3486-4400

Chico do Carangueijo: Clean, popular, good food, specializing in crab,
and sometimes live music.
Address: Avenida Zeze Diogo, 4930 - Praia do Futuro, CE, 60180-000.
Coco Beach: This is a bar/restaurant.
Address: Avenida Zez Diogo, 6421; Bairro: Praia do Futuro; Zip
Code: 60180-000

Boa Vida: This kiosk is at the very end of Praia do Futuro its name
changes to Caa e Pesca. Here there is freshwater swimming, although
in a strong current, where the River Coco meets the Ocean.
Address: Avenida Zeze Diogo, 5665, CE, 60180-000. Phone: +55 85
3249-9833

Sports & Outdoors

Surfing:
There is good surfing on the beaches, and frequent competitions at Praia
do Futuro.
Chandler Surf: This is a surf school operating at Meireles beach. R$ 50-
80 an hour, including board rent.
Address: Rua 24 de Maio, 411, loja 66
Phone: +55 85 8803-4487
(chandler@chandlersurf.com.br)
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday afternoons,

Aldeia Surf School: Offers surf lessons and surf trips every day of the
week. Based at Hotel Vila Gal.
Address: Av. Dioguinho, 4189 - PRAIA DO FUTURO II - Hotel Vila Gal -
Fortaleza, Fortaleza - CE, 60182-126, Brazil
Phone:+55 85 9934-6061
(aldeia_surf_escola@hotmail.com)

Kite and Wind Surfing:
Good conditions most of the year, with winds up to 40 knots.
Windzen: Equipment (Naish dealer) and classes. They are helpful with
info about out-of-town spots (R$ 900-1.500).
Address: Praia do Futuro (Next to Vira Verao).

Schooner cruises:
A couple of motorized schooners and a catamaran make similar 2 hour
cruises along the city beaches at R$ 50 per person (Price as February,
2014). They set out daily at 10 AM and 4 PM from near the Iracema-
statue, where they also have their ticket booths.
The latter time is better, as you get to see the sunset unobstructed. Bring
swim-gear. There is a minimum of ten people required. Trips are often
cancelled in the slow season.
Another schooner takes you all the way to Cumbuco at 9 AM, and docks
for lunch and has buses you back to Fortaleza before 5 PM. R$ 130(Price
as February, 2014).
Golf:
The nearest golf club is in neighboring Iguape, some 30 minutes by car
from Beira Mar.

Movie Teather (Cinema):
Shopping Aldeota and Shopping Del Paseo are walking distance
from Beira Mar, along Av. Desembargador Moreira.
The largest complex is at the Iguatemi-mall, with some 12 showrooms
mostly displaying the latest fare from Hollywood.
At Drago do Mar there's a more alternative selection.

Festivals:
Fortal: Fortalezas Salvador-style out-of-season carnival (allegedly the
largest in Brazil) kicks off in a purpose-built area near Praia do Futuro.
Direct buses are available from the Papicu terminal.
Hours: Thursday - Saturday from dusk till dawn
(http://fortal.com.br/2014 - Site in Portuguese)

Learn Portuguese in Fortaleza:
There are a few private lessons on offer for foreigners who want to learn
Portuguese. These typically cost around R$ 40 per hour.
Easy to Learn Language School: Rua Frei Mansueto, 1018, Meireles,
Phone: 3267 1622 - Portuguese private classes for foreigners are around
R$ 40

Shopping
The state of Cear has a large textile industry, and arguably the cheapest
clothing in Brazil. Also Fortaleza is the center of hammock
production where varieties can be found ranging from less than R$ 30
to more than R$ 100. The best place to buy is the range of small shops
opposite the cathedral, and city center.
There are handcraft shops all around the city, but the best places to go
are the Feirinha da Beira Mar (a Beach front fair, open daily about from
4 PM - 10 PM) and the Mercado Central (Near the cathedral). These
places have a large number of stalls and shops, and competition drives
prices down.
There is a very convenient, Po de Aucar (around the
clock supermarket) near the intersection of Av. Abolio and Av.
Desembargador Moreira. Although more expensive than most other
shops, it has a good selection of groceries, including many imports, and
also some fresh foods. Fresh sandwiches and pizzas are served until 8
PM.

For a true abundance of fruits and vegetables, in addition to meat, fish
and whatever else you could think of for your kitchen, visit Mercado So
Sebastio, at the east end of Av. Bezerra de Menezes, 4 blocks south and 5
west of Praa Jos de Alencar in the centre. The earlier you arrive, the
greater the variety.

Sebo O Geraldo: Behind a modest faade there is a vast selection of
used books, including hundreds of titles in English (although much
outdated) and a little something in many other languages. About R$ 5
for a paperback.

Address: Rua 24 de Maio 950, Centro (Three blocks south from Praa Jos
de Alencar).
Phone: +55 85 3226 2557.
Livraria Cultura: Has about 100 high quality (albeit somewhat pricy)
English books, as well as an abundance of books in other languages, but
mainly in Portuguese. This is the biggest (and according to a local friend
the best) bookshop in town.
Address: Av. Dom Lus, 1010 - Meireles (Just west of the football and
volleyball courts on Beira Mar, go south for approx. 5 minutes down
Ibapina and Tvora st. it'll be on a large building on your left - second
floor.) Phone: +55 (85)4008-0800.

Malls
Shopping Iguatemi: The largest mall in Fortaleza and one of the best.
It contains brands from C&A, to Zoomp and Lacoste. There is a huge 24-
hour supermarket, a large food court and the biggest cinema in town.

Shopping Aldeota: On Praa Portugal, seven blocks from Beira Mar,
with a cinema.
Address: Avenida Dom Lus, 500 - Aldeota, Fortaleza - CE, 60160-230.
Shopping Del Paseo: This is considered to be the best mall in Fortaleza
Address: Av. Santos Dumont, 3131 Aldeota - Fortaleza Zip Code:
60150-162
Where eat in Fortaleza?
The best concentration of restaurants in town is found in
the Varjotas neighborhood, especially along Rua Fredrico Borges and its
side streets, starting some five blocks inland from Beira Mar.
Thursday is well known as crab day in Fortaleza, especially in the many
shacks at Praia do Futuro.

La France: Perhaps not authentic French, but a varied menu, including
escargot, and a great selection of wines. Dishes for 2 at R$ 40-60.
Address: Rua Silva Jatahy 982, Meireles (Just off Av Desembargador
Moreira, two blocks from Beira Mar),
Phone: +55 85 3242 5095.

Parque Recreio: Open air restaurant with grilled meats, sea food and
more.
Address: Av. Rui Barbosa, 2727.

Rodizio: There are three options for rodizio (grilled meats en masse,
watch out for expensive drinks and desserts.
Churrascaria Gheller: This is arguably the best value rodizio in the
tourist area. If you are not too hungry, you can also pay per kilo.
Tuesdays and Saturdays there's a stand-up comedian at 21:00, adding R$
15 per person to your bill.
Address: Av. Monsenhor Tabosa, 825, corner of Antonio Augusto, Praia
Iracema,
Phone: +55 85 3219 3599. 13:00-late.

Sal e Brasa: Good house steak in Fortaleza.
Addresses: Av. Bezerra de Menezes, 2018 - Bairro So Gerardo - CEP:
60165-081 Fortaleza and Av. Abolio, 3500 - Meireles - CEP: 60165-
081 Fortaleza
http://www.salebrasa.com.br

The state of Cear is renowned for its seafood. Near the fish market are
a couple of good seafood restaurants:

Alfredo do Peixe: Good fresh fish in Fortaleza. There are many dishes
for two at around R$ 50. There is also good meat served here.

Address: Avenida Beira Mar, 4616 - Mucuripe, Fortaleza - Cear, 60165-
121, Brasil.
Phone: +55 85 3263-1188.

Coni Maki: The first Temaki house of Fortaleza. This place is fast, clean
and there is polite service. Good service, wonderful food.
Address: Rua Canuto de Aguiar, 1368 - Aldeota Fortaleza -
Phone: (85) 3242.4040.

Sheng Chi: The best Sushi in Fortaleza.

Addresses:
Av. Washington Soares, 1550 - Buena Vista Open Mall
Av. Senador Carlos Jereissati, 3000 - Aeroporto Internacional Pinto
Martin (International Airport).

Sorveteria 50 Sabores: Brazilian Ice cream. Several branches.
Address Av. Dom Manuel 65, Centro - CEP: 60060-090
Phone: 3077-9400
Barbaresco: Several tiny branches around town. There are Wonderful
ice creams and special coffees.
Address: Rua Julio Abreu, 211 - Varjota.

Breakfast:

If your accommodation has bad or no breakfast, most large hotels let
you take part in theirs for about R$ 10-12.

Address: Avenida Dom Lus 1400 Aldeota - Fortaleza - CE 60160-230.
Phone: (85) 3267-5193

Zahle-mezze Lebanese Restaurant: Not sure about Halal Certificate.
They have good food, beautiful decoration and sexy belly dancers.

Address: Rua Coronel Juc, 1940 - Dionsio Torres, Fortaleza - CE,
60170-320,
Phone: +55 85 3257-4900.

Hong Kong: This restaurant serves Chinese food as well as sushi.
Address: Avenida Beira Mar, 4544 - Mucuripe, Fortaleza - CE, 60165-
121.
Phone: +55 85 3263-1404.

Where drink in Fortaleza?
driving.
Fortaleza is a forr-stronghold. Virtually any day of the week you can
find a party with live music and this traditional dance, sometimes in
quite modern variations (often referred to as forr universitrio).
On weekends you can choose from literally dozens of places. For a more
genuine, tourist-free scene, you must move towards the outskirts of the
city, paying up to R$ 40 by taxi.
Traditionally, Fortaleza nightspots have their dedicated day of the week,
like Pirata (below) on Mondays. So, when asking around for a place to
go, always be specific when you plan to go.
For daytime drinking, which can be quite a party, especially on
weekends, see the Beaches-section.
The downtown (Centro) area is surprisingly scarce on watering holes,
which would be more than welcome after a hot afternoon's walking.
There is a refurbished park Passeio Pblico (officially Praa dos
Mrtires): A small kiosk with outdoor seating serving lunch and cold
drinks. Daily till 5 PM.
Internacional: With Belgian and Dutch owners Filip and Marco, has
grown into a kind of ex-pats hangout, good food. Try the Charlotes Pie.
Free Wi-Fi. Occasional music in live.
Address: Avenida Beira Mar, number 4456 (in Mucuripe, about 200 m
from the fish market).
Hours: Open Daily till midnight.

Mucuripe Club: The fanciest club in the town; best on Friday. Dont be
fooled by vendors on the street that claim that its R$ 70 inside. Be aware
that foreigners with Brazilian girlfriends often are turned back at the
entrance. Enter separately.
Address: Travessa Maranguape, 108.
Phone: +55 85 3254 3020.

Forr do Pirata: On Mondays (also on Fridays in the busy season) in
Praia de Iracema. Here you will find crowds of happy tourists (many
domestic) dance to forr and ax music. Overpriced at R$ 35. Most large
hotels have discounted tickets for their guest (and occasionally others).
Ask your hotels reception.
Address: Rua dos Tabajaras, 325 - Fortaleza - Cear
Phone: + 55 85 4011.6161

The largest concentration of watering holes, very practical if you
want to hit and miss and don't have a car, is at Drago do Mar, Praia de
Iracema. This area features refurbished colonial buildings, loads of open
air seating, live music (sometimes charged), and happy hour beer.
Fridays and Saturdays the party is everywhere:

Caf Santa Clara: Excellent coffee, some extremely sweet varieties,
good bites, and extreme air-conditioning in a pleasant, old-worldly
setting. Slow service, though.

Address: Avenida Santos Dumont, 3131 - Aldeota, Fortaleza - CE, 60150-
162, Brazil
Hours: Tue-Sun 3-10 PM.

Armazem: The biggest party in town on Wednesdays, when it attracts
mostly foreign men and a fair share of working girls. Also opens on
Saturdays with a more mixed crowd. Live forro on a big stage and a
separate eurotechno-lounge. Entry R$ 20.
Address: Avenida Almirante Barroso , 444 , Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza.

rbita Bar: Brazilian and international rock and pop cover bands. Later
on there is electronic music with DJs. Thursdays and Sundays (packs
from 9 PM) are good. The crowd consists mostly of students. Entry is R$
23. A small beer is R$ 6.
Address: Rua Drago do Mar, 207 - Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza - CE,
60060-390, Brazil

Chope do Bixiga: Famous for its Chope de Vinho. (Is it wine or beer
after all?)
Address: Rua Drago do Mar, 108 - Centro, Fortaleza - CE, 60060-390,
Brazil.
Phone:+55 85 3219-7690

Acervo Imaginrio: Live music on the weekends, with a student
crowd. Admission is R$ 12. A small beer is R$ 8.
A smaller version of this can be found along Rua Norvinda Pires, and the
neighboring part of Rua Desembargador Leite Albuquerque, centering on
the rock-bar Maria Bonita, pagode-neighbour Bebedouro and the more
mixed style Fafi, plus a few more. Open from Thursday to Sunday.
Address: Avenida Pessoa Anta, 194 (Drago do Mar), Fortaleza
Phone: +55 85 3221-4894.
Another area of interest is Varjota, inland from Mucuripe. Plenty of bars
and restaurants. Take Rua Frei Mansueto from Beira Mar, 5-10 blocks.

Arre gua: Thoroughly decorated as a Cear countryside joint,
although the prices are nothing of the kind. Live classic forro. Good spot
on Tuesdays. Mainly ages 30+. Casual restaurant. Entry is R$ 30.
Address: Rua Delmiro Gouveia 420, Varjota.
Hours: Open Tuesday and Friday from about 8 PM until late.

Biruta: Mostly electronica music on Fridays. Whether the locals like it
or not, Fortaleza has grown a reputation as the Gringo prostitution
capital; although Rio wins that title in absolute figures. Many foreigners,
especially Europeans, fly in on charters with this as the main attraction.
Unfortunately, this stereotype affects other travelers, particularly single
men.

Address: Avenida Zez Diogo, Fortaleza - CE, Brazil
Phone: +55 85 3234-5226

Many Brazilians, including otherwise sympathetic people, will assume
you are there for "sex". The main concentration is at "Happy Street"
(Rua dos Tremembs), Praia de Iracema, where the clubs Forr Mambo,
Caf del Mar and their immediate neighbors serve overpriced drinks.
A small group of young females sitting alone at a table along Beira
Mar are more than likely to be prostitutes.

Any drinking spot that attracts foreigners, is bound to attract working
girls, therefore some of them try to filter the entries, meaning that a
foreign man can have trouble getting in with this Brazilian girl. Most of
them have fake IDs saying they are older than they really are. They ask
for money or threaten to call the police and accuse the foreigner of being
a pedophile.
Be smart: get out and far away from these people!
Where sleep in Fortaleza?
$
Hostels:
Rolling Stone: Simple and clean. This place is a stone's throw from the
waterfront. With the city refurbishing the area, this looks very
promising indeed. Web Site in English and Spanish:
Address: Rua dos Pacajus, 66, Praia de Iracema (Next to Praca da
Mincharia),
Phone: +5585 3067 5929.
http://www.rollingstonehostel.com.br/en/#!/thehostel)

Hostel Terra da Luz: Simple yet exotic decoration.
Address: Rua Rodrigues Jnior, 278 (Three blocks inland from Dragao do
Mar) ,
Phone :55 85 3082-2260
(contato@hostelterradaluz.com).

Backpackers Cear: A number of cheap options in the city centre, but
the area goes seedy and unsafe at night. Unless you have a car, and can
stay at Praia do Futuro, your best cost/benefit is probably along Avenida
Dom Manuel, between Av. Monsenhor Tabosa and Av. Santos Dumont -just
inland from Drago do Mar.
Address: Avendia Dom Manuel, 89. Praia Iracema (Up the road from
Drago do Mar).
Phone: +55 85 3091 8997.
Hotel Passeio: It is also a kind of hostel, looks a bit run-down.
Address: Rua Dr. Joo Moreira, 221, Center.

$$
La Maison: It is small, but conveniently located hotel with nice rooms
and friendly staff.
Location: Av. Desembargador Moreira 201.

Ibis: It is convenient for online booking and cancelling. Wi-Fi .
Address: Rua Atualpa Barbosa Lima, 660 - Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza -
CE, 60060-370, Brazil
Phone:+55 85 3052-2450
Hotel Porto Futuro: Large rooms
Address: Av. Zeze Diogo, 7260 - Praia do futuro.
Phone: +55 85 3265 3365 / 3263 1441.
http://www.hotelportofuturo.com.br

Pousada Villa Marina:
Address: Rua Monsenhor Bruno 104, Praia de Iracema (Next to Ideal
Clube).

$$$
Vila Gal: Located on the beach 15 minutes cab ride from Avenida Beira
Mar. Online booking.
Address: Av. Dioguinho 4189, Praia do Futuro
Phone: (+55) 85 34 86 44 00.

Hotel Marina Park: Online booking
Address: Av. Presidente Castelo Branco, 400, Praia de Iracema,
Phone: (+55) 40 06 95 95.
http://www.marinapark.com.br/sis.index.asp?pasta=1&pagina=23

Apartments/Flats
A typical modern two bedroom 65 m2 flat, fully furnished and equipped
2 blocks from Beira Mar.
Monthly rates are about R$ 1200 low season, R$ 4000 - $ 20.000 (!) or
more peak during the World Cup. Mostly you have to pay for electricity
on top of this. Be aware that an air conditioner can set you back R$ 20
R$ 100 per day if you leave it running.
Many hotels put "flat" or "residence" in their name. This mostly means
that you can buy an apartment there - typically 40-50 m2 with one
bedroom and a tiny kitchen.
Many of the owners will rent these out for a price substantially less than
the one posted in the reception, particularly for longer terms.
Monthly deals can come close to the R$ 1000 R$ 10.000 mark in the
slow season, including linen change and cleaning. Ask the reception desk
for the owners' phone numbers.

Praia Mansa:

Address: Avenida Abolio, 2480, Meireles (One block from McDonald's).

Flat Atlantico: If you go for a furnished room with a bathroom (often no
fridge or a/c), referred to as a kitchenette (often spelled "Kitnet", or
anything in between), you will typically be charged u$$ 3.400 a month in
high season or more, as the World Cup. The Praia Iracema area has many
flats like this one.
Address: Avenida Abolio, 2111, Meireles.

Hospitals
As a rule of thumb, try to avoid drinking tap water. If you travel west
from Fortaleza, into the states of Maranho, Par or further, Brazilian
authorities recommend that you get a yellow fever vaccination.
An International Certificate of Vaccination can be issued if you have the
shot taken at the airport or in the city center.
If you already have your immunizations booklet, and only need a new
shot and the corresponding entry, this is best done at the medical center
at Avenida Antonio Justa, one block from Po de Aucar, weekdays 7 AM
to 4:30 PM, free of charge.
Check with your insurance company that the hospitals and clinics are
covered beforehand. If you have any allergies or known health problems,
it is wise to learn some Portuguese words to describe it as it is very likely
most of the hospital staff wont speak English except for more qualified
MDs, nurses and social workers.
college nurses, technical nurses and auxiliary nurses. You are
more likely to find an English speaker amongst the college nurses (they
are called Enfermeira or Enfermeiro and usually act as sector

This can be requested by a free call to one of two institutions:
SAMU (the acronym for the health emergency service) - Phone:
192
Fire Department - Phone: 193.

Public Hospitals:
Hospital So Jos - Amadeu Furtado
Rua Nestor Barbosa, 315
Amadeu Furtado, Fortaleza CE

HDEAM-Hospital Dr Evandro Ayres Moura (Frotinha de Antonio
Bezerra)
Rua Cndido Maia, 294
Antnio Bezerra, Fortaleza CE

Private Hospitals:
Hospital Luiz de Frana
Avenida Herlcito Graa, 60 Centro Fortaleza CE Zip Code: 60140-
060 -Phone: (85) 3304-1200
Hospital Residence
R Jos Vilar, 911
Meireles - Fortaleza - CE
Phone: (85) 3224-9118 / 3244-1490

Laundries
There are plenty of laundries around. Those that charge per kg (mostly
R$10) are somewhat cheaper than those that charge by the garment.
Your clothes are normally ready by the next day. There is one self-
service laundry:
Lav e Lev: R$ 9.50 to wash a big load, then typically R$ 19 to dry it.
Turns out cheaper, plus you have it all ready in less than 2 hours. Add R$
1.50 per garment for ironing.
Location: Avenida Abolio by the corner of Avendida Desembaragador
Moreira.
Hours: Monday - Friday until 7 PM, Saturday until 2 (price as November,
2013).

Laundromat at the corner of Av. Abolio and Rua Paulo Barros washes
and dries a small load for R$ 19, ready within 24 hours, often much
sooner.
Changing cash EUR or USD into BRL is done close to interbank rates,
meaning that it's better value than cash advances on credit or debit
cards. Many travel agencies exchange money. You mostly get slightly
better rates moving away from Beira Mar.

Contact
Area Code: 85
Be safe

Helpful tourist police "Delegacia do Turista":
Location: Avenida Historiador Raimundo Girao, 805, just by Hotel Travel
Iracema (formerly Othon), Praia Iracema.
Phone: 3101 2488
They speak some English. Open 24 hours.
There are countless stories of single foreign men being robbed by
prostitutes. You make not even make it back to their room before it
happens, so beware. There are reports of prostitutes employing drugs to
knock their victim out; otherwise they just rely on and encourage your
own excessive alcohol/drug consumption.
Be aware that most all hotels and apartment buildings will register
visitors, particularly late night ones. As soon as you are aware of missing
valuables, get the reception to pass you the data of the suspect and go
straight to see the police, listed above.
The sooner you act, the greater the chance of getting your valuables
back. Money, however, usually evaporates instantly.
Although most commercial districts of the city are fairly safe, including
the center and the tourist area around Beira Mar, pickpocketing, bag
snatching and other non-violent robberies are always a possibility.

Never show money, valuables and be aware of beggars that keep
touching you.
Praia do Futuro is bordered by one of the most dangerous
neighborhoods in town, the Serviluz slum. Bus stops are notoriously
robbery-ridden after sunset, even if it's only 5:45 PM.
There have been a number of cases where foreigners have been detained
at the airport with large amounts of drugs, particularly cocaine, on their
way out of the country.

Good places to visit around Fortaleza
Museu da Cachaa: In neighboring Maranguape is the Cachaa
Museum, hosted by Ypica, one of the country's most widespread
brands.

Museu Senzala Negro Liberato: A monument of slavery and
liberation, with a nearby cachaa-distillery.

Location: This museum is on the main highway, just outside Redeno,
some 60 km from Fortaleza R$ 2.
Phone: +55 85 3332 1116. Daily 8 AM - 5 PM.

Out-Of-Town Beaches:
Any tourism agency, and a number of pushers along Beira Mar, can offer
you daytrips, and longer packages, to outlying beaches.
The one thing they have in common, is the price. It's fixed in between
them, and it's far too expensive.

Oceanview is old in the game and has a site with prices. If you are a
group of 3-4 persons, a taxi can mostly be negotiated for less.
Cumbuco is a small fishing village, that has grown into a kite-surfers'
paradise. There are fresh water lakes with swimming nearby, dune
buggy tours, and horseback riding along the beach. A traditional fishing
raft, Jangada, gives you a postcard view of the coastline. There are buses
from Avenida Abolio for R$ 4.50.

Jericoacoara is among Brazil's finest, and hence makes its way into any
global listing. Buses (changing to trucks in Jijoca) twice daily from
outside Praiano Palace Hotel at Beira Mar.

Canoa Quebrada used to be quite rustic, attracting mostly hippies.
Now it's slowly growing into a resort town. It can be done as a day trip
(R$ 40, many agencies), but it is worth a longer stay, particularly for its
weekend nightlife.
Some 16 km outside Fortaleza, at the beach of Porto das Dunas, is a huge
water park with slides and other wet interactive fun, Beach Park.
Stiffly priced at R$ 120 for a day. The beach right outside the park is
very nice, and although you pay nothing to walk in the sand, food and
drinks are 2-3 times city prices.

Consulates
Belgium
R. Eduardo Garcia, 909 - Aldeota Cidade: Fortaleza - Cep:60150-100 -
Phone: +55 (85) 3263-4373 Fax: +55 (85) 3263-4373
Germany
R. Dr. Jos Loureno, 2244 - Cep: 60115-282 Phone: (0xx85) 3246-2833
Email: dghonkonsulbrd@secrel.com.br

Italy
Rua Miguel Dibe, 80 - Fortaleza Cep: 68811-130 - Phone: +55 (85)
3273-2606 / 3278-6352 Fax: +55 (85) 3273-2606 Email:
misiciroberto@hotmail.com
Portugal
Av. Santos Dumont, n 2727, sala 506 Aldeota Cidade: Fortaleza - Cep:
60150-161 - Phone:+55 (85) 3261-7420 Fax:+55 (85) 3261-7421 Email:
consuladoptce@uol.com.br Site:
http://www.consulportugalfortaleza.org.br/
Spain
Av. Santos Dumont, 2122, Sala 1306 - Manhattan Center
Cidade:Fortaleza Estado: Cear Cep: 60150-161 Telefone: +55 (85)
3264-0055

USA
Av. Santos Dumont, 2828 - Suite 708 - Aldeota - Torre Santos Dumont
Cidade: Fortaleza - Cep: 60150-161 - Phone: +55 (85) 3486-1306 / 07
Fax: +55 (85) 3486-1308

USEFUL PHONES
To get police assistance, dial 190 in any public or private phone.
For medical emergency, dial 192.
Police: 190
Ambulance: 192

Pinto Martins International Airport: Address: Av Sen. Carlos Jereissati,
3000 - Airport - Fortaleza Cear
Phone: 55 85 3392-1200

Touristic Information about Fortaleza: Address: Avenida Beira Mar,
2908 - Meireles, Fortaleza - CE, 60165-121, Brazil
Phone: +55 85 3257-1000

Visas or Stolen Passport
For visa extensions and any other issue between a foreigner and
the Polcia Federal, head to their office at Rua Paula Rodrigues 304,
Bairro de Ftima, near the main bus station. Hours: Open Monday -
Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM.

Bus 099:
Siqueira Mucuripe / Baro de Studart to/from Avenida Abolio.

PLCIDO ADERALDO CASTELO (CASTELO
STADIUM)

The Governador Plcido Castelo Stadium, known as Castelo, is a
Brazilian football stadium located in Fortaleza, Cear, and opened in
1973. It is the largest and most modern stadium in the state of Cear.
Castalo has capacity of 67,037 people.

Plcido Aderaldo Castelo was the Governor of Cear (1966-1971).

Address: Avenida Alberto Craveiro, 2901 - Castelo, Fortaleza - CE,
60860-000
Phone: +55 85 3295-1927

Schedule:
6/14 - Uruguay vs Costa Rica - 4 PM
6/17 - Brazil vs Mexico - 4 PM
6/21 - Germany vs Ghana - 4 PM
6/24 - Greece x Ivory Coast - 5 PM
6/29 - the 8
th
(1B vs 2A) - 1 PM
7/04 - the 4
th
(W49 vs W50) - 5 PM

WELCOME TO MANAUS

Manaus is the capital of Amazonas and has about 2.5 million residents.
Manaus is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio
Solimes to form the Amazon River proper. The two rivers flow side by
side for many miles, different in color, mixing in eddies: the "Meeting of
the Waters."
The wealth of the primeval forest becomes visible first of all in the
architecture of the city. The city enriched and the barons afforded the
biggest luxury from Europe, a copy the Grand Opera de Paris, the Teatro
Amazonas.
Other monuments from this epoch are the Mercado Municipal, a copy of
the famous market halls Les Halles in Paris, and the arts center Palacio
Rio Negro, located among fascinating Portuguese facades.
Today Manaus is a foreign trade zone. Foreign enterprises pay no
import duties, which guarantees a certain income for the city and the
region.
The city is pleasant and friendly, although it can be quite hot; it is still a
major port, and a good starting point for river tours.

The Rio Negro (northern) branch of the Amazon is the color of strong
tea, peaty brown and its comparative acidity means few mosquitoes. At
Manaus the Amazon rises and falls almost twenty meters between
seasons. During June and July it's at its peak, full and very wide,
spreading way out into the trees. The high level of humidity is also a
problem. The temperature average is 30 Celsius (86 F) 35 Celsius (95
F).
How to get in Manaus?
By plane:
The airport is some 15 km by road from the city centre. A taxi will cost
R$ 35 - R$ 100 (fixed prices, the values change in according of area and
distance).
Manaus is about 2200 km from So Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, which takes
about four hours by air. From North America, it's much faster if you go
direct without backtracking via So Paulo or Rio. From Europe, you first
must travel to North/Central America (which is too far west) or SP/Rio
(which is too far south). Both routes are about the same distance.
American Airlines has one flight daily direct Miami in a Boeing 737-800.
TAM and United Airlines are flying once daily direct Miami to Manaus
which takes less than 5 hours in a Boeing 767-300.
Copa Airlines also does Miami to Manaus via Panama in an Embraer 190.
Azul Airlines has direct flights to Campinas.
GOL has a non-stop from Rio (6 days a week, except Saturday), Sao Paulo
(2x daily) and Brasilia (3x daily).
TAM has direct flights to Belem, Brasilia, Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro, Sao
Paolo, Santarem.
TRIP has direct flights to Belem, Belo Horizonte, Porto Velho and other
municipalities in northern Brazil.

By boat:
Manaus is a major destination for boats on the Amazon River.
From Belm on the Atlantic Coast, it takes about five days. Boats go
to Porto Velho 2-3 times per week.
Tabatinga, on the border with Colombia, can also be reached by boat
from Manaus, with connections further on to Iquitos in Peru. To save a
few hours on your way to Colombia or Peru, you can take a boat
from Manacapuru instead.

By bus:
Due to road conditions, there is very little (if any) long-distance bus
service originating from major cities in this area. There are daily buses
to Boa Vista in the north and to destinations in Venezuela. The bus from
Caracas in Venezuela takes about 36 hours, but it is air-conditioned, has
comfortable reclining seats and a toilet.

Walking in Manaus
Opera House (Teatro Amazonas): The Opera House was built during
the heyday of rubber trade, using materials from all over the world, and
was once visited by all the most famous opera divas and maestros.
Regular guided tours in English. There are frequent free performances;
be sure to arrive at least an hour in advance to secure a seat. Prices vary.

Location: At Praa So Sebastio, Center.
Phone: +55 92 3622-1880.
Hours: Everyday, starting time of shows may vary.

Mercado Municipal: The city's main market is modeled after the Les
Halles market in Paris.
Location: At Rua dos Bars
Phone: +55 92 3234-8441
Hours: Everyday, 8AM-10PM

Rio Negro Palace: The Rio Negro Palace was built by German farmers
in the "golden age". Nowadays it's a cultural center and theater. It's one
of the city's postcards. Prices vary.

Address: Avenida Sete de Setembro, 1546.
Phone: +55 92 3232-4450 (Call for information on attractions).

Ponta Negra Beach: it's a nice spot, and popular river beach. It has
several bars and restaurants and is some distance west of the city.
Praia da Lua Beach: A very clean and nice river beach a few
kilometers from Ponta Negra upstream the Rio Negro. Catch a boat to
Praia da Lua (R$ 10, 10 minutes) from Marina Davi, just past Ponta
Negra. Take bus 011, 012, or 120 (R$4 and the trip will take about 20
minutes) to the turnaround and wait for the free Especial bus to the
marina.
Parque Nacional de Anavilhas: The Park is situated in the lowland
plateau in the Western Amazon and North of Amazon State. It is one of
the largest National Park in Brazil and in Latin America. It is 2,272,000
hectares in size and 1,250 km of perimeter. There is no charge for
admission.

Address: Rua Antenor Carlos Frederico, 69 CEP: 69.750-000 - Novo
Airo/AM .
Phone: (92) 3365-1345

From Manaus, you can get to Novo Airo (City Park headquarters) in
three ways: taxi, bus or boat.
Taxi is faster (about 2 hours drive), but the service is not 24 hours.
Usually the flow is greater in the early morning or afternoon. We
recommend an early contact to combination. The capacity is 4
passengers and costs R$50.00 per person.

In Manaus, the point to catch the taxi is just up the Black River Bridge
(ponte do Rio Negro), to the left of those coming from Manaus, near a
convenience store across the road. Phone: (92) 9428-0595.
Exclusive packages for transportation Manaus - New Airo are also
possible.

Bus:

There are buses leaving from stops on the road from Manaus and cost
around R$ 50.00 per person. Most routes include a stop in Manacapuru,
making the trip last around 5 hours to get to New Airo.
I suggest you always confirm the schedule:
Manaus - Novo Airo: 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Novo Airo - Manaus, 05:30 and 9:00 AM, 1:30 and 4:00 PM.

Boat:

Boats to New Airo leave the Port of Sao Raimundo, in Manaus. There is
the speedboat option (3 hours ride) or regional boat (9 hour ride).
The speedboat leaves the afternoon of Manaus, daily at 3 PM. The route
from Manaus to New Airo is also daily, departing at 6:30 PM. The
Regional Boat from Manaus to New Airo matches are at night: Tuesdays
and Fridays at 7PM. It is very important to confirm dates and times,
which occasionally vary. It costs around R$ 45.00 per person.
The regional boat is necessary to take fishing trips.

For Turistic Tours to Parque Nacional de Anavilhas, Anavilhanas Jungle:
Phone: (92) 3365-1180/8111

http://www.anavilhanaslodge.com

Walking in Manaus
Adventure trips to the rainforest:
There are a number of companies operating jungle adventure trips from
Manaus, but only a few seem to be more established and reputable.
First you need to check if the Tour Operator has a valid Embratur
(Brazilian Tourism Board) registry. Then you make up your mind what
you really want. You need to travel at least 100km from Manaus to see
virgin rain forest and the wild life you are looking for.

Location of trip:
There are basically two main areas that you can explore: the Rio Negro
basin and the South of Rio Amazonas.
Both of these regions are (sparsely) inhabited, so you will not be
completely isolated from civilization. If you want to make a trip to a
reserve or a remote area, ask for a special expedition package and plan
to pay much more and spend a few days for the transfer to and from the
reserve.
Rio Negro is an area that is great for the jungle vegetation and for the
lack of mosquitoes (due to the acidity of the river). Unfortunately, the
lack of mosquitoes means there are a lot fewer animals that live there.
The South of Rio Amazonas is a network of rivers, lakes and channels.
There are mosquitoes and wildlife, however, there are quite a lot of
houses and farms, and thus civilization is a lot more visible.
Most tours go to or through Mamori Lake. There are quite a lot of jungle
things to see around the lake, but do not expect pristine nature due to all
the farming going on around the lake. There is a reserve nearby
called Jurara.
It also seems to be inhabited and there is not much difference between
the reserve and Mamori Lake. A better option may be a trip to Jumas
Lake, which is a special protected area.

Time of travel:
There are two seasons in the Amazon basin: wet season and dry season.
During the dry season it's very hot (that means 40 C, 104 F, plus the
humidity) and thus may be unbearable for some. Many channels and
rivers dry out. On the other hand, fishing is much easier since all fish
concentrate in the remaining water basins. During the wet season, it
rains almost every day. When there is a storm, the amount of rain may
be overwhelming.
Thus, if traveling in wet season, be prepared to get wet and not dry out
until the end of your trip. During the wet season, the rivers and lakes
rise several meters and many new channels are formed in the flooded
jungle. The weather is more bearable and only the humidity will be a
problem. The wet season lasts roughly from January to July, with the
best time to visit the jungle from May to August.
Equipment:
If you travel during the wet season, keep your important things like
documents in (tested) waterproof bags/containers. Cotton clothes let
your skin breathe but there is no chance that they will ever get dry.
Some people find nylon/synthetic clothes to work well. Long sleeves
and long pants are not 100% necessary but you will not regret wearing
them. A flashlight is necessary for the night, as the jungle is pitch-black.
A machete most probably will not be required on short/casual trips but
is essential for longer expeditions. A lighter and a pocketknife are both a
good idea.
The pocketknife is especially important since it can provide the only
defense against the boa and the anaconda (indeed, attacks do occur).
A mosquito repellent is most probably a very smart idea. It keeps other
bugs away too and it reduces the risk of being infected by a disease-
carrying insect.
However, the number of mosquitoes in the jungle is not completely
overwhelming, so for longer expeditions you may consider getting used
to them.

Additionally, a good guide can show you some natural repellents
available in the jungle. Sun block is needed especially during the dry
season. Otherwise, keep your luggage to the minimum. Do not take
things you do not really need.
Dictionary of trip operators:
Native People - People who live in the region. Most of the time
that means, with Portuguese background. These are not aboriginal
inhabitants.
Native Guide - A guide who is a native. If at all, usually speaks only
marginal English.
Tour operators:
Do not buy tours from people at the airport or on the street in Manaus.
The best companies hire the best tour guides.
If you dont want to book a tour before arriving and want to book a tour
in Manaus, use a reputable published guidebook first, or just look for the
official tourist information center (CAT). They will help you out and
even make free calls if required. Tour companies are relatively easy to
find in downtown Manaus and many will meet you at no charge.
The tour companies tend to trick the tourists. They may ask you "May I
book the reservation?" if you say yes and later cancel they will want to
charge you 25%.
It is not legal unless they let you know about it and make you sign
something, so remain alert. Ask other tour operators to check prices.

See the boto!

The Boto is an Amazonian freshwater dolphin.
If you want to take a river tour, go up the Rio Negro for a three-night
riverboat trip from Manaus up the Rio Negro. You can expect to see
wildlife and visit some of the forest remnants, but two weeks or more
are needed to reach untouched areas.
Small two-story riverboats carry five to ten people, sleeping in
hammocks on the upper deck. Large boats carrying hundreds ply the
river too, but the big boats don't stop between ports. The most popular
place for jungle tours is Lake Mamori/Lake Juma about 100km south of
Manaus.
Other recommended areas are Rio Urubu about 200 km east of and Novo
Airo about 100 km northwest of Manaus. Make sure that your travel
agency has a valid Embratur Stamp (Brazilian Tourism Board)
registration.
Embratur logo

Amazon BackPackers Tour: Amazon Backpackers has been in business
for over 15 years. They offer jungle excursions, boat trips, river tours,
fishing tours and survival trips. They operate on Lake Mamori, Lake
Juma, Rio Tupana and Parque Jau. They offer hotel/hostel booking and
airport transfer service.
Address: Rua Dez de Julho 679, (inside Hotel 10 de Julho),
Phone: +55 (92) 8408-8913 (92) 9627-4151
www.amazonbackpackers.com.br
Amazon Brasil Tour: They organize non-conventional tours with
experienced tour guides. They do jungle tours to different areas of the
Amazon (Juma Lake area, Tracaj, Rio Negro river) and they specialize in
boat tours (boats with hammocks and boats with cabins and luxury
boats) exploring the rivers of the Amazon.
Address: Rua 10 de Julho, 708
Phone: +55 55 (92) 3087-0689 or 92 9184-8452
http://www.amazonbraziljungletours.com

Amazing Tours Agency: This agency has been in the business for about
7 years. They organize Rio Negro tours, Boat tours, boat tickets, amazon
Lodges, Adventure trips, fishing trips
Address: Rua Praia Canoa Quebrada, No. 262, Campos Salles, close to the
International Airport Eduardo Gomes.
Phone: +55 92 91867133 - 92 81651118
http://www.manausjungletours.com
Manaus Booking: This agency has been organizing trips since 2000.
They arrange Jungle Tours, River Cruises, Day Tours, City Tours, Hotel
Reservation, and Airport Transfer.
Address: Rua Dez de Julho, 685, near Amazon Theater.
Phone: +55(92)9190-5070.
http://manausbooking.com

Amazon Tree Climbing: Ecotourism is adventure travel specializing in
tree climbing and boat expeditions and working with small closed
groups. It follows rigid safety protocols according to the
Brazilian adventure tourism standards. The trees are previously
inspected and the climb sites are carefully chosen they opt for primary
forest area, which gives a better chance of observing the wildlife in its
natural habitat. They have multilingual guides with authentic cultural
background, and provide top quality equipment. Trips vary from 1 day
to longer customized boat expeditions at the Rio Negro basin.

Phone: +55 92 8195 8585
(info@amazontreeclimbing.com).
http://www.tropicaltreeclimbing.com

Where eat in Manaus?
Local cuisine is rich and varied and can be found in many restaurants
and stalls. You may try:
tapioquinha, a glutinous pancake made from manioc starch, usually
buttered and filled with tucum palm fruit and farmers cheese.
tacac, an Amazon local soup.
tambaqui, the favorite fish among locals. Banda de Tambaqui is the
most famous and one of de the most delicious fish dishes from there.
pirarucu, the biggest fish from Amazon. Breaded filet and Moqueca
are the most famous dishes.
pamonha, made from green corn and coconut milk boiled in corn
husks.
bolo de macaxeira, a tasty glutinous translucent cake made from
manioc.
sugar cane juice, a favorite drink among locals.
The region is also known for its exotic fruits like:
creamy white cupua.
iron-rich aa.
Aa

Restaurants:
Tambaqui de Banda: This is a seafood restaurant is well frequented by
the locals. This is a great opportunity to try local food and not food
geared towards tourists. This restaurant is very comfortable with air
conditioning and free Wi-Fi. You can order for delivery from their web
site.
Address: Av. Tancredo Neves, 9 - Flores, Parque 10, Manaus - AM,
69057-700.
Phone: +55 92 3236-5995
Hours: Open every day for lunch at 11 a.m. and for dinner from 6 p.m. to
11 p.m. (Monday to Saturday).
www.tambaquidebanda.com.br

Restaurante Charufe: Lebanese food. Local, typical and home-style
prepared fish dishes. This restaurant not only has the best Lebanese
food in town, but the most famous paella. The renowned chef opens her
restaurant at home only for lunch from Wednesday to Friday (Open
11:30 AM 3 PM). They speak French and Spanish.

Address: Rua dos Angelins, 261 (back of the school Maria Amlia do
Espirito Santo) Zip Code: 69040-230
Phone: 55 (92) 9202-0850 (Lincoln),
E-mail: lincolntz@hotmail.com

Aa e Companhia: Nice atmosphere; Regional dishes; Good service;
sometimes live music;
Address: Rua Acre, 98 Vieiralves.
Phone: 55-(92) 3584-0188 e 3307-5058.
Hours: Open 10 AM to 11 PM.

Aa e Companhia: Great local fish selection. Try the Tacaca. No air
conditioning
Address: Rua Emlio Moreira, 1677 - Praa 14, de Janeiro- Manaus- AM -
Zip Code:69020-040
Phone: 55-(92) 3234-3021.

Scarola Restaurante e Pizzaria: Traditional Restaurant near the
Amazon Theater. It is open for lunch with self-service buffet and dinner
is a-la-carte. They are famous for their Pizza and Barbecue Grill. Delivery
service is available.
Address: Rua Dez de Julho, 739 - Centro, Manaus - AM, 69010-060.
Phone:+55 92 3233-5210

Casa da Sopa: Soup buffet. Highly recommended.
Address: Avenida Constelao, 22 Aleixo - Manaus - AM, 69060-081.
Phone: +55 92 3642-8176.

Miako: Sushi and Asian food in Manaus.
Address: Rua So Luiz, 230. CEP 69099-238, Brazil.
Phone: +55 92 3234-4837)

Shin Suzuran: Japanese food. In my opinion, this is the best Japanese
food in Manaus.
Address: Rua Joo Valrio, 765 Vieiralves

Peixaria Morongueta: Open-air seafood restaurant with a fantastic
view of the Meeting of the Waters. Moderately priced, offering fresh
local (i.e., Amazonian) fish and traditional Brazilian dishes.

Address: Rua Jaith Chaves, 30 - Porto da Ceasa.
Phone: 3615-3362.
Hours: Open 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM.

Habibs: Arab fast food. Serving food in the late afternoon and
evening. They have staple sandwiches in clean surroundings, with a
variety of Arab dishes. Prices are reasonable. The food is not halal.
Address: Av. Autaz Mirim, 7043 - Tancredo Neves, Manaus, 69087215.
Phone: (92) 3638-6402

Where drink in Manaus?
driving.
Downtown drinking near the Teatro Amazonas, lately spreading towards
the refurbished Praa da Saudade. Others options in the Ponta
Negra area, including the "Estrada do Turismo" --a string of nightlife
spots along the road to the airport.

Bar do Armando: This bar has the best caipirinha com limo e 5 of
Manaus. Ana Claudia works in this bar since her father Amando Dias
passed away on April, 2012. This place is a traditional bar in Manaus.
Open every evening till midnight. There is a lively crowd, simple setting,
with an excellent location. Prices are a bit stiff, and for snacks they are
downright ridiculous.
Address: Rua 10 de Julho, 593. Phone: 3232-1195 - Largo do So
Sebastio (Acros the square from the Theatro Amazonas).
Poro do Alemo: Open since 1998. They play mostly rock music, and
have excellent snacks. There is an entry fee.
Address: Estrada da Ponta Negra 1986, So Jorge (30-40 reais by taxi
from the centre.).

Cho de Estrelas: It started with meetings at the home of Walter Sena
da Silva. Each friend who came brought a musical instrument and
something to drink. Thus the group was there for the whole afternoon
playing sambas and chorinhos.
The sound gradually began to attract outsiders. While now a full bar,
there is a far more eclectic crowd. The bar is decorated with antique
objects such as lamps, pictures and an estimated 20 000 vinyl records
collection.
Address: Beco Chaves Ribeiro, 49 - So Geraldo
Phone: 3233-3947 Hours: Open only Friday 6 PM- 1 AM.

Where sleep in Manaus?
$
Hostels
Lots of cheap hotels and penses (boarding houses) can be found around
Av. Joaquim Nabuco. Many of these have hourly rates, and are not very
pleasant, and often quite smelly. The area gets dodgy in the late
evenings.
Hostel Manaus: Opened in 2006 by an Australian with the idea that the
first hostel of the Amazon's interior, would not only be well priced,
centrally located, and provide easy access to the jungle with the most
recommended tours in town.

Address: Rua Lauro Cavalcante, 231 - Centro Manaus
Phone: +55 (92) 3233-4545
Email: info@hihostelmanaus.com
http://www.hostelmanaus.com

Penso Sulista: A traditional hotel in a historic building from 1904.
Rooms each contain a fan and a TV. Complimentary breakfast, wireless
Internet access and private parking are available.
Address: Av. Joaquim Nabuco, No.347, Centro.
Phone: +55 (92) 3234-5814.

Big Hostel Brazil: A new beautiful, breezy, clean hostel close to the
historical centre. Facilities include a lovely garden patio, TV room, Wi-Fi,
lockers, laundry and a basic kitchen. Comfortable single, double, triple
and dorm rooms are available.
Address: Av. Sete de Setembro, No.1653 - Centro.
Phone: +55 (92) 3086-3083.
Email: contato@bighostel.com.br
http://www.bighostel.com.br

Rio Branco: Rooms are tiny and in some cases without windows.
However, the rooms are cheap and clean with Frigobar, Phone, Air
condition, Safe service, breakfast and room service.
Address: Rua dos Andradas 484,
Phone: 233-4019.

Hotel Colonial: There are 12 rooms for up to 6 people in historic
building recently reformed. All rooms with private bathroom, frigobar
and cable TV, wireless Internet and complementary breakfast.
Address: Rua Quintino Bocaiuva, 462, Centro.
Phone: +55 (92) 3233-3216.

Hotel Veneza: Rooms and dorms for up to 8 people near the Praca da
Policia. All rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioner, fridge and
cable TV. There is a breakfast buffet on the veranda with view over
downtown Manaus. Wireless Internet, 24-hour reception, and airport
transfer. Hostel option.

Address: Rua Leovegildo Coelho, 460, Centro.
Phone: +55 (92) 3307-1421.
Email: info@hotelvenezamanaus.com.

Hotel Rei Arthur: Rooms and dorms for up to 4 people near the
Amazon Theater. All rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioner,
fridge and cable TV. There is a breakfast buffet, wireless Internet, 24-
hour reception, airport transfer, and jungle tours.
Address: Rua Dez de Julho, 685, Centro.
Phone: +55(92)9190-5070.
Email: manausbooking@gmail.com.

Hostel for Us: This is a new Hostel in the historic center 5 minutes
from the Amazon Theater. There are male and female bedrooms with air
conditioning and private bathrooms. Private Double and Triple rooms
with air conditioning, wireless Internet and cable TV, breakfast buffet,
24-hour reception, airport transfer.
Address: Avenida Ramos Ferreira, No. 922, Centro.
Phone: +55(92)3622-5424.
Email: hostelforusbackpackers@gmail.com.

$$
Hotel Sao Pedro: This hotel has been partly refurbished, it is clean,
bright and spacious. Arguably it is the best cost/benefit in the
neighborhood.
Address: Rua Rui Barbosa 166, Centro (Two blocks south of the Teatro),
Phone: 3232 8584.

Hostel Amazonas: Spacious public area, kitchen facilities, and Wi-Fi.
Address: Rua Ramos Ferreira 922, centro (three blocks north of the
square).
http://www.hostelamazonas.com.br

Hotel Brasil: Central location.
Address: Av. Getlio Vargas, 657 - Centro Manaus,
Phone: 55 92 xx 30824732.

Continental Park Hotel: Walking distance to Mind Park, Rooms have
Minibar, cable TV and Broadband Wi-Fi Internet Service, 24 hour Room
service.
Address: Estrada dos Japoneses, n.238, Parque 10,
Phone: 92-3642-6232.

$$$
Tropical Manaus Eco Resort: In the Amazon Forest, on the banks of
the Negro River. It has 588 apartments and a large complex of hotel,
events, sports, and tourism and leisure services. It is 10 km from the
Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport and 16 km from
downtown Manaus.

Address: Av Coronel Teixeira, 1320, Ponta Negra
Phone: 00-XX-55-92-3658-3899.
email: info@manaus-hotels.travel
http://www.tropicalmanaus.com.br

$$$

Jungle Accommodation:

Amazon Jungle Palace: This beautiful hotel is located on the left hand
bank of the river Rio Negro, was built according to two guiding
principles: concern for the environment and providing excellent services
for the tourist.
Anyone who stays in its 65 apartments can feel all the energy and
vibrations of nature in the middle of the Amazon jungle, in tandem with
all the comforts of luxury hotels.

Address: Rua Emlio Moreira, 470 - Praca 14 de Janeiro, Manaus -
AM,69020-040.
Phone:+55 92 3232-5610
http://www.naturezaturismo.com.br

The weather in Manaus
The climate is very hot and humid. Packing thin, light-colored clothing
will help you suffer the least during the day. There are also many
mosquitoes known to carry malaria, so wear long sleeve shirts and pants
and insect repellent. There is little cotton or natural fiber clothing
available in Manaus, so dont count on being able to pick up something
on short notice. People seem to prefer synthetic materials, which have
the advantage of drying easily without molding.

Hospitals

beforehand.


Public Hospital:

H.P.S. Dr Joo Lucio Pereira Machado Hospital , Emergency
and First Aid Room
Address: Alameda Cosme Ferreira, 3937 - So Jos Operrio, Manaus -
AM, 69082-230.
Phone:+55 92 3249-9050

Private Hospital:
Hospital Adventista de Manaus HAM
Address: Avenida Governador Danilo Aeosa, 139 Distrito Industrial
Manaus AM -Zip Code 69075-351.

Be Safe
Manaus is fairly safe for a Brazilian city of its size. As always, deserted
streets are a bad idea after dark. Avoid the East Area, it has a really bad
reputation.

Contact
By phone:
The area code for Manaus is 92.

Places to visit
Presidente Figueiredo: It stays about 105 km from Manaus, offers
archaeological grottoes and caves, waterfalls, and native scenery.

So Gabriel da Cachoeira: Home of many Indian tribes and the Pico da
Neblina, the highest mountain in Brazil.
Barcelos: Small town up the Rio Negro famous for white beaches, sport
fishing and the highest waterfall in Brazil.
Boa Vista: By bus or with the national airlines, from Boa Vista
(inRoraima State) you can fly to Guyana and Suriname.
Praia do Tup: Nearby white sand beach.
Parintins: Festival happens in June.
Jau National Park: Jungle expeditions leave Manaus for this huge park
near Novo Airo. The Park is a World Heritage site and stands out in the
state of Amazonas.

Rainforest tours for Mamori River and Mamirau south of the city near
the Amazonas River can be reached by the Transamaznica road.
Jungle Accommodation
Areas near Manaus that offer lodging in the jungle (rather than in a
town), include:
Iranduba, including the Ariau River, pioneering in jungle tourism. Ever
more accessible by the new bridge from Manaus, although the jungle
lodges are mostly reached by boat.
The Mamori river, accessible by the BR 319 highway, across the river
from Manaus
The Juma river, somewhat off the BR 319
The Tupana river, further south on the BR 319

Consulates
France
Avenida Joo Valrio, 209 - Vieira Alves, Manaus - AM, 69053-140
Phone: +55 92 3877-0754

Japan
Rua Fortaleza, 416 - Adrianpolis, Manaus - AM, 69057-080
Phone: +55 92 3232-2000

Portugal
Rua Pereira Pena, 37 Centro Manaus CEP 69010-140

USA
Rua Francisco de S, 310 Sala 306 - So Francisco, Manaus - AM,
69079-210
Phone: +55 92 3611-3333

Useful Phones

Police: 190
Ambulance (SAMU): 192

Police Tourist District: Mon- Fri (8 AM- 6 PM)
Inside of Manaus Port (Porto de Manaus) Rua: Taqueirinha n25
Centro - Cep: 69005-420 - Manaus - AM

International Airport of Manaus- Eduardo Gomes:
Address: Avenida Santos Dumont, 1350 - Tarum, Manaus - AM, 69041-
000 Phone:
Phone: +55 92 3652-1210
Code: MAO

VIVALDO (VIVALDO LIMA) OR ARENA
AMAZNIA STADIUM

Estdio Vivaldo Lima or Vivaldo, is a stadium in Manaus, Amazonas.
The stadium holds 46,000, with 31,000 seats.
Address: Av. Constantino Nery, without number - Flores, Manaus, AM
Zip Code: 69.045-000.

Schedule:
06/14 - England vs Italy - 6 PM
06/18 - Croatia vs Cameroon - 6 PM
06/22 - Portugal vs United States - 6 PM
06/25 - Switzerland vs Honduras - 4 PM

WELCOME TO NATAL

Natal is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, localized on the Atlantic
coast. Natal has some great beaches, historical sites, and nature areas,
and it is a frequently used base for exploring the paradisiac beaches and
nature of the Rio Grande do Norte state.
Natal was founded on 25 December 1599, hence its name (Natal means
Christmas in Portuguese). Unlike other Northeastern capitals, it did not
quite benefit from the economic boom resulting from the region's sugar
cane production. Instead it grew moderately and more organized,
burgeoning on the state's cattle-raising activities and salt and oil
extraction.

The city has different areas:
South: The most affluent area of the city and also where most tourists
stay. Contains the Ponta Negra beach and most upscale hotels, shopping
malls and restaurants.
East: Contains the city's Historical Center, important sights such as Forte
dos Reis Magos and Ponte de Todos, and beaches that mix visitors and
locals such as Praia do Meio and Praia dos Artistas. Also contains the
entrance to Parque das Dunas.
North: An industrial/working class area which is now the most populous
of Natal. Contains the Redinha beach, which provides some nice views of
the city and with very local feel.
West: A mostly poor and in some parts run-down area, it contains the
intercity bus terminal that can be used to reach other cities, like Tibau do
Sul.

How get around in Natal
By plane:
The region is served by Augusto Severo International Airport (Aeroporto
Internacional Augusto Severo) 20 km from Natal's center, localized in the
neighboring Parnamirim. There are numerous direct flights from most
important Brazilian capitals, including So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife,
Fortaleza, Salvador, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia.
TAP flies daily to Lisbon.
Weekly to Amsterdam with ArkeFly, often cheaper if bought at FlyBrazil.

To get to the city, take the Natal bus at the doorstep of the terminal. To
get to Ponta Negra, get off after about 15 minutes at Natal Shopping (look
for the sign "VIA DIRETA SHOPPING").
This is one of the main connection points for buses, and there will
usually be a big line of buses stopping off for different directions. If
coming from the airport, cross the pedestrian bridge and take any bus
with Ponta Negra in its name. Buses come very frequently.
In Ponta Negra, there are a few helpful stops. You know you are getting
close when you see PRAIA SHOPPING, a small modern mall within
walking distance of town center. That stop, or the one near after, will be
close to many of the hotels for tourists.
A taxi to Ponta Negra is about R$ 50 at fixed prices, possibly a few R$
cheaper on the meter. The travel takes 20 minutes.

By bus:
Natal's bus station is about 3 km southwest of the city center, and some 5
km northwest of the Ponta Negra beach. A taxi to the latter is about R$
35. Bus No 66 does the same run in about 45 minutes.
To Fortaleza 8 times daily (3 of these stopping in Mossor)
by Nordeste. R$ 55-150, 8-10 hours.
Also by Guanabara http://www.expressoguanabara.com.br
To Recife by Progresso about 4.5 hours.
To Joo Pessoa every hour.

By car:
Renting a car may be convenient if you plan to use Natal as a base for day
trips outside the city. Even the beaches at the neighboring municipalities
of Parnamarim and Extremoz are complicated to reach using public
transport. Typically the cheapest prices are R $110- 150 per day. Often
the car will be delivered to you at your hotel.
By buggy:
You may explore the coast on the beach rather than a road, by hiring the
service of a dune Buggy driver. It costs about R$ 400 per vehicle or R$ 80
per person if you join a group. You may find cheaper services, but be
aware of unlicensed drivers; accidents caused by unskilled Buggy drivers
sometimes occur (Note: All the prices as February, 2014).

What see in Natal?

Forte dos Reis Magos (Fortress of the Magi).

Forte dos Reis Magos (Fortaleza dos Reis Magos).
Address: Avenida Presidente Caf Filho, s/n, Praia do Forte (next to
Ponte Newton Navarro).
Phone: 84 3202-2006,
Hours: Daily, 8 AM - 4 PM. The star-shaped fortress is the oldest and
most important historical construction of Natal.
It was built in 1598 to protect the coast against French pirates, and
during the colonial period it was perhaps the most important of Brazil's
defense barriers. It is located in the water, and is accessible using a
pedestrian path from Praia do Forte.
For about 300 years, it worked as a military outpost, administration
office and prison, and it was also for some time under Dutch control. The

name of the fortress is due to the statues of the Biblical Magi in the
entrance. R$ 8.
Ponte Newton Navarro (Ponte de Todos): The huge bridge over the
Potengi River, with 1.8 km length and up to 100 meters high, links the
North and East parts of the city and is a sight to not be missed. It can be
observed from Forte or Redinha beaches.
Parque das Dunas: An 11.7 million square meters nature reserve
located next to the coast, dividing the East and South parts of the city,
and famous for its sandy dunes. In the entrance of the park is Bosque
dos Namorados, with various recreational facilities and orientation on
exploring the rest of the park.

Address: Av. Alm. Alexandrino de Alencar, s/n, Tirol.
Phone: 84 201-3985.
Parque da Cidade (Parque da Cidade Dom Nivaldo Monte):
Address: Avenida Omar O Grady, s/n, Candelria. A 640,000 square
meters nature reserve located between the South and West parts of the
city. The main sight is the "eye-shaped" tower designed by the premium
architect Oscar Niemeyer.

Historic Center
Natal's Historic Center is located at the Cidade Alta e Ribeira
neighborhoods, also including some buildings of Tirol e Petrpolis. It
was declared a national heritage site in 2010. Although the city dates
from 1599, most of the historical buildings were constructed in the XIX
and beginning of the XX century, in different styles including colonial,
neoclassic, art-dco and modern.
Memorial Cmara Cascudo: The memorial, built in 1875 using
neoclassic styles, is about the life and work of Luis da Cmara Cascudo,
Rio Grande do Norte's most famous anthropologist. Free.

Address: Praa Andr de Albuquerque, 30, Cidade Alta,
Phone: 84 3211 8404.
Hours: Tue-Sun 8:30 AM - 6 PM.

Igreja de Santo Antnio (Igreja do Galo): Church in baroque style
built in 1976. The metallic bird on its tower gives the church the
nickname "Igreja do Galo". This church also has a museum with religious
artwork.
Address: Rua Santo Antnio, 683 - Cidade Alta,
Phone: 84 3211 4236.
Hours: Mon-Fri, 08 AM-04 PM, Sat, 08 AM- 02 PM.

Teatro Alberto Maranho:
The biggest and oldest theatre of the city, built in 1898 in French style.

Address: Praa Augusto Severo, s/n, Ribeira.
Phone: 84 3222-3669.

Solar Bela Vista: Palace built in 1907 as a residence, which would later
become one of the most luxurious hotels of the city. Now it is a cultural
center.

Address: Av. Junqueira Alves, n 417, Cidade Alta.
Phone: 84 3212-1904.

Palcio Felipe Camaro: City hall of Natal, built in 1922 in eclectic
style.
Address: Rua Ulisses Caldas, 81 - Cidade Alta.
Rua Chile: Historical Street with houses from the 19
th
century. Rua
Chile contains one of the former palaces of the states government.
Nowadays it contains restaurants, museums, clubs and cultural centers.
Location: At Ribeiras Neighborhood.
Centro de Turismo de Natal:
Built during the 19th century, it was first an orphanage and later a public
prison. Now it contains about 40 shops specializing in local handcrafts,
plus an art gallery, a club and a restaurant.

Address: Rua Aderbal Figueiredo, 1980, Petrpolis.
Phone: 84 3211-6218.
Hours: Everyday, 9 AM 7 PM.

Beaches
As in the most of Brazil, in Natal's urban beaches you may use the chairs
and tables provided by kiosks. It may be free as long as you consume, or
you may be charge a small fee (like R$ 5). This can be negotiated up
front.
Ponta Negra: (accessible from Av. Eng. Roberto Freire). This is the
favorite beach of tourists and wealthier locals. It has excellent water
quality and infrastructure, with many restaurants and shops on the
beachfront. It contains Morro do Careca, the tallest sand dune of Natal
and one of the city's most famous landmarks.

Via Costeira: Consists of 10 km of beaches located on the east side of
Parque das Dunas, linking the South and East parts of the city. It is
contiguous with Ponta Negra beach, so you can just walk from one beach
to another.
Location: Accessible from the freeway of same name, or walk from Ponta
Negra beach.

Areia Preta: Beach in the East region with darker sands. The buildings
in the beachfront cast shadows on part of it during the afternoon.
Address: Av. Gov. Silvio Pedrosa.

Praia dos Artista: Beach in the Eastern region. This former glamorous
beach is more popular among the locals nowadays. However, the Praia
dos Artistas beach contains a decent tourist infrastructure, including
hotels, bars, and restaurants.
May be preferable for lodging if you want to stay closer to the Historical
Center.
Location: Av. Pres. Caf Filho.

Praia do Meio: It is contiguous with Praia dos Artistas, and shares
similar characteristics with it.

Location: Av. Pres. Caf Filho.

Praia do Forte: Contiguous with Praia do Meio, and where Forte dos
Reis Magos is located. It also has a view of Ponte de Todos. The beach
does not have much infrastructure, and will usually be almost empty.

Address: Av. Praia do Forte.

Praia da Redinha: This is the only beach in the Northern region. It is
mostly frequented by locals, and known for the inexpensive food.
The beach also has a platform that goes out into the sea, and by walking
to the tip of the platform; you can have a wonderful view of Ponte de
Todos and the rest of the city.
Location: Accessible from Av. Dr. Joo Medeiros Filho

Tips to enjoy Natal
Hire a buggy with a driver and travel along the coast, both North and
Southwards. The coast of the State of Rio Grande do Norte affords a rare
combination of dunes, lagoons, sandstone cliffs and vegetation in
between.
A typical all-day buggy ride is about R$ 400. A legal driver (buggeiro)
will pick you up at your hotel and head for the dunes. There will be a
variety of stops for photos, and there is a local economy associated with
the local industry. In the middle of the dunes will be small artisan
markets and bars, many of them fun and quite inexpensive. There are
opportunities for zip lining, sand boarding, swimming, and sipping from
coconuts.
Definitely wear a swimsuit and bring a towel to open up the number of
activities you can participate in. The ride will take at least half a day or
nearly the entire day, depending on how much time you stay at stops.
This is a popular and fun activity, catering heavily toward the local
tourists. Many buggy drivers do not speak English, although it is not
hard to understand their suggestions regardless of language. Highly
recommended.
Watch the sunset by the Potengi River. A good spot is near the Army
base, where there are some ships on the river.
The To a Toa Boat Cruise at the Potengi River to watch the sunset. You
will see the city from different angles; pass through historical places and
neighborhoods, mangroves, and river beaches. Recorded guiding in
English and Portuguese.

Forr com Turista: A weekly party that happens every Thursday at the
old prison (Centro do Turismo). It is especially geared towards tourists
and there you can learn to dance forr, one of the most popular musical
styles from the Northeast of Brazil.
Address: R. Almirante Barroso - Centro de Turismo, Natal - RN, 59010-
110.
Phone: 84 3211-6218
http://www.forrocomturista.com.br

Shopping
Alecrim Neighborhood: (Near the Alecrim train station): Alecrim,
in the East side, is the main center of popular street in Natal, where no
less than 40% of the shops in the city are located. It is hosts the city's
most traditional farmer's market, that happens every Saturday, from 06
AM to 03 PM, in the crossing of Coronel Estevam and Presidente
Quaresma, gathering more than 400 sellers. Be careful, this area is
dangerous. Never go there after the sunset.
Midway Mall: By far the largest shopping mall of the city, containing
270 shops, 7 cinema rooms, 4 gourmet restaurants and one theater. It
has a good selection of bank machines (ATMs).
Address: Avenida Bernardo Vieira, 3.775, Tirol.

Praia Shopping: The obvious advantage to this modern shopping mall,
with about 100 shops, is that it is located at Ponta Negra, where most
visitors stay. It is about 750 m from the beach, but since it is in the
extreme north of Ponta Negra, it may not be so close to where you are
staying.
Address: Avenida Engenheiro Roberto Freire, 8790, Ponta Negra (At
Southeast side of Parque das Dunas).
Shopping de Artesanato Potiguar: A commercial center with about
164 shops, most selling local handicraft. It is just next to Praia
Shopping.
Address: Avenida Engenheiro Roberto Freire, 8000, Ponta Negra,
Phone: 84 3219-320.

WHERE EAT IN NATAL?
Natal has plenty of seafood restaurants with outdoor seating can be
found along the beaches.

Abade Portuguese Restaurant: Once voted the best restaurant in
town, it has an excellent variety of wine.
Address: Rua Hlio Galvo, 8828 - Ponta Negra, Natal Zip Code: 59090-
070, Brazil.
Phone: +55 84 3219-4469 and Midway Mall.

Bella Natal Pizza: Good place and restaurant open 11 AM 3:30 PM
and you pay a fixed price menu.

Address: Av. Eng. Roberto Freire, 292 -Shopping Cidade Jardim, loja 63,
Natal - RN, 59094-000.
Phone: +55 84 3217-4704

Cantina la Nonna: Simple place, wonderful pizza.
Addresses:
Av. Itapentinga, 816, Santarm, 59129-320 Natal &
Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 1773 Lagoa Nova - Natal.

Camares: Excellent restaurant that specializes in shrimp dishes. The
only drawback is the long line of people waiting for a table from around
6:30PM to 9PM. They have other locations in Natal.
Address: Avenida Eng Roberto Freire, 2610 - Ponta Negra
Phone: +55 84 3209-2424

O Boiadeiro: A Steak House. Ponta Negra Beachfront (By quisque
04). Serves lunch and dinner. They serve thick steaks at around R$ 40.

Address: Rua Erivan Frana - Ponta Negra.
Phone: +55 84 3219-2762

Lig Lig: (Chinese Fast Food) Some variety of the best of Chinese meals.
Address: Av. Afonso Pena, 479 Petropolis.
Phone: (84) 3201-0330.

Rachids Lebanese and Arab Food: The owner, Jihad Rachid and his
wife Suraya came from Lebanon and opened this jovial restaurant. It is
clean, cheap and serves excellent food. Pay only in cash, as they dont
accept credit cards or debit cards. The food is not Halal.
Address: Avenida Estrela do Mar, 2231 (Near Rota do Sol).
Hours: Open Tuesday- Sunday.

Osaka Sushi and Japanese Restaurant:
This restaurant is small, but they have fresh sushi and good service.
Address: Av. So Jos, 1717 (Lj. 4), Natal, RN

Where drink in Natal?
driving.

Taberna Bar: A nice place where you have a chance to meet good
people. They have a dress code. If you want to patronize them, never
wear sleeveless shirts or sandals.
Address: Rua Dr. Manoel Augusto Bezerra de Arajo, 500 - Alto de
Ponta Negra - Natal- - CEP: 59090-430
Phone: (84) 3236-3696.
E-mail: contato@tavernapub.com.br

Buraco da Catita: Good samba and music in live.
Address: Travessa Jos Alexandre Garcia, 95, 59012-510 Natal, Rio
Grande do Norte.
Hours: Wed - Sat 7 PM - midnight

Ponta Negra nightlife has concentrated along Rua Dr. Manoel Araujo,
also known as Rua da Salsa, a few blocks inland from the beach at Kiosk
11.
A significant amount of holiday prostitutes blend in. AVOID THEM!
Near the city center is the Ribeira district with quite a few options. A
nighttime cab to Ponta Negra runs about R$ 60. Buses 46 and 54 do the
stretch in about 45 minutes.

Where sleep in Natal?

Most tourist lodgings are in Ponta Negra, heaps and heaps of them.
During the World Cup everybody wants to make more money in Natal.
Be careful before making a deal. Always check the conditions of the
accommodations before you pay.
$

Albergue da Costa, in Ponta Negra: Also has private rooms.
Address: Avenida Engenheiro Roberto Freire, 8932 - Ponta Negra, Natal
- RN, 59090-100.
Phone: +55 84 3219-0095
http://www.alberguedacosta.com.br

Republika: (Behind Praia Shopping): A bit back from the beach.
Address: Rua Porto das Oficinas - Ponta Negra, Natal - RN, 59094-300,
Phone: +55 84 3236-2782

$$

Pousada Maravista: One block from the beach. They serve breakfast
on the balcony (with a view). The host/owner is great. He is originally
from Switzerland and speaks many languages, though he is strongest in
German. He speaks Portuguese, English, German, and a little French. He
is a great source of information about the area, places to eat, and things
to do.

The rooms are small and do not have hot water as most places in Brazil.
It is great to come back to a cold shower after a long hot day. If you are a
busy person and have activities to do then this is a great place that is
cheap and you can lay your head here for the night.
Address: R. Amaro Mesquita, 223 - Ponta Negra, Natal - RN, 59090-840,
Brazil.
Phone: +55 84 3236-4677

Albergue Lua Cheia (Albergue da Bruxinha): A purpose-built hostel.
Nice facilities, excellent atmosphere.
Address: Rua Dr. Manoel A. B. de Arajo, n 500 Praia de Ponta Negra.
Phone: +55 84 3236-3696.
http://www.luacheia.com.br

$$$
Esmeralda Praia Hotel:
Address: Rua Francisco Gurgel, 1160 - Ponta Negra - Natal,
Phone: +55 84 4005 0000
Fax: +55 84 3219 5594).
emarketing@esmeraldapraiahotel.com.br

Pestana Natal Beach Resort:
Address: Av. Senador Dinarte de Mariz 5525 Via Costeira - Natal,
Phone: +55 84 3220 8900
Fax: +55 84 3220 8920
reservas@pestananatal.com.br

HOSPITALS
Check with your insurance company that the hospitals and clinics are
covered beforehand. If you have any allergies or known health problems,
it is wise to learn some Portuguese words to describe it as it is very likely
most of the hospital staff wont speak English except for more qualified
MDs, nurses and social workers.
college nurses, technical nurses and auxiliary nurses. You are
more likely to find an English speaker amongst the college nurses (they
are called Enfermeira or Enfermeiro and usually act as sector
Public Hospital:
Hospital Regional
Avenida Hermes Fonseca, 817
Tirol - Natal - RN
Tel: (84) 3232-7536

Private Hospital:
Natal Hospital Center Emergency 24 hours
Avenida Afonso Pena,754 Tirol- Natal- RN Zip Code: 59020-100. Phone:
(84) 4009-1073


Stay safe
If visiting the Forte dos Reis Magos, it's highly recommended that you
take a taxi there, and not walk along Praia Forte. There have recently
been an increasing number of robberies and assaults of tourists along
the beach, past the populated areas (actually, one should not walk to the
Forte because it is far away - about 3 km - from the nearest hotel or bus
stop).
Ponta Negra beach is not secure either. Armed assaults may occur on the
populated beach during the daytime. Do not take any valuable articles
with you when you go to the beach.
Natal used to be the safest capital city of Brazil, but recent statistics show
that this is not true anymore. Yet Natal is still much safer than other
touristic cities in the Northeast of Brazil, like Recife, Fortaleza and
Salvador.
Pickpockets follow the tourists, but violent assaults are rare. The city is
conscious of the importance of tourism, which causes the Government to
invest heavily on extensive security of the busiest spots.

CONSULATES

Chile
Av. Hermes da Fonseca, 957 - Bairro Tirol Phone: (0xx84) 3211-4243/
5321

France
Rua Afonso Magalhes, 200 Ponta Negra CEP: 59090-200
Phone: (84) 3641-1230

Germany
Esplanada Silva Jardim, 04 - 2 andar, Ribeira CEP: 59.001 970 Caixa
Postal 257
Natal - Phone: (0xx84) 3222.3595/96

Neetherlands
Avenida Praia de Tibau 2230 - Ponta Negra Phone: (0xx84) 3219-0459

Portugal
Av. Rio Branco, 728 1st Floor Cidade Alta CEP: 59025-002 Phone:
(84) 3215-0809

Spain
Av. Amintas Barros, 4200 - Nova Descoberta Phone: (0xx84) 3206-
5610

Enjoy beautiful places around Natal
Extremoz: The metro area of Natal, contains the
renowned Genipabu beach and the quieter Pitangui beach. Both
beaches are surrounded by natural dunes, where it is possible to enjoy
various activities such as sand boarding, dromedary rides and buggy
rides.

Buggy Rides:
Rent the buggy only from official companies. The paths change and the
motion of sand always makes this activity relatively dangerous. A good
company to try is:

Buggy Turismo: They have good prices and professional drivers.

Phone: +55 84 9927-9927
E-mail: contato@buggyturismo.com.br
http://www.passeiosdebuggy.com.br

Parnamirim: Located in the metro area of Natal, contains the Barreira
do Inferno rocket launch center, the biggest cashew tree of the World,
and well-known beaches like Pirangi do Norte.
Nsia Floresta contains 22 transparent lakes and beaches, the most
well-known being Praia de Bzios.
Tibau do Sul contains several kilometers of amazing beaches
surrounded by cliffs, including Praia da Pipa, one of the most famous of
Brazil's northeast. If you have time, it is worth staying more than a day
trip.

Praia da Pipa
Canguaretama contains the beautiful Barra do Cunha beach.

Cear-Mirim is a historical/coastal town that prospered in the past
during the Sugar Cane era.
Baa Formosa: Located at the border with Paraba, it is the most
unspoiled and preserved paradise of Rio Grande do Norte's South Coast.

USEFUL PHONES

Police 190
Fire Department 193
Ambulance (SAMU) 192

Augusto Severo International Airport
Address: Rua Rio Xingu, s/n - Emas, Parnamirim - 59148-902, Brazil
Phone:+55 84 3087-1270

Tourist Police Station (DEATUR-Delegacia Especializada
Assistncia ao Turista)-
Address: Avenida Engenheiro Roberto Freire, 8790, Natal - RN, 59082-
400, Brazil
Phone: +55 84 3232-7402

Contact
By phone
The area code for Natal is 84.

ARENA DAS DUNAS OR DUNAS ARENA STADIUM

The Arena das Dunas or Dunas Arena (lit. "Dunes Arena") is a football
stadium designed by the famous architect Christopher Lee. The former
stadium was known as Machado Stadium.
This project replaces the old project called "Estdio Estrela dos Reis
Magos" that would be located in the neighboring municipality
of Parnamirim.

The stadium is going to be located by the Senador Salgado Filho Avenue
(BR-101 highway), a multi-lane road already served by the Complexo
Virio do Quarto Centenrio (Fourth Centennial Complex road). The
project was one of the most praised by inspectors from FIFA.
Capacity: 45,000

Address: Avenida Senador Slagado Filho (or Prudente de Moraes), Natal,
RN. Zip Code: 59020-400
Schedule:
06/13 - Mexico vs Cameroon - 1 PM
06/16 - Ghana vs United States - 7 PM
06/19 - Japan vs Greece - 7 PM
06/24 - Italy vs Uruguay -1 PM

WELCOME TO PORTO ALEGRE

Porto Alegre is the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost
state in Brazil.
Porto Alegre is the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul and the biggest
urban agglomeration of south Brazil.
The perfect blend of Brazilian-Portuguese and River Plate-Spanish
cultures, added to a strong European heritage gives the city a unique
background within Brazil.
The city is one of the richest metropolises in the country, the state capital
with the highest life quality and literacy rate (97%), the book capital of
Brazil.
Currently, Porto Alegre is a service-centered city in between the
industrial part of the state (north-east) and the rural part (south). It is
also called the "Mercosul Capital".
The temperature during June and July are between 15 and 5 Celsius (59-
41 F).

How get in Porto Alegre

By plane:
Porto Alegre's International Airport is Salgado Filho (POA), located 4.3
miles (7km) from downtown.
The flights come from and go to cities such as, So Paulo, Rio de
Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Braslia, Curitiba, Florianpolis, Montevideo, Foz
do Iguau, Crdoba, Rosario, Buenos Aires, Santiago de
Chile, Lima, Panama City and Lisboa .
There is a train station (known as trensurb by locals) and bus stops near
the airport. However, it is recommended to take a cab ("taxi" for locals)
to leave the airport, because the nearby trensurb station is not exactly
close to the airport facility and available buses don't take you downtown.
Cab rides can be a little pricey, so you can opt to take a bus to a place
near your destination and get a cab from there.
You will find two types of taxis by the airport. The red cabs are the usual
cabs you find around the city. The white cabs service only the airport.
The white cabs are regarded as more trustworthy, even though a bit
more expansive. If you don't know your way around the city, it is more
advised to take the white cabs.
The airport facility is modern and has a shopping-mall-like structure,
with restaurants, shops and even movie theaters.

By train:
Trains only serve the metropolitan area. Locals call it trensurb and
services are limited, with only one line connecting the downtown area to
some metropolitan cities (Canoas, Esteio, Sapucaia do Sul, So Leopoldo,
and Novo Hamburgo). There's a station near Rodoviaria (central bus
station) and the airport. It is more or less safe to walk during daytime
from Rodoviaria or the airport to the stations.

By car:
Coming from the North (Florianpolis, Curitiba, So Paulo, Rio de
Janeiro), one may reach Porto Alegre by two ways.
1. The highway BR-116 is shorter, but much more dangerous. This
road is used to reach other destinations in Rio Grande do Sul, such
as Caxias do Sul, Gramado and Canela.
The highway BR-116 also connects all major metropolitan cities
and traffic jams are frequent during rush hours in weekdays.
2. The other way to get to Porto Alegre from the North is using
highway BR-101 to Osrio and then BR-290.
The first connects Curitiba, Florianpolis and Osrio, and is being
upgraded to highway standards; the latter crosses Rio Grande do Sul
from Osrio to Uruguaiana, through Porto Alegre.
The section between Osrio and Porto Alegre is called free-way by locals,
and is a very well-maintained 6-lane toll-road.
Also, in neighboring Canoas, the highway BR-386 begins, connecting the
metropolitan area with other major cities in the countryside, such
as Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Maria and Passo Fundo. It has 4 lanes up to
Taba and it is in decent conditions.
Coming from the South, from cities such as Pelotas, Rio Grande,
and Chu, one would use the highway BR-116.
From the East, Porto Alegre is reachable by BR-290
from Uruguaiana and Argentina.
Using this road, it's possible to reach southern cities such
as Bag and Santana do Livramento. This section of BR-290 shares a
stretch with the highway BR-116, from Guaba's Bridge up to Eldorado
do Sul interchange.
Be advised that some of these roads are dangerous due to their poor
signaling/conditions and lots of trucks. Most of them are toll-roads and
have electronic speed traps. Schedule your travels by car during the day;
it is simply safer.

By bus:
The long distance bus station is located downtown and is served by state,
national and international lines. Daily services connect Porto Alegre
with several cities inside the country and also
Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay. It is also connected to
a trensurb station and several municipal bus lines.
Rodoviria de Porto Alegre (available only in portuguese).
Information on interstate lines and schedules

By boat:
Besides its decent port facilities for cargo, a new service operated by
CatSul connects Porto Alegre to Guaiba, a city right across Guaiba
Estuary, known as Rio Guaiba. The crossing takes 20 min and costs R$ 9
each way (price as of 2013). You will find more information
here: http://www.catsul.com.br.

Lotao:
The Lotao is an alternative transportation system, with fewer lines,
served by vans with up to 20 people in capacity, where one can hop on
and off at any point (i.e. outside designated stops) of the trip.
The vans are easily recognized by their "red and blue" color. If you're
not sure if a lotao goes to the destination you want to go, just wave
your hand, wait until it stops and FROM THE STREET ask the driver if it
goes to your destination (for instance to go to Iguatemi Mall just say
Iguatemi?), don't go in just to ask otherwise the driver might ask you to
pay the fare since the counter is measured on the stairs near the door.

Taxis:
There are plenty of taxis. They can be pricey, if compared to other
towns, but they are also an easier, safer and more dependable option
than buses in some cases. To ride a cab, one can walk to the nearest "taxi
stop" (usually in crowded areas or points of interest), wave for an empty
passing cab or call a tele-txi service.
Tele-taxi may charge extra for this service.

A machine called taxmetro, which is usually located in front of the
passenger seat, determines the fare. There is always a minimum price,
which is shown when the machine is reset for the trip, which is (as of
2013) R$4.22
Next to the value, there is a "flag" indicator that shows the level of price
being paid, always according to the service. Usually there is a table
inside of the cab explaining each level of service. It is recommended to
check if the correct level is being charged at the beginning of the trip, in
order to avoid problems when you reach your destination.

Walking:
Walking around is a reasonable idea only inside a given neighborhood or
downtown, as opposed to from one neighborhood to another, as they are
usually too far apart. Walking during the night in most parts of the city is
outright dangerous.
During the day, it is recommended to pay attention to your belongings at
all times, due to activity of pickpockets and other thieves. Avoid parks at
night.
Porto Alegre is a dangerous city at global levels. Be advised that
pedestrian crossings, most of the time, are completely ignored by the
vast majority of drivers; never rely on them without looking or making
sure the driver will stop.
It is also not recommended to cross the street outside the proper
crossing areas in traffic jams: motorbike riders usually split between
stopped cars, causing a great risk to pedestrians.

Good places to visit in Porto Alegre

Linha Turismo: A tourist bus line that rides through 11 neighborhoods
and shows the main attractions of the city (parks, trees, statues,
hospitals, churches, etc), with audio guides in three languages. The trip
is 28km long and lasts for about 1h20min, and the arrival is at the same
departure address. The tickets cost 15 reais for the lower floor and 20
reais for the superior one (which has no ceiling). (Prices are as of 2013).
Hours: From Tuesdays to Sundays (holidays included), at 9am, 10:30am,
1:30pm, 3pm and 4:30m (winter) or 10:30am, 1:30pm, 3pm, 4:30pm and
6pm (summer).
Address: Travessa do Carmo Street 84.
Phones: (51) 3213-3464 and (51) 3212-1628

Monumento aos Aorianos (Aorianos monument): It is a 17m high
monument in memory of the people from the island of Azores, who were
the first to settle in Porto Alegre.

Address: Avenida Loureiro da Silva, Centro - Porto Alegre.

Santurio Me de Deus: A beautiful church almost unknown by
most porto-alegrenses. It is placed in a great location, with nice views of
Porto Alegre and nearby cities landscapes. Built in 1992, it has a modern
architecture and engineering, designed to support the strong winds of
the location.
It is somewhat difficult to get to this place, for there are no buses near
and a cab ride from downtown would be pricey. However, if you rent a
car in Porto Alegre, it's worth trying. The Linha Turismo Zona Sul stop
for some moments at the Santurio.
Address: Rua do Santurio 400, Bairro Cascata (accessible from Av. Oscar
Pereira).

Usina do Gasmetro: An old power plant built in 1928 which was
refurnished recently and now hosts movie theaters and art expositions.
During the sunset, lots of people get together in front of the Usina to
watch the sun diving into Rio Guaba.

Address: Avenida Presidente Joo Goulart, 551 - Centro, Porto Alegre -
90010-120, Brazil

Museums & Art
Fundao Iber Camargo: Contemporary Art Museum in an award-
winning building by Portuguese Architect Alvaro Siza. Free.
Address: Avenida Padre Cacique, 2000.
Phone: +55 51 3247-8000
Email: site@iberecamargo.org.br
Hours: Tue-Sun. Open at noon-7 PM, Thu - 9PM.

MARGS: The local Museum of Art. There's a permanent collection and
an area that is often receiving new exhibitions. There's also a bistro and a
store that sells art books and souvenirs. Admission is free.

Location: Praa da Alfndega, Downtown
Phone: (51) 3227-2311
Fax: (51) 3221-2646
Email: (museu.margs@terra.com.br, in Portuguese):
Hours: Open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10AM to 7PM.

Museu de Cincias e Tecnologia da PUC: Admission is 10 reais
(prices are as of 2013).
Address: Avenida Ipiranga 6681, Building #40.
Phone: (51) 3320.3597 (in Portuguese):
Hours: It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 5pm.

Parks
Parque Moinhos de Vento (Moinhos de Vento Park): Also known
by locals as Parco, this is a pleasant park with a neat lake and jogging
runways.

Parque Farroupilha (Farroupilha Park): Also known by locals
as Redeno, where is located the Araujo Viana Auditorium, which has

hosted several political acts and music concerts. Also on Sundays, an
antique-fair happens on a side street and is called by locals as Brique da
Redeno.

Watch the sunset: Porto Alegre has a beautiful sunset over its main
river, Guaba. It is best enjoyed on the western side, at places like
Gasmetro and Ipanema.
Beware that this event lasts about five minutes only. If you go up to level
5 of Gasmetro building, you can have a broader view of the sunset.
During the winter (around July), it is recommended to take additional
clothes, because the wind can be very strong.

Cisne Branco Boat: Mau Avenue, 1050, phone (51) 3224-5222 (in
Portuguese).

Shopping

Central Market (Mercado Pblico Central): The market, built in
1869 and recently renovated, has more than 100 stalls selling local
produce, typical products and spices, as well as several restaurants.
Free.

Location: It is between the Julio de Castilhos and Borges de Medeiros
avenues.
Phone: + 55 51 3333 1873
Email: (mercadopublico@smic.prefpoa.com.br).
Hours: Opens on Mon-Fri 7:30AM-7:30PM, Sat 7:30AM-6:30PM.

Brique da Redeno: A large flea market near Parque da Redeno with
lots of authentic gacho art, crafts, furniture and hand-made stuff.
Address: Avenida Jos Bonifcio- Bairro Bom Fim (Parque Farroupilha).
Hours: Open every Sunday from 9AM to 6PM

Shopping malls
Barra Shopping Sul: It has inside an 8-room cinema theater, and many
good restaurants with an incredible view to the Guaiba Lake.
Location: "Avenida Dirio de Notcias, 300".

Shopping Iguatemi: It's the biggest Shopping Mall of Porto Alegre.
Location: In the north side of the city, Avenida Joo Wallig 1800,
Shopping Praia de Belas: Next to the Marinha do Brasil Park, it's a
very good mall.
Address: Avenida Praia de Belas, 1181 Praia de Bleas Porto Alegre.

Shopping Total: Built in the place of the old beer factory, it has a
supermarket and a lot of stores. It has very good restaurants outside in

the parking lot. Address: Avenida Cristvo Colombo, 545 - Floresta,
Porto Alegre - RS, 90560-003.
Phone: +55 51 3018-7000

Shopping Moinhos de Vento: This mall has a Sheraton hotel inside it.
Address: Rua Olavo Barreto Viana, 36 - Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre -
RS, 90570-070.
Phone: +55 51 2123-2000
Bourbon Shopping Country: One of the biggest Shopping Malls in
town. It has a large variety of stores and restaurants.
Address: Avenida Tulio de Rose, 100.
Bourbon Shopping Ipiranga: Is located at Avenida Ipiranga, one of the
most important avenues of Porto Alegre.

Bourbon Shopping Wallig: Is the largest mall in Latin America and the
newest mall in Porto Alegre.
Address: Avenida Assis Brasil, 2611 - Passo D'areia, RS, 91010-004,
Brazil.
Phone: +55 51 3093-3310

Where eat in Porto Alegre?
$
Churrascaria Giovanaz Steak House: This is an inexpensive
churrascaria in the Cidade Baixa. You can eat as much meat (and side
dishes) as you like for less than R$ 30.
Location: At Avenida Venncio Aires.
Phone: (51) 3227-4217.

Lancheria do Parque: Has possibly the best cheap eats in Porto Alegre.
Lunch is a very good buffet and the offerings are always fresh and tasty.
The menu offers incredible fresh juices and smoothies and they are big.
Sandwiches include the traditional Bauru Sandwich: steak or chicken
with egg, cheese, lettuce and tomato on a special bun (meal size). Great
cheeseburgers are served with excellent fresh local ingredients (the area
is known for beef). They have steaks the size of your plate. They also
serve Great chicken soup and risotto.
Everything is good, much better than most lancherias. Despite what
your Brazilian friends might say, the staff does appreciate a ten percent
tip, even though they rarely receive it. For the great service you will
receive they will certainly deserve it!

Address: Avenida Osvaldo Aranha, 1086 (Bairro Bom Fim, across from
the Parque Redenao).
Phone: 3311 8321.
Hours: Open 6 AM - midnight.

Reaka Bar: Steaks, fillets, fries, salads and whatever you ask them to
prepare.

Address: At Rua Jos do Patrocnio, Cidade Baixa, Porto Alegre - RS,
90050-00.
Phone: 3072 3249 or 3225 7085.

Tudo Pelo Social: Serves simple dishes, such as beef and fries, but the
quality is awesome and the prices are unbelievable. Buffet self-service
on lunch hour. Expect lines during lunch and dinnertime.
Address: Rua Joo Alfredo 448, Cidade Baixa.
Phone: 51 3226-4405.

X Speed: Typical sandwich of Porto Alegre; it's a cheap option. Try the
X-Mignon.
Location: At Cidade Baixa, Avenida Lima e Silva, 427.
$$

Muralha da China Chinese Food: The red color stands out in
decorating the restaurant.
Address: Rua dos Andradas, 1493, Centro, Porto Alegre - RS, 90020-010
Phone: +55 51 3226-0170
Al-Nur: Arab Food (Not Halal): In 1989, Therese Youssef Ghanem
founded in Porto Alegre Restaurant the Arabic Al Nur. Therese, born in
Lebanon and based in Porto Alegre, brought the delicious and traditional
recipes of Arab cuisine. Al-Nur has an abundant menu, combining the
flavors and spices of the Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, the cuisine of Al
Nur is today a reference of Lebanese cuisine in southern Brazil.
Address: Avenida Protsio Alves, 616 - Rio Branco.
Phone: +55 51 3330-8609

Hadouken Sushi Bar: Located in the noblest part of our city, the sushi
bar Hadouken is the newest sensation of Japanese cuisine in Porto
Alegre.
In an extremely modern and cozy atmosphere, you will enjoy the best of
Japanese cuisine and international dishes with great refinement and
sophistication.

Address: Avenida Teixeira Mendes, 1161 - Chcara das Pedras, Porto
Alegre - 91330-390
Phone:+55 51 3519-0733
$$$
Churrascaria Galpo Crioulo: Steak House: Excellent gaucho
barbecue, served using the traditional gaucho way with skewers. You can
taste more than 20 different meat cuts such as: steak, top sirloin, bottom
sirloin, lamb, ribs, french rack and much more. Offers live music and
dance shows all nights from 8:20PM and also during lunch time on
weekends. Prices range from US$ 40.
Address: Rua Otvio Francisco Caruso da Rocha, Parque Mauricio
Sirotsky Sobrinho - Centro, Porto Alegre - 90010-395
Phone: +55 51 3226-8194
http://www.churrascariagalpaocrioulo.com.br

Na Brasa: Typical gacho barbecue, serves all kinds of meat - cow,
chicken, pork, sheep and wild boar. Has also a good-quality salad buffet
and wines. Prices are around R$ 100 per person.

Address: Avenida Nilo Peanha, 2131 - Petrpolis, Porto Alegre -
91330-000
Phone: +55 51 3023-8463

Steinhaus: A wonderful German restaurant.
Address: R. Cel. Paulino Teixeira, 415 - Rio Branco, Porto Alegre -
90420-160
Phone:+55 51 3330-8661
Outback Steakhouse: This Australian Steakhouse chain serves a lot of
steaks and offers an excellent ambience. Prices starting at R$ 50.
Location: Shopping Center Iguatemi, Av. Joo Wallig, 1800, Loja 2252,
Passo D'Areia.
Phone: 51 3381-6609.

Where drink in Porto Alegre?
driving.
Porto Alegre's nightlife is basically divided onto two neighborhoods:
Cidade Baixa and Moinhos de Vento. However, several pubs and clubs
are located throughout the city.
Cidade Baixa is an old neighborhood, filled with historical buildings and
old-fashioned mansions. Most of the popular and cheap bars are located
in Lima e Silva Street; they are the traditional Cheese (cheeseburgers)
places, such as X Speed.
At Repblica Street, pubs and bars are fancier, and more expensive too.
Inside the old mansions of Joo Alfredo Street, several dance clubs party
every night. The places are perfect to dance to popular Brazilian music
(called MPB) and samba.
Bar Opinio: Since 1983, the Bar Opinio is a reference in the port-
alegrense nightlife. With its newly extended physical space, the house
can receive up to 2,300 people. The bar has had major improvements
and offers a more comfortable environment now. In its menu, you can
find different drinks and tidbits.

Location: At Rua Jos do Patrocnio, 834.

Moinhos de Vento is one of the richest neighborhoods in town. Its bars
and clubs are more likely to be fashionable. Expect bars to be pricey.
Along Padre Chagas Street you can find typical Irish pubs and cafes.

Other options are:
Shamrock Irish Pub: Typical Irish pub, 1km from Cidade Baixa area.

Address: Rua Vieira de Castro, 32.
Hours: Opens from Tuesdays to Sundays at 6PM (on Saturdays at 7PM).
Bar do Beto: The beer is always really cold! There is a good variety of
dishes and snacks and the food is delicious. It's a good place to flirt too.

Address: Avenida Venncio Aires 876 .
Hours: Opens every day from 5pm to 3am.

Beco203: This bar has different environments and gathers a varied
crowd. On the first floor, there are some tables and couches that make it
more of a lounge. On the second floor, there is a bar and a dance floor.
There is also a stage for live performances.
Wednesdays and Saturdays are especially crowded. The nightclub offers
a great ambience with rock music and sometimes alternative bands.
Address: Av. Independncia, 936 Independncia Porto Alegre.

John Bull Pub: At Shopping Total (A Shopping Mall). The place has a
stage for live performances shows where usually rock and roll cover
bands perform.
Address: Av. Cristvo Colombo, 545.

Bar do Nito: The owner plays every night old songs from Brazilian
Popular Music (MPB). Every 29th day of the month you could enjoy the
excellent and traditional gnocchi.
Address: Avenida Coronel Lucas Oliveira, 105 Zip Code: 90440-011,
Brazil.
Phone: +55 51 3024-6763/: 3333-6221
Lagom Brewpub: Lagom is Porto Alegre's first artisanal brew pub.
Expect much stronger and more flavorful beers than the standard
Pilsner. Popular with many technology workers and beer aficionados
alike.
Addresses:
Rua Comendador Caminha, 312 Bairro Moinhos de Vento Porto
Alegre.
Rua Bento Figueiredo, 72 Bairro Bom Fim Porto Alegre.
Hours: Open 6 PM- 10 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday-
Saturday. Open 6 PM 12 AM.

Where sleep in Porto Alegre?
$
Porto Alegre Eco Hostel: Porto Alegre Eco Hostel is the first hostel in
Porto Alegre that is eco-friendly and has all the standards and services
you have come to expect from an international hostel. Eco Hostel Porto
Alegre offers excellent services and accommodations.
The hostel is located in Cidade Baixa, which is close to bars, restaurants,
and all major tourist attractions. This hostel offers a swimming pool,
WiFi Internet, a games room, a garden and bicycle rentals. Breakfast is
included in the price.

Address: Rua Luiz Afonso, 276,
Phone: +55 51 3019-2449
Email: reservas@portoalegreecohostel.com.br
http://www.portoalegreecohostel.com.br/en/hostel.html

Casa Azul Hostel: The Hostel is located in a big house, with many
rooms for guests to stay. As soon as you get here, you will see our bar,
which is welcoming and cozy for the night lovers.
Address: Rua General Lima e Silva, 912.
Phone: 51 3084-5050
Email: contato@casaazulhostel.com
https://www.facebook.com/CasaAzulHostel

Hotel Ritz: There are few students, and some others living here
permanently. There are clean bedrooms. They have WiFi Internet. You
have free use of the kitchen. You can find English and Spanish speakers.
Address: Rua Desembargador Andr da Rocha, 225 (Bus line C1 from bus
terminal to 2 blocks from the hostel (circular centro)
Phone: +55 (51) 3225 0693 Fax: (51) 32253423).
hotelritz_ptoalegre@hotmail.com

Master Executivo:

Address: Avenida Alberto Bins, 618.
Phone: 51 3025-4000,
Email: reservas@master-hoteis.com.br
http://www.master-hoteis.com.br/

$$
Ibis Hotel Aeroporto: It stays only 700 meters away from the Salgado
Filho Airport, it's a 2 minutes, 15 reais taxi ride.
Address: At Avenida das Industrias, 1342.

Master Express Perimetral:

Address: Avenida Loreiro da Silva, 1840.
Phone: 51 3023-9503
Grande Hotel Express:
Address: Rua Riachuelo, 1070
Phone: 51 3287-4411

$$$
The Sheraton Hotel:

Address: Rua Olavo Barreto Viana, 18 - Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre -
RS, 90570-070.
Phone:+55 51 2121-6000
Swan Tower Hotel:
Address: Avenida Cristvo Colombo, 3192 Higienpolis Porto
Alegre RS Zip Code: 90560-002
Phone: 1-866-539-0036.
Plaza San Rafael Hotel:
Address: Avenida Alberto Bins, 514 - Centro Historico, Porto Alegre - RS,
90030-140, Brazil.
Phone: +55 51 3220-7000
Deville Hotel Porto Alegre Airport:
Address: Avenida dos Estados 1909 Porto Alegre RS
Zip Code: 90200-001
Phone: (51) 3373 5000

HOSPITAL
In the case you need help, go to the Hospital Municipal de Pronto Socorro
(HPS). You have choices of public, conventional, and private patient
services. In the case that you need immediate help, call an ambulance at
192
Check with your insurance company to see if the hospitals and clinics are
covered beforehand.
some Portuguese words to describe it as it is very likely most of the
hospital staff wont speak English except for more qualified MDs, nurses
and social workers.
called Enfermeira or Enfermeiro and usually act as sector supervisors in
a hospital).


Public Hospital:
Hospital Pblico Presidente Vargas
Avenida Independncia, 661 - Independncia, Porto Alegre - Rio Grande
do Sul, 90035-074 Phone: +55 51 3226-9300

Grupo Hospitalar Conceio - Urgncias SUS
Rua Domingos Rubbo, 20 - Cristo Redentor
Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Phone: +55 51 3357-4100

Private Hospital:
Hospital Moinhos de Vento
Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 910 Floresta - Porto Alegre Phone: +55 51
3314-3434

Hospital Beneficncia Portuguesa
Av. Independncia, 270 - Centro
Porto Alegre Phone: +55 51 3023-9000

Be Safe

At any time:
avoid poor areas, which present some risk of violence due to
socioeconomic contrasts
watch out for pickpockets within the Historic Centre, particularly on
rua dos Andradas (also known as rua da Praia) and near the bus
station watch your backpack, pockets and wristwatch
After sunset, you should stay away from:
Very dangerous hard drug dealing spots, which include (update on
November 2013):
The inside and the surroundings of Farroupilha park (also known
as Redeno Park -- the largest drug dealing spot of the city).
Historic Centre: the UFRGS Centro university campus (right next to
Farroupilha park), particularly along rua Sarmento Leite and
under Imperatriz Leopoldina viaduct and its tight poorly-lit foot
passages.
Historic Centre - a crackland at rua Marechal Floriano Peixoto
between Salgado Filho and rua Riachuelo

Historic Centre - Praa Conde de Porto Alegre, which sits right
between the former crackland and Farroupilha park, and perhaps
also the nearby parks Praa Raul Pilla and Praa Argentina
Historic Centre - Conceio tunnel and under Conceio viaduct
The surroundings of the Police Palace (Palcio da Polcia) police
station, at avenida Ipiranga and avenida Joo Pessoa.
Reasonably dangerous drug dealing spots, which include:
The southern unlit half of Marinha Park.
Harmonia Park (officially called Maurcio Sirotsky Sobrinho Park):
surveilled but there may be some spillover from Marinha Park.
The red light district on rua Voluntrios da Ptria (from the
Historic Centre up to and including rua Almirante Barroso) due to
pushy prostitutes and some drug dealing.
Many Brazilians dont report crime to authorities. Generic strategies to
avoid dangerous situations (works in any Brazilian city and abroad):
When dealing with beggars:
Fake sincerity to prevent startling the beggar (which may well be a drug
user): smile condescendingly and say you don't have any money and that
you're sorry for that (know the basic Portuguese phrases to handle this
swiftly)
To reduce chances of an assault, start/keep walking and don't get pulled
into a dialogue with the beggar
When being followed: most stalkers will scatter if you simply keep calm
and walk towards/through highly lit and open areas with lots of people
Other generic precautions include avoiding empty shady areas if alone,
discreetly paying attention to nearby people on the streets and avoiding
being ostentatious.
That is, unless you see people doing the same, use expensive electronics
unobtrusively when surrounded by many people (such as in bus stops)
and avoid wearing expensive jewelry and clothes. This is particularly
important if you visit a poor neighborhood.

If you need to do so, it is safer to bring a friend, preferably a city resident
you trust, and blend in: wear bland casual clothes, leave valuables at
your accommodation (you may bring a basic phone for emergency),
avoid English and even Portuguese if your accent is not perfect, walk
confidently (know where to go without a map) and avoid obviously
tourist behavior such as opening a map in a visible spot.
Fortunately, in the South of Brazil many racial types are well mixed if
you look European, Arab, African, Indigenous (native) or Asian (or
anything in between) you are unlikely to be identified as a tourist based
solely on physical appearance.
This is not the case for people with strong Indian (South Asian) features,
which are rare anywhere in Brazil. People with a strong East Asian look
are rarely seen in poorer neighborhoods and may draw some attention
there.
Porto Alegre has a higher per capita homicide rate than Rio and So
Paulo, but most homicides take place in poorer neighborhoods, so learn
them before hand and avoid them. The most dangerous neighborhoods
are Farrapos, Jardim do Salso, Lomba do Pinheiro, Bom Jesus and Mrio
Quintana.
You are unlikely to visit any of them since they lie on the outskirts of the
city and offer almost no attractions. In other middle- to upper-class
neighborhoods, especially downtown and nearby, homicides are less
common, most crimes involve stealing or robbery of valuable goods such
as cars, mobile phones and cash.
In upper-class neighborhoods (such as Moinhos de Vento and Bela
Vista), these behaviors (opening a map, wearing expensive items and
speaking a foreign language) are normally safe and not unusual. Most
residential neighborhoods are reasonably safe, though there are no
tourism attractions there.

Beautiful places around Porto Alegre

Parque Nacional dos Aparados da Serra (Monkey Canyons)- 120
miles from Porto Alegre going on BR101 by Praia Grande/SC (keep in
mind that last 25 km before the park entrance are unpaved and so bring
a lot of time) or RS-020 by Cambar do Sul.
The unforgettable landscape is the result of immense volcanic eruptions
more than 130 million years ago.

Electricity
The voltage is 127v in Porto Alegre, but 220v in other cities at the
country side. Take care of this when using electronic devices such as
hairdryers. Some places have both 127 and 220v, in these cases, the
220v outlets are red.

Police: 190
Ambulance: 192
Telephone Assistance: 102 to know area codes and international codes
of countries.

Tourist Police Station: (51) 3358.9000. There is a Tourist Police
Station inside of Salgado Filho International Airport.

Salgado Filho International Airport:
Address of terminal 1:
Av. Severo Dulius, 90.010 Porto Alegre Postal Code: 90.200-310

Address of terminal 2:
Av.dos Estados, 747 Porto Alegre Postal Code: 90.200-000

Maintain Contact:
The area code of Porto Alegre is 51
For national calls, press 0+ operator code + area code (DDD) + telephone
number -For national cover calls, press 90+ operator code + area code
(DDD) + telephone number -For international calls, press 00 + operator
code + country code + city code + telephone number.
To make phone calls, the Integration Phone Station is also available
(Avenida Borges de Medeiros 332 Centro) from Monday to Friday, 8am
til 8pm, and Saturday, 9am til 6pm.
The cellphone companies that serve Rio Grande do Sul are: Vivo, Claro,
TIM and OI. Recharging cards for these carriers can be found in a variety
of places like supermarkets and pharmacies. Oi frees up public phones
throughout the city. They operate through special cards that can be
acquired at the companys store or in newsstands.

BEIRA-RIO OR JOS PINHEIRO BORDA
STADIUM

Estdio Jos Pinheiro Borda, or Estdio Beira-Rio (Portuguese
pronunciation: [estadiu bej iu], Riverside Stadiumis located near
the Guaba River, in Porto Alegre, with capacity 51,300 seats.
Jos Pinheiro Borda was an elderly Portuguese engineer who supervised
the building of the stadium but died before seeing its completion.
Estdio Beira-Rio replaced Internacional's previous stadium, the Estdio
dos Eucaliptos.
Address: Avenida Padre Cacique, 621 Praia das Belas , Porto Alegre, RS
Postal Code: 91040-621
Schedule:
06/15 - France vs Honduras -4 PM
06/18 - Netherlands vs Australia - 1 PM
06/22 - Algeria vs Korea- 4PM
06/25 - Argentina vs Nigeria - 1 PM
06/30- the 8
th
(1G vs 2 H) - 5 PM

WELCOME TO RECIFE

Recife is the capital of Pernambuco, is one of the largest and most
important cities on the northeastern coast of Brazil
Recife boasts scenery of rare beauty, with rivers, beaches, green areas,
historic buildings, and still owns a strong cultural effervescence.
There are many charms that attract thousands of tourists each year and
that number can only grow. Recife is on the Atlantic coast, at the mouth
of the Capibaribe, Beberibe and Jordo Rivers, close to the eastern most
point of the Americas. The climate is tropical, with two main seasons:
dry (September-March) and rainy (April-August).
Average annual temperature is 78.8F, with limited variation. The city,
which is only two meters above sea level (some parts are below), is
distributed across rivers, canals and islands.
Also known as the "Venice of Brazil, the city is crossed by rivers and
bridges, forming islands such as Santo Antonio, San Jose and the Bairro
do Recife. These regions are characterized by refinement of old houses,
churches and buildings.
The coastline is another postcard must the municipality, with a fringe of
about 8 km, warm clear waters, and an extensive range of reefs. Always
very busy, the reef is also home to cultural movements and has an
extensive calendar of events and festivals, especially Carnival, and St.
Johns Eve (June, 24
th
) .The city can be roughly divided in four major
areas:
The Centro (Center) is composed of the neighborhoods of Recife Antigo
(Old Recife), Santo Antnio, So Jos, Santo Amaro and Boa Vista,

which are scattered through a couple of islands and part of the mainland.
They are connected to each other by a series of bridges over the
Capibaribe River. The Centro contains most of the historic and
government buildings in the city. The port, located in Recife Antigo, was
once the most active in all of the Americas.
Zona Sul (South Zone) is the most modern and touristic part of the city,
as it was built around the beautiful natural reef beaches that gave the
city its name (Recife is Portuguese for reef). This area has a great many
hotels, restaurants, and bars, as well as the airport and the largest
shopping mall. The most important neighborhood is Boa Viagem, set
along the beautiful Boa Viagem beach. Because of the beach and the
skyline Boa Viagem is also called the Copacabana of the North East.
Zona Oeste (West Zone) is by far the greenest part of the city. It contains
remnants of the Atlantic Forest that once covered most of the Brazilian
eastern coast. It contains two famous museums (Instituto Ricardo
Brennand and Museu-Oficina Francisco Brennand), as well as the Federal
University of Pernambuco, and the Recife Military school (2nd best
school around all Brazil).
Zona Norte (North Zone) is mostly a residential area. Throughout the
centuries, the neighborhoods along the Capibaribe River were home to
the local aristocracy. It contains the city's best schools and hospitals, and
is also famous for its parks and bars.
The term Grande Recife is used to describe the Metropolitan Region of
Recife, the fifth largest urban agglomeration in Brazil (after Sao Paulo,
Rio de Janeio Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre) and the single largest in
the Northeast.
Grande Recife offers superb touristic attractions both in Recife proper
and outside the city limits. Do not miss Olinda or Porto de Galinhas.
The first is famous for its natural setting, colonial architecture and
carnival, while the second has been consistently voted the best beach in
Brazil. Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Itamarac Island and Igarassu are
known for their beautiful beaches and important historical monuments.

How to get in Recife?
By plane:
Recife's modern Guararapes-Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC)
is efficient, user-friendly and close to the city.
There are also regular charter flights from other European cities, such
as Milan, Helsinki and Amsterdam.
There are direct scheduled flights to most of Brazilian capitals, also to
Miami (American Airlines), Lisbon, Porto (TAP), and Paris.
Domestic airlines operating regular scheduled flights to Recife: Azul,
Avianca Brasil, GOL, Noar, Pantanal TAM, TRIP, VARIG and WebJet.

From the airport:
MetroRec Subway has an Aeroporto stop on its southern line which will
take you directly downtown.
Bus 033 (Aeroporto) goes every 20 minutes to Boa Viagem (15 min) and
to the city center (Av. Dantas Barreto, 30 min). You can also take
the Aeroporto opcional which is a little bit faster. Stop in front of the
airport building.
Bus 152 (Jordo Baixo) via Boa Viagem, Bus 153 (Jordao Alto), Bus
161 (Brigadeiro Ivo Borges) and Bus 163 (Cajueiro Seco) also go to the
city center. Stop on the other side of the street opposite the airport
building.
Taxis from the airport to Boa Viagem cost about R$25, to the city center
R$ 40 to and to Olinda R$ 80, airport taxis are more expensive (Prices as
March, 2014).

By car:
BR-101, also known as the Rodovia Translitoranea, connects to the
north with Natal and Joo Pessoa, and to the south with Macei, Aracaju,
and Salvador, as well as Vitria and Rio de Janeiro further down the
coast.

BR-232 runs east-west across most of Pernambuco, connecting Recife
with Gravat, Caruaru and a number of other destinations.
BR-408 connects Recife with Tracunham and with Campina,
Grande, and Paraba.

By bus:
Terminal Integrado de Passageiros (TIP), Rodovia BR 232 Coqueiral.
Phone: 81 3452-1999. Recife's long-distance bus terminal is way out in
the suburbs. TIP is connected to the city by the MetroRec subway at the
Rodoviria station on the Centro 1 line, around 15 minutes from
downtown. Bus companies have booths at the Central MetroRec station
in town, so at least you do not have to trek out just to buy advance bus
tickets.
Direct buses to all Northeast and many other capital cities:
To Fortaleza by Guanabara - R$ 120-250, 12 hours.
To Natal by Progresso - R$ 42-60, 4.5 hours.
Hourly to Joo Pessoa.

By sea:
You can arrive in cruise ships at the Port of Recife. Cruises may come
from other Brazilian states, from other countries in South America and
the Caribbean, or from Europe.
The Transatlantic Cruise liners include Holland America Line ms
Rotterdam, Holland America Line Prisendam, Oceania Cruises Insignia,
SeaDream Yacht Club, Royal Caribbean International Splendour of the
Sea, P&O Cruises Artemis, Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth II, among others.
Cruises from Recife to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago are also
available.

Getting around in Recife
By taxi:
Taxi is the best bet. Look for registered taxi companies which charge
standard rates. Ask for a car with air conditioning (especially in the
summer).
Coopetxi, 81 3224-8441
Disk Txi, 81 3224-5410
Ligue Txi, 81 3228-6830
RdioTxi Recife, 81 3222-6580
Recife Txi, 81 3424-3020
Teletxi Qualidade, 81 2121-4242

By bus:
Buses are the most useful form of mass transportation. The Sistema
Estrutural Integrado (Integrated Structural System), known as SEI, has
119 bus lines which are integrated with the subway system at 13 points
throughout the metropolitan area.
By subway:
MetroRec, Recife's subway system, is the third largest in Brazil, although
it still covers only limited areas of the city. 13 of the 28 stations have
connections to the SEI metro bus system and, depending of your
destination, it may be possible to purchase a single combination
subway/bus ticket. MetroRec has three basic lines:
Two Central lines run together from downtown to the west, where they
split after Coqueiral station and go to Jaboato dos Guararapes and
Camaragibe respectively.

It does provide a useful link between the city center and the TIP Bus
Station in the outskirts, at the penultimate stop on the Camaragibe
(Centro 1) line.
A new South line provides direct access to the airport and Shopping
Center Recife on its way to Cajueiro Seco.

Where to walk in Recife?
Beaches:
Recife is known for its amazing beaches.
Boa Viagem Beach: Probably one of the world's best
urban beaches, with pristine white sands.
With 8km of hotels and restaurants, it is the longest urbanized stretch of
beach in Brazil. If you want a tan, you came to the right place. The beach
road has a wide walkway attached and this is dotted with huts selling
food and drink.
Try the traditional "gua de coco" (coconut water). The beach itself is full
of vendors selling food and drink. There are also vendors selling t-shirts,
hats, sun cream, and sunglass.
These guys can get a bit insistent. Simply smile and one word will have
them on their way: no (pronounced "now.") The beach is somewhat
protected by a coral reef wall visible at low tide, making it good for a
swim, but don't go out past the wall, as the waters are more dangerous,
with sharks reported in the area.

Brasilia Teimosa Beach: A smaller and less
frequented beach near the port.
Pina Beach: A well-developed and popular beach
north of Boa Viagem Beach. It's a little more relaxed, with weak waves.

Churches:
Convento Franciscano de Santo Antnio (Franciscan Convent of
Saint Anthony), Rua Imperador Pedro II, Santo Antnio, (Centro). Mon
to Fri 8 to 11.30am, 2 to 5pm, Sat 8 to 11.30 AM.
One of the city's biggest attractions, this convent
containing the ostentatious Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), which
certainly lives up to its name. Built in 1588, it is one of the most
beautiful baroque churches in Brazil.
Altar with gold-covered engravings, beautiful paintings on the ceiling
and impressive amount of Portuguese-style tiled panels.
This is one of the main sights in Recife. The interior of Jacaranda and
cedar wood is completely covered with gold. You will find similar
churches full of splendor only in Salvador da Bahia or Ouro Preto. The
convent also houses the Museu Franciscano de Arte
Sagrada (Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art). R$ 8 (Price as March,
2014).

Madre de Deus (Mother of God): Rua Madre
de Deus, Recife Antigo - Centro (next-door to the Pao Alfndega
Shopping Mall), Phone: 81 3224 5587. Tue-Fri 8 AM-noon and 2 PM-5PM,
Sat-Sun 9 AM-noon.
Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Carmel
Basilica and Convent): Avenida Dantas Barreto - Santo Antnio
(Centro) Mon-Fri 7 AM-7 PM, Sat 7 AM-noon, Sun 8 AM-noon and 6PM-
9PM. Built from 1710-1767, where the Boa Vista Palace built by the
Dutch governor of Northeastern Brazil once stood.
A religious art collection can also be visited. In Baroque style; the altar
with gold engravings and crowns of gold and precious stones. One of the
rooms is covered with Portuguese tiles.
Nossa Senhora da Conceiao dos Militares (Our
Lady of the Conception of the Military): Rua Nova, 309, Santo
Antnio (Centro). Phone: 81 3224 3106. Built in 1726. The 1781 ceiling
paintings depict the Guararapes Battle against the Dutch.
Leaders from the Praieira Revolution and the Paraguay War are buried
in the church. The church also houses the Museu de Arte Sacra Padre
Roberto Barbalho (Father Roberto Barbalho Museum of Sacred Art).

Nossa Senhora do Pilar: Praa Monsenhor Joo
Castilho Barbosa-Centro. Phone:81 3551 4736. Constructed in 1680.
Nossa Senhora do Rosrio dos Homens Pretos (Our
Lady of the Rosary of the Black Men): Rua Estreita do Rosrio, Santo
Antnio (Centro). Mon-Fri 9AM-1:30PM and 2:30PM-6PM, Sat 8AM-
noon. Built by African-Brazilian slaves in the 17th century. Main wooden
altar engraved in gold; lateral altars display images from the 18th
century
Santa Cruz (Holy Cross): Ptio de Santa Cruz, Boa Vista
(Centro). Built between 1725 and 1732. Parts of the movie Lisbela e o
Prisioneiro (2003) were shot in the square in front of the church.
Santssimo Sacramento - Matriz de Santo
Antnio (Holy Sacrament - Saint Anthony Mother Church): Praa
da Independncia - Santo Antnio (Centro). Daily 7AM-noon and 2PM-
6PM. Built between 1753 and 1790, the church is in manueline/baroque
style. The interior is decorated with enormous crystal chandelier and
images of Saint Anthony and Saint Sebastian.

So Pedro dos Clrigos (Saint Peter of Clerics
Cathedral): Ptio de Sao Jos - Centro. Built between 1728 and 1782,
the cathedral is in the charming Saint Peter Square, surrounded by
colorful colonial buildings.
It is a replica of the Santa Maria Maggiore Sanctuary in Rome. Rosewood
altar; pulpit engraved in gold; wooden ceiling sculpted with images of
Saint Peter, the twelve apostles and the evangelists. Blend of baroque art,
16th century mannerism, as well as rococo and neoclassic elements.

Take pictures:
Historic buildings at Marco Zero Square in Recife Antigo

Forte So Joo Batista do Brum (Brum Fortress built during the 17th
century).

Building of Caixa Econmica Federal, at Marco Zero.

Coluna de Cristal, view from the Marco Zero.

Marco Zero

Pontes do Recife ( Recifes bridges)

Museums
The Abolition Museum (Museu da Abolio): Rua Benfica, 1150 -
Madalena (Zona Norte). This Museum covers the period of slavery and
the abolitionist movement in XIX century Brazil. Former plantation
house of Counsellor Joao Alfredo, leader of Brazil's abolitionist
movement in the 19th century.
Casa Manuel Bandeira/Espao Pasrgada: Rua da Unio, 26 - Boa
Vista (Centro) (next door to Joaquim Nabuco Palace and Pernambucan
School). Phone: 81-3231-3994. Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM. House where the
acclaimed poet Manuel Bandeira spent his childhood.

Casa-Museu Magdalena e Gilberto Freyre: Rua Jorge Tasso Neto -
Apipucos (Zona Norte) Phone: 81 3441-1733. Mon-Fri 9 AM-4:30
PM. Beautiful house where once lived Brazil's greatest sociologist,
Gilberto Freyre.
Military Museum (Museu Militar): Praa da Comunidade Luso-
Brasileira - Recife Antigo (Centro) (at the Brum Fortress).
Museum of the Archeological, Historic and Geographic Institute
of Pernambuco (Museu do Instituto Arqueolgico, Histrico e
Geogrfico de Pernambuco): Rua do Hospcio, 130 - Boa Vista
(Centro). Phone:81 3222-4952. Mon-Fri 1 PM-5 PM, Sat 8 AM-noon.

Museum of Archeology of the Catholic University of
Pernambuco (Museu de Arqueologia da Universidade Catlica de
Pernambuco: Rua do Prncipe, 526, Bl G, 1 Andar - Boa vista (Centro).
Phone: 81 3216-4192. Archeological museum focused on indigenous
artifacts. Located at the Catholic University of Pernambuco
(Universidade Catlica de Pernambuco - UNICAP).

Museum of Natural History Louis Jacques Viget (Museu de
Histria Natural Louis Jacques Brunet): Rua da Aurora - Boa Vista
(Centro). Phone: 81 3303-5315. Created in 1861, it is one of the first
natural history museums in Latin America. Collection spans archeology,
botany, geology and zoology.
Museum of the Northeastern Man (Museu do Homem do
Nordeste): Avenida 17 de Agosto, 2187, Casa Forte (Zona Norte).
Phone: 3441-5500.Part of the Fundao Joaquim Nabuco. This fantastic
museum depicts the various folk arts, traditions, and history of
Northeast Brazil. The displays are divided among three sections, focusing
on sugar, folk arts, and anthropology. It's located in the suburbs, but well
worth the ride out.

Museum of the State of Pernambuco (Museu do Estado de
Pernambuco): Avenida Rui Barbosa, 960 - Graas (Zona Norte). Tue-Fri
10AM-5PM, Sat-Sun 2PM-5PM.

Recife City Museum (Museu da Cidade do Recife): Forte das Cinco
Pontas - So Jos (Centro. Phone: 81 3224-8492. Mon-Fri 9 AM-6PM, Sat-
Sun 1 PM-5 PM. It is located inside the 17th-century Cinco Pontas
Fortress.

Ricardo Brennand Institute (Instituto Ricardo Brennand): This
Institute holds a very impressive collection of Brazilian and European
historical artifacts from the 15th to 19th centuries. Special attention is
paid to the Period of Dutch occupation in Recife and Northeastern
Brazil.
Address: Alameda Antnio Brennand - Vrzea (Zona Oeste).
Phone: 81 2121 0352.
Hours: Tue-Sun 1 PM-5PM.
Train Museum (Museu do Trem): The Train Museum is in the old
Central Train Station, which now also serves as the central station for
MetroREC, Recife's subway system. They will reopen on June 2014.

Address: Praa Visconde de Mau - So Jos (Centro) (in the central
station, Estao Central).
Phone: 81 3224-4620.
Hours: Mon-Thu 1 PM-6 PM. Fri 8 AM- Noon.
Frevo Museum (Museu do Frevo): It is a new museum in Recife, with
air conditioned, exposes the history of frevo rhythm using audiovisual
very interesting. The top floor, with its huge glass windows, a beautiful
view of the surroundings, but the height of the visit is to frevos classes,
in which a very nice guy teaches the key steps for those who want to
learn. If you do not want to try, worth to sit down and watch. Free
admission Tuesday. Price R$ 6.
Address: Rua do Arsenal, 91. Open Tues-Fri 09 A.M. 6 P.M.
Value Museum (Museu de Valores): Museum of by the local
representation of the Central Bank of Brazil. This Museum holds more
than 7,000 historic coins from Brazil and abroad, historic maps and
artifacts found during excavations at Fort Orange, in
nearby Itamarac Island.
Address: Rua da Aurora, 1259 - Santo Amaro (Centro).
Phone: 0800-992-345.
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 AM-4 PM.

Alusio Magalhes Modern Art Museum (Museu de Arte Moderna
Alusio Magalhes - MAMAM):

Address: Rua da Aurora, 265 - Boa Vista.
Phone: 81 3232 2188.
Hours: Tue-Sun. Noon-6PM.
Casa do Carnaval:
Address: Ptio de So Pedro, 52 - So Jos (Centro).
Phone: 81 3224 1103.
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5:30PM.
Museu de Arte Popular:

Address: Ptio de So Pedro, 11 - So Jos (Centro).

Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho: The museum
contains religious artifacts. Located at Nossa Senhora da Conceiao dos
Militares Church.

Address: Rua Nova, 309 - Santo Antnio (Centro).
Phone: 81 3224 3106.

Museu Franciscano de Arte Sacra: Rua Imperador Pedro II - Santo
Antnio (Centro) (at Santo Antnio de Sao Francisco Convent).

Museu Murillo La Greca: More than 1,400 drawings and 160 paintings
by painter Murillo La Greca.

Address: Rua Leonardo Bezerra Cavalcanti, 366 - Parnamirim (Zona
Norte).
Phone: 81 3232 4276.
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 AM-5 PM.
Museu-Oficina Francisco Brennand: Great ceramic art in a bucolic
area of the city surrounded by forest.

Location: Propriedade Santos Cosme e Damio - Cordeiro (Zona Oeste) -
-near Avenida Caxang and Rua Gasto Vidigal).
Parque das Esculturas: Take a canoe ride from Praa do Marco Zero, in
Recife Antigo (Centro). Alternatively, drive through Braslia Teimosa
(Zona Sul)).

There is a sculpture park on the reefs in the port of Recife. It contains
more than 90 sculptures by Francisco Brennand, including a 30 meter
high tower, the Coluna de Cristal.

Pernambuco Image and Sound Museum (Museu da Imagem e do
Som de Pernambuco - MISPE): Holds more than 6,000 pieces,
including movies, records, photographs, postcards and the like. This
Museum uses modern audiovisual techniques to document
Pernambuco's culture.

Address: Rua da Aurora - Boa Vista.
Phone: 81 3231 2716.
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 AM-5 PM, Sat-Sun 1 PM-5 PM.

Other Historic Buildings
Benfica Cultural Center (Centro Cultural Benfica): The center
specializes in the "Armorial" Movement and also holds a significant
portion of the pieces from the old Fine Arts School.

Address: Rua Benfica, 157, Madalena (Zona Norte).
Phone: 81 3227 0657.
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 AM- Noon and 2 PM-5 PM.
Joaquim Nabuco Palace (Assemblia Legislativa do Estado de
Pernambuco): Built in 1874. A historical documents collection can be
visited in the annex building.
Address: Rua da Unio, 439 - Boa Vista (Centro).
Phone: 81 3217 2211.
Justice Palace (Palcio da Justia): Built in 1930.
Address: Praa da Repblica - Santo Antnio (Centro).
Phone: 81 3419 3311.

Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue: Built in and used by some of the
thousands of Sephardic Jews who immigrated here during the brief
period Dutch domination between 1630 and 1657. The oldest
synagogue of the Americas.

Address: Rua do Bom Jesus - Recife Antigo.
Malakoff Tower Cultural Observatory (Torre Malakoff): Built in
1853. This beautiful tower in front of the port. They have an astronomic
observatory and an arts and science center.
Address: Rua do Observatrio, Recife Antigo (Centro).
Phone: 81 3424 8704.
Hours: Tue-Fri 10AM-8PM, Sat 2PM-8PM, Sun 2 PM-7 PM.
Parks:
Parque 13 de Maio (May 13th Park): The largest green area in
central Recife, with playground equipment, a petting zoo, and
illuminated fountains, 24-hour security. Free.

Address: Praa Dr. Adolfo Cirne - Boa Vista.
Parque Dois Irmos (Two Brothers Park): A zoo and botanical garden
park, with 387 hectares of Atlantic Forest and 14 hectares of botanical

gardens. The zoo has around 800 types of animals. The grounds also hold
the Natural Science Museum and a number of ecological trails. Cheap.

Address: Praa Farias Neves, no number - Dois Irmos.
Phone: 81 3183 5539, (zoodoisirmaos@gmail.com).
Hours: Tue-Sun 8 AM-4 PM.
Parque da Jaqueira (Jaqueira Park): This park is popular for jogging.
It also has bicycle trails, plus live music on Sundays. Free.

Address: Av. Rui Barbosa - Jaqueira.

What do in Recife?
Maracatu Rehearsals (ensaios de maracatu). Some of the most
traditional maracatu groups include: Leo Coroado (since
1863), Estrela Brilhante do Recife (since 1909), Porto Rico (since
1916), Cambinda Estrela do Recife (since 1935), and Elefante, among
others.
Catamaran Rides in the Capibaribe River (Catamaran Tours, Cais
das Cinco Pontas), Avenida Sul, So Jos (Centro). Phone: 3424-2845
or 9973-4077. 4PM and 8 PM daily. Tour lasts 1 hour and 15
minutes. RS30.
Tour in Recife and Olinda: Walk through the historical and cultural
heritage of the cities of Recife and Olinda. At times the tour is conducted
on foot (walking) and due to the vast content, some points are visited
panoramically (inside the vehicle).
There will be several places to shop for handicrafts, and no stops at
beaches for swimming. Thus, we recommend the use of lightweight
clothing, shoes and sun protection. Every days. Pontual Receptivo
Turismo. Phone: (81) 3339.5563 E-mail:
receptivo@pontualturismo.com.br .
Address: Rua Alhandra, 226, Ibura, CEP 51220-100 - Recife
Scuba-diving at Shipwreck Park in the coast of Recife. Recife is known
as Brazil's shipwreck capital: more than 100 ships have sunk in the coast
around the city, 15 of which are accessible to tourists. Together with the
natural coral reefs, they make the coast of Recife a perfect spot for scuba-
diving.
Volleyball and foot volley at Boa Viagems beach. The latter was first
developed into a sport in the sands of Recife, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro
in the 1970s.

Panorama flight (NVO Txi Areo, Aeroclube de Pernambuco).
Phone: 3325 0191. Costs R$200 to 500. The flights are 20 minutes till
50 minutes. http://www.nvo.com.br/ (in Portuguese).

Movie Theather /Cinema:
Multiplex Shopping Tacaruna. Shopping Center Tacaruna, Avenida
Agamenon Magalhes, 153, Santo Amaro, Centro/Zona Norte. Phone: +55
81 3207-3001.
Cine Rosa e Silva. Executive Trade Center, Avenida Rosa e Silva, 1460,
Aflitos, Zona Norte. Phone: +55 81 3243-8255.
Cineteatro Jos Carlos Cavalvante Borges (Cine FUNDAJ), Rua
Henrique Dias, 609, Derby (Zona Norte). Phone: +55 81 3421-3266.

Soccer:
Soccer teams from Recife participate in the A-Series (First Division)
Brazilian Championship, the Brazil Cup, Pernambucan Championship,
and the Copa Libertadores da Amrica.
The three most traditional teams are Clube Nautico Capibaribe (home:
Aflitos Stadium); Sport Clube do Recife (home: Ilha do Retiro Stadium);
and Santa Cruz Futebol Clube (home: Arruda Stadium). Nautico and
Sport are currently in the A-Series Brazilian Championship. Santa Cruz is
in the C-Series.
Recife is home to internationally famous soccer players including
Juninho Pernambucano, Rivaldo, Ricardo Rocha and Vav.

Roller hockey:
The city of Recife is home to some of Brazil's top roller hockey
teams: Clube Portuguese do Recife, Clube Nautico Capibaribe, Sport
Clube do Recife and Associaco Amigos do Minho do Recife. Both
Clube Portuguese and Sport have been national champions.

Events:
Festival de So Joo: Occurs on June,
24
th
. This celebration of nordestino culture, loads of traditional music
and food.

Shopping
Casa de Cultura: Rua Floriano Peixoto, Santo Antonio (opposite the old
Central Train Station (now Train Museum)). Mon to Sat 9am to 7pm, Sun
9AM to 2PM. Once the city prison, it is now a warren of small shops (one
in each cell) selling regional arts and crafts.
Domingo Na Rua: Rua Bom Jesus. Sun 2 to 10 PM. Sunday market.
Mercado de Sao Jos (Sao Jos Market): Built in 1871 project of
architect J. Louis Liethier and engineer Louis Lger Vauthier. The iron
structure was inspired in the Grenelle Market in Paris, France.
Historically, the market played an important role as a meeting place for
street magicians, musicians, acrobats and the like. You can still find
traditional handicrafts, regional food, medicinal herbs and Cordel
Literature.

Pao Alfndega: Rua de Alfandega 35, Recife
Antigo. Mon to Sat 10am to 10pm, Sun noon-8pm. A visit to Pao
Alfndega is highly recommended.
Pao Alfndega (Customs' Palace in Portuguese) is a comfortable,
modern shopping mall set in the renovated structure of a colonial
customs house building from the early 1700s, during which Recife was
the largest port in the Americas.
There is a permanent historic exhibition on the history of Recife and the
customs building. The mall also houses one of Recife's main nightclubs
and some good restaurants. You can have a good view of the Capibaribe
River and its bridges from the main terrace. Next door, you can visit the
wonderful Livraria Cultura bookstore.
Plaza Casa Forte: Rua Dr. Joo Santos Filho, 255 - Casa Forte.Phone: 81
3265 8100. Mon-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 12-8PM. Western-style shopping
mall.
Shopping Boa Vista: Rua do Giriquiti, 48 - Boa Vista. Phone: 1 3423
5666. Mon-Sat 9AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-7PM.
Shopping Center Guararapes: Avenida Barreto de Menezes, 800
Piedade. Phone: 81 2122 2211. Mon-Sat 9AM-10PM, Sun 12-8PM.
Shopping Center Recife: Rua Padre Carapuceiro, 777 - Boa Viagem.
Phone: 81 3464 6000. Mon-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 12-9PM. Among the
largest shopping malls in Brazil.
Shopping Center Tacaruna: Avenida Governador Agamenon
Magalhes 153 - Santo Amaro. Phone: 81 3412 6000. Mon-Sat 9AM-
10PM, Sun 12-8PM.

Where eat in Recife?
Local specialties:
Pernambuco has a multicultural gastronomy with African and
indigenous influences, among others. The national dish Feijoada (a stew
of beans, pork and beef, served with rice and Farofa) is not very popular
in Recife.

Tapioca
On the other hand some ingredients which are widely used in Recife are
hardly found in the South of Brazil, as manioc flour (which is the main
ingredient of tapioca), cuscuz (corn flour), pumpkin, jerked beef, goat or
lamb. Seafood is exotic and delicious. The regional food has some
peculiarities like Carne de Sol and buchada, a dish prepared with the
stomach of billy goat.
Recife is the birthplace of two traditional and delicious cakes Bolo de
Rolo and Bolo Sousa Leo.
Bolo Souza Leo
Do try the snacks on offer from beach vendors: little chicken and beef
kebabs, oysters, prawns, and grilled cheese. Just be aware that some of

the vendors may have been carrying them around for hours--if it doesn't
look fresh, it probably isn't.
You must try is Caldinho: a soup served all over
the place (restaurants, dedicated carts and people with flasks selling it
on the beach).
It comes in a variety of flavors from black bean to shrimp. The person
selling it will say "completa" when you order it. This simply means
"complete", and if you say yes at this point you get a few added extras,
such as a small boiled egg put into the cup of hot soup.
Restaurants
Recife is the gastronomic capital of the Northeast. There are more high-
quality restaurants here than in any other city in Brazil north of Rio de
Janeiro.
$
Chica Pitanga- Regional cousine: Rua Petrolina, 19 - Boa
Viagem. Phone: 91 3465 2224. Mon-Fri 11:30AM-3:30PM and 6-10PM,
Sat 11:30AM-4PM and 6-10PM, Sun 11:30AM-4PM. Per-kilo restaurant
with regional foods.
Creperia Anjo Solto: Inside of Galeria Joana D'Arc,
shop 14. Rua Herculano Bandeira, 513 Pina - Recife. Wed-Thu 7PM-

4AM, Fri-Sat 9PM-4AM, Sun 7PM-1AM. Crepes savory and sweet. Good
drinks. Note the very late hours.

Papaya Verde: Address: Rua Santo Elias, 409 -
Espinheiro, Recife - PE, 52020-090, Brazil. Phone: +55 81 3241-
6342. Daily 11:30AM-3PM. Self-service Middle Eastern food.

$$
Bargao: Avenida Boa Viagem, 670, Boa Viagem.
Phone: 3465-1847. Sun to Thu (Noon to Midnight), Fri to Sat (Noon to
1AM). Bargao is considered the best fish and seafood restaurant in
Recife. A typical specialty of the restaurant is the moqueca, pieces of fish
or shrimp stewed with vegetables and coconut milk. Address: Avenida
Engenheiro Antnio de Goes, 62 - Pina, Recife - PE, 51010-000, Brazil.
Phone:+55 81 3465-1847
Buraco da Otlia, Rua da Aurora, 1231. Phone: 3231-
1528. A traditional restaurant. Specialty is Galinha cabidela (chicken
boiled in its own blood) which is a very common dish in Recife.

Carne-de-Sol do Cunha: Rua Rigueira Costa, 80 -
Rosarinho (Zona Norte) Zip Code: 52041050. Phone: 81 3241 6512. My
favorite local. It offers traditional Pernambucan food, such as buchada, as
well as other regional dishes. They sell large portions for a good price.
Parraxax: Two addresses: at Boa Viagem, Avenida
Fernando Simes Barbosa, 1200, Recife. Phone: 81 3463-7874, also in
Casa Forte, at Rua Igarassu, 40, Recife. Phone: 81 3268-4169.
This Northeast-themed restaurant offers all the traditional regional
cuisine. The staff is dressed as either police or outlaws. Excellent prices!
With its festive decor, the restaurant is a fun way to enjoy a meal.
Famous for its "Pernambuco Breakfast" (Caf da manh pernambucano).
Some young people go there for breakfast after a night out. Site in
English: http://www.parraxaxa.com.br/html/index.php
Pomodoro Caf: Italian cuisine.
Address: Rua Capito Rebelinho, 418 - Pina, Recife - Pernambuco,
51011-010.
Phone:+55 81 3326-6023

Taberna Japonesa Quina do Futuro Japanese
Food:
Address: Rua Xavier Marques, 134 - Aflitos (at the corner with Rua do
Futuro). Zip Code: 52050-230.
Phone: 81 3241 9589.

Tio Pepe: Seafood. Tue-Sat 11:30AM-11:30PM, Sun
11:30AM-4PM.
Address: Rua Almirante Tamandare, 180 - Boa Viagem, PE, 51030-090,
Brazil.
Phone:+55 81 3462-8472 (http://www.tiopepe.com.br)
Chinatown Chinese Food: Good place and
delicious food, they have some branches in Recife area.
Address: Rua dos Navegantes, 1213, PE, 51021-010.
Phone:+55 81 3465-1159
$$$
Leite (Portuguese Restaurant): Praa Joaquim
Nabuco, 147, Santo Antnio. Phone: 3224-7977. Sun - Fri: 11:30am-
4pm. Open since 1882, it is Recife's most traditional Portuguese

restaurant. The restaurant was named after its founder, Armando
Manoel Leite da Frana, a Portuguese immigrant, who established a
small kiosk in 1882 (http://www.restauranteleite.com.br).
Leite has a large menu ranging from decadent entrees to delicious
deserts. The restaurant mainly serves Portuguese dishes. Try the giant
shrimp grilled on butter or a regional dessert called carola, banana
topped with cheese and baked with sugar and cinnamon.

Mingus Modern Food: Rua Atlantico 102 - Boa
Viagem. Phone: 81- 3465-4000. This modern restaurant offers patrons a
variety of dishes and regional wines. Mingus delights its diners with fine
cuisine commanded by the famous restaurateur Nicola Sultanum, along
with relaxing jazz harmonies.
Ponte Nova French Cousine: Rua Bruno Veloso,
528 - Boa Viagem. Phone: 81 3327 7226. Ponte Nova serves
contemporary, French-influenced, regional cuisine. Adding to its
reputation as one of the best restaurants in town, Chef Joca Pontes was
voted the best chef by Veja Magazine. This restaurant will surely impress
those who dine here.

Beach food
The chairs and the guy that moves the umbrella are free, but during the
World Cup they want to make some money and you must to pay for. All
they ask in return is that you buy your food and drink from them.
They all carry a menu and the food arrives quickly and freshly made on
the beach. Try the seafood. The fish is usually caught locally and earlier
that same day.

Apart from your own vendor, there will be a variety of vendors walking
up and down the beach, selling a variety of things. Learning the language
for these items is useful but unnecessary as the vendor will take the time
to show you what he/she has on offer.
Prawns (Camaro) - Be careful of the prawns- smell them before
purchase. A free sample is available with the word prova.
They might have been walked up and down the beach for hours in the
hot sun. A quick sniff is enough to tell you if they are fresh or not.
If you decide to eat them, here is a quick tip: hold the tail of the prawn,
tear off and discard the head and leg sections, hold the very tip of the tail,
pop the rest in your mouth and bite off the tip leaving it in your fingers.
Yes, you can eat the shell; peel it if you wish, but you will not see the
locals doing this.
Oysters (Ostra) - Vendors will be carrying a bucket full of ice and live
oysters. They are prepared for you one at a time. Served with a squeeze
of lime, salt and cumin powder.
Crab - They do not come prepared, so unless you know which bits to eat
and which bits to discard, steer clear!
Grilled cheese (Queijo de Coalho) - No warnings here-just go ahead and
enjoy. It's a real treat.
Kebabs (Espetinhos) - Grilled chicken or beef. Cooked fresh right in front
of you.
Ice-cream - The prices are a lot more expensive than just off the beach.
But you don't have to get out of your chair. In that heat, you will
appreciate that.
Caldinho - you will notice guys walking up and down the beach with
flasks. These are full of different flavors of a soup called caldinho. Try the
prawn with hot pepper sauce.
Ovos de codorna - Small boiled quail eggs ready to peel salt and eat.

Nuts - A variety of nuts is available, cashew being the most obvious
because it is grown right there in northeastern Brazil. Also, peanuts in 2
varieties: roasted or boiled.

Where drink in Recife?
DRIVING.

Bars:
There are many bars in Recife, most, if not all, serving food as well as
drinks. The prices are cheap, ranging from R$ 7 to R$ 15 for a 600 ml
bottle of cerveja or a lager style beer.
There are bars of varying quality up and down the streets of Recife. A
few good picks include the following:
Bar Central: Mon-Fri 12-2AM, Sat 8PM-2AM, Sun
closed. Bar Central is an amazing and fun place more upmarket than
most. The bar attracts a diverse crowd, ranging from writers to musician.
Bar Central is also queer-friendly and very famous with indie
kids. Address: Rua Mamede Simes, 144 - Santo Amaro, Recife - PE,
50050-570, Brazil
Biruta: Rua Bem-Te-Vi, 15 - Pina (Zona Sul). Zip
Code: 51010-35. Phone: 81 3326 5151. This lovely bar is located on the

north end of the beach that gets a great sea breeze all evening. Get there
early to get a table with a view.
Downtown Pub: This British pub-inspired bar
puts on live music shows and is self-entitled "House of Rock. If you like
"Heavy Metal", watch out. There might be a concert over there.
Address: Rua Vigrio Tenrio, 105 - Recife Antigo.
Phone: 81 3424 6317 (downtown@downtownpub.com.br).

Entre Amigos/ O Bode: Bar restaurant with
2 names and 3 seating areas, one of which has air conditioning. Situated
in downtown Boa Viagem and a 5 minute walk from the beach. A great
place to watch the football or soak up the lively atmosphere of the very
busy bar, it has a great buffet for lunch or you can eat la carte.
Address: R. Marqus de Valena, 30-50 - Boa Viagem, Recife - PE, 51021-
500, Brazil. Phone:+55 81 3312-1000
Guaiamum Gigante: Rua Dr. Jos de Ges, 299 -
Parnamirim.Zip Code: 52060-380. Phone: 81 3441 1509. This bar-
restaurant seats up to 600 people. Although it may not be too pleasing to
the eyes, Guaiamum Gigante serves great portions of delicious seafood
for a relatively low price. This is a nice place to go on Sundays!
At the less classy end of the market, there are some great bars. They
don't have great signage to tell you that it's a bar.

Basically, if you see some plastic garden furniture in the street, you are
looking at a bar. These are usually the most fun places with the loudest
people and the best vibe. Be careful of the ice in places like this as it
might not be made from bottled water. It also helps to have a good
constitution of you are going to eat in these bars.
There are huts selling food, beer, and the like about every half kilometer
in the center of Boa Viagem beach.
Warning: It might not be safe to walk to and from all these nightspots.
Ask around, and take a cab to escape muggings.

Where sleep in Recife?
Many tourists stay along the beach in Boa Viagem, 10 km (7 mi) south of
the center. The area of Boa Vista just across the Ponte Velha from the
train station has a number of budget and mid-range hotels.
$
Albergue Maracatus do Recife (Hosteling
International): Rua Maria Carolina, 185 - Boa Viagem (200 meters from
the beach). Phone: 81 3326 1221. Shared rooms with 4 to 10 people.
Hostel Boa Viagem (Hosteling International): Rua
Aviador Severiano Lins, 455 - Boa Viagem. Phone: 81 3326 9572. Prices
vary according to the season.

Piratas da Praia: Free Wi-Fi and 24 hour parking, if
you choose to rent a car. They also have different holiday packages.
Address: Avenida Conselheiro Aguiar, 2034, Edifcio (Building) Baro de
Camaari, 3 Floor, Boa Viagem, Recife - PE, 51111-010, Brazil. Phone:
+55 81 3326-1281. http://www.piratasdapraia.com/site.htm.
Pousada Villa Boa Vista: Its a beautiful place and
looks very clean. Rua Miguel Couto, 81 - Boa Vista. Phone: 55 81 3223-
0666

$$
Hotel Aconchego: Rua Flix de Brito e Melo, 382 - Boa
Viagem. Phone: 81 3464 298. hour restaurant and rooms service Site
in English, Spanish, French, Germany, Italian and Dutch.
(http://www.hotelaconchego.com.br/index%20hotel%20Aconchego.ht
m)
Imperial Suites: Rua Antonio Lumack do Monte, 203 -
Boa Viagem.
Zip Code: 51020-350. Phone:( 81 ) 2122-0500 / ( 81 ) 3465-8501 /
Fax:( 81 ) 3325-7697

Best Western Manibu Recife: Avenida Conselheiro
Aguiar, 919 - Boa Viagem. Phone: +55 81 3084-2811. This well-known
hotel provides its guests with two bars, a restaurant that seats 170
people, and a solarium.
Holiday Inn Recife: Avenida Engenheiro Domingos
Ferreira, 3067 - Boa Viagem. Phone: 81 2122 3939. Complimentary
breakfast buffets, along with a well-equipped fitness room. Staff speaks
both English and Portuguese.
Hotel Central: Av. Manoel Borba, 209 - Boa Vista. Phone: 81
3222 4001. The oldest hotel of Recife.
$$$
Hotel Atlante Plaza: Av. Boa Viagem, 5426 - Phone:
+55 81 3302-3333. Boa Viagem (on the beachfront). Hotel Atlante Plaza
is arguably the best hotel in Recife. It has two restaurants, a 24-hour
babysitting service, 24-hour room service, and beauty salon. This is
probably the only hotel that offers its guests a pillow menu; guests can
choose from various scents and stuffing, such as lavender and
chamomile.

Blue Tree Towers Recife: On Piedade beach. This 4-star
hotel is comprised of 135 rooms, all with a view of the sea. The hotel also
provides child care and room service. Address: Avenida Bernardo Vieira
de Melo, 1701 - Piedade, Recife - PE, 54410-010, Brazil. Phone: +55 11
3018-1848
Internacional Palace Hotel: Internacional Palace Hotel
provides exceptional service with a great staff. Steps away from the
beach, the hotel houses Arrecifes Restaurant, which serves a blend of
international and regional cuisine. It also has a coffee shop and bar.
Internacional Palace Hotel has weekend and honeymoon packages. Av.
Boa Viagem, 3722 - Boa Viagem - Recife - Pernambuco, 51.021-000.
Phone: 81 4009 2500
Recife Palace Hotel: Av. Boa Viagem, 4070 - Boa Viagem.
Phone: 81 4009 2500. A sister hotel to the Internacional Palace Hotel,
Recife Palace Hotel has a total of 295 rooms, all with sea views, cable TV,
and air conditioning. Housing a 5 star cuisine, the hotel has two
restaurants, a bar, and coffee shop on the premises. Recife Palace Hotel is
located close to the beach, 5 minutes away from the airport, and is
walking distance to the city center.

Hospitals:
beforehand.


Private Hospitals:
Hospital Santa Joana, R. Joaqum Nabuco 200, Graas. Phone: 3421
3666
Real Hospital Portuguese, Av. Cons. Aguiar 147, Boa Viagem.
Phone: 3416 1800.
Unicordis: Av. Cons. Aguiar 1980, Boa Viagem. Phone: 3326
5237. Equipped for cardiac emergency.
Unicordis: Av. Cons. Rosa de Silva 258, Aflitos. Phone: 3421 1000.

Public Hospital:
Hospital Universitrio Oswaldo Cruz
Address: Rua Arnbio Marques, 310 Santo Amaro Recife
Phone: 55 81 3184-1200

Be safe
Recife's reputation for safety is not one of the best. Robberies on streets
and buses are fairly common. Do not be alarmed, the odds are that you
will have a fabulous time here. But you always need to be aware of your
surroundings and take the usual big city precautions.
While entering or leaving Olinda at dusk or dawn, you have an elevated
risk of being ambushed. Taxis are recommended.
Beware of unlicensed guides. Make sure you have the travel itinerary
planned out and a price (including meals, fuel, etc.) agreed upon before
starting out.
Watch out for shark warnings before entering the water at the Boa
Viagem beach.
Taxi Precautions: If you are carrying notes of 50 or 100 reais, be sure to
tell the taxi driver before you get in because he might not have change.
Some taxi drivers might not know how to get to where you are going, so
make sure that you have the address written down. If you are a woman
traveling alone, sit in the back as some drivers may try to take advantage
of the situation.
Avoid Recife's downtown on Sundays. Streets are deserted all day long
and are very unsafe. Consider taking a tour to a neighboring city or to a
beach instead.

Consulates
Argentina, Av. Domingos Ferreira, 2238, Edificio Akka, 2 andar, Boa
Viagem, +55 81 3327-1451 (creci@veloxmail.com.br, fax: +55 81
3327-1450).
France, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 2333 - Ed. Joo Roma, 6 andar, Boa
Viagem, +55 81 3117-3290 (fax: +55 81 3117-3280).
Germany, Rua Antnio Lumack do Monte, 128, CO, Boa
Viagem, +55 81 3463-5350 (fax: +55 81 3465-4084).
Italy, Av. Eng Domingos Ferreira, 2222 - 2 andar, Boa
Viagem, +55 81 3466-4200 (fax: +55 81 3466-4320).
Japan, Rua Padre Carapuceiro, 733, 14 andar, Edf., Empresarial
Center I, Boa Viagem, +55 81 3207-0190 (fax: +55 81 3465-9140).
Portugal, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 4060, 6 andar, Boa
Viagem, +55 81 3327-1514 (fax: +55 81 3467-8487).
United Kingdom, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira 4150,Boa Viagem, 3465
7744. 8am to 1pm.
United States, Rua Gonalves Maia, 163, Boa Vista, +55 81 3416-
3050 (fax: +55 81 3231-1906).

Honorary Consulates
Austria, Av. Agamenon Magalhaes, 2790, Santo Amaro,
(franciscoendorecife@hotmail.com).
Belgium, Rua do Sossego, 203, Boa Vista, +55 81 3223-1001.
Canada, Av. Engenheiro Antnio de Ges, 60, Edficio JCPM, 7 andar,
Pina, +55 81 2122-3140 (fax: +55 81 2122-3142).

Colombia, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 1555, sala 39, Boa Viagem, +55
81 3465-9995.
Czech Republic, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 2391, Empresarial San
Marino, 10 andar, Boa Viagem, +55 81 3327-7033 (fax: +55 81 3327
6945).
Cyprus, Av. Fernando Simoes Barbosa, 22, 2 andar, Sala 213, Boa
Viagem, +55 81 3484-0190.
Denmark, Rua Antnio Lumack do Monte, 96, conj. 303, Boa
Viagem, +55 81 3466-6466 (fax: +55 81 3325-2022).
Ecuador, Av. Beira-mar, 1216, apto. 702, Boa Viagem, +55 81
3465-9515 (equarec@aol.com.br, fax: +55 81 3361-1054).
Finland, Rua Lbia de Castro Assis, 59, Centro Empresarial Jardim,
Boa Viagem, +55 81 3462-4254 (fax: +55 81 3458-7440).
Greece, Rua do Hospcio, 194, Sala 801, Boa Vista, +55 81 3231-
1407 (fax: +55 81 3231-1343).
Guatemala, Rua Jos Aderval Chaves, Edificio Empresarial Wecon IV,
78, sala 109, Boa Viagem, +55 81 3467-5627 (fax: +55 81 3467-5627).
Indonesia, R. Lemos Torres, 95, Casa Forte, +55 81 3268-
5163 (indoconsul@hotmail.com, fax: +55 81 3268-5163).
Mexico, Rua Aquidab, 20, apt. 1401, Boa Viagem, +55 81 3083-
1760 (fax: +55 81 3343-1430).
Netherlands, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 1472, sala 142, Boa
Viagem, +55 81 3465-6704 (fax: +55 81 3325-1399).
Panama, R. Mamanguape, 418, ap. 602, Boa Viagem, +55 81 3466-
3355.
Romania, Rua Jos Bonifcio, 851, +55 81 3226-9341 (fax: +55 81
3228-5372).

Slovakia, Av. Eng. Domingos Ferreira, 3181, 203, Boa Viagem, +55
81 3328-3213.
Spain, Rua Sirinahem 105, 2nd floor, 3465 0607.
Sweden, Rua Lbia de Castro Assis, 59, Centro Empresarial Jardim,
Boa Viagem, +55 81 3462-4254 (fax: +55 81 3458-7440).
Switzerland, Av. Consuelho Aguiar 4880, Ioja 32, Boa viagem, 3326
3144.
Uruguay, Rua Prudente de Morais, 281, Carmo, Olinda, +55 81
3439-8849 (fax: +55 81 3439-8849).

Contact By phone:
The area code for Recife is 81.

Useful Phone Numbers:
Police- 190
Fire Department 193

Tourist Information:
Recife Antigo, Rua da Guia. Phone: 3232 2942. Daily 9am to 9pm.
Mercado de San Jos, Rua da Guia. Mon to Sat 7am to 7pm.
Praa de Boa Viagem, Rua da Guia. Phone: 3182 8297. Daily 8am to
8pm.
Patio de So Pedro, Phone: 3452 1704.

Tourist Police D.P.T.U.R:

Address: Praa Min. Salgado Filho - Imbiribeira - Ibura - Recife - PE
Phone: (81) 3184-3437

Recife/GuararapesGilberto Freyre International Airport - Code:
REC
Address: Praa Ministro Salgado Filho, s/n - Imbiribeira, Recife - PE,
51210-902.
Phone: +55 81 3322-4188

Beautiful places around Recife
Olinda: This cute colonial town, just across the bridge from Recife, is
a World Heritage Site.

Porto de Galinhas: Maracape, Serrambi and Tamandar are wonderful
beaches. However, the best beach in the vicinity of Recife is Porto de
Galinhas. On New Year's, this place is like a fantasy with amazing open-
air parties, tourists from all over Brazil, and an amazing beach. To get
there by bus, take the local urban bus labeled Aeroporto. At the airport
stop, a Cruziero bus labeled with P. de Galinhas comes every hour. The
cost is R$ 7.50 and takes just over an hour.

Itamarac Island: Known for its beaches, Coroa do Aviao islet, the 17th
century Dutch Fort Orange, the colonial village of Vila Velha, and the
IBAMA manatee nature center.

Fernando de Noronha Island: (Portuguese pronunciation: [fen du d
noo]) is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean,
354 km (220 mi) offshore from the Brazilian coast. The main island has
an area of 18.4 square kilometers (7.1 sq mi) and had a population
estimated at 2,718 in 2012.
The area is a special municipality (distrito estadual) of the Brazilian
state of Pernambuco (despite being closer to the state of Rio Grande do
Norte), with about 70% established in 1988 as a national maritime park.
In 2001 UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site because of the
importance of its environment. The time zone is UTC-02:00 all year
round. The local population and travelers can get to Noronha by plane or
cruise from Recife

(545 km) or by plane from Natal (360 km). A small
environmental preservation fee is charged from tourists upon arrival
by the Ibama (Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural
Resources). Source: Wikipedia.

Igarassu: Home of the Brazil's oldest church and Latin America's largest
collection of Baroque paintings.

So Benedito do Sul: See the waterfalls.

Caruaru and Tracunham: for their rich handicraft. Caruaru is also
famous for its open-air market, the largest in Brazil.

Itaipava or Arena Pernambuco Stadium

Itaipava Arena Pernambuco is a new multi-use stadium in the Western
suburbs of the Recife in So Loureno da Mata.
The stadium will have a capacity of 46,154 people. In 2012 Clube Nutico
Capibaribe, signed into agreement to become part owners of the new
stadium.

Estdio Itaipava Arena Pernambuco:
Address: Rua Antnio Lumack do Monte, 128 sala 406, Boa
Viagem, Recife - PE Zip Code: 51.020-350
Schedule:
06/14 - Ivory Coast vs Japan - 10 PM
06/20 - Costa Rica vs Italy - 1 PM
06/23 - Croatia vs Mexico-5 PM
06/26 - Germany vs United States - 1 PM
06/29 - the 8
th
(1D vs 2 C) 5 PM

WELCOME TO RIO DE JANEIRO

Sugar Loaf as seen from Corcovado
The area that now occupies the city of Rio de Janeiro was discovered on
January 1, 1502 by a Portuguese expedition led by Gaspar de Lemos.
Lemos believed he had reached the mouth of a large river, thus named
the bay with the name Rio de Janeiro.
The harbor of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entry from the
ocean that makes it appear to be the mouth of a river. Additionally, the
harbor is surrounded by spectacular geographic features including Sugar
Loaf Mountain at 395 meters (1,296 feet), Corcovado Peak at 704 meters
(2,310 feet), and the hills of Tijuca at 1,021 meters (3,350 feet).
Rio de Janeiro will host many of the 2014 FIFA World Cup games,
including the final, and the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics,
becoming the first South American city to host the Summer Olympics.

Districts
Centro (City Center): including Lapa and Santa Teresa. The city's
financial and business center also has many historic buildings from its
early days, such as the Municipal Theatre, National Library, National
Museum of Fine Arts, Tiradentes Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral and
Pedro Ernesto Palace.
Zona Sul (South Zone): including Copacabana, Leblon and Ipanema, as
well as the districts along Flamengo Beach. Zona Sul contains some of
the more upscale neighborhoods and many of the major tourist sites,
such as the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, and Sugar Loaf and Corcovado
Mountains.
Zona Norte (North Zone): The Maracan stadium, Quinta da Boa Vista
Park with the National Museum the city's Zoo, the National Observatory
and more.
Zona Oeste (West Zone): This is a rapidly growing suburban area
which includes the districts of Jacarepagu and Barra da Tijuca, both
popular for its beaches. Most of the Olympics in 2016 will be hosted
there.

About Rio de Janeiro

Sugar Loaf Mountain

It is a common mistake to think of Rio as Brazil's capital, a distinction the
city lost on 21 April 1960 when Brasilia became the capital. Beaches
such as Copacabana and Ipanema, the Christ The Redeemer (Cristo
Redentor) statue, the stadium of Maracan and Sugar Loaf
Mountain (Po de Acar) are all well-known sights of what the
inhabitants call the "marvelous city" (cidade maravilhosa), and are
also among the first images to pop up in travelers minds, along with
the Carnaval celebration.
Sadly, most people also know Rio for its violence and crime. The drug
lords and the slums, or favelas, are the tip of very old social problems.

Favela da Rocinha
The favelas are areas of poor-quality housing, slums usually located on
the city's many mountain slopes, juxtaposed with middle-class
neighborhoods.
The South Zone holds most of Rio's landmarks and world-famous
beaches, in an area of only 43.87 square km (17 mi). Many of them are
within walking distance of each other (for instance, the Sugar Loaf lies
about 8 km/5 mi from Copacabana beach).
Most hotels and hostels are located in this part of the city, which is
compressed between the Tijuca Range (Macio da Tijuca) and the sea.
There are important places in other regions as well, such as Maracan
stadium in the North Zone and the many fascinating buildings in the
Center.
If you plan on staying in Rio for more than a couple of days it would be
good to invest in a copy of ``How to be a Carioca`` (Priscilla Ann Goslin,
Livros Two Can Ltda). This is an amusing look at the people of Rio and
will help you enjoy the city as well as appear less of a gringo when you
hit the streets.

History

Though modest and small, the Pao was the office of the King of Portugal
and Brazil's two Emperors.
Rio was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese as a fortification against
French pirates who trafficked wood and goods from Brazil.
Piracy played a major role in the city's history, and there are still colonial
fortresses to be visited (check below). The Portuguese fought the French
for nearly 10 years, both sides having rival native tribes as allies. For the
next two centuries it was an unimportant outpost of the Portuguese
Empire, until gold, diamonds, and ore were found in Minas Gerais in
1720.
Then, as the nearest port, Rio became the port for these minerals and
replaced Salvador as the main city in the colony in 1763. When
Napoleon invaded Portugal, the Royal Family moved to Brazil and made
Rio capital of the Kingdom (so it was the only city outside Europe to be
capital of a European country).

When Brazil became independent in 1822, it adopted Monarchy as its
form of government (with Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II). Many
historians and Brazilians from other places say cariocas are nostalgic of
the Royal and Imperial times, which is reflected in many place names
and shop names.
In 2009, the city won their bid to host the games of the XXXI Olympics in
the summer of 2016. This was the fifth bid by the city, whose 1936,
1940, 2004, and 2012 bids lost.

How to get to Rio de Janeiro
Rio is one of the country's major transportation hubs, second only to So
Paulo.
By plane:
Galeo - Antnio Carlos Jobim International Airport: (better
known as Galeo International Airport) (IATA: GIG) (ICAO: SBGL):
Receives international and most domestic flights. This airport is 20 km
(12 mi) away from the city center and main hotels. While you can
sometimes zoom through Immigration and Customs, be prepared for a
long wait. The Brazilians travel with lots of baggage and long queues can
form at Customs, which are usually understaffed.
From Europe, TAM Airlines offers direct flights
from Paris (daily), London and Frankfurt (both three times a week).
Alitalia flies five times a week from Rome. Air France flies twice a day
from Paris. British Airways flies three times a week from London. TAP
flies twice a day from Lisbon and on Fridays and Sundays to Porto.
Lufthansa flies four days a week from Frankfurt. KLM flies four days a
week from Amsterdam. Iberia flies daily from Madrid.
From Africa, Ethiopian flies from Addis Ababa via Lome. Taag connects
Rio to Luanda four times a week. Emirates has a daily non-stop flights
to Dubai, where is possible to continue to many Asian destinations (also,
from Rio this flight continues to Buenos Aires).
From North America, there are non-stop flights to Rio de Janeiro
from New York and Miami with either American Airlines or TAM
Airlines. United Airlines has flights to Washington D.C. and Houston. US

Travelers from elsewhere in the region have to make a stop in the fore
mentioned U.S. cities or in So Paulo to get to Rio.
A number of carriers (including TAM, Gol, LAN, TAM Mercosul, Emirates,
Pluna and Aerolineas Argentinas) connect Rio de Janeiro to Argentina
(Buenos Aires and Cordoba), Venezuela (Caracas), Paraguay (Asuncion),
Uruguay (Montevideo) and Chile (Santiago). Avianca, TACA and Copa
Airlines connect Rio with Bogot, Lima and Panama City, respectively,
offering forward connections to Central America or other South
American cities. LAN and Aerolineas Argentinas offer connections from
their respective hubs to Australia and New Zealand.
Phone: +55 21 3398-5050 (fax 3393-2288).

Santos Dumont Airport (IATA: SDU) (ICAO: SBRJ): Receives flights
mostly from So Paulo and Brazil's largest cities such as Belo
Horizonte, Porto Alegreand Salvador, as well as the capital Brasilia.
Located right next to the city center, by the Guanabara Bay. Airlines that
service Santos Dumont include: GOL, TAM, Webjet, Azul and Avianca.
Don't rush off without taking a look inside the original terminal building,
which is a fine example of Brazilian modernist architecture.
Phone: +55 21-3814-7070 (fax. 2533-2218).

Four bus lines operated by Real depart from right outside the arrival
section of Galeo and Santos Dumont airports. Buses are air-conditioned
and comfy, with ample luggage space. They run roughly every 30
minutes from 5:30AM to 10:00PM.
Bus 2018 Aeroporto Internacional do RJ/Alvorada (Via Orla da
Zona Sul) runs between both airports, the main bus terminal and
further along the beachfront
of Botafogo, Copacabana, Ipanemaand Leblon, and has its terminus at
the Alvorada terminal near Barra Shopping in Barra da Tijuca. The full
run takes at least 60 minutes, and often it takes double that. Tickets are
R$ 13 (Price as of October 2013).

Bus 2918 Aeroporto Internacional do RJ/Alvorada (Via Linha
Amarela) runs to the Alvorada bus terminal, via Jacarapagu (the best
spot for taxis) from Galeo airport along the Linha Amarela in as little as
35 minutes, traffic allowing. Price R$7 (Price as of October 2013).
2145 Aeroporto Internacional do RJ/Aeroporto Santos Dumont
(Via Seletiva da Av. Brasil/Av. Pres. Vargas) runs between the two
airports and the main bus station, at R$ 10 (Price as of October 2013).
2145 Aeroporto Internacional do RJ/Aeroporto Santos Dumont
(Via Linha Vermelha e Perimetral), same as above, although along a
slightly different route.

By Taxi:
There are two types of taxis. As you leave Customs you will see booths of
different companies offering their services. These are considerably more
expensive (ex: Galeo - Copacabana R$ 80; Galeo - Ipanema R$ 110)
than the standard yellow taxis that are outside the terminal building, but
the quality of the cars is generally better (Price as of October 2013).
These taxis can often charge double the price of those ordinary taxis
which are located about one hundred meters from the arrivals exit and
should cost you about R$60 on the meter to reach Ipanema or
Copacabana or R$60 to Jardin Botanico. The price can go up by R$18 or
more if you get stuck in a traffic jam (Price as of October 2013).
It is possible to pre-book airport transfers. Rio Airport Transfer, allows
you to book and pay before you leave home.
If you're arriving at the Galeo, do use Google Maps (or similar mapping
service that shows traffic) to check the expected traffic by the time you
will be leaving the airport.
There is daily traffic congestion (except weekends) in the lanes from the
airport to the city center, which can last from 7:00AM until midday
depending on the day.
During that period, rides leaving the Galeo airport should be expected
to last at least over one hour, sometimes well over.

Money exchange facilities are limited and high commissions are charged.
Slightly better rates can be obtained, illegally, at the taxi booths but they
may want you to use their cabs before exchanging money for you. In any
event, dont exchange more than you have to, as much better rates are
available downtown.

How to get around Rio de Janeiro

By bus:
The long-distance bus depot, Rodoviria Novo Rio, is in the North Zone's
Santo Cristo neighborhood. Taxis and coach buses can get you to the
South Zone in about fifteen minutes; local buses take a bit
longer. Fresco air-conditioned coaches can be found just outside the bus
station. The coaches connect the station to the city centre and main hotel
areas of Copacabana and Ipanema. Bus companies
include Itapemirim, Penha, Cometa, 1001 and Expresso Brasileiro.
Several companies offer bus passes from Rio to the rest of the country.
The Green Toad Bus also offer bus tickets online for buses from Rio de
Janeiro to Ilha Grande, Paraty, So Paulo, Florianopolis, Campo
Grande, Foz do Iguacu and some other destinations in Brazil. They have
bus passes to take you to other countries as well.
By car:
Many roads to neighboring cities and states connect Rio, but access can
be confusing as there are few traffic signs or indications of how to get
downtown.
The main interstate highways passing through Rio are:
BR-116: Connects the city to the southern region of Brazil. Also
known as Rodovia Presidente Dutra.
BR-101: Leads to the north and northwest.
BR-040: Leads you to the central and western areas.

By boat: Ferries (barcas) connect neighboring Niteroi to Rio de Janeiro
and arrive at Praa XV, in the city center.
International Charter Group: One of the worlds largest yacht charter
companies can provide all charter requirements, from bareboat to a boat
with a full crew. Operating from nine offices worldwide (USA, Spain, UK,

Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Honk Kong and
Dubai).
What see in Rio de Janeiro?

The Corcovado Mountain, with Christ, the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue.

The South Zone of Rio is best served by bus, but taxis are cheap.
By Bike:
Rio de Janeiro is the perfect city to discover by Bike. In a couple of hours
an English-speaking guide will show everything about this fantastic
city. Baja Bikes in Rio de Janeiro offers guided bike tours through Rio de
Janeiro.
http://www.bajabikes.eu/en/rio-de-janeiro-sightseeing

By subway:
The Metr Rio subway system is very useful for travel from Ipanema
through Copacabana to Downtown and beyond, although it closes after
midnight (24 hours during Carnival).
Also in English: http://www.metrorio.com.br/en/
The air-conditioned subway is safe, clean, comfortable, and quick, and
has much better signage, etc., than most transport in Rio, making the
lives of foreign tourists easier.

There are two main lines:
Line 1 (Orange) has service to Ipanema (General Osorio), the Saara
district, and much of Downtown, as well as Tijuca.
Line 2 (Green) stops at the zoo, Maracan stadium, and Rio State
University. The two lines are integrated between Central and Botafogo,
so check the train's destination if you board within the integrated section
for a destination in the Zona Norte.
A one-way subway-only "unitario" ticket is R$3.50 (Price is as of October
2013). The ticket window will give you a card that you insert in the
turnstile; do not pull it out unless you've purchased a multi-trip or
transfer pass. Rechargeable IC cards (minimum charge R$5, no deposit
required) are also available and definitely worth getting if you'll be in
town for a few days.
Metrnibus and Metr na Superfcie (literally means Subway on Ground),
but actually they are ordinary buses in special routes for subway
commuters. You can buy tickets for these routes. Just ask
for expresso (pronounced "eysh-PREH-sso", not "express-o") when
buying a ticket, and then keep it after crossing the turnstile.
When you leave the subway, give the ticket to the bus driver (who shall
be waiting in the bus stop just outside of the station). If you buy an
ordinary ticket, you won't be able to get this bus for free - then it will
cost a regular fee.

A detailed map of Rio's subway lines with stations and
integrao (connection) bus lines.
Recently the last car of each train has been marked women-only
with a pink window sticker, in order to avoid potential harassment
in crowded trains.
Some men, however, are not yet used to this separation (since it is very
recent) and many women, who are accustomed to hassle-free everyday
travel in Rio's subway, also think the measure is unnecessary.
Anyway, if you're a man, avoid getting into trouble with local security
staff and stay off the pink-marked cars. Note that the women-only policy
for the last car is valid only during rush hour.

By taxi:
A cab is one of the best ways to move around Rio.
All legal cabs are yellow with a blue stripe painted on the sides and red
ID car. Taxis not designed like this are special service cars (to the airport
or bus stations) or they are just illegal. Rio taxis are not too expensive on
a kilometer basis but distances can be quite considerable.
A journey from Zona Sul to the Centro will cost around R$30, and from
the airport to Copacabana is around R$60 for example. The car can
usually hold four people. You can ask a cab for a city tour, and arrange a
fixed price (may be around US$30). Major taxi companies include
Central de Taxi, Ouro Taxi and Yellow Taxi (Price as of October 2013).
After getting into the taxi, check to see if the meter has been started, it
charges R$4.80 (Price as of October 2013) for the minimum ride,
called bandeirada), and R$1.95 per kilometer (Price as of October, 2013).
If not, ask the taxi driver to do so. There will be taxi drivers that will try
to rip you off.
If you want to avoid being ripped off, it may be worthwhile taking a
'radio-taxi', particularly when arriving at the airport. Radio Taxis, such
as Rio Airport Transfer and others are usually the blue, green, or white
taxis and they do cost a little more than the typical yellow taxi.
The advantage of a radio taxi is that you pay a fixed rate regardless of the
time of day or if there's heavy traffic etc. While many of these companies
do have websites, they are generally in Portuguese and do not provide
you with prices.
The exception to this is Rio Airport Transfer, which allows you to choose
your arrival and drop off points and will quote you a price, you can then
pay for your transfer online from the comfort of your armchair.
http://www.rioairporttransfer.com
Other companies such as Holiday Taxis also offer transfers in Rio,
however they tend to be very expensive.

For those travelling to Rio for the World Cup it's worth using a company
that allows you to book and pay in advance, and to try and pay as much
in advance as possible as prices tend to increase a few weeks before the
World Cup.
Be aware that traffic jams in Rio can be terrible at times. A taxi ride from
Ipanema to the bus terminal for instance can take an hour and a half if
you get seriously stuck, so make sure you have a time margin in case you
really cant afford to be late.

By car:
Traffic within some parts of Rio can be daunting, but a car may be the
best way to reach distant beaches like Grumari, and that can be an extra
adventure.
Avoid rush-hour traffic jams in neighborhoods such as Copacabana,
Botafogo, Laranjeiras, and Tijuca, where moms line up their cars to pick
up their children after school. Buy a map, and have fun.
Note that Rio has an interesting program of traffic management.
Between 7AM and 10AM on weekday mornings the traffic flow of one
highway on the beachfront roads of Ipanema and Copacabana is
reversed, i.e. all traffic on those roads flows in the same direction,
towards the city.
Note also that on Sundays the highway closest to the beach is closed to
allow pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, skaters and others to exercise.

By bus:
Buses are still the cheapest and most convenient
way to get around the South Zone (Zona Sul) of the city due to the high
number and frequency of lines running through the area.
There are designated bus lanes in most streets that make travel times
shorter. For the adventurous or budget traveler, it is worth asking your
hotel or hostel employees how to navigate the system or which routes to

take to arrive at specific locations. However, you should be mindful of
questionable characters and your belongings.
Buses are scarce by night. Most will not be running by the time the bars
and clubs are full. Bus fares start at R$2.75 (Price as of October 2013).
However, buses with air conditioning charge higher fares. The fare is
paid in cash to a controller or to the driver inside the bus, by passing
through a turnstile.
There are no tickets. Make sure to have change/small bills. Some
residents and students have a digital pass card. Keep an eye out for
pickpockets when the bus is crowded, and don't be surprised if your
driver goes a little faster and brakes a little more suddenly than you'd
like. Except for minibuses, buses now have two doors: passengers get in
through the front door and get off through the back.
Some bus stops in the South Zone are equipped with a shelter and a
bench, but sometimes, far from tourist areas, they are less obvious and
have no signs at all. You might have to ask.
As a general rule, in most parts of Brazil, buses stop only when you hail
them, by extending your arm. If you don't hail and there are no
passengers waiting to get off, the bus simply won't stop.
The same can be said if you are on the bus wanting to get off at a
particular stop. You should know the surroundings or the name of the
intersection of the area you are going, or inquire to the employee
operating the turnstile, so you can signal to the driver that you want to
get off, or he may not stop!
There are no schedules or timetables, but there is an invaluable book
called Ruas de Rio de Janeiro (The streets of Rio de Janeiro) that has
maps of Rio and lists bus routes by bus line. Although it does not list the
exact schedule of arrivals and departures, it lists the bus stops, and one
can easily orient oneself and navigate the city using it.
Usually buses run at least every 15 minutes. However, they can run just
once an hour or more infrequently late at night or in remote areas of
town. Google Maps and the Maps app also have the Rio bus system in it,
allowing you to plug your location and destination with step-by-step
instructions.

There are a baffling 1000+ bus lines in Rio (including variants), covering
nearly all city, operated by about a dozen independent operations. (At
least 6 operations ply the streets of Copacabana and Ipanema.)
The website named Va de Onibus, contains a catalog of the lines, but is
of little help unless you know the line number or can enter exact street
names. The website (www.vadeonibus.com.br) in English and
Spanish contains a route planner. You can enter two addresses and it
gives you the bus lines that go between them, including their time tables.
Many lines differ only a few streets from each other in their itineraries,
and some even have variants within the same line. Bus lines with a * or a
letter means that this bus has a variant.
It means that there may be a bus with the same name, same number,
same origin, and even the same destination but with a complete different
route. Lines are numbered according to the general route they serve:
beginning with 1 - South Zone/Downtown
beginning with 2 - North Zone/Downtown
beginning with 3 - West Zone/Downtown
beginning with 4 - North Zone/South Zone
beginning with 5 - within South Zone
beginning with 6 - North Zone/West Zone
beginning with 7 and 9 - within North Zone
beginning with 8 - within West Zone
Most popular lines for tourists are 583 and 584 (from Copacabana and
Ipanema to Corcovado railway station), as well as 464 and 435 (from
Copacabana to Maracan).
Buses 511 (Ataulfo de Paiva) and 512 (Bartholomeu Mitre) are also
popular as they take you to Urca for the station to take the cable car up
the Sugar Loaf mountain. Typically bus drivers and controllers won't
understand any foreign language. If you can't speak Portuguese at all,
use a map. Unfortunately, trying to speak Spanish may not be helpful in
many cases.

Beaches
Even the most seasoned tourist will find the beaches here quite amazing.
They are wide and clean, with soft white sand. The main beaches from
Leme to Barra have plenty of services for the beach goers, including free
showers at the beach, wet trails to walk on cool sand, clean pay toilets,
life-guards and police, tents and chairs for rent, soft drinks and alcoholic
bars, and food.
The beaches are from East to West (Downtown outwards):

Ipanema and Leblon beaches

Water Quality: Due to water pollution, not all beaches may be
appropriate for swimming.
Ramos (in-bay) - inappropriate for swimming.
Flamengo (in-bay) - usually inappropriate for swimming.
Botafogo (in-bay) - inappropriate for swimming.
Urca (in-bay) - usually inappropriate for swimming.
Vermelha (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for swimming.
Leme (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for swimming.
Copacabana (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for swimming.
Arpoador (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for swimming.
Ipanema (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for swimming.
Leblon (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for swimming.
So Conrado (oceanic) - sometimes inappropriate for swimming.
Barra da Tijuca (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for swimming.
Recreio dos Bandeirantes (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for
swimming.
Grumari (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for swimming.
Abric (oceanic, nudist beach) Appropriate for swimming.
Abric is the only official nudist beach in the area of Rio de Janeiro, lies
next to Grumari beach. Abric is only accessible by car/taxi.
An option to reach the beaches is to take the bus numbered S-20
(Recreio) that passes along Copacabana/Ipanema/Leblon. Once at the
end of the line (ponto final), take a cab, for a total travel time of almost 2
hours.
It is also worth visiting the beaches in the Paquet Island, particularly:
Praia da Moreninha (on the Guanabara Bay, but often not clean
enough for swimming).
Locals from Rio (also known as Cariocas in Portuguese) have a
unique beach culture, with a code of customs, which outsiders (even
Brazilians from other cities) can misconstrue easily.
Despite what many foreigners may believe, there are no topless beaches.
Girls can wear tiny string bikinis (fio dental), but it doesn't mean they're
exhibitionists. For most of them, it's highly offensive to stare. Until the
1990s, men and boys wore speedos, then wearing bermuda shorts or
trunks became more common. Speedos ("sungas" in Portuguese) and

square leg suits are now making a comeback. Jammers are less common
but still accepted.
Waves in Rio vary from tiny and calm in the Guanabaras bay beaches
(Paquet, Ramos, Flamengo, Botafogo, and Urca) to high, surf-ideal
waves in Recreio. In Leme, Copacabana, Arpoador, Ipanema, and Leblon,
there's a popular way of "riding" the waves called pegar jacar (pe-GAHR
zha-kah-REH; literally, "to grab an alligator"). You wait for the wave to
come behind you then swim on top of it until it crumbles next to the
sand.
Commerce is common in Rio's beaches, with thousands of walking
vendors selling everything from sun glasses to bikinis, fried shrimp to
cooling beverages (try mate com limo, a local ice tea mixed with
lemonade, or suco de laranja com cenoura, orange and carrot juice).
For food, there is also empada (baked flour pastry filled with meat or
cheese), sanduche natural (cool sandwich with vegetables and mayo)
and Middle Eastern food (Kibbes and pastries).
Vendors typically shout out loud what they're selling, but they won't
usually bother you unless you call them.
All along the beaches there are also permanent vendors who will sell you
a beer and also rent you a beach chair and an umbrella for a few Reais.
The beaches in Barra and Recreio (Quebra-Mar, Pep, Pontal, Prainha)
were favored by surfers and hang-gliders until the 1980s, but now they
are outnumbered by the middle-class and nouveau riche from the
suburbs and also West Zone favela residents, such as now world-famous
Cidade de Deus (City of God, made famous in the eponymous film).

Sights Rio De Janeiro
Corcovado: The funicular train costs R$50 for adults, R$25 for children,
and children under 6 years are free. It is definitely worth the trip up to
Cristo Redentor to see the spectacular view. The queue for the train, in
Cosme Velho, can get rather long; you purchase a ticket for a particular
departure time (that day only). Prices are as of October 2013.
The trains run every 30 minutes. Try going when the morning rush has
already passed through, i.e. when most tourists are having their lunch.
Take a taxi to Cosme Velho, or take the Metro-Onibus Expresso
combination (see above) from the Largo do Machado station.

Address: Located at Cosme Velho Street, 513 Cosme Velho -Rio De
Janeiro.
http://www.corcovado.com.br/ingles/

Po de Acar: The Sugar Loaf mountains (one taller, the other
shorter), Brazil's top landmark, with a two-stage aerial tramway to the
top; a definite must see.
A ticket is R$62 (the way back is free after 7pm, price as of 2013). The
buses numbered 511, 512, 591 and 592 and the subway buses from
Botafogo bring you to the base station. Do not make the mistake of
thinking you have seen enough once you have seen the view from Cristo
Redentor. Try seeing Sugar Loaf at sunset for a truly mind-blowing
experience.

Address: Avenida Pasteur, 520 - Urca. Tel. (21) 2546-8400.
http://www.bondinho.com.br/en

Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas: A large lagoon in the middle of South Zone,
with great views to Corcovado and Ipanema and Leblon beaches; you can
jog or cycle all the way round; there are skating areas and you can hire
little peddle-operated boats.
Address: Avenida Epitcio Pessoa e Borges de Medeiros, s/n.

Maracan: The largest football stadium in South America and once the
largest on Earth. Maracan was closed for renovations for the 2014
World Cup. However, the Soccer Museum inside it is open and it's
possible to see the renovation work being done.

Address: R. Prof. Eurico Rabelo, Maracan, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20271-
150.Phone:+55 21 8871-3950

Parque Lage: A small park, once a private mansion, where now a school
of fine arts works. It contains some interesting plants and wildlife as
well as strange concrete structures that will entertain the kids. The park
is the beginning of a hiking trail Corcovado, through sub-tropical rain
forest. The Jardim Botnicos neighborhood is near Corcovado.

Address: Rua Jardim Botnico, 414, Jardim Botnico, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
CEP 22.461-000

Jardim Botnico: It is both a park and a scientific laboratory. It
contains a huge collection of plants from all over the world, not only
tropical ones. The admission is R$6 (price as of October 2013). The
gardens are well kept and very lush. Not far from the cafe, first you hear
swooshing sounds. Look up and you can see small monkeys swinging
from tree to tree.
If you take the bus, note that Jardim Botanico is also the name of a
neighborhood so make sure you take the right one to the entrance.
The Jardim Botnico is open from 8am-5pm daily. This magnificent and
lush botanical garden is a haven of sunny beaches, with shady avenues,
fountains, statues and ornamental ponds. Emperor John VI founded the
Botanical Garden in 1808 as a nursery for herbs, teas and spices
imported from Asia, exclusively for the royal family.
In 1822 the garden was opened to the public, with the addition of ponds
and scenic trails and the introduction of a wide range of plants. Today it
is one of the most important botanical gardens in the world, with 8000
species of plants growing in their natural habitats and in green houses.
Highlights include orchids, bromeliads, ferns and giant cacti.
Colorful parrots, hummingbirds, butterflies and monkeys live in the
vegetation. The botanical garden covers an area of about 137 football
fields worth spending a few hours. A good place to start your visit is the
Grotto Kar Glasl, where you see the giant water lilies in the pond adjacent
and can see the statue of Christ the Redeemer in the distance.
The best known is the Avenida das Palmas Imperiais, a long avenue
shaded by 200 imperial palms, huge trees descended from a single
planted in early nineteenth century. They retain some of the original
buildings of the garden; the Interpretive Center is located in an old sugar
mill. The Botanical Garden, East of the lagoon, is one of the most
beautiful parks in Rio. There are two restaurants with terraces that
allow prolonging your visit.

Address: R. Jardim Botnico, 1008 - Jardim Botnico, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
22460-030. Phone: +55 21 3874-1808.

Arpoador: Without any doubt, the most beautiful sunsets in Rio can be
seen from here, as it is the last place on the beach where the sun's rays
emerge, before disappearing into the ocean between the Morro Dois
Irmos two twin cones. Consider the view from the top of the rocky
point or terrace Arpoador Inn.

Instituto Moreira Salles: This white modern building houses an
important collection of Brazilian Art. Roberto Burle Marx designed the
courtyard and the mural. The foundation created by the wealthy banker
occupies the old home of the family clan. Perspectives and refined
materials, the building was designed by Olavo Redig, the garden by Burle
Marx. It has the best private collection of photography in Brazil (Marc
Ferrez). There is a temporary exhibition hall, which is always of great
interest. It displays a large collection of photographs of the city of Rio de
Janeiro. It also has a cinema, a library and a cafeteria.
Address: Rua Marqus de So Vicente 476 Gvea. Zip Code: 22451-040
Hours: Open 1:00 - 8:00 PM.

Cristo Redentor: The statue of Christ the Redeemer on
Corcovado is the most impressive image of Rio. The climb to the top and
the breathtaking views of the city are an experience. Pedro II ordered the
construction of the railroad to Corcovado and, in 1885, a steam train
brought the first visitors up the steep mountainside. With the addition of
the Cristo Redentor some 50 years later, Rio found its ultimate symbol.
The elegant art deco statue was assembled on site and opened on
October 12, 1931. Since its foundation on peak hunchback, Christ
Redeemer offers superb views of the Zona Sul: Copacabana, Ipanema,
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas and Botanical Garden; inland, the views beyond
the Maracana stadium. The Corcovado receives over one million visitors
a year, so there are always people.
You should check the weather before leaving, because sometimes the
clouds envelop the peak throughout the day. In the afternoon there are
fewer crowds and you can enjoy the spectacle of lights - which are lit at
dusk bathing the statue of a golden color.
Hours: Open 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM.

The Funicular (Bondinho do Po de Acar): which slowly ascends
through lush vegetation, is the best way to climb to the top. Anyone
wishing to take a ride can get off at the station Paineras, from where a
picturesque about 3km trail that passes by several waterfalls and the
Dona Marta lookout. You can take the funicular at Corcovado.

Address: Parque Nacional da Tijuca - Alto da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro
RJ.
Phone:+55 21 2558-1329
www.corcovado.com.br

Museu de Arte Contempornea de Niteri: The Museum of
Contemporary Art, founded in 1996, occupies one of the most impressive
buildings of Niemeyer, with curved lines that evoke Rio rounded peaks.
The museum houses some 1,200 works of Brazilian art of the twentieth
century. Its oval frame is suspended on a thin stand above a pond. The
patio overlooks Ro, across the bay, and Niteri coastline to the historic
colonial fortress of Santa Cruz. Crossing the bridge, President Costa da
Silva, of thirteen kilometers, you will reach the city of Niteri, near the
Guanabara Bay.
It is a circular building looks like an UFO. It is a masterpiece of Modern
Architecture, perhaps the best know building of the architect Oscar
Niemeyer. There are temporary exhibitions of modern art. Its design
and 360 degree panoramic view of the bay of Rio de Janeiro makes your
visit imprescriptible.

Address: Niteri Contemporary Art Museum- Mirante da Boa Viagem,
s/n, Boa Viagem Niteri RJ.
Phone: +55 21 2620-2400
Hours: Open 10:00AM-6:00PM.

Monasteiro So Bento: This amazing seventeenth century Benedictine
monastery and its church stands on a hill in the center of the city.
Despite the simple exterior of the church, its interior is filled with
extravagant gold leafs.

Address: R. Dom Gerardo, 68 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro, 20090-030.
Phone: +55 21 2206-8100
Hours: Open 7:00 AM- 6:00 PM.

Real Gabinete Portugus da Leitura: Built in 1837 by a group of
Portuguese immigrants, the Neo Gothic Style of the building surprises
the visitor by the elegance of its facade and its high walls full of
thousands of books.
With a church atmosphere, where colorful stained glass windows filter
the light, readers try to study uninterrupted by fleets of onlookers. The
Manueline style building was founded by Portuguese immigrants in
1837.
The interior is a wood library with coffered ceilings and carved columns.
It houses the largest number of Portuguese authors outside Portugal,
with over 350,000 volumes of the XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries.
Address: Rua Lus de Cames n 30 Downtown.

Ipanema Neighborhood: It is the most modern neighborhood of Rio
beach since 1964, when Morales Vinicius wrote The Girl from Ipanema
which was about a beautiful woman he saw on the beach. Beautiful
people still frequent the stylish bars and clubs of Ipanema.

Hours: Open 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM.

Copacabana: One of the most famous beaches of Rio, Copacabana
stretches from Morro de, leme hill to the north-east to Aproador rocks in
the south-west. Before the construction of the tunnel connecting the area
with Botafogo in 1982, Copacabana was untouched bay with picturesque
dunes. At the time of construction in the Copacabana Palace has more
than 30,000 residents. Today it is one of the most densely populated
areas in the world.

Po de Acar: Please, check the official website, but they work
basically from 08:00AM -07:50PM. Website:
http://www.bondinho.com.br/en/
On the top of this rock of 396 meters you have a magnificent view of the
bay and its main points. Access to the top is by means of a cable car

running since 1912. It was one of the first cable cars of this type in the
world.
Their cabins can accommodate 64 passengers, moving up and down at
intervals of twenty minutes with two stops, the first in Morro da Urca,
220 meters high, and the second, at the top of Sugar Loaf.
The visit to this natural monument is bound to give you a picture of life
in the city of Rio. Some 2000 people take the cable car to Sugar Loaf
every day and is one of the most popular activities in Rio. Step into one
of the glass cabins and you will have an aerial adventure where you can
enjoy magnificent views.

Address: Av. Pasteur, 520 - Urca. Tel. (21) 2546-8400

Takeoff: From the main station, next to Praia Vermelha, in Urca,
passengers can go up to Morro da Urca, the peak adjacent to Sugarloaf,
which rises to 220m above the sea. Several vantage points offer views of
the bay, the city center and to the west, the beaches of Copacabana and
beyond. Nearby are cafes, restaurants, shops, a cinema and even a
helipad.
Ancient rocks: The huge vaulted mountains Urca and Sugar Loaf are
composed mostly of granite and have about 600 million years. The
massif is endowed with lush vegetation, a remnant of the forest that
covered the bay. The lucky ones can see toucans, parrots, monkeys and
butterflies flitting through the trees.

Igreja da Ordem Terceira de So Francisco da Penitncia: At the
entrance, a small museum houses the statues used during Ash
Wednesday procession including the statue of St. Louis XIII. Work of
Manuel and Francisco Xavier de Brito, the exuberant gilded wood
decoration of the church (1700-1737) is one of the masterpieces of
Brazilian Baroque art.
The Apotheosis of San Francisco, located in the ceiling of the church, is a
work of Caetano da Costa Coelho, is the first example of perspective
representation of Brazil. The layout of the Rua Carioca, on the north side
of the monastery and Largo da Carioca, dates from 1741, when the
Franciscan monks gave the land to the city for construction of a
hospital.

Hours: Open Tue - Fri. 9:00 AM-12:00 and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM.
Address: Largo da Carioca - Centro, Rio de Janeiro. Zip Code: 20050-020.

Biblioteca Nacional: With the bibliographic and documentary heritage
of Brazil, the National Library since 1876, is localized at the city center,
on the corner of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.
It is the largest library in Latin America and the seventh largest in the
world. With more than 8 million pieces, one of your responsibilities is to
preserve, promote and upgrade parts. Guided tours, you need to make an
appointment for another day, you cannot do the visit on the same day.
We recommend calling before you go to schedule, or if you want to get to
know only the lobby can go directly.
Hours: Open Mon-Fri. 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM Sat - Sun 12:30-4:30PM.
Address: Avenida Rio Branco, 219 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20040-
000.
Phone: +55 21 3095-3879

Jockey Clube Brasileiro: Covers 640,000 meters and is the largest
racecourse horseracing in Brazil. There is also the Veterinary Hospital
Octavio among others. It has a capacity of 70 thousand people with
parking and security. Due to the large open area of the Jockey Club, it is
valued for parties, concerts etc.
Address: Praa Santos Dumont, 31, Phone: 3534-9000
Hours: Open Mon-Fri 07:00 AM - 10:00PM, Sat - Sun 07:00 PM- 9:00 PM.

Toca do Vinicius livros e msica: A small CD and book store on the
music style of bossa nova (popular in 50s and 0s). The store is located
on the street that bears its name. This store is an amazing space where
you can remember or imagine how those times were. This store lives
and breathes the music of bossa nova.
Address: Rua Vincius de Moraes, 129 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
22411-010.
Phone: +55 21 2522-4993

Arcos da Lapa (1750): The Lapa Aqueduct (also known as the Carioca
Aqueduct) is a colonial structure that brought water from springs to
downtown. The aqueduct was built in the middle of the 18th century to
bring fresh water from the Carioca River to the population of the city. It
is an impressive example of colonial architecture and engineering.
Since the early 1950s, the Lapa neighborhood has been known for its
lively cultural life, concentrating many restaurants and bars where
Brazilian artists and intellectuals used to meet. It was, and still is,
famous for its many restaurants, bars and clubs where the various forms
of Brazilian music can be appreciated, like the Asa Branca bar and the
Fundio Progresso. The Sala Ceclia Meirelles, an important venue for
chamber music, is also located in Lapa.

Address: Praa Cardeal Cmara, s/n, Largo da Lapa.

Bairro de Santa Teresa: For over 100 hundred years, the tram of St.
Teresa runs its course through the bohemian neighborhoods of Rio de
Janeiro. It serves as a means of daily transportation for the locals, and is
a delight those who make the trip for the first time.
The route for those leaving the city center begins near the Largo da
Carioca. You can take the tram at Lelio Gama Street, on the side of the
Petrobras Building. Cultivate your tourist's patience because the queues
are large. The interval between the trams varies between 20 and 30
minutes depending on the number of cars available on the day, and
crowded trams go. The ticket is very cheap (about R$ 2.00).
Teatro Municipal: Since its opening on July 14, 1909, the building,
inspired by the Opera Garnier in Paris, was the pride of the city. The new
theater is located, with the intersection of Avenida Rio Branco, and is
modeled on the Parisian avenues style.

Designed by the architects Francisco de Oliveira Passos, a Brazilian, and
the French Albert Guilbert, the building has a room with a capacity of
2360 seats (32m high) and a scene of 28m deep. The onyx staircase at
the entrance, decorated with chandeliers and statues.

In the ancient underground restaurant, there are bas-relief ceramics of
Mesopotamian inspiration form and a charming decoration. 600 people
work in the theater that hosts an orchestra and a ballet company. In
2009, for the centenary, the theater received a major remodeling.
Address: Praa Marechal Floriano, S/N - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
20031-050.
Phone: +55 21 2332-919

Parque Nacional da Tijuca: This magnificent national park embraces
the city with its lush forests. Its excellent walks and trails offer some of
the best views of the city. Tijuca contains the highest peaks of Rio and is
one of the largest urban parks in the world. Most of the park was
repopulated in the nineteenth century.
This land, being so fertile, was deforested during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries to make way for sugar and coffee plantations. After
several disastrous landslides, the authorities decided to restore the

original landscape and prompted a massive restoration campaign
between 1861 and 1888, a total of 130,000 copies were planted.

Address: Estrada da Cascatinha, 850 - Alto da Boa Vista - Rio de Janeiro
Zip Code: 20.531-590.
Phones: (21) 2491-1700/ 2492-2252 / 2492-2253

Bossa Nova e Companhia: Here you have a variety of records and
scores of bossa nova. The owner bought the corner store in 2006. This
store is almost three times the size of Toca do Vinicius (other Bossa Nova
CD/Bookstore). An amazing store if you remember the old days, or even
know about Brazilian popular music, stories, songs and books. A good
idea if you want to spend a whole afternoon looking at books.
Attendants are excellent and can help indicate a good book. I highly
recommend it.

Address: Rua Duvivier, 37 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, 22020-050.
Phone: +55 21 2295-8096. Closed on Sunday.
Fundao Oscar Niemeyer: Located in the same area, are Fundao
Oscar Niemeyer, Roberto Silveira Memorial Center, Teatro Popular e
Terminal de ferry de Charitas Oscar Niemeyer Foundation; JK Square, the
monument to Roberto Silveira, popular theater, the Charitas barge
terminal, and the MAC. All designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
In JK Square, you can see a sculpture of Oscar Niemeyer and JK sitting on
a bench in the square and a tent designed by Niemeyer.

Waterways Charitas station has two thousand square meters. The living
room has panoramic shipping 700 square meters of glass. The area has
convenience stores, restaurants and a beautiful view of the harbor and
Guanabara Bay. One of the highlights of the season is the water line and
the construction of a pier on piles.
Address: Rua Cond de Lages, 25 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20241-
080.
Phone: +55 21 2509-1844

Pao Imperial (1743): Imperial Palace, previously known as the Royal
Palace of Rio de Janeiro and Palace of the Viceroys, is a historic building
in the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Pao Imperial was
built in the 18th century to serve as residence for the governors of
colonial Brazil.
From 1808, it was used as a royal residence by King John VI of Portugal
as King of Portugal and later also as King of Brazil. In 1822 it became the
city palace of the monarchs of the Empire of Brazil, Pedro I and Pedro II,
who used it not as a residence, but as a workplace. It was one of the
main political centers of Brazil for nearly 150 years, from 1743 to 1889.
The Pao Imperial is located in the Praa XV in central Rio. Due to its
architectural and historical significance, it is one of Brazil's most
important historic buildings. Today it serves as a cultural center.

Casa Frana Brasil (1820): French cultural center, with a gallery and
video hall (in downtown, next to CCBB).

CCBB - Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (1906): A cultural center with
a gallery, movie theater, video room, library and stages; usually hosts the
main exhibitions in town (in downtown). This is a very interesting
building with old-fashioned elevators/lifts.

Address: Rua Primeiro de Maro, 66 - Centro 20010-000- Rio de Janeiro
RJ.
Phone: (21) 3808-2020

Candelria Church: Neoclassic cathedral (next to CCBB) is a fine piece
of art.
Address: Praa Pio X, s/n, Centro, Rio de Janeiro - 20040-020
Ilha Fiscal Palace (1889): Located in the Guanabara Bay, next to the
Navy Museum.

Address: Av. Alfred Agache s/n - near of Praa XV- Centro.
Phone: (21) 2104-6992.

Gloria Church (1739): Small but interesting church reached by a
funicular. Nice views. (Metro: Gloria)

Palcio Gustavo Capanema: Former ministry of culture, designed by
French architect Le Corbusier; though small, it is regarded as an
important pioneering in modern architecture (downtown).

Address: Rua da Imprensa, 16 - Centro

Catedral Metropolitana: A modern, cone-shaped cathedral, designed
by Edgar de Oliveira da Fonseca (in Lapa).

Address: Av. Chile, 245 - Centro - Rio de Janeiro Zip Code: 20031-170

Itamaraty: Former presidential palace (1889-1893) and foreign office;
now hosts a museum of South American diplomacy, a library and the UN
information offices in Brazil (in Downtown, next to the Central station.
Address: Avenida Marechal Floriano, 196. Centro Zip Code: 20080-
002.

Palcio Guanabara: Former palace of the Imperial Princess, now
governor's office; eclectic architecture; not open to public.

Location: (in Laranjeiras) - Rua Pinheiro Machado Laranjeiras -Rio de
Janeiro

Art Deco: Rio is a major center for the Art Deco style of architecture.
Indeed, the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado is considered a
classic example of Art Deco work. There are numerous buildings in
Copacabana and elsewhere that employ this style, including the famous
Copacabana Palace Hotel.

Museums
There is no shortage of things to do on a rainy day. In addition to a wide
range of museums, Rio has many cultural centers, which are run by
banks and other organizations and usually host free exhibitions. Details
of what is on can be found in the Segundo Caderno section of the
daily O Globo newspaper, which provides more detail in a weekly Friday
supplement. Some Brazilian Museums are closed on Mondays, so check
the schedule before you go.
The Mapa das Artes Rio de Janeiro, which provides detailed bi-
monthly listings as well as detailed maps of the city, is also very useful.
This is free and can be picked up at most museums.
Downtown
Museu Histrico Nacional (National Museum of History): A
museum of Brazilian history stretching from colonial to imperial times;
big collection of paintings, but poor in artifacts (downtown).

Address: Praa Mal. ncora, Centro, RJ, 20021-200, Brazil
Phone: +55 21 2550-9220. Hours: Closed on Monday.

Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts): Includes
large paintings from Academicist and Neoclassical Brazilian artists, as
well as many copies of European sculptures (downtown, Cinelndia
square).

Address: Av. Rio Branco, 46 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20090-002,
Brazil.
Phone: +55 21 2219-8474.
Hours: Closed on Monday.

MAM - Museu de Arte Moderna (Museum of Modern Art): Opened
in 1948 is the second most important contemporary art museum in
Brazil, after MASP in Sao Paulo (downtown, walking distance to Santos
Dumont airport). Its modernist architecture reaches out to the sea.
Price: R$ 12. Not to be confused with MAC (Museu de Arte
Contempornea) located just across the bay in Niteri. Both are worth a
visit.
Address: Avenida Infante Dom Henrique, 85 - Parque do Flamengo, Rio
de Janeiro - 20021-140, Brazil.
Phone: +55 21 2240-4899. Closed on Monday.

Fundao do Museu da Imagem e do Som (Image and Sound
Museum): For researchers about Brazilian film, radio, and broadcasting
industry (downtown).
The new headquarters will be a symbol of Rio de Janeiro. The new
Museum takes place at Copacabana Beach and it will be open on June,
2014.

Address: Rua Visconde de Maranguape, 15 - Lapa, RJ, 20021-390.
Phone: +55 21 2332-9470.
Museu Naval (Navy Museum): Located downtown not far from the
ferry terminal.
Address: Rua Dom Manuel, 15 Centro -Rio de Janeiro.
Phone: +55 21 2524-9199
www.mar.mil.br/dphdm/

Museu Chcara do Cu: An important collection of South American
modern art (in Santa Tereza).
The museum is divided into sections:
European art, with paintings, drawings and prints by European masters
of the stature of Matisse, Modigliani, Degas, Seurat and Miro;
Brazilian Art, Brazilian concentrated in modern production, with names
like Guignard, Di Cavalcanti, Iber Camargo, Antonio Bandeira and
Portinari (the largest public collection of the artist);
Brasiliana collection with maps old, paintings and other illustrations of
the landscape and human types Brazil in the nineteenth century, many
artists made by travelers like Rugendas, Chamberlain and Taunay,
highlighting over 500 original of Jean-Baptiste Debret , acquired in Paris.
Address: Rua Murtinho Nobre, 93 - Santa Tereza, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
20241-050, Brazil
Phone: +55 21 3970-1126

Parks
Quinta da Boa Vista: A public park of great historical importance in
the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The park was part of the gardens of the
So Cristvo Palace, the residence of the Emperors of Brazil in the 19th
century.
The building of the old palace hosts now the National Museum, with
collections on natural history, ethnology and archaeology. The park is
also the home of the Zoological Garden of Rio de Janeiro, with over 2000
species of animals.
The Quinta da Boa Vista is located in the So Cristvo neighborhood, in
the North zone of Rio de Janeiro.

Parque Nacional da Serra dos rgos: The mountain in the center is
called Dedo de Deus (Portuguese for God's Finger). This is one of the
best places in the country to practice mountain sports like climbing,
hiking, rappelling and others; besides having fantastic waterfalls. The
park has the largest network of trails in Brazil. There are over 130 miles
of trails for all levels of difficulty: from the drop-down, accessible to
wheelchair track to the heavy Crossing Petropolis - Teresopolis, with 30
Km of ups and downs for the high part of the mountains.
Among the highlights are climbing the Finger of God, which is considered
the most famous climb in the country, and the Devil's Needle, chosen to
be one of the 15 best rock climbing in the world.
The park was created in 1939 to protect the exceptional landscape and
biodiversity of this part of the Serra do Mar, in the mountainous region
of Rio de Janeiro. The park protects 20,024 hectares in the
municipalities of Teresopolis, Petropolis, Mage and Guapimirim.
The park is home to over 2,800 cataloged species of plants, 462 bird
species, 105 mammals, 103 amphibians, 83 reptiles, including 130
endangered species and many endemic species (that only occur at this
location).
If visiting Terespolis, a visit to this park is a must! A place to go
especially during Brazilian winter period (may-jul), when the skies are
clear and there is very little chance of rain. There are lots of
opportunities for short hikes and overnight camping. You could also
make a 3 days full crossing from Teresopolis to Petropolis. The entrance
to the park in the outskirts of the city of Petropolis is also worthwhile.
It is a beautiful natural preserve and the staff is quite helpful. Only 90
minutes from Rio. Recommended. The ticket can be used for the entire
day and the two parks (Terespolis and Guapimirim).

Open every day from 8AM-5PM. Tickets: Tourist: R$ 25 to get in the
park. Use of mountain trails, first day, an additional R$ 40. Mountain
climbing: (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), an additional R$ 20.
Mountain climbing: (Monday-Friday) an additional R$ 4.

Address: Avenida Rotariana- Soberbo, Terespolis - RJ, 25960-602,
Brazil
Phone: 55 5-00

In addition to Jardim Botnico and Parque Lage, mentioned above,
other parks worth a visit are:

Parque do Flamengo, also known as Aterro do Flamengo:

The Parque Eduardo Gomes, also known as Parque do Flamengo or
Aterro do Flamengo, was designed by Roberto Burle Marx. The space
offers over 1,000,000 m of Atlantic Forest and is close to the Santos
Dumont Airport and Botafogo Beach. Among the entertainment options
located in Aterro do Flamengo are: most notably the Museum of Modern
Art, the Monument to Pracinhas (monument to soldiers that went to
WWI), the Marina da Gloria, the Monument to Estacio de Sa and
Flamengo Beach. On weekends, the park lanes are impassable, leaving
space free only for those who play sports or the Volta Rio Cycling Club.
Parking: Free.
Address: Avenida Infante Dom Henrique, s / n
Phone: (21) 2285-7029
Hours: Open permanently.

Parque Guinle: The Guinles Park was originally a farm acquired by
Eduardo Guinles to build his residence. Today the mansion is known as
the Guinles Laranjeiras Palace, the official residence of the Governor of
Rio de Janeiro State. The park located at the end of Gago Coutinho Street,
has a beautiful gate that gives access to an area of 24,750 m2 where you
see a small lake, malls, lawns, trees and tropical plants.

Address: Rua Gago Coutinho, 66 - Laranjeiras - Rio de Janeiro

Campo de Santana: The name of the square is a reference to the fact
that it is located near where the proclamation of the Republic of Brazil
occurred in 1889, [lit. Saint Anns Field], it was named after Saint Ann,
mother to the Virgin Mary. At the place where "Central do Brasil" train
station stands, there used to be a Church that was built in the 18th
Century.
The place is beautiful and is full of animals like cats, peacocks, and
agoutis. Democratic, is frequented by beggars and executives. There is
also a placeholder for adopting kittens.
A place like this in the middle of the confusion and stress of downtown
Rio is great, but its full of homeless people and should be avoided during
the afternoon and night. The homeless take showers in the lakes and
will rob you if they can. Beware!

Address: Praa da Repblica - Campo de Santana, s/n, Centro CEP:
20211-360. You can take the subway Line 1, Orange Color (Linha 1) and
go down at Estao Central, at Avenida Presidente Vargas, and you will
see the park.

Quinta da Boa Vista: The park of Quinta da Boa Vista, located in St.
Kitts - north of Rio, is the former residence of royalty. In the old Palace
of St. Christopher lived six generations of the Brazilian imperial family
were born and, among others, Queen Maria II da Gloria, Dom Pedro II
and Princess Isabel. The park has an area of 155 thousand square m,
the garden was created in 1869 by the French landscaper Auguste
Glaziou, at the behest of King Pedro II. The farm also houses the city zoo,
the National Museum and the Museum of Wildlife, one of the largest
urban parks in the city. In the gardens there are bridges, waterfalls and
lakes, ideal locations for family picnics on sunny days. About this
architecture, we highlight the Temple of Apollo, the bust of Glaziou, the
bronze statues of Don Pedro II and Empress Leopoldina and a Japanese
pagoda.
Don't go after 5 PM! This place is dangerous!

Address: Avenida Dom Pedro II, without number - So Cristvo. You
can take the subway to So Cristvo and walk to the park.

Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro (February and
March)
The local government built a complex of buildings (Cidade do Samba)
where many of the samba schools are moving their practice halls and
float-construction facilities from the gritty warehouses typically located
in or near their home favelas.
Here is a list of some of the samba schools, as they sometimes have open
parties on weekends or during the World Cup. Just check their schedule
before you go. Take a taxi, and be careful if you go by yourself.
Mangueira: Rehearsals are every Sat, at 10 PM.
Address: Rua Visconde de Niteri, 1072, Mangueira.
Phone: +55 (21) 3872-6786
Fax: +55(21) 2567-4637).
Email: epm@mangueira.com.br
Salgueiro: Rehearsals are every Wednesday at 8 PM.
Address: Rua Silva Teles, 104, Andara.
Phone: +55 (21) 2238-9258
Email: secretaria@salgueiro.com.br.
Acadmicos da Rocinha: The newest addition for tourists is
the Samba City.
Address: Rua Bertha Lutz N. 80. So Conrado.
Phone: (021) 322 5948.

Music
Rio was the cradle of three of Brazil's most important musical genres:
samba, choro, and bossa nova. In recent years, there has been a boom of
traditional samba and choro venues. A lot of them are in the downtown
district of Lapa.
There are good and cheap nightlife options, where you will see some of
the best musicians in the country. Any of the city newspapers provide
pointers to the best shows.

If you're not such an anthropological type of tourist, you can check out
the same papers for tips on other kinds of music. Being a big city, Rio has
big and small clubs that play almost every kind of music.
The best ways to find out about those are the flyers handed or left at
hostels, cinema and theater lobbies, nightclub lines, etc.
Family
Brazilians are protective and take good care of their young children
(toddlers and infants) and thus any contact with them must be avoided
at all costs.

Hang gliding and Paragliding
The Hang gliding and Paragliding flights have found in Rio de Janeiro, the
ideal land with its high hills and favorable wind. Different from other
places in the world, in Rio, takeoff can be from the high urban areas with
landing zones on the beach!
These conditions naturally attract many tourists who get the courage to
enjoy a flight. Even the most inexperienced person can fly since there is
no training or special gear needed.
Sky Center:

Address: Rua Albano Carvalho, 208 / 203, Rio de Janeiro. (Barra da
Tijuca)
Phones: (21) 2437-4592 / 7817-3526 Salvar

Hiking and Trekking
Not surprisingly, a huge city that has an actual forest within its limits has
lots to offer for hikers. It's always advisable to have a local with you
when trekking in Rio (Couchsurfing's Rio de Janeiro group) usually
organizes hikes around the city, as some treks are not very well marked.
Since the early 2000s there havent been any reports of
violence/burglary on the city's trails (a problem in the 90s), but the rules
on the Stay Safe section apply as anywhere else in the city. Some of Rio's
hiking trails include:

Parque Lage Corcovado:
The trek is fairly demanding and steep, and takes about 1h30/2h to
complete, but yet very popular among locals - it's normal to see whole
families doing it, as well as groups of friends and foreigners. Ask the
park's staff or look for signs that say "Trilha" to get to the start of the
trail, just behind the ruins of an old house.
From there you have two paths: going straight ahead leads to a waterfall
that is usually full of families on the weekends (it's a good spot to stop on
your way back if you go back the same way), and left leads straight to the
main path of the trek.
Along the way there are 3 waterfalls (one of which you can actually swim
in) and a small path where you have to hang on to a chain to pass
through some rocks. Until this point you will be going up, but always
surrounded by forest. The first views of the city will start after the chain
(about 1h/1h30 in). Then you get to the train tracks, which you can
follow up to the Christ statue (another 15/30 minutes).

Views from here on are breathtaking: Hiking up to the Christ statue is
possible, but at the top you must get in a van and take it a about a half
mile down the mountain. From there, tickets can be bought for about R$
35 (this includes the van rides, price as of 2013).

Sugar Loaf:
This is a short and fairly easy hike, taking about 20/30 minutes to
complete. You can go up for free then hitch a ride back on the cable car
(after 6pm, it's free to return on it).
The hike begins at Pista Cludio Coutinho in Urca, and is very popular
among the locals. If you ask the guards they'll point you to the start. It's
uphill, but only the first five minutes are really steep and will require
that you to use your hands. From there on, just keep to your left. There
are amazing views of Urca and the Guanabara Bay during the final 20
minutes, some of which are angles you don't get from the vantage points
above.
The trek actually ends on top of Morro da Urca, the smaller of the two
hills. You have to buy a ticket for the cable car if you want to go up the
other hill.

Panoramic flights
If you have the money the following operators give you panoramic flights
in helicopters:
Cruzeiro Taxi Areo:
Address: Av. Ayrton Senna, 2541 - Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
22775-002.
Phone:+55 21 3325-6500

Helisight:
Address: Rua Conde de Bernadotte, 26 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
22430-200.

Phone:+55 21 3442-2046

Ds Taxi Areo:
Address: Av. Ayrton Senna, 2541 - Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
22775-002.
Phone: +55 21 3150-3737

Favela (Shantytown) tours

A number of operators offer tours of Rocinha, the largest (but not the
safest) favela in Rio. Many tours are done by outside companies in
safari-like buses, which can lead to awkward interactions with the locals.

It is also possible to arrange tours to other favelas, although Rocinha has
a longer history of tourism and is one of the more developed favelas.

You may hear stories about people being invited by locals to visit their
home in a favela. If you receive such an invitation, do think carefully
about it and perhaps ask around about the person that has invited you.

Many of the favelas are rife with drugs and guns so think carefully about
how much you trust the person that is inviting you. A search on the
Internet may reveal some personal accounts of tours that others have
taken. A visit like this will obviously be more authentic than a book tour
and could be the highlight of your visit to Rio; on the other hand you are
taking a risk.

FAVELA TOUR: It is an illuminating experience if you are looking for an
insider point of view of Brazil. The tour introduces you to another Rio,
within Rio city: the favela. There are close to 950 favelas in Rio. Mostly
placed on former public areas on the hillsides, they are now home to
20% of Rio's population, however they remain a mystery for most people
who don't live there. The tour is not only to explain about favelas, but to
give you a whole new understanding about different aspects of Brazilian
society.

You will go to the favelas of Vila Canoas and Rocinha, the largest one in
the country. Picturesque from a distance, once closer they reveal their
complex architecture, developing commerce and friendly people. Most
Samba Schools participating in the Carnival parade come from favelas.
The tour changes their reputation of areas related only to violence and
poverty. Don't be shy, you are welcome there, and local people support
your visit. If you really want to understand Brazil, don't leave Rio
without having done the FAVELA TOUR.

About the Creator of FAVELA TOUR
Brazilian born in 1968, Marcelo Armstrong is the pioneer of tours in
favelas in Rio, since 1987 he's been working on the tourism market,
having had the possibility to travel to many countries and getting to
know different cultures. When he returned to Rio de Janeiro, his
hometown in 1992, he decided to organize visits to favelas. Given their
bad reputation, it was hard to gain the credibility of local tour companies
and hotels. Today FAVELA TOUR is still growing and making possible to
a higher number of visitors, a much better understanding of local society
and the day-by-day life in Rio. Marcelo is registered in EMBRATUR

(Brazilian Tourism Bureau) number: 01053672730 and he speaks
English, French, Italian and Spanish fluently.
http://www.favelatour.com.br/index.html

Learn Portuguese Language and Capoeira
in Rio de Janeiro

Portuguese Classes:

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Offers courses at
various levels in Portuguese for foreigners. R$480 for one semester
(Prices are as of January 2014).
Address: Av. Pedro Calmon, 550, Cidade Universitria, Rio de Janeiro -
RJ, 21941-901.
Phone: +55 21 2598-9600

Pontifcia Universidade Catlica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) - Its
courses in Portuguese for Foreigners are popular, but a bit pricey at
R$1700 per semester for the beginner's levels.
Address: Rua Marqus de So Vicente, 225 - Gvea, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
22451-041.
Phone: +55 21 3527-1001.

Instituto Brasil-Estados Unidos - Mon-Fri 9AM- 6PM Sat.-Sun.
Closed.
Address: Avenida Nossa Senhora De Copacabana, 690/1004 2205-001,
Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro - Rj
Phone: (5521) 3816-9468
www.ibeu.org.br

Other Activities

Brazilian Samba:
For tourists there are many interesting things to learn. Why not use a
rainy day in town to dance Brazilian Samba (the national rhythm)
classes.
http://www.riosambadancer.com

Capoeira is a mix of dance and fighting created by the then enslaved
African community. Is not as hard as outsiders may think, and it's
original and fun.
At Casa Rosa Cultural, an antique house in Laranjeiras neighborhood,
they offer special classes for the beginner tourists.
If you are staying in Brazil for an extended period of time, major
universities offer Portuguese courses for foreigners, usually for a very
low price and with high educational standards.

Capoeira Classes:
Mestre Nestor - Galpo das Artes Urbanas R. Padre Leonel Franca (in
front of the Planetarium), Gvea.
http://www.nestorcapoeira.net/availableprograms.html

Mestre Garrincha - Also located in Galpo das Artes Urbanas R. Padre
Leonel Franca (in front of the Planetarium), Gvea.
http://www.capoeiramestregarrincha.com/

Grupo de Capoeira Angola - Mestre Marrom e Alunos If you wish
to start your day training Capoeira Angola early morning, they practice
on Rua S Ferreira, 202, in Copacabana.
Location: in Clube Copa Leme on Ladeira Ary Barroso 1, Leme.
Phone: 3209-2518 / 82328745.
Email: omriferra@yahoo.com for more details.

At the same address you have Centro Cultural Senzala - Mestre
Pixinho. To get her from the Copacabana side just go to the Hotel Othon
Leme and go up the hill Chapu Mangueira, its on the first bend.
It is better to call them to get more info about capoeira classes.

Shopping

Money:
Banks do Money Exchange but only the bigger branches and major
currencies.
There might be a commission. Better rates can be found at shops with
the sign Cambios which base their rates on a semi-official Parallel``
rate, which is slightly higher than the commercial rate and thus better
than you will get with a credit card or ATM.
These are usually found on the main commercial streets, i.e. Avenida
Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, one block from the Copacabana sea front,
and Rua Visconde de Piraj, two blocks from the Ipanema beach. Rates
vary, so ask around. The shop offering the best rate today may not offer
the best rate tomorrow so if you are changing money more than once ask
around again.
Moedas E Moedas Numismtica Ltda, at Rua7 Setembro 88 (A
numismatic shop in a little shopping mall downtown). Changes almost any
type of currency. Even unchangeable Paraguaian Guaranis. The rate can
be quite bad for less common currencies. No commission.

ATM:
Machines have different features, listed in Portuguese above the
machine, and do not all return money for foreign cards. The features can
vary between machines at the same bank. If you are trying to use a
foreign card look for Visa/MasterCard logos on the terminals themselves
and international banks (HSBC, Citi) as the best starting points. Also
beware that in Rio specifically, most ATMs are closed between 10pm and
6am, so plan accordingly.

ATMs from Banco do Brasil works with most foreign Visa cards.

When shopping in street commerce, always bargain; this can lower
prices considerably. Bargaining in stores and malls, though, is usually
impolite. But naturally merchants won't bargain unless you ask,
especially if you are clearly a tourist. To tourists, items can easily be
overpriced by a factor of 20% especially in highly informal markets such
as Saara or on the beach.
A typical Brazilian hammock shouldn't be more than R$25-35, but they
can sell for up to US$150.
A beer on the beach should cost around R$5.00-R$7.00. But during the
World Cup the prices will increase.
A caipirinha can be had for the same price (around R$7.00-R$9.00) and
you get a great show as the ingredients are produced from a cooler and
lime slices muddled before your eyes
You can get coconut water for R$4.00-5.50(Prices as 2013).
For trinkets, your best bet is the "hippie fair" in Praa General Osrio
in Ipanema every Sunday.
Great bargains can be had on Brazilian-made clothing, as well as some
European imports. Most imported items, however, such as electronics,
tend to be insanely expensive due to over-protective import duties. For
example, you will find digital cameras sell for about twice what they sell
for in Europe or the U.S.
Store managers in Rio often speak some English, as this gains employees
an almost-automatic promotion. But "some" can speak very little, so it is
useful to learn at least some very basic Portuguese.
Just knowing basic greetings, numbers, and how to ask directions and
prices will get you at least a "B" for effort, and despite finding that store
clerks may know more English than you know Portuguese, it can still
come in handy to know a bit of the Portuguese language.
Don't be afraid to resort to writing numbers, pictures, or to pantomime
what you are trying to say.

Shop assistants will often tap out prices for you on a calculator. Visa and
MasterCard are widely accepted in Brazil, and American Express to a
significantly lesser degree. But beware that many stores will accept
either Visa or MasterCard, but not both! If you carry only one, look for
the sign in the store window before attempting to buy.
Bikinis are a great choice of gift, since they do not take much space in the
suitcase back home, and are a trademark from Rio for its quality and
fashion style.

Shopping malls can be found all over town, with the cheaper ones in
the Zona Norte like Shopping Tijuca and Shopping Iguatemi and popular
upscale shopping malls concentrated in the Zona Sul like Shopping Rio
Sul and Shopping Leblon and Sao Conrado Fashion Mall and Barra
Shopping in Zona Oeste.

Where eat in Rio de Janeiro?
In Rio de Janeiro you can probably find something to fit any craving. A
good approach to local food is "comida a kilo" - buffet style restaurants
where you pay by the weight of the food on your plate. An excellent place
to go with your friend or even with your partner is the Fellini
Restaurant.
Fellini Restaurant:
Located in Leblon, the place has a "pay for what you eat" buffet, with
really good and beautiful food. Great for all tastes, it has even Asian food
on the menu- approximately R$5 per 100g. More information is available
online.

Address: Rua General Urquiza, 104 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22431-
040.
Phone: +55 21 2511-3600.
http://www.fellini.com.br/en/index_e.htm

Ming Ye: Another buffet is Ming Ye, which offers a wide range of
Chinese stir-fry and delicious sushi, as well as Brazilian dishes for
cheaper prices (around R$4 per 100g).
Don't miss the Brazilian most famous dish, the feijoada (fay-zho-AH-da),
a black bean stew filled with big chunks of meat, like sausages, pork and
beef.
Along with the "feijoada", you also get some colorful side dishes that
come with it, such as rice, cassava (roasted manioc), collard greens, fried
pork rinds, and some orange slices, to sweeten things up a bit. This is a
bonafide, authentic carioca culinary experience. It is almost worth the
trip alone! It is best while drinking a "caipirinha. Pictures of Bruce Lee,
Jackie Chan, and Jet Li decorate the walls.

Address: Rua do Lavradio 106, near Lapa.

For the hungry, nothing beats a good rodzio (all-you-can-eat service).
These are available in numerous types, although the most well-known
are the churrascaria, all-you-can-eat grilled meats. At various
restaurants around town, you can also find rodzio style dining featuring
seafood, pizza, or various appetizer-style snacks. The defining element of
rodzio is that unlike an all-you-can-eat buffet, the servers continuously
bring skewers of various meats.

Marius: This restaurant in Leme has seafood and arguably the
best churrascaria in town.

Address: Avenida Atlntica, 290 - Leme, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22010-000.
Phone:+55 21 2543-6363
Porco Steak House: This restaurant has 2 locations around Rio.
Addresses: Avenida Infante Dom Henrique, S/N, Aterro do Flamengo,
and Rua Baro da Torre, 218, Ipanema.

Carreto: This restaurant has a good and cheap(er) rodizio.
Addresses:
Rua Siqueira Campos, 23. Copacabana.
Phone: (21) 2236.3435.

Rua Visconde de Piraj, 112. Ipanema .
Phone: (21) 2267.3965

Fil de Ouro: If you like meat but want an alternative to the rodizios,
this is a good place to eat. The place is simple and cozy. During the
weekends there are usually big lines, but the steak is delicious. Try "Fil
Oswaldo Aranha", with toasted garlic.
Location: Rua Jardim Botnico, 731, Jardim Botnico,
Phone: 55 (21) 2259-2396

Benkei: Brazil has the largest population of Japanese outside of Japan.
Sushi has become widely popular in Rio too. If you are a sashimi and
sushi lover, you will find a great deal of options in Rio de Janeiro. If you
are in Ipanema or nearby, a great tip is Benkei. It has an "all you can
eat" buffet, with high quality products, a great environment and staff, all
for nice prices. In the Recreio Shopping Mall.
Address: Avenida das Amricas, 19019, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22793-082.
Phone:+55 21 3416-0460. Ipanema Beach :
Address: Av. Henrique Dumont, 71 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, 22410-
060.
Phone: +55 21 2540-4830

Zuka: In Leblon, the best choice is the hip and contemporaneous Zuka.
Address: Rua Dias Ferreira, 233 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, 22431-050.
Phone: +55 21 3205-7154

Zaz Bistr: The famous chef Ludmila creates many original recipes, in
Ipanema, at this trendy, sexy and exotic place with great food.
Address: Rua Joana Angelica, 40. Ipanema - Rio de Janeiro Phone: (21)
2247-9101
http://www.zazabistro.com.br/zazabistrotropical

Because its huge coast, many Brazilian specialties are in seafood. They
are very rich in shrimp, lobster, calamari, shellfish, clam, mollusks and
many other tasty fishes. So, once in this land, don't miss the opportunity
to order those lovely dishes.

Azul Marinho: A great option of a well-known seafood restaurant
is Azul Marinho which is located below the building of Arpoador Inn, in
Arpoador, very close to Ipanema and has a beautiful view. However,
expect to pay at least R$100 per person, and set menus go about R$120
per person, excluding drinks.

Address: Av. Francisco Bhering, SN - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, 22080-
050.
Phone: +55 21 2513-5014

Via Sete: For sophisticated people who enjoy simple life, Via Sete is in
the heart of Ipanema, Leblon and downtown. This grill restaurant offers
a great bang for the buck where you can enjoy tasty wraps and
sandwiches. You can people-watch the Brazilian people from their
veranda.
Address: Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva, 1240, Leblon
Phone: (21) 2529.2253.

Address: Rua Garcia D'vila, 125, Ipanema
Phone: (21) 2512.8100.

Address: Rua Sete de Setembro, 43, Centro
Phone: (21) 2221.8020.

Felice: This is one of those great places you can just hang out all day and
all night; it has a great breakfast, a healthy lunch, varied gourmet ice-
cream flavors at the parlor, and a hip sunset after hour vibe. St. Tropez
inspired dinner menu with a fair cost benefit and a lounge crowd after
11PM.
Address: Rua Gomes Carneiro, 30 Ipanema.
http://www.felice.com.br

Travelers with fatter pockets may also splash out a bit at the Dias
Ferreira Street in Leblon, Rio's up-and-coming restaurant row.
There are many places to get pizza and lots of restaurants also offer
pasta.

Rio has open juice bars. Very often, these are located on street corners
and have long, curved bars offering you juices from pretty much every
fruit you can imagine.
The best option is a small chain of juice bars called "Big Bi'".

The juices are astounding value alongside their good selection of
salgados and sandwiches. Their aa is one of the best in terms of value
and taste and the staff are excellent. On top of all this, if you leave a tip,
you get a big "Obrigado" (Thank you) from all the staff. For the best Big
Bi's experience, try the Tangerina ao Limo juice along with the famous
Bauru sandwich for a total of a mere R$15.
Finish it all off with an aa to go. Perfect. Big Bi's has a few branches
dotted around Copacabana and Ipanema, one of which is on the corner of
Rua Santa Clara and Rua Barata Ribeiro in Copacabana. If you then cross
the road of Rua Barata Ribeiro, you will land at an exquisite ice cream
parlor.
You can find Big Bi at: Rua Teixeira de Melo, 53, Loja M,
Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro.
Address: Rua Siqueira Campos, 75 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Phone: +55 21 2236-2997.
Address: Rua Belford Roxo, 372 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Phone: +55 21 2295-1887.
Address: Rua Barata Ribeiro, 280 Copacabana - Rio de Janeiro
Phone: +55 21 2235-2385

There are many specialized "health food" shops that offer an incredible
variety of rich meat and vegetable sandwiches, plus an awesome variety
of fruit juices, many of them delicious and usually unknown by
foreigners. Among them are graviola, fruta do conde, jaca, aa, guaran,
pitomba, mango, coconut, orange, lemon, papaya, melon, etc. They make
it as you ask and all food is 100% organic and fresh.
The meal is often prepared as you wait, so you can ask them to mix
whatever fruit you want and create a customized mix if you like. You
must try aa and guaran, Amazon fruits that are famous to be the
strongest energizers and anti-oxidants of the world.
They also offer Brazilian snacks (including many Italian and Asian
delicacies), and other simple but delicious things to eat. I never got

enough of them! These shops usually are cheap and hang many fruits at
the entrance or somewhere visible to display their quality.
Warning: look for clean places, as hygiene can be poor in many
street shops.

Some different flavors
Coxinha
Rio is also famous for its pastries and street food, heritage from
Portuguese and old European culture. In most cafeterias (lanchonete;
lun-sho-NETCH) you can have a pastel (pahs-TELL) or salgado (saw-
GAH-do; local pastry) for less than R$3. Typical pastries
are coxinha (ko-SHEEN-ya; chicken nugget shaped like a chicken leg),
and unique Rios joelho (zho-EH-lyo; rolled dough filled with ham and
cheese). Also try po de queijo (pawn-deh-KAY-zho; cheese baked
dough), typical from Minas Gerais but very common in Rio as well,
and tapioca (typical from Bahia), a kind of crepe made out of yucca
starch flour.
Guaran
For a refreshing drink, ask for guaran (gwa-ra-NAH; soda made from
the seed of an Amazon fruit), also available as a strong
drink, mate (MAHTCH); sweet ice tea; not like Rio Grande do
Sul or Argentinas hot and sour mate, gua de coco (ah-gwa-djee-KOH-
ku; natural coconut water) or caldo de cana (caw-do-djee-KAH-na;
sugarcane juice).

Aa
There is also a common fruit called Aa (ah-sah-EEH), with a dark-
purple pulp out of which are made juices, and ice creams. Typical
cariocas eat it like cream in cups or glasses, mixed with granola, oats or
other flakes.
If your palate is homesick for more familiar tastes, Rio has most of the
fast-food chains found around the world (McDonalds, KFC, Dominos,
Outback, Subway, Pizza Hut and Burger King). Bobs and Habibs are the
biggest national fast food chains.
Many foods that in other countries are simply picked up in the hands and
eaten or are eaten with knife and fork (such as pizza), also are picked up
by wrapping a napkin around the food so that it is not touched with the
hands (such as sandwiches). You will undoubtedly notice napkin
dispensers on the tables in most restaurants for this purpose.

AFTER HOURS
Leaving a club or a bar, late in the night?
The best option is Cervantes in Prado Jnior Street, in Copacabana. It
closes only with the sun raising. The menu is composed by big
sandwiches, with whatever you want: ham, salami, cheese, tenderloin
and so on, with one home special ingredient: a big pineapple slice. Its a
tropical taste to the end of your night. Look out for the legendary
Penguin Waiter, who has been working there forever. You wont have
a problem figuring out who he is. They also have funny characters such
as Bonner and Penguins Son.

Address: Avenida Prado Jnior, 335 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro,
22011-040.
Phone: +55 21 2542-9287

Where to drink in Rio de Janeiro?
driving.
Bracarense Bar: Botequim (pronounced 'boo-chi-KEEN') also well
known as boteco - These quite unpretentious bars with simple
appetizers and lots of ice-cold chope (draft beer) are everywhere and are
almost inseparable from the carioca lifestyle. Try Bracarense, one of
the most traditional. Address: (85, Jos Linhares Street, Leblon)

Quiosque do Portugues Lagoon (Juice and Drinks Bar): Rio is a
place with a particular note for an often hot and muggy city are the
refreshing juice bars, found on nearly every corner in the city. Choose
from dozens of freshly squeezed fruit juices - mix two or three fruits
together or simply try the freshly squeezed orange juice. For a delicious
Brazilian special try the aa, a smoothie made from a deep purple fruit
from the Amazon. Try also the Caipirinha, a drink made of Aa, cachaa
(a Brazilian liquor made of sugarcane juice), lime, sugar and ice cubes.
The best drinks of Rio are at Quiosque do Portugues Lagoon.
Address: - Av. Borges de Medeiros - 1.424, Lagoa -Jardim Botnico - Rio
de Janeiro . Phone: (21) 8308-1373

The Kiosks along the boardwalk at Copacabana and Ipanema beach stay
open all night.
Devassa Bar: Well-crafted microbrews, a tropical take of English Ale
Styles. They have nine locations in Rio (and one in So Paulo), including
Leblon (Rua General San Martin 1241, 021-2540-6087) and
Jardim Botnico (Av. Lineu de Paula Machado, number 696, 021-2294-
2915).

Visit some neighborhoods

Lapa: A good bet for Thursdays; they have several bars and clubs, but
the real party is in the street. There you will find people dancing and
playing Samba, Choro (soft rhythm with flutes and mandolin), Reggae
and Hip Hop, as well as ballroom dancing (gafieira), but no Rock (except
for some underground, which doesn't happen often or in the same place,
but usually in some less known places of Lapa) or Pop music.
While drinks are sold in the bars and clubs, vendors also roam the
streets wearing coolers full of beer for even cheaper prices. It can also
be a very exciting and packed place on Friday and Saturday nights. Be
sure not to bring valuables, as there are a lot of pickpockets operating in
the area. Don't take it for the neighborhood with the same name
in So Paulo, which is totally different.

Samba clubs
Being in Rio and not going to one of the countless Samba music bars,
certainly you've missed a lot on your trip. In Lapa, the nightlife district
of Rio, there are many nice bars with great atmosphere where locals go
for dancing and meeting people.
There are a couple of them in the Zona Sul as well. Most of these bars
work with a kind of consumption card, which is handed to you when you
enter. Everything you consume is marked on this card, and losing it
means you'll have to pay a really high fee of sometimes more than
R$200.00! So take good care of it.

Clubbing
For those who like to go clubbing, Rio has some good options. You'll be
seeing lots of flyers and talk about "raves". Usually Rio's raves are
devoted to trance, which is pretty popular, especially with the upper-
class youngsters, though some electronic parties do have good disco and
live acts from around the world.
The night in Rio is pretty much divided between mainstream and
underground.
Mainstream would be such "raves" and big electronic festivals, as well a
night clubs like Bombar (Leblon and Barra da Tijuca), Baronetti
(Ipanema) and Melt (Leblon) that are devoted to pop, dance and
variations of house and trance. Those are not, however, places you go
for the music. They are usually packed with "patricinhas" (tanned, long
soft-haired girls with gym-built bodies) and specially "pitboys"
(upper/middle-class boys, known for having various degrees of martial
arts training and a certain tendency for violence).
Yes, fights are one of the major problems with the mainstream-clubbing
scene in Rio. It's also fairly expensive. You'd be expecting to pay
between R$30 and R$50 to get in a club (girls pay less, but all those clubs
will have an f/m proportion around 1/3) and between R$50 and R$100
for a "rave" or electronic music party being held at spots like the Marina.
Though with far less options, the underground clubbing scene is more
available and interesting than the mainstream.

Most of the underground clubs are on Zona Sul and offer different parties
for each day of the week. The underground club scene has a more
diverse public, from goths to punks also with strong hedonistic tints.
It's very gay-friendly and most of the parties and clubs have almost the
same m/f proportion. It is also far cheaper than the mainstream clubs,
with tickets starting as low as R$5 and not going further up than R$25.
Some good alternative clubs are Fosfobox (Copacabana), Dama de Ferro
(Ipanema) and Casa da Matriz (Botafogo).
For a real "carioca" experience, try Mariuzinn Copacabana. Brazilian
Funk and Electronic Music. It just finishes when the last dancer gives up.

Where sleep in Rio de Janeiro?
In the Zona Sul, you will find Rio's fanciest and most popular hotels along
the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, but there are lots of small,
cheap, clean hotels around Flamengo and Catete.
The street in front of the strip of tourist hotels in Copacabana can be
seedy, due to both garishly dressed tourists, and a few opportunistic
locals ready to take advantage of them. The apart-hotels in Ipanema are
a much more pleasant alternative, being both better appointed and in a
nicer neighborhood with fewer tourists.
Accommodation in the lower Centro can be convenient for business
travelers. The surrounding areas, however, are far from pleasant at
night, being nearly deserted and lacking decent restaurants and leisure
options.
The central Santa Teresa neighborhood, however, is quite departed
from the city center life and has plenty of pleasant bed and breakfasts
and a significant nightlife.
Given Rio's rise as a fashionable destination with creative and fashion
people, some hotels that cater to the design-conscious crowd have also
been popping up at the most upscale neighborhoods.
The city also has a large selection of apart-hotels, which provide
apartment-style accommodations with kitchen facilities. Private
condominium apartments can also be rented short-term at reasonable
rates, and can be found on the Internet.

This is probably a preferable means of finding one of these than the
notes that will be passed to you by anonymous persons on the street.
These apartments generally have a one-week minimum, or two weeks
during the World Cup.
Accommodation in Rio is probably Brazil's most expensive. There is a
relative shortage of hotel rooms on the cheaper range and booking in
advance is recommended. Moreover, prices for most accommodation can
more than triple during New Year's, Carnival and World Cup.
Those are very busy periods and booking well in advance is
recommended. Note that most hotels in tourist areas will only sell 4-day
packages and charge in advance - even if you want to stay only for a
couple of days during those events.
Motels: These are mainly on the outskirts of the city, and are not motels
in the North American sense. Rather, they are places you go with your
lover for a few hours. One famous motel, overlooking the Sheraton in
Leblon, was taken over by the US Secret Service when George Bush
stayed at the Sheraton. It is not recorded whether heart-shaped beds,
mirrors on the ceiling and on-tap porno movies affected their work!
If hostel life is more your style, they are easy to find in Rio. The more
expensive ones boast locations that are within short walking distance to
either Ipanema or Copacabana beach. However if you prefer to stay in
Lapa, Glria, Catete, Flamengo and Botafogo, there are many other
choices available.
Hostelling has become increasingly popular in Brazil, and many of them
are located at walking distance from hot spots. Beware, however, not to
be taken to any fraudulent scheme - you might end up being robbed.
Look for accredited places with Youth Hostelling International and
similar franchises.
Oasis Collections: A portfolio of 70+ handpicked homes and apartments
that include concierge service and full guest support. Recently awarded
the Top Villa Provider by Cond Nast Traveler.
Address: Rua Prudente de Morais, 302 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - RJ,
22420-040.
Phone: +55 11 3042 9086;
ask_us@oasiscollections.com

Rio Copacabana Apartments: They have 10 modern apartments in the
same building, just by Copacabana beach. The apartments are for 2 - 8
people each and perfectly equipped. If you prefer a cheaper option for a
prime location, you can try to stay at an apartment with all the comfort
and space as a 3 or 4 stars hotel.
Address: Rua Xavier da Silveira 15 Rio de Janeiro CEP 22061-010;
info@rio-ac.com.

Be healthy

Rio is vulnerable to epidemics of dengue fever, particularly during the
late summer months of February and March. Dengue can result in a
serious illness. A specific type of mosquito that often bites unprotected
ankles, hands and parts of the face during the evening hours spreads it.
If an epidemic occurs, be sure to take the appropriate precautions by
using insect repellant and, if you happen to be staying at a place with a
balcony, make sure there is no standing water around.
Here is a list of medical clinics and hospitals in Rio de Janeiro that accept
international travelers health insurance:
The Tourist Doctor - Av. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana 605/406,
Copacabana, tel: 3596-1222. http://www.thetouristdoctor.com
Galdino Campos Clinic - Av. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana 492,
Copacabana, tel: 2548-9966. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. All
specialties. Accepts most traveler's insurance or health plans.
Home-care visit at hotels and hostels also available.

Be Safe

It is important to note that while the following information may panic
you and also make you question whether to go or not to Rio, most
visitors to the city have a great time with no incidents.
As a traveler, even if you don't leave the "Zona Sul" (which include
Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Gvea, Jardim Botnico, Flamengo,
Laranjeiras, Botafogo, Urca) or Western Suburbs (Barra, Recreio), you
may experience a palpable tension over security.
Generally, tourists (gringos) and teenagers are considered "easy" targets
for criminals.
This has also affected day-to-day living. For example, regular banks all
have fortress style security doors and armed security men. Rio can be a
dangerous city and it is wise to follow these rules even if they seem over
exaggerated.
In order to fully enjoy your trip the traveler should pay attention to
simple things. Avoid the downtown area, especially Saara, after dark.
Although downtown is a relatively safe place during the day, after-dark
all the people who work there have already gone home.
If you are going to a theater, a show, or soccer game its all right; but do
not wander in those dark streets by night. Go to Ipanema beach, all
lighted and policed during the night, though even there is not entirely
safe for tourists who look obviously like tourists.
Sunday is a particular day since most shops are closed and their security
guards are absent so the neighborhood Centro is not safe in the daytime.
Also, even the bigger streets in Copacabana are less safe after dark so the
beach walk is probably the best option.
Should you find yourself being mugged, the normal advice applies:
Don't resist or do anything to aggravate the muggers. Try not to stare
in their faces as they might think you are memorizing their appearance.
Keeping your eyes to the ground is probably your best bet.
Let them take anything they want (keep your arms limp). Afterwards,
leave the scene quickly but calmly (don't run in panic screaming for the
police).

In the morning, especially before the police arrive, if you are walking or
jogging on, Copacabana should be considered unsafe. Even with people
around, joggers are popular targets for mugging. If you plan on jogging
make sure not to wear anything that may tempt a mugger (watch, iPod
etc) and if you can, wait until after 10:00 AM.
When in downtown during the rush hour, be aware of pickpockets as in
any other big city center.
The difference in Rio is that the pickpocket can often be a bit violent: one
of them pushing you forward in the bus or to the ground in the street
while another one takes your wallet and runs away.
It's not that usual or as bad as it sounds, but try to avoid being in real
danger by reacting strongly as these guys often operate in armed groups
(2-15 people), some unnoticed by you.

In the area around Copacabana beach (and maybe in the city center), the
tourist should be aware of a shoe shining scam. The tourist will be
approached by a shoe shiner and to his astonishment discover a large,
dirty blot on his shoes (which is actually shoe polish or mustard but
looks like quite something else).
The tourist is typically shown to a chair and has his shoes or sandals
cleaned in the best manner. Only after this service is rendered, the
outrageous price of somewhere around R$1000 or more is revealed. At
this point, muscular friends of the shoe shiner typically appear to
"oversee" the completion of the transaction.
The subway is fairly safe, so it is recommended to use it if you want to go
from one place to another. Although you may be used to taking the handy
and good trains in Europe or even in North America to go across many
places, you won't need to take a train in Rio.
If you do, it can be a fairly nice trip to the suburbs or a chaotic journey to
a bad neighborhood in a train where people sell all kinds of weird stuff,
where everyone will look at you like you are an alien, and about to be
mugged.
Buses on the South Zone are fairly safe as well, but, in the city center,
they can be quite crowded. Inside a bus, being mugged is always a threat:
less so but still possible in the South and tourist zones. Always
remember that Bus 174 movie.
It happens so often that they don't even go to the news (only homicides
or big cases where the police got involved such as this Bus 174 go to the
news). In the subway, it is quite unlikely though, which is one extra point
to the subway!
Don't walk around with lots of money in your pocket. ATM's are
everywhere (prefer the ones inside shopping centers) and credit/debit
cards are widely accepted. But don't walk around without any money:
you may need something to give to the bad guys in case you are mugged.
Not having money to give a mugger can be dangerous as they may get
angry and resort to violence.
An excellent idea is to buy a "capanga" (literally meaning bodyguard),
that is, a small frontal unisex pouch, normally used to carry your wallet,
checks, money and car keys.

Avoid wearing jewelry or other signs of wealth (iPods, fancy cell
phones/mobiles, digital cameras, etc.) if possible, at any time of the day,
as these attract attention. Thieves have been known to run past targets
and tear off necklaces, rings, and earrings without stopping. Earrings are
particularly dangerous as tearing them off often harms the owner.
There are around 700 favelas in the city and most of them can potentially
be unsafe in Rio: and there is always one near you (by a couple of miles
or just a few yards). These are easily recognized by their expansive brick
walls, and are often on a hillside.
The slums grew from being impoverished neighborhoods but are now
large areas ruled by drug lords. If you want to keep your nice vision of
Rio, you don't need to go there.
However, some favelas are amazingly huge, and a new experience for
some: there are some travel agencies who take people on tours there. If
you want to go, pay one of those agencies.
NEVER go to a favela by yourself, or with an unknown guide. The tour
operators have "safe-conduct pacts" with the local drug dealers. If you
don't have one, you'll be in BIG trouble.
You'll most likely be approached by the drug baron's guards and asked
what you are doing there (and these guys typically don't speak English).
If you don't have a good reason (and you probably don't), the
consequences could be dire.
Don't count on the police to help you, as they don't like to enter the
favela either, except in special circumstances, though most likely they
will check if you are carrying any drugs upon leaving the favela.
In Brazil, every state has two police forces: the Civil (Polcia Civil) and
Military (Polcia Militar). Only the latter wear uniform (in Rio, it is navy
blue). The city of Rio also has an unarmed Civil Guard, dressed in khaki.
Policemen can usually be trusted, but corruption in Brazil is still rampant
and a few officers may try to extort you or demanding a little bribe.
If it happens, it is usually very subtle. The officer may typically say
something about "some for the beer" (cervejinha). If you are not willing,
refuse and ask for another officer. Don't ever try to bribe a policeman on
your own - most of them are honest and you might end up in jail.
The local emergency dial number is 190.

At night, especially after traffic has died down, you may hear what
sounds like fireworks and explosions. This is not as menacing as it
sounds, though it is still indicative of somebody up to no good. These are
often firecrackers set-off as signals in the favelas. It might mean that a
drug shipment has arrived and is in-transit or that the police are making
a raid into the favela.
It is a signal to gang operatives who act as lookouts and surrogate police
to be extra-vigilant. However, real shoot-outs may occur, especially on
weekends. If you are on the street and you hear a shooting, find shelter
in the nearest shop or restaurant.
For your safety, cross at the crosswalks, not closer to the corner, and
watch for cars regardless of traffic lights.
Carjacking can be a threat too, especially if you are outside the tourist
areas and after dark. It is perfectly acceptable (even if not exactly legal)
not to stop in the traffic lights if there is nobody else on the street and
you feel it's okay to go (if there are no other cars).
You will see even police doing this. Some major motorways such as Linha
Amarela (Yellow Line: connects the west area (Barra da Tijuca) to the
north zone - may be your way to Norte Shopping for example) and Linha
Vermelha (Red Line - the main connection from the International
Airport) should be strongly avoided late at night.
Both motorways are surrounded by favelas so carjacking is usual and
shoot-outs may occur between rival drug lords or between drug lords
and the police. If you rent a car, be aware of all these issues.
As a tourist, it may be better not to rent a car anyway. If you get lost and
go to a bad neighborhood (and again, there will always be one near you),
you will most likely be in trouble.
If you want to go to a traditional escola de samba (samba
school), Mangueira is a good place. This is close to a favela, so you
should go with a guide accordingly. If you have a trustworthy Brazilian
friend that can take you, that's excellent.
Yet exercise great caution if you go by yourself especially if two of the
local Rio teams are playing (Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, and
Vasco).
These matches can be very exciting but also very dangerous especially if
between Flamengo and Botafogo or Vasco. If it looks like the team for

which the fans around you are cheering is losing, it is wise to leave the
stadium before the match ends. You don't want to be in the middle of a
very angry bunch of football fans when they all cram out of the stadium.
Useful tips
The Rio Times is the only English language news publication dedicated
to the English speaking foreign community living and traveling in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil. They have been publishing weekly online since March
2009, covering Rio Politics, Business, Real Estate, Sports, Entertainment,
Travel, as well as offer Classifieds and a daily Rio Nightlife Guide.
http://riotimesonline.com/
Lavamaq's, Praia do Flamengo, 118 - Flamengo (two blocks south of
Metro Catete), 21 2557-5965. Self-service laundry, R$25 wash and dry
(Price as of October 2013).

Consulates
Australia, Avenida Presidente Wilson, 231, Centro, 23rd Floor, +55
21 3824-4624 (fax: +55 21 2262-4247).
Canada, Av. Atlantica 1130, 13th Floor, Copacabana, +55 21 2543-
3004 (rio@international.gc.ca, fax: +55 21 3444-0319).
Egypt, Rua Muniz Barreto 741, Botafogo, +55 21 2543-
3004 (fax: +55 21 3444-0319).
France, Avenida Presidente Antonio Carlos 58, +55 21 3974-
6699 (fax: +55 21 3974-6864).
Germany, Rua Presidente Carlos de Campos, 417, Laranjeiras, +55
21 2554-0004 (dtgkrio.ntg@terra.com.br, fax: +55 21 2553-0184).
Japan, Praia do Flamengo, 200 - 10 Andar Flamengo, +55 21 3461-
9595 (fax: +55 21 3235-2241).

Netherlands, Edifcio Leblon Empresarial, Av. Ataulfo de Paiva 204
6th fl, Leblon, +55 21 2157 5400 (rio@minbuza.nl, fax: +55 21 2157
5454). Mon - Thur 9 - 12 hours.
Norway, Rua Lauro Mller 116, Sala 2206, Torre Rio Sul
Botafogo, +55 21 2586-7500 (cg.riodejaneiro@mfa.no).
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Praia do
Flamengo 284/2 Andar, +55 21 2555-
9600 (bcg.rj@fco.gov.uk, fax: +55 21 2555-9670).
United States of America: Avenida Presidente Wilson, 147,
Centro, +55 21 3823-2000 (+55 21 3823-2029, acsrio@state.gov).

Police 190
Fire Department 193

Copacabana Tourist Information Centers:
Address: Avenida Princesa Isabel, 183
Hours: Opening hours: 9 a.m. 6 p.m., weekdays (except holidays)
Address: On the Copacabana beach promenade, in front of Rua Hilrio
de Gouveia (Hilario de Gouveia Street)
Hours: Opening hours: 8 a.m. 8 p.m., every day
Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) Information Board:
Address: Avenida Vinte de Janeiro, s/n Galeao (in both terminal 1 and
terminal 2)
Hours: Opening hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day
(the international airport is open 24 hours)
Rio de Janeiro Intercity Bus Terminal Information Center:
Address: Avenida Francisco Bicalho, 1 Santo Cristo
Hours: Opening hours: 8 a.m. 8 p.m., every day
(the bus terminal is open 24 hours)
Rio de Janeiro/Galeo - Antnio Carlos Jobim International Airport:

Address: Avenida Vinte de Janeiro, s/n - Galeo, Ilha do Governador,
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 21941-570
Phone: +55 21 3398-5050

Downtown (Centro) Information Board (headquarter):
Address: Praa Pio X, 119 Trreo Centro
Hours: Opening hours: 9 a.m. 6 p.m, weekdays (except holidays)
Note: There are no tourist information offices in Ipanema, Leme, Leblon,
Botafogo, Catete, Flamengo, Glria, Santa Teresa, or Barra da Tijuca.
Rio de Janeiro Tourist Police (Delegacia Especial de Apoio ao
Turista - DEAT): is prepared to support travelers in several languages -
English, French, German and Italian.
Tourist Police Address & Contact Information:
Address: Rua Afrnio de Melo Franco, s/n (no number)
Corner of Rua Afrnio de Melo Franco and Rua Humberto de Campos
Phones: 55-21-3399-7170 / 3399-7173/ 2511-5112
Fax: 55-11-3399-7179
E-mail: delegaciaespecializada@gmail.com / deat@pcerj.rj.gov.br

Beautiful places around Rio de Janeiro
Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: Angra is surrounded by 365 islands,
the largest being Ilha Grande, a pretty island and former penal colony
with beautiful beaches and good hiking. Angra is 2-3 hours from Rio by
car and it is a one-hour boat ride from there to Ilha Grande.

Arraial do Cabo: A small town near Bzios. Its beaches have the most
beautiful turquoise waters of Rio de Janeiro state. Beaches like Forno
and Prainhas do Atalaia are surrounded by virgin lush green coastal
vegetation and have clear blue waters similar to the Caribbean ones.

Bzios is a small peninsula about three hours east of Rio. It has several
beaches, lots of places to stay and an abundance of night clubs.

Niteri: Visit Icarai Beach (photo). The ferry between Rio and Niteroi, a
city across the bay, is a pleasant and cheap trip (as of October 2010, R$
2.80).

There are a couple of kinds of boats, ranging from very cheap and slow
(called barca) to fairly cheap and fast (called catamar, catamaran).
Niteroi does not have many tourist attractions, but it does have a
wonderful unique view of Rio, an intriguing Contemporary Art Museum,
which looks like a flying saucer jutting out over the sea, and the
Niemeyer way - a park with several buildings including a theater .All
designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer.
Many of the state's most beautiful beaches can be reached from this side
of the bay: Itacoatiara bus number 38 or 770D, Camboinhas and
Pratinininga 39.
Paraty: One hour south of Angra, this is a fully-conserved 18th-century
colonial town by the ocean, hidden by tall jungle-covered mountains

which used to be a hideout for pirates after the Portuguese ships; a must-
see for people interested in History and Culture; also good for Rainforest
hiking and kayaking.

Paquet: Though not exactly outside of Rio, because it is an island and
can only be reached by a 70 minutes ferry ride, this district of Rio makes
an excellent (and inexpensive) day trip. The island is a car-free zone, so
travel is limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages. There's not a lot
to do on this island, but the ferry ride is worth it.
Petrpolis: On the mountains outside of Rio. This is a good place to visit
and cool down when Rio becomes too warm.

Praia do Abric: The best public naturist beach around Rio, located in
Grumari, right after Prainha. Facilities and telephone service are quite
limited, so plan ahead.
Terespolis: Another mountain town, near of Petrpolis.

Serra dos rgos: National park in the mountains, at west of Rio.

Maracan Stadium

The Estdio do Maracan (In Brazilian Portuguese: [estadju du
maakn ], local pronunciation: [itadu du makn ]), aka Estdio
Jornalista Mrio Filho is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It was opened in 1950, and was used in the World Cup that year. Since
then, the Maracana was the scene of great moments of Brazilian and
world football, as the thousandth goal of Pel during the Brazilian
Football Championship, international competitions and matches the
Brazilian national team.

However, this stadium was also gaining a multipurpose character to
receive other events such as concerts and playing other sports like
Volleyball.

Beside it another stadium was built, known as Maracanzinho. The
Maracanzinho was inaugurated in 1954 in the Maracan Complex with
a capacity to accommodate 13,613 people and a multipurpose court for
volleyball, basketball, handball and futsal.

It was one of the venues of the Pan American Games in 2007, receiving
the football, and the opening and closing ceremonies. The current
capacity of the stadium is 78,838 spectators after renovation for the
World Cup 2014.

Address: Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, Maracan, Rio de Janeiro RJ
Zip Code: 20271-150, Brazil
Phone: +55 21 8871-3950
Schedule:
06/15 - Argentina vs Bosnia -7 PM
06/18 - Spain vs Chile - 4 PM
06/22 - Belgium vs Russia - 1 PM
06/25 - Ecuador vs France - 5 PM
06/28 - the 8
th
(1 C vs 2 D) - 5 PM
07/04 - the 4
th
(W 53 vs W 54) - 1 PM
07/13 Final (W61 vs W 62) - 4PM

WELCOME TO SALVADOR

Salvador is the capital of Bahia, founded in 1549 was the capital in the
heyday of the slave trade.
The legacy remains today in its large black population, and the resulting
culture in many ways outshines the rest of Brazil; in music, many of the
greatest names from the mid-20th century to the present hail from
Salvador, such as Dorival Caymmi, Gilberto Gil, and Caetano Veloso. In
literature, the late Jorge Amado was also from the region. It's a vibrant,
exciting city, and its people are quite friendly.
The weather is nice during June and July (21- 26 Celsius Degrees or 70-
79 F).
Salvador is on a peninsula on the northeast coast of Brazil which shields
the large Baa de Todos os Santos ("All Saints Bay") from the Atlantic
Ocean.
The city is the third largest in Brazil, sprawling for dozens of kilometers
inland from the coast. Most visitors head for the coastal neighborhoods
that cluster around where the bay meets the ocean. Salvador has a
tropical climate including rainforests and lush vegetation.

A 100m cliff runs along the entire bayshore, dividing the city into Cidade
Alta, up on the cliff, and the Cidade Baixa down by the bay. The former
features Pelourinho, the old city center that packs historical sites,
colonial architecture, museums, restaurants, bars, hostels, artisanal
shops, and music/dance/capoeira academies into a convenient, albeit
tourist-swarmed, set of winding cobblestone streets. The latter features
a commercial center with lots of bus traffic coming in from all over
Salvador.
Outside of this area, there are many beach districts that stretch from the
tip of the peninsula northeast along the Atlantic coast.
The Barra neighborhood at the tip of the peninsula is the main
alternative jumping-off point to Pelourinho, and a little further to the
northeast are the hip neighborhoods of Rio Vermelho and Amaralina,
which feature a nightlife less geared to the foreign tourism industry.
A decent bus ride beyond these is the neighborhood of Itapu, which has
beautiful and alluring beach. Northward from there are kilometers and
kilometers of gorgeous beaches, all accessible by bus.
The bayshore coast north beyond Pelourinho features a more tranquil
atmosphere and a locally patronized, though less scenic, beach life. The
interior of Salvador is where the "new city" has developed, full of
residential neighborhoods, shopping megaplexes, and knotted highways,
all of which can be quite alienating without actually having a friend to
show you around.
Local residents enjoy sharing their exotic dancing and music skills with
tourists. Residents are also considered some of the friendliest people on
the planet. Tourists are welcomed with open and friendly arms by the
majority of local residents.
To know more about Salvador, check the site in English:
http://bahia.com.br/en

People
People of Salvador, as other people from the state of Bahia, have a
reputation of being relaxed, easygoing, and fun loving, even by Brazilian
standards.

On the bad side, this is also interpreted as laziness and disgust of
working; in a way, the people of Salvador have a reputation opposite to
people from So Paulo. It's questionable whether this reputation is true,
as the behavior of pedestrians and drivers in traffic seems to contradict
this.
Regardless, few soteropolitanos seem to bother with this reputation,
even the bad part of it, and some even make fun of their own supposed
laziness. Also, most people in Brazil agree that soteropolitanos are
generally friendly and warm people.
Brazil is a country of social inequality, but in few places is this is as
evident as in Salvador. The social segregation is also evident, with large
number of upper middle class and upper class citizens living in gated
communities, which contrast with the huge slum-like neighborhoods
located on elevated areas.

How get to Salvador

By plane:
The Salvador's Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhes International
Airport (IATA: SSA, ICAO: SBSV) is one of Brazil's main airports. All of
the biggest Brazilian airlines have flights to the Bahian capital city. The
city also receives flights from the main hubs of Europe, South America
and the United States.
Scheduled Airlines:
TAM (All Brazil, Paris, Miami and Buenos Aires).
Gol (All Brazil and Montevideo).
Avianca (All Brazil).
TRIP (Vitria da Conquista, Vitria, Natal, Rio de Janeiro, Belo
Horizonte, Fernando de Noronha and Campinas).
Azul Linhas Areas (Campinas and Porto Alegre).
Web Jet (Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, So
Paulo, Macei, Belo Horizonte, Braslia and Recife).
Passaredo (Vitria da Conquista, Barreiras, Braslia and Ribeiro
Preto).

Abaet (Bom Jesus da Lapa, Guanambi and Barreiras).
TAP (Lisbon).
American Airlines (Miami).
Condor (Frankfurt).
Livingston (Milan).
Iberia by Iberworld (Madrid).
The airport is 28km from the city center (via the Paralela expressway) or
32km (via the seaside).
By Taxi:
Two kinds of taxis are available in the airport, the executive taxis and the
normal taxis.
Executive taxis are prepaid and they have a table of prices rather than a
meter. The other taxi option would be the normal taxis, which are
metered.
By Bus:
Another option is the executive air-conditioned minibuses which depart
every 20 minutes to the Praa da S, in downtown near Pelourinho via
the seaside, stopping at famous beaches like Ondina, Pituba, Amaralina
and Itapu, and Barra as well as stopping by Shopping Barra - an
American-style shopping mall located not too far from the Farol da
Barra. The fare for these buses is R$5 (Price as of December 2013).
There are also urban buses that go to many parts of the city, such as
Lapa, Campo Grande and So Joaquim. It is best to ask the driver before
taking an urban bus; the fare is R$2.80 (Price as of December 2013).
Linha Verde executive buses go to Praia do Forte and depart often from
the airport.
Salvador's long-distance bus station is in the middle of the new city,
14km from downtown. Salvador is accessible via scheduled buses from
all around the country and from Paraguay.
Executive buses in the Iguatemi Station can be accessed from the
Iguatemi Mall by way of a busy walkway. Bus travel in and out of
Salvador can take a lot more time than expected. Count on an average
speed of 50-60 km/h when planning your itinerary.

By boat:
Salvador is a common stop on international cruise routes and was once
visited by the Rainha Elizabeth II during her sailing career.
Note that the dock areas can be dangerous. This area is linked to the
Pelourinho historic centre by the Elevador Lacerda, and to the city by
urban buses and executive buses to Iguatemi.

Getting Around in Salvador
By Foot:
There are a number of transportation options available in Salvador,
including taxis, buses and car rentals. The bus fares are quite affordable,
although the taxi fares can be quite expensive if one is traveling a long
distance.

The Lacerda Elevator (Elevador Lacerda).
The old city center can be easily explored on foot. To get between the
upper and lower sections, take the Elevador Lacerda or the cable car.
Also remember to take small change as the fare is just R$0.15. The
streets between the two are considered dangerous even during the day.

By bus:
City buses, as in other Brazilian cities, are constant and confusing. Fares
are normally R$2.80 (Price as of December 2013), also for buses into the
neighboring city of Lauro de Freitas. There is also the option of the air-
conditioned executive buses for R$3. Remember to board in the back for
the full-sized buses.
Know your landmarks and neighborhood names. Any large shopping
area will have a complimentary frequented bus stop, and the major
intercity terminal, Lapa, is next to Shopping Lapa.
Other major bus terminals include: Estao Iguatemi (between the
Rodoviaria and Shopping Iguatemi), and Estao Mussurunga (located
on the Paralela with buses usually connecting to Praia do Flamengo
interior neighborhoods in Salvador).
If you are trying to make your way out of Pelourinho, you can either take
the Elevador Lacerda down to the Comercio and find buses for just about
every route, or walk to the Praca da S bus stop just south of the
elevator, which has a much smaller selection of buses passing through,
and many options of executive buses.
Buses are safe to ride at night, as long as you are on a frequented (i.e.
coastal) route and dress/act inconspicuously. Service stops at midnight
and begins again around 4:30-5 AM. There are a limited number of lines
that provide night service from midnight-4 AM.
You can find more about the Salvador bus routes and time tables one the
website for the Superintendncia de Transporte Pblico (in Portuguese
only).

By taxi:
Salvador cab drivers must be competing with those in Rio for spots on
Formula 1 racing teams.
They will certainly get you where you're going quicker than the bus!
However, as buses stop running after midnight, do be prepared
to haggle quite a bit with taxi drivers who refuse to use the meter,
especially if you've decided to explore far from your bed - as a general
rule very few taxi drivers will use the meter, so haggling is common on
most journeys.

Executive taxis (white and blue) don't have meters, and the prices are on
a table, it's more expensive than city taxis, but they are much more
comfortable, they are in stops in the main shopping malls, the airport,
bus station, ferry-boat station and big hotels.
Most of the executive taxis don't have a very good online presence and
often English-speaking staff is hard to come by.
Salvador Airport Transfer has a website that allows prebooking prior to
arrival in Salvador, and claims to have English speaking staff, should you
need to give them a call.
By car:
Renting a basic car with air conditioning (100+ kilometers or km free)
costs R$ 110-140 per day, plus fuel. It's not hard to find your way across
Salvador avenues, but although people from Bahia have a reputation of
being relaxed and easygoing, traffic is aggressive (somewhat like Rio de
Janeiro), and you will frequently see drivers attempting dangerous
overtakes on you. Pedestrians are also careless and unexpectedly run to
cross roads and streets.
If you are not used to this type of traffic, consider asking for a private
driver, which is possible at many car rental agencies. Renting a car may
be a good idea if you plan to visit the beaches from the northern part of
Bahia, with more time flexibility than allowed by travel agencies.
By bicycle:
Cycling is not really a good option to get around in Salvador, as there
aren't enough cycleways and parking for bicycles, and many drivers
don't show any respect or caution for cyclists.
An exception is the cycleway in the east coast of Salvador, which has 12.5
km and goes from Amaralina to Piat beaches. Be aware that as the
cycleway is not very used, a lot of pedestrians use it for walking.

Explore Salvador
Architecture: At the center of the Cidade Alta there are the 2 large
squares Praa da S and the Terreiro de Jesus which are connected at the
corner by the cathedral. The latter is probably the most live part of
town, with food carts and stalls through the day and revelers in the

evening hours. The slick, L-shaped Praa da S has cool fountains and the
fenced-off ruins of the foundations of its namesake church.
At the far end of the plaza, the 1874 funicular railway Plano Inclinado
Gonalves used to send 30-passenger cars between Cidade Alta and
Cidade Baixa on terrifyingly steep tracks it's been out of service since
2011, though plans to restore the train are in the works.
At the center of the Cidade Alta there are the 2 large squares Praa da
S and the Terreiro de Jesus which are connected at the corner by the
cathedral.
Praa da S: The slick, L-shaped Praa da S has cool fountains and the
fenced-off ruins of the foundations of its namesake church. At the far
end of the plaza, the 1874 funicular railway Plano Inclinado Gonalves
used to send 30-passenger cars between Cidade Alta and Cidade Baixa
on terrifyingly steep tracks it's been out of service since 2011, though
plans to restore the train and it will start to work till June, 2014.
Cruzeiro de So Francisco: A colorful intersection of vendors, tourists,
capoeiristas and colorful locals, the Terreiro de Jesus is a historic site of
religious celebrations, and is ringed by four churches, as well as the XIX
century Faculdade de Medicina Building . The plaza feeds into the
Cruzeiro de So Francisco, named for the cross in the squares center.
Praa Municipal (City Square) or Praa Tom de Souza: Once the
political seat of colonial Brazil, it is now a lively place to people-watch
and see panoramic views over the bay. Overlooking the plaza, note the
impressive Palcio Rio Branco, reconstructed in 1919; the original 1549
structure housed the offices of Tom de Souza, Brazils first governor
general.

Largo do Pelourinho (Pelourinho Neigborhood): A fairly small
triangular plaza, is among the oldest parts of town. You can guess from
its name meaning "plaza of the pillory" what went on around there.
Pelourinho
Mercado Modelo: The main city's market located in the lower town is
and a good place for crafts and other souvenirs. In the adjacent square
you can often see young men performing capoeira, the famous martial
arts dance which originates from the area.

Mercado Modelo
Address: Praa Visconde de Cair- Cidade Baixa.
Solar do Unho: The best place in Salvador to watch the sunset. It is an
old style house located at the Baa de Todos os Santos. Inside there is a
small museum (Museu de Arte Moderna) with local art pieces.
Sometimes on Saturday evening there is a jazz concert.

Location: Avenida do Contorno
Forte de Santo Antnio da Barra (Farol da Barra for the
lighthouse): This is Bahias oldest fort, which was built in 1698. In
addition to having superb views, the fort houses an excellent nautical
museum, with relics and displays from the days of Portuguese seafaring.

As you catch the sunset here from the grassy ledge behind the fort or
from the museums gorgeous terrace caf realize that Salvadors
peninsula is the only location in Brazil where the sun appears to set over
the ocean.
Location: Largo do Farol da Barra - Barra BA, Brasil.
Phone: +55 71 3264-3296.

Elevador Lacerda: The beautifully restored, art deco Elevador Lacerda
connects the Cidade Alta with Comrcio via 4 elevators traveling 72 m in
about 30 sec. Price: R$15 (Price as of January 2014).
The Jesuits installed the 1st manual rope-and-pulley elevator around
1610 to transport goods and passengers from the port to the settlement.
In 1868 an iron structure with clanking steam elevators was
inaugurated, replaced by an electric system in 1928. Facing the elevator
are the impressive arches of the Cmara Municipal, the XVII century city
hall, which occasionally puts on cultural exhibitions.

Address: Rua da Conceio da Praia, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil (near the
Comrcio). Phone: +55 71 3103-3103. 7am-11pm, extended hours
summer weekends & Carnaval.

Religious sites
Convento de Igreja de So Francisco: It is a very important colonial
monument in Brazil. The current church was built from 1708-1723, but
several artists decorated the interior during a great part of the XVIII
century. Most decoration of the church and convent were finished by
1755.
All surfaces inside - walls, pillars, vaults and ceilings - are covered by
golden sculptured gilt woodwork and paintings. The decoration of the
church is considered one of the most complete and imposing in
Portuguese-Brazilian Baroque gilt woodwork art (talha dourada), being
a perfect example of the "golden church" (igreja dourada).
Address: At Praa Anchieta (Terreiro de Jesus) Downtown.
Phone: (71) 3322-6430

Igreja do Nosso Senhor do Bonfim: A small church located in a
neighborhood to the north, is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in
all of Brazil. The colorful votive ribbons or fitas of Bonfim are an easily
recognizable item throughout Brazil and even beyond.
Children outside the church will (for a small fee) tie them around your
wrist and tell you to make a wish for each one. If the ribbon wears off
naturally, the wish will come true; if you cut it off before then, it won't.
You can get to Bonfim by city bus in about 15 minutes.
Address: At Praa Senhor do Bonfim, s/n - Bonfim, Salvador- 40425-
360.
Phone: (71) 3316-2196

Igreja Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
Igreja da Ordem Terceira de So Francisco (The Church of the
Third Order of St. Francis): It is a Catholic church nominated for the
election of the 7 Wonders of Brazil.
The facade was covered with mortar in the late XVIII century and only in
the early twentieth century, during service to the electric grid, was its
underlying decor rediscovered. It wasnt seen until a workman installing
wiring in the 1930s serendipitously discovered the beautiful, baroque
sandstone facade (the only one of its kind in Brazil). Gabriel Ribeiro
designed the church. Franco Velasco painted the ceiling with frescos in
1831. R$ 5 (Price as of October 2013).
Address: Rua So Francisco, Salvador. 8am-5pm.

Museums
Museu da Cidade (Citys Museum): Rather like the city itself, Museu
da Cidade contains an eclectic assortment of the old and the modern, the
sacred and the profane. Exhibits include Candombl orix costumes, the
personal effects of the poet Castro Alves (author of Nvio Negreiro, or
Slave Ship, and one of the first public figures to protest slavery), and
traditional rag dolls enacting quotidian colonial life, as well as paintings
and sculptures. R$ 5.
Address: Largo do Pelourinho, 3 - Pelourinho, Salvador - BA, 40026-280.
Phone: +55 3321 1967.
Hours: 9am-6pm Mon & Wed-Fri, 1-5pm. Closed during weekends.

Museu da Misericrdia: The Museu da Misericrdia is housed in a
marvelous 17th-century edifice, this one serving as Brazils first hospital.
Visits here include a guided tour (in Portuguese) that allows a glimpse of
fine period furnishings, portraits and assorted finery dating back four
centuries. Youll also see the attached Igreja da Misericrdia, with its
azulejos and a sacristy featuring impressive 18th-century
woodwork. R$5 (Price as of October 2013).
Address: Rua da Misericrdia, 6 - Praa da S, Salvador - 40026-045
Hours: Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 1-5pm Sun.

Museu Afro-Brasileiro: A museum that documents the slave trade and
subsequent development of the city. R$ 6. (Price as of October 2013).
Address: Museu Afro-Brasileiro -Largo do Terreiro de Jesus s/n, Prdio
da Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, 40026-010 Centro Histrico
Salvador,
Phone: +55 71 3321-2013
Email: mafro@ufba.br
Hours: Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm.

Museu de Arte da Bahia (Art Museum of Bahia): Set in an attractive
neocolonial building, the Museu de Arte da Bahia showcases works from
Bahian artists, with paintings by Jos Tefilo de Jesus (17581817) and
drawings by Argentine artist Caryb. R$15(Price as of October 2013).
Address: Avenida Sete de Setembro, 2340 Vitria- Salvador.
Phone: 55 71 3117-6902
Hours: Open 1-7pm Tue-Fri, 2-7pm Sat & Sun.

Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia (Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology): Below the Museu Afro-Brasileiro, the Museu de Arqueologia e
Etnologia exhibits indigenous Brazilian pottery, bows and arrows, masks
and feather headpieces.

Also tucked between the buildings arching stone foundations is 9th-
century glass and porcelain found during the excavations for the
metro. R$6.

Address: Praa 15 de Novembro, s/n - Terreiro de Jesus- Pelourinho,
Salvador, 40025-010. Phone: (71) 3321-3971
Hours: Open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri. Weekends: 10am-5pm.

Museu Nutico da Bahia (Nautical Museum of
Bahia), Largo do Farol da Barra: Phone: +55 3264 3296. Open: 8:30am-
7pm Tue-Sun, daily Jan & Jul. In addition to having superb views, the
Forte de Santo Antnio da Barra contains this excellent nautical
museum, with relics and displays from the days of Portuguese seafaring,
plus fascinating exhibits on the slave trade.
All information is offered in both Portuguese and English -- a rarity in
Bahia. Sunset is delightful at the museums gorgeous terrace caf. Adult
R$10 (Price as Octuber, 2013).

Museu de Arte Moderna (Museum of Modern Art): The Museu de
Arte Moderna has a changing display of avant-garde exhibits and erratic
opening times. A fine restaurant and an art workshop occupy the former
store house. The hillside sculpture garden is a pleasant place to take a
breath and enjoy the fine bay views. Take a taxi there, as it is off bus
routes and the desolate walk is known for tourist muggings. Price R$ 6

Address: Av. Contorno s/n - Solar do Unho - Salvador, 40,060,060.
Phone: +55 3117 6139
Hours: 1-7pm Tue-Fri & Sun, 1pm-9pm Sat.

Museu Carlos Costa Pinto: A collection of more than 3,000 objects
collected from around the world by the Costa Pinto family. This lovely
two-story mansion houses some of Salvadors finest decorative art, from
the collection of the patrician couple Carlos de Aguiar Costa Pinto and his
wife Margarida, both born in Bahia in the late 19th century.
Displays highlight gold, crystal, porcelain and silver pieces, as well as
beautifully carved coral jewelry and tortoiseshell fans. Don't miss the
outdoor cafe. R$8 (Price as of October 2013).
Address: Avenida Sete de Setembro, 2490, Vitria - Salvador 40080-001
Phone: (71) 3336.6081.
Hours: Open :2:30-7pm Mon & Wed-Sat.

Beach and Parks
Abaet Park (Parque do Abaet): This park is a protected state park
around the lake with same name. The lake is famous because of the stark
contrast between the dark water and the very white sand dunes. There is
an entertainment area with a lot of bars and live music.

Porto da Barra Beach (Praia Porto da Barra):
Porto da Barra Beach is rather like the Pelourinho: small, picturesque,
usually crowded, loaded with vendors selling everything imaginable, and
roughly half those present are foreigners.
The bay's waters are clear and calm, and the people-watching is
fantastic. To the left of the lighthouse, Praia do Farol da Barra has a
beach break popular with surfers. Barra's waterfront is lined with bars
and restaurants and is well lit at night, but it gets a bit sleazy in the later
hours.
Address: Near Avenida Ocenica and Avenida Sete de Setembro. Praia

What do in Salvador?
You'll find a huge variety of things to do in Salvador. Some of the popular
activities include:
Day tour of Salvador
Salvador Parks
Salvador golf courses
Salvador music festivals
Surf trips
A good Brazil tour guide in Salvador, known as a Guia de Salvador, will
be able to show you around lots of the attractions and activities if you
want to explore on your own.
Salvador Bus
A good option to get a general idea and find your way around in the city
is the "Salvador Bus", an open-top tour bus passing by the main
touristic points.
Buy your ticket by Internet: http://www.salvadorbus.com.br. Site in
English and Spanish.
Address: Avenida General Graa Lessa, 434 Brotas Salvador -40290-
500.
Phone: +55 71 3356-6425.
Hours: (8:00 AM 5:00 PM)
You can find good tips about Salvador here:
http://www.salvadorcentral.com, in English, also http://bahia.com.br ,
in Spanish and English.

Go to the beach
Visiting a Salvador beach is a highlight for many tourists. One of the
main central Salvador beaches is Porto de Barra. It was originally the
site of the first settlement of European newcomers to Bahia.
It can get very crowded on weekends. The northeast region of Salvador
has the largest concentration of beaches with good water quality.
Flamengo and Stella Maris are the most popular beaches among tourists
and upper class locals. They have excellent tourist infrastructure and
rough waters excellent for surfing. Jaguaribe, Piat and Itapo, with
calmer waters, are mostly frequented by locals and can become quite
crowded at weekends.
They are a good option with you want to mix with the local population,
but don't bring anything besides your clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and
some cash, as muggings are quite common.
The other beaches of Salvador aren't suited for bathing, but still can be
good for walking, cycling, or taking pictures. Farol da Barra has a
beautiful view (especially during the sunset), but it's difficult to walk due
to the rocks. "Farol" means lighthouse, and this beach is known for its
lighthouse as well as being popular with surfers.
A much safer choice is nearby Plakaford. Here the calm waters and soft
sandy beaches are welcoming for families and children. In the city south,
there is an array of beautiful beaches that include Tinhar and Boipeba.

Shopping
Salvador shopping is the bargain paradise. There is nothing that you
cannot find in a mall. If you plan to buy popular art, crafts and clothing,
check the small stores at the Old Town or head to the Mercado Modelo
(Model Market), at Rua Visconde do Cair, 250- Lower City. Locals like
to shop at American-style shopping malls.
Shopping Center Iguatemi:
Address: Av. Tancredo Neves, 148 - Caminho das rvore, Salvador Zip
Code: 41820-408. Phone: +55 71 3350-5216

Salvador Shopping:
Address: Caminho das rvores, Salvador. Phone: +55 71 3417-6000

Shopping Barra:
Address: Avenida Centenrio, 2992 - Chame-Chame, Salvador - 40140-
400. Phone: +55 71 3264-7128

Shopping Itaigara:
Address: Av. Antnio Carlos Magalhes, 656 - Itaigara, Salvador - 41825-
000. Phone: +55 71 3270-8900
Shopping Center Lapa: Address: Rua Porto da Piedade, 155 - Piedade
- Salvador ZipCode: 40070-900
Shopping Piedade:
Address: Rua Conselheiro Junqueira Aires. Phone: +55 71 3444-1555
Bahia Outlet Center:
Address: Rua Direita do Uruguai, n 753. Phone: (71) 3310.5000/3314-
6567

Salvador Norte Shopping:
Address: Rua Getlio Vargas de So Cristvo, Salvador, 41510-000.
Phone: +55 71 3417-6500

Aeroclube Shopping & Office:
Address: Avenida Octvio Mangabeira, 6000 Boca do Rio
The first thing that anyone wanting to shop in Salvador should know is
that it is essential to barter. Only very few vendors will stick to their
given price. If pushed they will always go lower.
If you are looking for souvenirs you may want to check out Litoral Norte
located at Rua Gregorio de Matos, 30. They sell t-shirts and other items.
Most will cost you no more than $10.
If you want local art you should visit Pelourhino. There are many
galleries that double as stores. Galeria 13 at Rua Santa Isabel displays
work by local artists.

Where to eat in Salvador?
Bahian restaurants are considered to be among the best in Brazil. The
majority of Bahia restaurants offer South American cuisine but there a
few that offer other specialties.
For example, the Maria Mata Mouro
Restaurante located at Pelourinho serves a wide range of seafood
dishes from all over the world although most are from South America.
Address: Rua da Ordem Terceira, 8 - Pelourinho, Salvador - 40026-260.
Phone: +55 71 3321-3929

Baiana
The Terreiro de Jesus is a great place to sample the local cuisine from
street stalls, served by Afro-Brazilian baianas in their traditional ladies
with white dresses. A must try dish is the Abara.
This is a wrap with bean paste, dende oil and onions all cooked in a
banana leaf with spices for flavor. If you prefer western food then you
will find many fast-food places like Burger King, McDonald's, Subway or
Pizza Hut. You also will find casual dinner chains like Outback
Steakhouse.

Acaraj
Be sure to try acaraj, small fritters made from black-eyed peas and
onions fried in palm oil slathered with spicy vatap (shrimp paste).
These are sold by Baianas on the street.

Here is a special list of restaurants to try:
$
Acaraj da Cira Kiosk: Fresh acaraj daily from 10 AM-11 PM. There is
also another location on the Largo da Mariquita in Rio Vermelho.

Address: Rua Aristdes Milton, s/n, Posto 12 (in front of Ladeira do
Abaet). Itapu.
Phone: (71) 3249.4170.

Acaraj da Dica Kiosk: Delicious acaraj and abars.

Addresses:
Acaraj da Dica I: Largo do Pelourinho S/N, Pelourinho - Salvador ,
40026-280 , in front of Fundao Jorge Amado.
Acaraj da Dica II: Rua Joo Castro Rabelo S/N, Pelourinho - Salvador ,
40026-280 in fornt of the school Colgio Azevedo Fernandes.
Health Valley Brasil: Vegetarian restaurant run by Chinese (as is the
case for more and more restaurants in Salvador now). Serving typical
dishes based around ginger. This restaurant is very popular with the
local alternative crowd. Buffet including fruit juice and desert costs
R$17 (Price as of October 2013).

Address: Rua Direita da Piedade, 17 (in the City Center).

Quiosques de Amaralina: Kiosks serving acaraj near the beach from
4 PM - Midnight.
Address: Avenida Otvio Mangabeira, Amaralina

$$
Bistr Porto Sol: (on a cross-street near Porto da Barra): Small, cozy
Austrian-Hungarian restaurant run by an Austrian and his wife. Simple
accommodations decorated with posters of classic Hollywood movies.
Delicious food!
Address: R. Csar Zama, 51 - Porto da Barra Barra.
Phone: +55 71 3264-7339

Companhia da Pizza: In Rio Vermelho (on a cross-street near the
Pestana Bahia and Blue Tree Towers hotels). This is one of the city's most
popular pizza restaurants.
Address: Praa Brigadeiro Faria Rocha, 266 - Rio Vermelho. 41940-440.
Phone: +55 71 3334-6276
La Figa: Italian restaurant with fresh pastas around R$35 for two
people, appetizers around R$15, and deserts. The new owner changed
the name in June 2007 (It was previously known as La Lupa), but the
high quality, good service and good atmosphere remain the same.
Address: Rua das Laranjeiras 17, Pelourinho (near Terreiro de Jesus).
http://www.ristorantelafiga.com
Hostel galeria 13: The menu includes a great selection of vegetarian
meals from around the world. You can enjoy your meal in the unique
Moroccan chill out room or in their patio garden. They also offer those
great juices with a touch of ginger 'refreshing', or maybe a caipirinha
with watermelon. The quantities are very generous and the prices are
extremely fair.
Address: At Pelourinho, Rua da Ordem Terceira, 23. The new European
owner offers Pelourinho a much-needed variety of International Dishes
& Spanish tapas.

$$$
Amado: Contemporary cuisine.
Address: Avenida Lafayete Coutinho, 660 Bairro Comrcio Salvador
Zip Code: 40015- 160.
Phone: 3322- 3520.
http://www.amadobahia.com.br/web_eng/

Barbacoa: Fine meat dishes and some of Salvador's best feijoada in a
refined atmosphere.

Address: Avenida Tancredo Neves, 909, Salvador - 41820-021.
Phone: +55 71 3342-4666

Casa do Comrcio: A good place to eat well and take in a panoramic
view of Salvador.
Address: Av. Tancredo Neves, 1109 - Caminho das rvores, Salvador -
41820-021.
Phone: +55 71 3273-8060 (in the heart of the financial district).

Marc Le Dantec: Pier Sul Apartment Service, Ondina. This is the best
French restaurant in the city. Address: Avenida Ocenica, 3001,
Salvador - 41950-000. Phone: +55 71 3331-3854

Mistura: In Itapo. They are skilled in fish and International Cuisine.
Address: Rua Professor Souza Brito, 41 Itapu.
Phone: +55 71 3375-2623

Yemanj: Long held nationally and internationally as the standard in
typical Bahian cuisine.
Address: Avenida Octvio Mangabeira, 4655 - Jardim Armao
Phone: +55 71 3461-9010

Ki Mukeka: That is the one of the best typical Bahias food.
Address: Rua Abelardo Andrade de Carvalho, 87 - Boca do Rio, Salvador
- 41706-710.
Phone: +55 71 3362-6153
No trip to a Salvador restaurant is complete without dessert. The Bahia
region is famed for its sweet desserts.

A Cubana: Located at Rua Alfredo de Brito, 12 is open daily from 8am
until 10pm. It is an old fashioned ice-cream parlor or sorvetoria with 28
homemade flavors. Address: Rua das Portas do Carmo, 12 - Pelourinho,
Salvador - 40026-290 .
Phone:+55 71 3321-6162

Where drink in Salvador?
DRIVING.

Bohemia Music Bar: The comfortable atmosphere, live music, and a
varied menu make this a popular pick-up spot. The places often checks
for IDs at the entrance.

Address: Rua Augusto Frederico Schmith, 177, Salvador - BA, 40140-
390.
Phone: +55 71 3332-5774

Ercolano Bar and Restaurant: The winery keeps bottles of sixty
different labels, including the Chilean William Cole Cabernet Sauvignon
Reserve 2010 (R $67.00). Finally, the dessert la Moniquita includes
white chocolate, cornflakes, honey, vanilla ice cream and strawberry
syrup ($ 18.90 value). Thursday through Saturday, DJs perform during
dinner. A little pricey, but worth the price.
Address: Rua Alexandre Herculano, 29 Bairro Pituba Salvador
41810-395.
Phone: 3015-1650

Largo de Santana: This busy street has various bars and restaurants,
and some of the best acaraj in town.
Mercado do Peixe: There are 36 stands/kiosks lined up facing the sea
bohemian Rio Vermelho operate 24 hours and therefore attract people
both at lunchtime and for a nightcap in the club, at dawn. Serves as the
escondidinho shrimp with mashed yucca and mozzarella ($ 38.00 value)
and tidy with beans, farofa, vinaigrette, beef jerky and pepperoni ($
28.00 value), which can be ordered to accompany the Brazilian Beer
Nova Schin. In times of sports competitions, giant screens broadcast the
matches.
One of the best after-hours spots, Mercado do Peixe is a real Salvador
institution. It starts to get busy after 3AM when everywhere else is
closing. With simple accommodations and plastic tables, various stands
stay open offering moquecas and regional appetizers, in addition to
drinks. During the day it is, as its name suggests, a traditional seafood
market.
Address: Largo da Mariquita, s/n - Rio Vermelho - Zip Code: 41940-
380 In Rio Vermelho (at the seaside in front of the Blue Tree Towers
Hotel).
Sankofa African Bar e Restaurante: This bar/restaurant is in the
middle of Pelourinho. There is live music (salsa, reggae, zouk, and
samba) and DJ's spinning African, Brazilian and world music.

Tasty African dishes and drinks are also served. African flags, maps, and
artworks adorn the walls. The top floor has a projection system showing
films and documentaries.

Address: Ladeira de So Miguel, 7 - Pelourinho, Salvador - BA, 40026-
030.
Phone: +55 71 3321-7236

Hostel Galeria 13 Bar: The new native English-speaking owner has
travelled & worked in many famous bars & clubs around the world. You
will get a chance to check out his knowledge of drinks. They offer great
juices with a touch of ginger 'refreshing', or maybe a caipirinha or roska
with watermelon which is being boasted as The Best in Brasil. You can
enjoy your drinks in the garden or the most original spot in Pelourinho,
the Moroccan "chill out" room (where they smoke from hookas).
Address: Rua da Ordem Terceira, 23 - Pelourinho.

Bar Zulu: An international-style bar & restaurant. They have many good
vegetarian options. Try the vegetarian lentil burger. You can get a
discount if you are staying at "Galeria 13" hostel, but you should ask for a
special menu if you are. There are many tasty foods to eat and of course
they server the typical Caipirinhas!
A mix of staff from all over the world bring you a cool corner bar with
terrace & individual bar tables in every window. It is great for people
watching. The bar offers the most original menu in The "Pelo", with
Spanish tapas, salads, sandwiches, international dishes & a vast choice of
great veggie dishes from around the world.
The bar has a feel of a trendy Spanish tapas bar with some of the
friendliest girls serving with a smile. Try their house special Caipirinha
"zumarangi" strawberry & passion fruit. The owner promises they will
soon be providing a sports TV, so it will be a great spot for catching
European footie.
Address: Rua das Laranjeiras, 15 Pelourinho.
Phone: 8784- 3172.

Nightclubs
Casa de Shows Lugar Comum: They host very romantic dance
evenings, for almost the entire week. The attractions are eclectic as well,
with a strong presence of bands and dance and serenade Brazilian Music.
Nice place for couples or people over 40 years old who likes Brazilian
Music.

Air conditioned environment and safety.
Hours: From Tuesday to Thursday from 7PM to 4AM,
Friday and Saturday from 8PM to 4AM, and Sunday from 5 PM to 11 PM.
Address: Rua do Rosrio, n 5- Salvador - 40060-255 Salvador.
Phone: +55 71 3329-1294

Twist: The pub is a good meeting place for young single people aged 18-
35. The musical program includes music by pop bands, ax, forr and
backcountry. Among the drinks, try the Strawberry Daiquiri and Grey
Goose Vodka.
One of the dishes on the menu pays homage to Elvis Presley: 200 grams
of grilled salmon, rice with raisins and broccoli in butter.
Address: Rua Joo Gomes, 95 - Rio Vermelho. Zip Code: 41950640
Salvador.
Phone: 71 3334-1520 /8870

Where sleep in Salvador?
There are a number of hotels in Salvador, where tourists can stay in
when on vacation. Some of the hotels are luxury hotels located on the
beach. Salvador also has discount hotels that offer cheap rates for those
on a budget. Some of the cheap hotels may not offer all of the amenities
that luxury hotels offer. There are also hostels in Pelourinho that are
reasonably priced, but they can be noisy at night.
$
A Meson Pousada: They offer affordable lodging in the middle of all
the action, both day and night, for Salvador's Historic District.

Address: Rua Portas do Carmo 11 , Pelourinho . Zip Code: 40026-290
Phone: (71) 3322-8039

Hostel Pais Tropical: It is situated in the heart of Salvador. They offer
economical prices, good breakfast and support for speaking in English,
Portuguese, Spanish, and Polish.
Address: Largo do Pelourinho, 7 - Pelourinho, Salvador Zip Code:
40026-280.
Phone: +55 71 3322-1859
Open House: This place is run by an artist couple, Cuban writer and film
director husband Alex and Brazilian painter, dancer and choreographer
wife Jacqui.

It is located a few blocks from Barra beach and trendy restaurants and
bars. The house is full of paintings and artistic touch and they offer
incredible hospitality. Dorm-style rooms and private rooms are both
available.
Address: Rua Comendador Bernado Catarino, 137, Barra, +55 11 3711-
2186
Ibis Salvador Rio Vermelho:
Address: Rua Fonte do Boi, 215, Rio Vermelho Zip Code: 41940-360.
Phone: (71) 3172-4100.
Sol Plaza Sleep:
Address: Avenida Otvio Mangabeira, 4581, Praia de Armao. Zip Code:
41750-240.
Phone: (71) 3418-3699.

So Jorge Hostel: Located in Pelourinho. They offer free internet and
breakfast is included.
Address: Rua das Portas do Carmo, 25 - Pelourinho, Salvador Zip Code:
40026-290.
Phone: +55 71 3266-7092
Praia da Sereia: There are 3 hostels affiliated with Hostelling
International, two situated in Barra and one in Pelourinho. All are
quality youth hostels.
Address: Avenida Dorival Caymmi, 14 Itapu.
Phone: +55 71 3285-8100

Albergue do Porto:

Address: Rua Baro de Sergy, 197 - Barra, Salvador - Zip Code:40140-
040.
Phone: +55 71 3264-6600.
http://www.alberguedoporto.com.br

Hostel Galeria 13 Hostel: It is not affiliated with HI.
Address: Rua da Ordem Terceira 23, Pelourinho, 71-32665609.
http://www.hostelgaleria13.com/index.php/Main/Hostel

$$

Bahia Othon Palace Hotel: The hotel faces Ondina Beach and provides
guest with a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel offers a
nightclub, beauty spa and other activities.
Address: Avenida Ocenica, 2294 - Zip Code: 40170-010.
Phone: +55 71 2103 7100,
Email: bahia@othon.com.br

A Casa das Portas Velhas: The hotel is situated in one of the most
celebrated squares in the historic district - The Palm Square, made
famous as the site of Dona Flor's home in the first filming of Jorge
Amado's ' Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands.
Casa das Portas Velhas has only 14 rooms or combinations thereof and
one suite. All the rooms are equipped with: centralized air-conditioning,
minibar, anti-allergic pillows, fire detectors and alarm system,
centralized water heating system, cable television and DVD's, bedside
access to the internet, ceiling fans, safe box, hygienic toiletries, robes,
slippers, and bed linen.
Address: Rua da Palma, 6 - Nazar, Salvador - Zip Code: 40040-170
Phone: +55 71 3324-8400 (reservas@acasadasportasvelhas.com.br).
Right on Salvador City Center, this accommodation has a Colonial English
Style.
Vila Gal Salvador: Located right on Praia de Ondina in So Salvador
da Bahia and only 20 minute away from the International Airport. Online
booking.
Address: Rua Morro do Escravo Miguel, 320 - Ondina, Salvador Zip
code:40140-610.
Phone:+55 71 3263-8888 (reservas.ssa@vilagale.com.br).
Pousada Rancho Fundo: Nice big farm.
Address: Lotamento Las Palmas, Villa de Abrantes, Camaari Zip Code:
42840-000.
Phone:+55 71 3623-2606 (info@pousada-rancho-fundo.com).

Mercure Salvador Rio Vermelho:

Address: Rua Fonte Do Boi 215 Rio Vermelho, Salvador, Zip
Code:41940-360.
Phone: +55 71 3172-9200

$$$
Aram Yami: Perfect located in the historic town. A small yet uniquely
designed hotel. The suites are really great. King-size beds, nice and
special interior. The friendly staff speak English and go the extra mile.
Address: Rua Direita de Santo Antnio, 132, Centro Histrico, 40301-
280 Salvador.
Phone: +55(71)32429412.
Hotel Casa do Amarelindo: A hotel which exhibits all the positive
features of a small establishment - the staff remember who you are and
are flexible and responsive to particular needs and requests, overall a
very warm environment. This top-range hotel is located on Pelourinho.
Address: Rua das Portas do Carmo, 06, Pelourinho. Phone: (71) 3266
8550, (info@casadoamarelindo.com)
Pestana Convento do Carmo: So serene, nestled away in the midst of a
vibrant community. The staff was kind and helpful throughout our stay.
Convento do Carmo is proud to be the first historical and luxury hotel of
Brazil. This former and notable friary construction started in 1586 and
once restored became a unique hotel in Salvador.
Address: Rua do Carmo, 1, Pelourinho. Phone: (55) 71 33278400.
Villa Bahia: This is a luxury hotel with an African-Portuguese colonial
flair. The building was totally renovated to turn into a cozy and charming
hotel with a 17th - 18th century style.

Address: Largo do Cruzeiro de Sao Francisco, n 16/18 - Pelourinho -
Salvador
Phone: 00 55 (71) 3322 4271.
http://en.lavillabahia.com/pousada-bahia

Fiesta Bahia Hotel: The hotel provides a convention center for
businesses and a floor just for ladies. A gym, game room, wet and dry

sauna, spa and outdoor pool are just a few of the services provided for
guests.
Address: Avenida Antnio Carlos Magalhes, 711 - Pituba, Salvador .
Phone: 55 71 3352-0000 Zip Code: 40280-000, Brazil
Be safe
Due to high social inequality, Salvador is notorious for street crime, and
for a tourist that wanders carelessly in the streets, the likelihood of a
mugging or armed robbery is considerably higher than in So Paulo and
Rio de Janeiro.
Salvador recognizes the importance of tourism to the city economy, so
most important tourist sites such as Pelourinho and Mercado Modelo, as
well as main popular festivals like the Carnival and World Cup are
usually heavily guarded.
If you are moving on foot, by bicycle, or by bus, it's best to go out during
the day. Avoid bringing anything valuable, just enough to enjoy your day.
The Flamengo and Stella Maris beaches are among the safest places to go
during the day, and they are the best option if you just want to enjoy a
good beach without much local culture. In other places, try to stay at
areas guarded by police.
As a general rule, be suspicious if people approach you directly in a
friendly way as they either want money or to sell you something.
At night, it's better to take a cab to go out. Stay at reasonably crowded
places. If you don't see other tourists where you are, then it's probably
not a place you should be unless you are feeling particularly
adventurous.
Some areas, which are strongly frequented by foreigners, can become
dangerous, especially at night, i.e. the Barra harbor area. NEVER go to
the beach at night!
The long sloping road leading from the old town to the harbor should
be avoided even during the day. ALWAYS take the elevator.

If you are staying in the touristic Barra area, beware of the favela near
Shopping Barra, especially at night. The area just to the east toward
the beach can be dangerous as well.
Beware of vehicular traffic. Crossing the streets is always dangerous
even when using a pedestrian crosswalk with the traffic light red for
cars. As one member of Supergrass band once said: "In Brazil green
means go, and red means go faster!" Start the crossing ONLY when
vehicles have already stopped.
Never agree to share a taxi with other random people, especially if
they approach you. Most likely, it's just a trap to rob you!
Watch out for children in Pelourinho, especially on Tuesdays at the
Geronimo Concert at the old church - they are reaching out for any
low pockets in cargo pants!
When Shopping always check the price first, especially if you are white
and have blue or green eyes, many locals will see you complexion and
feel they have the right to charge you double for services and products.
Always ask for a Coupon Fiscal it ensures that the company or individual
you are purchasing from pays the proper tax, and it can usually result in
them "suddenly" giving you a 10 - 15% discount if you don't want the
Coupon as they have to pay 27% tax what you buy and the Coupon
ensures this.
Be particularly aware of Banca and Kiosks on the street as they will
undoubtedly try to charge you more for being an estrangeiro (foreigner).
All the little extra money you are charged can seriously eat into your
budget and leave a sour taste in your mouth as nobody likes being ripped
off.
Hospitals
beforehand.

Public Hospitals:
Hospital do Subrbio
Address: Rua Manoel Lino, s/n, Acupe de Brotas, Salvador, Zip Code:
40726-390
Phone: (71) 3217-8605
Hospital Geral do Estado HGE
Address: Avenida Vasco da Gama, s/n, Engenho Velho de Brotas
Salvador, Zip Code: 40221-500
Phone: (71) 3117-5999

Private Hospitals:
Bahia Home Care
Address: Avenida Tancredo Neves, 1222, Salas 802/806, Edifcio
Catabas Tower, Caminho das rvores, Salvador, Zip Code: 41820-020
Phone: (71) 3031-8701
Hospital Santa Isabel
Address: Rua Misericrdia, 6, Centro, Zip Code: 40020-200
Phone: (71) 2203-8341

Contact
By phone:
The area code for Salvador is 71.

Consulates
Argentina
Avenida Centenrio, N 2411, Edifcio Empresarial Centenrio, 13 Piso
Chame-Chame, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
+ 55 71 3241 4863/ 4862
csbah@mrecic.gov.ar
Austria
Avenida Simon Bolivar, n 166, Solar Diana Jardim Armao
+ 55 71 3371 5999
consaustria@yahoo.com.br
Bolvia
Av. Ocenica, 591 Barra
+55 71 3336 0774
lemosbolivia@montepascoal.com.br
Belgium
Stio Lagoa Branca
Estrada do Coco, km 11 Vila de Abrantes
+55 71 3623 2454 | 9105 8134
druant@terra.com.br
Chile
Rua Minas Gerais, n 693, Shopping Pituba Center, sala 116 Pituba
+ 55 71 3345 4141
chilebahia@ig.com.br
Cyprus
Av. Tancredo Neves, n909, Ed. Andr Guimares Business Center, Conj.
1501 / 1502 Caminho das rvores
+ 55 71 3272 9066/ 9055
consuladochipre@ig.com.br

Colombia
Avenida Tancredo Neves, n 1485, Esplanada Trade Center, Sala 1406
Caminho das rvores
+ 55 71 3272 9709
cnssalvador@hotmail.com | makiesse@uol.com.br
Denmark
Avenida Estados Unidos, Ed. EUA, n 18 B, 9 andar Comrcio
+ 55 71 3243 8825
ronald@bahiaship.com.br | bahiaship@bahiaship.com.br
El Salvador
Avenida Tancredo Neves, Ed. Salvador Trade Center, Torre Norte, Sala
1310/1311 Caminho das rvores
+ 55 71 3342 8450/ 8369
consalbahia@yahoo.com.br
Ecuador
Av. Tancredo Neves, n274, Centro Empresarial Iguatemi, Bloco A, sala
303. Caminho das rvores
+ 55 71 3431 9686
comseqba@uol.com.br
Finland
Rua Cndido Portinari, n 19, Jardim Ipiranga Barra
+ 55 71 3247 3312
jvinas@ig.com.br
France
Rua Francisco Gonalves, n 01, Ed. Reitor Miguel Calmon, sala 401
Comrcio
+ 55 71 3241 0168
jsalah@lognet.com.br
danielesalah@hotmail.com

Gabon
Av. Tancredo Neves, 1632 Edf. Salvador Trade Center, Torre Sul sala
2214
Caminho das rvores
+55 71 3271 5017
consuladogabao@svn.com.br
Germany
Rua Jogo do Carneiro n 49 Sade
+ 55 71 3242 2670
hksalvador@yahoo.de
Holland
Largo do Carmo n 04, Sala 101 Santo Antnio Centro Histrico.
+ 55 71 3241 3001/ 8352
hleusen@dannemann-sa.com.br
Hungary
Rua Professor Clementino Fraga, n 33, Apart. 301 Jardim Apipema
+ 55 71 3261 8559
gezaurmenyi@uol.com.br
Italy
Avenida Sete de Setembro, n 1238, 1 andar, Casa da Itlia Campo
Grande
+ 55 71 3329 5338
consuladodaitalia@br.inter.net
Japan
Rua Campinas de Brotas, 104 Brotas
+55 71 8865 0590
odecil@hotmail.com

Nicaragua
Avenida Arajo Pinho, n 124, Apt. 1201, Ed. Manso do Canela Canela
+ 55 71 3336 1649
consuladodanicaragua@hotmail.com
Norway
Avenida Estados Unidos, n 181 B Ed. EUA, 9 andar Comrcio
+ 55 71 3243 8825 ramal 203
bahiaship@bahiaship.com.br
Peru
Avenida Presidente Vargas, n 3853, 1 andar Rio Vermelho
+ 55 71 3336 6202
emaluf@outletcenter.com.br
Portugal
Avenida Tancredo Neves, Salvador Trade Center, Torre Norte, sala 109
Caminho das rvores
+ 55 71 3341 0636
jcosta@salvador.dgaccp.pt
Spain
Rua Marechal Floriano, n 21 Canela
+ 55 71 3336 9055/ 1937
consulado.espanha@terra.com.br
South Korea
Av. Jorge Amado, 980 Boca do Rio
+55 71 3483 0922
adriana@lemospassos.com.br
ademar@lemospassos.com.br

Swedeen
Av.Tancredo Neves n 1632 Salvador Trade Center, Torre Sul Sala
2201
+ 55 71 9974 0452
swebahia@terra.com.br
Switzerland
Av. Tancredo Neves, n 3343, Centro Emp. Previnor, 5 andar/ sala
501/503 B
+ 55 71 3341 5827
neeser@svn.com.br
Turkey
Travessa Prudente de Moraes, n 65 Rio Vermelho
+ 55 71 3335-1064 / 3328 5252 / 9141 8364
jespinoza.turquia@ig.com.br
Uruguay
Rua Gregrio de Mattos, n 20, 1 andar, Pelourinho Centro Histrico
+ 55 71 3322 7093/ 7096
conurubahia@terra.com.br
United Kingdom and Ireland
Rua Caetano Moura, n 35, CEPAR, 4 andar Federao
+ 55 71 3247 8216
ihanson@uol.com.br

United States of America
Avenida Tancredo Neves, n 1632, Sala 1401 Salvador Trade Center,
Torre Sul Caminho das rvores
+ 55 71 3113-2090/ 2091/ 2092
amcon99@terra.com.br
Source: Secretaria de Turismo da Bahia (http://www.setur.ba.gov.br/guia-do-
investidor/consulados/)

Beautiful places around Salvador
For a nice day trip, catch the ferry to the laid-back Ilha de Itaparica
(Island of Itaparica).
Itaparica
Salvador is also the gateway to many other nearby attractions such as:
Praia do Forte: There is a beach town called "Project Tamar", it is a
Brazilian Turtle Sanctuary.
Praia do Forte

Imbassa: Just a few kilometers further north from Praia do Forte, this
relaxed village's beach lies between the sea and a river that runs parallel
to the ocean for a few hundred meters. Unique panorama.

Boipeba: A beautiful and very pleasant island.

Morro de So Paulo: An island frequented by tourists and locals alike.
They have plenty of restaurants, hostels, hotels and bars. It has four
beaches with translucent water.

Massarandupi: Just 90 km from Salvador, it's a true paradise, a semi-
desert beach, with a small river. Walking by the beach you can reach a
naturist area.

More information about Salvador and travel in Bahia safe and relaxed, go
to this site: http://bahia.basix.cc/

Useful Phones
Police 190
Fire Department- 193
Tourist Police in Salvador - DELTUR - Delegacia de Proteo ao
Turista
Address: Largo do Cruzeiro de So Francisco - Pelourinho, Salvador - BA,
40020-280 - Phone:+55 71 3322-1188 Open 24 hours.

Deputado Lus Eduardo Magalhes International Airport
Address: Praa Gago Coutinho, s/n - So Cristvo, Salvador BA. Zip
Code: 41520-970 - Airport Code: SSA

Arena Fonte Nova or Octvio Mangabeira
Stadium

The Arena Fonte Nova Stadium, officially known as Octavio Mangabeira
Stadium, originally opened in January 1951 but was closed in 2007 and
demolished three years later. Arena Fonte Nova took its place and was
modeled after the old stadium. It is covered with a roof of light metal and

houses a panoramic restaurant, a museum of football, parking, shops, a
concert hall and more.
The old Fonte Nova was closed since November 2007 after an accident in
which part of the upper deck gave way killing seven people. Arena Fonte
Nova has capacity for 60,044 seats.

Estdio Fonte Nova ou Octvio Mangabeira
Address: Ladeira das Fontes das Pedras, s/n - Nazar Salvador Zip
Code: : 40050-565
Schedule:
06/13 - Spain vs Netherlands -4 PM
06/16 - Germany vs Portugal - 1 PM
06/20 - Switzerland vs France -4 PM
06/25 - Bosnia vs Iran - 1 PM
07/01 - the 8
th
(1 H vs 2 G) - 5 PM
07/05 - the 4
th
(W51 vs W52) 5 PM

WELCOME TO SO PAULO

I present to you the city where I was born: So Paulo.

The Jesuit priests Jos de Anchieta and Manoel da Nobrega climbed the
Serra do Mar, back in 1553, in order to seek a safe place to settle and
converting the Brazilian Native Indians into Catholic Religion.

The religious monks built a school on a small hill next to Tamanduate
Anhangaba and rivers, where they celebrated mass. That was on
January 25, 1554, which marks the anniversary of St. Paul.

Nearly five centuries later, the village of Piratininga became a city of 11
million inhabitants.

In 1815, the city became the capital of the Province of So Paulo. But only
twelve years after her first win college of law, Largo San Francisco. Since

then, So Paulo has become an intellectual and political center of the
country.

So Paulo became an important economic center with the expansion of
the coffee trade in the late nineteenth century. The immigrants arrived
from all over the world to work in the plantations and later in the
growing industrial city park. More than half of the city residents in 1890,
were formed by immigrants.

In the 1970s, the service sector gained greater prominence in So Paulo's
economy. The industries have migrated to cities of So Paulo, as the so-
called ABCD (Santo Andr, So Bernardo do Campo, So Caetano do Sul
and Diadema).

Today, So Paulo is a financial center of Latin America and so it still
receives and opens its arms to Brazilian expatriates working and living
in So Paulo, in an environment of tolerance and respect for diversity of
faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientations and tribes.

Places to visit
So Paulo is a superlative metropolis. A seething cauldron of styles and
cultures where people from more than 70 nationalities live, is also a
large entertainment center: they have more than 280 movie theaters,
180 theaters, 90 museums and more than 110 cultural centers, and
numerous nightclubs of the most many styles for one of the busiest
nights of the planet. This city has 79 malls and dozens of specialized
shopping streets. And the food - more than 12 500 restaurants, with 52
types of cuisine from all over the world.

Number of Residents
According to the IBGE, the population of the city of So Paulo is
10,886,518 inhabitants. If it is considered the metropolitan region, the

38 counties surrounding the capital, the population reaches
approximately 19 million inhabitants.
Relative Humidity: 78 % - average annualized
Climate: Tropical Temperate
Annual average temperature: 19 C
Time zone: GMT -3 hours

Subdivisions
Municipality: Following So Paulo's extraordinary growth during the
20th century, most of the old city buildings have given way to
contemporary architecture.
This means that most historical buildings are concentrated downtown,
where 17th-century churches stand in the shadows of skyscrapers.
The best of So Paulo's gastronomy, nightlife, and museums are spread
in the area that circles
The downtown is where most visitors stay. Those who are adventurous
enough to go beyond may discover a completely different So Paulo, with
beautiful preserved nature, suburban feel and culture, and the enormous
social inequalities that the city is so famous (or rather infamous) for.
Note: the region of Avenida Paulista is partly in the Center, West, and
South-Central, and its number of attractions, as well as its peculiar
characteristics, justifies it having its own section.

Regions of So Paulo.

Downtown
The birthplace of the city, with many historical areas, cultural
centers, and a universe of diverse people rushing to work or to
school.

West
Home to the government of the state of So Paulo, it is probably the
most vibrant area of the city for business, science, gastronomy, nightlife
and culture.

South Central
The wealthiest region of the city contains Parque do Ibirapuera, one of
the most important recreational and cultural areas of So Paulo, and
numerous shopping malls.

Southeast
Home to hundreds of thousands of immigrants who settled in the city,
that is where Museu do Ipiranga, the So Paulo Zoo and other
attractions are located.

Northeast

The Northeast is So Paulo's "event arena", where the annual Carnival
and many other large scale events take place. Part of the magnificent
Parque da Cantareira is also here.

Far South
The largest region of So Paulo is still have some parts covered by
forest, farms and water, and can offer many unique experiences to a
visitor.

Far East
So Paulo's City of Workers contains two of the most beautiful parks of
the city, and is the future host of the FIFA 2014 World Cup in the city.

Northwest
The Northwest is a more suburban area which is home to Parque
Estadual do Jaragu, where the highest point of the city is located.

About So Paulo:
A large sprawling city can present numerous challenges to sensibilities.
So Paulo is no exception.
Although the first impression might be that of a grey concrete jungle,
soon it becomes apparent that the city has a great number of pockets of
beauty. The population and environment of So Paulo is diverse, and
districts within it range from extremely luxurious areas to hovels
housing the poor and destitute, located usually in suburbia far from the
so-called "expanded center".
So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the two spots where most visitors from
abroad land in Brazil.
While a complete experience of the city would take a few weeks (since
the lifestyle of Paulistanos and every-day routine in the city are huge
attractions in themselves), it's possible to visit all major sites within
three days.

Staying a little longer than that is always a nice idea. As the financial and
cultural center of the country, the city is a sea of possibilities.

The People

Liberdade District, So Paulo Downtown: One of the areas of the city
where the immigrant influence is noted the most.
Don't be surprised at the diversity of Paulistanos. For example, So Paulo
is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. It is not
uncommon to see businesses and churches being conducted by Chinese
and Korean-Brazilians in Liberdade, which was originally an Italian
district, then Japanese and currently is heavily populated by Koreans and
Chinese.
The city's Italian influence is also very strong, with about 6 million
people in the metropolitan area having Italian background. The large
Arab and Jewish communities are also well represented in all levels of
society, from art to real estate businesses, and notably in politics.
The citizens of So Paulo have a reputation as hard-working and
industrious or shallow money-grubbers. It is common to hear that the
people in So Paulo work while the rest of Brazil relaxes. even though
many say this, it is plainly wrong.
It is a fact, nonetheless, that the city of Sao Paulo alone actually
contributes with 15 percent of the country's gross national product (45
percent if the entire So Paulo state is taken into account).
But when Paulistanos are not working, they are clubbing. The city
nightlife is as intense as it gets, which makes going to a club a total must-
do. Everything is possible in a city that doesn't dare to blink.

Orientation

Street numbers of So Paulo begin counting from the direction of Praa da S.
So Paulo's basic spot for orientation should be Avenida Paulista. From
there, it's pretty easy to reach every single spot in town, be it by bus or
underground transport.
It is located between the neighborhoods of Bela Vista and Jardim
Paulista. Av. Paulista is also within walking distance to Centro and
Ibirapuera Park, which makes it the perfect place to start a walking tour.
However, keep in mind that central Sao Paulo actually comprises a very
large area, and travelling from one spot to another may require that you
take a cab or public transport. To find out the general direction where
you are, see the street signs, as it is color-coded:
S/Repblica (in Downtown): White street plate.
All other areas have blue street plates, and a bottom stripe on the
following colors:
Expanded Center: Grey (``Expanded Center means the area limited by the
Tiet river on the North, the Pinheiros river on the West, Avenida dos
Bandeirantes on the South and Avenida Salim Farah Maluf on the East)

Northwest: Light Green
North: Dark Blue
Northeast: Yellow
East: Red
Southeast: Dark Green
South: Light Blue
Southwest: Purple
West: Orange

To find the direction of Downtown (most precisely Praa da S), just
follow the direction of decreasing street numbers. That doesn't always
work, however, in the Santo Amaro subprefecture (South Central),
neither in the Far South region; in these areas, decreasing numbers lead
to Largo 13 de Maio.
Language
Although traditionally a working and not a tourist city, its inhabitants, if
more educated, probably speak better English (and perhaps Spanish,
Italian or French) than anywhere else in Brazil. English is generally
spoken at main hotels and tourist-related businesses, although a menu in
English is a rare find.

Several Portuguese language schools teach English as a second language.
Locals are often friendly, and will try to help visitors, but language
difficulties can offer a barrier. It's a good idea to print out some key
phrases.
Electricity
Be careful when plugging in electronic devices, as voltages vary between
110V and 220V across cities in Brazil, always 60Hz. In the city of So
Paulo the voltage is usually 127V.
Other cities in the state of So Paulo may use 220V plugs (such as Jundiai
and Sao Jose dos Campos). It is always prudent to ask before you plug an
electronic device outside the city of Sao Paulo. Many electric outlets will
accept both the U.S. / Canada type plugs and the parallel twin round pins
used in many countries in Europe (low current "europlug").
It is helpful to carry a world-travel adapter in any case, since other
countries in South America vary in electrical plug formats and shapes.
Some outlets for computers have the USA two flat pins and one round
ground pin.

How get to So Paulo
Check the official Brazil tourism website for general information
regarding visas and customs, and the Cidade de So Paulo homepage for
updated events and art exhibitions around town.
http://www.cidadedesaopaulo.com/sp/

By plane:
So Paulo has three major airports: Guarulhos International (GRU) and
Viracopos (CPQ) for international and some domestic arrivals, and
Congonhas (CGH) for most medium and short haul domestic flights.

Guarulhos International Airport (GRU): If flying into So Paulo from
abroad, you'll mostly likely land at Guarulhos International Airport, also
known as Cumbica.
Located 40 km from the city centre, the airport has two terminals that
are served by Brazilian airlines TAM, Gol and by international United,
Delta, American, Air Canada, Emirates, Air France, British Airways,
Lufthansa, TACA, TAP, Iberia, Alitalia, KLM, Swiss, Singapore Airlines
(via Barcelona), Korean Air (via Los Angeles), South African, US Airways
(via Charlotte, NC) and many others.
Non-airline shuttle buses (Airport Service Bus), R$ R$36.50 one-way
(January, 2014). They are available from Guarulhos to Congonhas
Airport (IATA: CGH, ICAO: SBSP), Praa da Repblica (Downtown),
Paulista/Jardins region, Barra Funda bus station and Tiet bus station
(fastest access to the subway). All lines except Congonhas connect to the
Metr (Price as Octuber, 2013).

There is also a regular urban bus every 20-30 minutes which costs only
R$4.30 (Price as of October 2013). It goes to and from Tatuap Metro
station (30-45 min, via Ayrton Senna, the other is slower), Line 3, Red.
Exit Terminal 1 Arrivals and head for the middle island.
Look for buses 257 or 297. They are less comfy than the shuttles, but can
prove a faster way to Paulista (and elsewhere) on days with dense
traffic, as it goes to the closest Metro station. Be aware that you might be
denied access with luggage that won't fit on your lap.
TAM, Gol and Azul, the three main Brazilian airlines, offer free shuttle
buses for their passengers with flights to/from Guarulhos International
Airport and Congonhas Domestic Airport.
If you're on a budget trip and have enough time, you can ride those buses
to Congonhas airport (you must show your boarding pass or printed
reservation to the bus driver) and then get a taxi to your destination. It
will be much cheaper than getting a taxi directly from Guarulhos Airport.
The trip between those airports takes between 1h00 and 1h30. No
reservation is required.

Cabbies/Taxis:
The Guarulhos International Airport has a good company named
Guarucoop. You can find them inside of the International Airport.
Their reception desks are located at Guarulhos Airport, in the exit gate of
terminal I and II, on the lower floor, arrival sector.
The services offered are tabulated, bilingual drivers and receptionists
and the fleet has more than 650 vehicles, all with four doors and air-
conditioning. Guarucoop accepts credit cards, but please just check
before which ones.

Guarucoop Cabbie

Guarucoop (tel: +55 11 2440-7070) has a monopoly on cabs leaving
Guarulhos. They are plentiful and the queue is outside the arrival
terminal.
Credit-card users can pay for their journey in advance at the booth,
although it's useful to have local currency as not all international credit
or debit cards will work at all businesses in Brazil.
Expect to pay about R$120-160 (as January, 2014, depending upon your
destination), for the 25 km journey into the city. Passengers can ask to
see the tabela, which shows the fares for each neighborhood.

Other options such as Sao Paulo Airport Transfers provide upmarket
vehicles and drivers, with the added convenience of an online booking
service, and cost around R$150. When making your travel plans, keep in
mind that a taxi ride into the city can take up to two hours during peak
times, or around 45 minutes late at night or early in the morning.

Congonhas Airport (CGH)
The Congonhas Airport is in a very central region, 15 km (9 mi) from
downtown. This airport handles most of the flights to southern and
southeastern Brazil, including the So Paulo - Rio (Santos Dumont) hop,
nicknamed Ponte Area. As it was built in the 30s, its simple but
glamorous architecture is worth seeing.
Take any of the "Aeroporto" regular line buses that run along Avenida
Paulista. After some 40-60 min in modest traffic you'll be dropped right
in front of the airport and the fare is the regular R$3.00 (As of December,
2013. Bilhete nico accepted).
It is mostly faster to take the metro (blue line) to the So Judas Station
(Bus 875, 10 minutes to airport) or Conceio ("Aeroporto" bus, from
stop closest to Habibs, 15 minutes,) subway stations, and then the bus
from there.
Cab rides from downtown or Paulista should be used after checking how
out-of-control So Paulos traffic is at that time. The cabbies in Sao
Paulos City always bring the driver identification inside, they are white
color and side strips in different colors, but all legal cabs have red car
license plate. NEVER take a taxi from a street in Sao Paulo without the

red license plate.
Viracopos International (CPQ or VCP)
Located in Campinas, around 99 km (62 mi) from downtown So
Paulo, Viracopos International, sometimes is used when weather
conditions prevent landing in Cumbica. Brazilian airline Azul has its hub
here, and it might be convenient depending on your exact location. TAP
flies to Lisbon three times per week from here.
By bus:
There are three main bus terminals in So Paulo, all of them served by
the Metr (Subway) network.
Terminal Rodovirio do Tiet: Tiet bus terminal is the second largest
terminal in the world, hence an enormous building, but there is an
information desk in the middle of the main lobby.
Buses leave Sao Paulo for destinations throughout Brazil and for
international destinations including Asuncin in Paraguay (20 hr),
Buenos Aires in Argentina (36 hr), Montevideo in Uruguay (30 hr) and
Santiago in Chile (56 hr). A taxi ride from Paulista/Jardins to Terminal
Tite costs around R$60. Guarulhos International Airport shuttles also
depart and arrive from this terminal.
Address: Av. Cruzeiro do Sul 1.800, Santana (Tiet metro station, Blue
line).
Phone: +55 11 3235-0322, reachable from 6 AM-11:30 PM.
Terminal Rodovirio da Barra Funda: Located west of So Paulo's
downtown, it carries departures and arrivals to and from western cities
in the So Paulo state, to Mato Grosso, Foz do Iguau and west Paran
cities.
The Terminal Rodovirio da Barra Funda is about 30 min from Paulista
Ave by Metr. You can also reach it by boarding the "Barra Funda"
(875P) bus in Paulista Ave. Guarulhos International Airport shuttles also
depart and arrive from this terminal.
Address: Av. Auro Soares de Moura Andrade 664, Barra Funda district,
Expanded Center (Barra Funda metro station, Red Line).
Phone: +55 11 3392-1878.

Terminal Rodovirio de Jabaquara: The Jabaquara Terminal serves
cities in So Paulo state's south coast such
as Guaruj, Santos and Bertioga. It is located thirty minutes away by
Metr from downtown.
There is a Baggage Storage or Locker (Guarda Volumes) in the Jabaquara
Metro, R$9 for 24 hours. There is a fine of R$ 80 if you lose the key (Price
as of October 2013).
Address: R. dos Jequitibs s/n, Jabaquara district, South Side (Jabaquara
metro station, Blue Line).
Phone: +55 11 3235-0322.

Getting around in So Paulo
Transportation in So Paulo can be anything from complicated to hellish.
Peak hours are normally from roughly 6AM-9AM and 4PM-8PM, but
since city roads are constantly on the edge of their capacity, any little
incident can cause major queues and delays.
The cheapest way for tourists to get around is to use the subway/metro,
trains and trolleybuses as much as possible, and then take a taxi for
shorter distances. Even these means of transport can be uncomfortably
crowded during peak hours, and very limited carry-on is recommended.
Bilhete nico
The Bilhete nico is a transport smartcard that is used for paying fares
on buses, subways, and trains.
In essence, a single billing of the card grants a person up to four trips in
So Paulo's public transportation system with free transfers between the
subway system and buses within 3 hours.
The card is issued at no cost at underground stations; charge them with
the minimum amount required in newspaper stands, state-owned
betting shops (known as "lotricas"), supermarkets and other
establishments - look for the red, round "Bilhete nico" logo. Fare
charging rules are as follows:

Bilhete nico
On buses: Upon boarding a bus, you'll be charged R$3.00 and can board
up to three other buses in a three-hour period without being charged a
second time. (Price as of October 2013).
On the Metro or CPTM trains: For a single trip in the underground
train system, you'll be charged R$3.00. (Price as of October 2013).
First Metro/CPTM train then bus: You'll be charged R$2.90 when
passing by a Metro or CPTM station's turnstile. Once you board a bus,
you'll be charged an extra R$1.20 and will be able to board two other
buses in a two-hour period - starting from the first validation at the train
station - without any further payment. (Price as of October 2013).
First bus then Metro/CPTM train: Once you board a bus, R$3.00 is
charged from your card. Upon entering the Metro or CPTM systems,
you'll be charged a further R$1.45. (Price as of October 2013).
It's possible, after leaving the Metro or CPTM system, to board up to two
other buses without any further payment in the two-hour period that
starts from the first validation, depending on whether you boarded one
or two buses before entering a train.
Note that the discounts do not typically apply to intermunicipal buses
(usually in blue color and operated by the EMTU company), although
there are some exceptions.

By metr and train:
The rail network, composed of metro (subway) and surface trains, is the
method of transportation a tourist is likely to use the most while visiting
So Paulo.
The metro is modern, safe, clean and efficient; the quality of surface
trains varies, but those in more touristic areas area as good as the metro.
The three companies operating the rail network are Metr,
CPTM and ViaQuatro.
These are the lines that are most likely to be useful to a visitor:
Line 1 (Blue): The first metro line built runs from North to South,
passing through the Historical Center. Tiet and Jabaquara bus terminals
are also reachable through via Line 1 (Blue). Operated by Metr.
Line 2 (Green): The Green line runs from West to East, passing through
Avenida Paulista. Operated by Metr.
Line 3 (Red): One of So Paulo's busiest lines, it runs from West to East
(north of Line 2 (Green), and far more extensive), passing through the
Historical Center. The Barra Funda bus terminal is on the west end of
this line. Operated by Metr.
Line 4 (Yellow): Connects the Historical Center to the West (mostly
south of Line 2 (Green)), passing through Avenida Paulista. It will be fully
operating in 2012. Operated by ViaQuatro.
Line 9 (Emerald): Runs from North to South (west of Line 1 - Blue),
crossing the entire West. Operated by CPTM.

Surface trains can also be used to reach a number of other cities in the
metropolitan area of So Paulo and even beyond. The fee is the same,
make some of these trips incredible cheap depending on where you want
to go.

Metro of Sao Paulo -
http://www.metro.sp.gov.br/en/your-trip/index.aspx

Fare and hours of operation:
If you don't have a Bilhete nico smart card (see above), trains uses a
simple flat-price ticketing scheme - you can get only one-trip tickets,
which cost R$3.00, and allows you to go as far as you wish. Free train
transfers appear as white links in the map; paid transfers as black links
The single tickets can be bought at the counters or automatic machines,
which can be found in every station.
Buying multiple tickets will not save you money but will save time
locating a vending machine or waiting time in line, which can both be
bothersome. If you plan to take buses together with trains, using a
Bilhete nico is highly recommended.
Typical operating hours for trains are Sunday to Friday, from 4:30 AM-
midnight (or 1 AM Sat.) or, depending on the station, up to 12:40 AM.

Connections on the network operated by Metr are guaranteed only for
boardings before midnight (1 AM Sat.), regardless of the station. Check
the operating companies' website for more updated information.
Peak hours:
Daily use of public transport may be quite stressful to Paulistanos; many
take more than 2 hours to get to work or school!
As consequence, manners are often left aside on train and metro, and on
peak hours, pushes are common. When boarding, walk as far as possible
into the train after the door opens, and if you wish to wait for the next
train, step outside of the boarding area immediately. Otherwise, you may
end up being forcefully pushed into the train.
Inside of the train, it is not uncommon to have a lot of people blocking
the way to the door, even if they are not leaving the train in the next
station. Unless it is a hub station, politely ask Vai descer aqui? which
means Are you going to step out here? to make people move on for you
to get out.
As weird (or stupid) as it may seem, Paulistanos do not typically wait for
people to get out of the train before getting in. If you are confronted with
a mass of people outside when stepping out, walk vigorously; otherwise
they may end up pushing you back.
Do remember to keep on the right side of a metr escalator in order to
give way to other people in a hurry - you may be pushed aside if just
standing on the left side of it, especially on the busiest hours. Also,
should you sit in the assento reservado (reserved seats), be kind enough
to give them up for the elderly, pregnant women, parents with babies
and disabled people.

By bus:
Buses are the most popular way to get around the city. Even though
drivers really step on it through the bumpy streets of So Paulo, buses
are not the fastest way to get around. In addition, they can get really
crowded. However, unlike the metro/train, they do reach every
neighborhood.
Tickets are R$3.00 one-way. (Price as of October 2013). You can pay for
the ride inside the bus, or use a Bilhete Unico card topped up with credits
before boarding. If paying for the ticket on the bus, simply hand over the

money to the teller sitting by the turnstile, and he or she will let you pass
through. Note that children under 5 years old are allowed by law to slip
under the turnstile for free!
If you have the Bilhete Unicomagnetic card, then a single fare payment
allows you to take other buses for free for the next 3 hours after touching
in the card. Simply scan the card in front of the card reader, and the
turnstile will be released.
If you are carrying large suitcases, try to avoid rush-hour traffic as buses
can become incredibly packed. It is not always wise to take the bus late
at night, especially if you find yourself all alone waiting at the bus stop -
consider calling a cab instead, or asking someone you know for a lift.

By taxi:
Taxi ranks in So Paulo are white, with a distinctive luminous green
"TAXI" sign on the rooftop. Check out for the white color of the taxi rank
(unless it's a radio taxi), the official license sticker with the driver's name
and photo on the passenger side of the control panel, and the red license
plate.
There are two kinds of cabs: cheaper street-hail and radio taxi. White
taxis are often found at stands near city squares and big venues.
Radio taxis can be ordered by telephone; ask reception at your hotel for
help to call a radio cab, or just call a company. Some companies, such as
the radio taxi company Sao Paulo Airport Transfers, now provide an on-
line, fixed price, quote and booking service.
Taxis in So Paulo are relatively expensive compared to other large cities
worldwide and, depending on the neighborhood, there is a risk of being
overcharged if you're a foreigner. To check taxi fares in advance, check
out http://precodotaxi.com/sao-paulo/ (in Portuguese).
*Not all of Sao Paulo's city cabbie drivers accept credit cards.
Keep some small bank notes of Reais R$50, R$20, R$10, R$5 and R$2 in
your pocket. Real (R$) is the Brazilian Currency (the plural "Reais"), and
some coins. Take care of your belongings.
You will also be charged if you put your suitcases in the trunk of the taxi
(only a little money).

You may have heard otherwise, but incidents of tourists being brought to
areas by taxis specifically to be robbed are extremely rare. Taxis are one
of the safest ways to get around the city, and certainly much safer than
riding your own car if you are only in the city for a few days.

Regular legal cabbie of So Paulo City.
By Car:

The Marginals, are the freeways along Tiet and Pinheiros rivers,
connect all 8 regions of the city.
Cars are an important tool in the life of every paulistano. By commuting
to and from work, one can spend several hours a day inside a car, stuck
in the traffic. Some places can only be reached by car, and if you have to
travel long distances in town, it is usually the most convenient means of
transport. It is also part of the Sao Paulo's own urban culture.
It is common for some middle- and upper-class young people to receive a
car from their families if they passed the entrance exams for university.
However, as it is the case in many big cities, getting around by car is
borderline crazy if you're not used to So Paulo. Traffic can be chaotic
and parking is a nightmare. It is also not so straightforward to find your
way in certain neighborhoods where streets can get windy. So be
warned that visitors to Sao Paulo don't really need a car.

If you're comfortable enough to challenge yourself and feel more like
a paulistano, feel free to explore the city from behind a steering wheel.
There is some information about driving in town that you should know
beforehand:
Rotating transit policy (Rodzio): In order to reduce the congestion and
the air pollution in Sao Paulo, the city council has adopted a mandatory
rotating transit policy: cars whose license plate number ends in 1 and 2
cannot circulate on Mondays; if it ends on 3 or 4, Tuesday is off; 5 or 6,
stay home or take a cab on Wednesdays; 7 or 8, Thursday is the unlucky
day; 9 or 0, on Fridays you can walk.
The prohibition is valid only on the so-called Expanded Center (blue
street plates with grey bottom stripe), and for peak hours: 7AM-10AM
and 5PM-8PM. During the remaining hours, cars are allowed to circulate
freely.
Provisory driving license: Being able to drive around the city is a great
advantage for visitors staying in town for a longer period of time. You'll
need a Brazilian provisory driving license, valid for 6 months and
renewable, that can be obtained at Detran (State Transit Department),
on Avenida do Estado 900, near the Armnia metro station (blue line),
tel. (11) 3322-3333.
If you have an International Driving License, you'll still have to go to
Detran and register it. Submit the following documents to Setor de
Atendimento ao Estrangeiro (th floor of the main building, also
called prdio principal):
Your original valid driving license from your home country
and a photocopy of your license.
An original ID document and a photocopy of a valid leave to
remain in Brazil (passport with a valid visa or stamp).
Translation of the driving license by a sworn translator or
your country's Consulate in Brazil.
A document (such as a utility bill, a bank statement or a letter
from your landlord) proving your local residential address.
Drinking: Please be aware that, according to the national transit
authority laws, it is illegal to drink and drive. Even tiny traces of alcohol
detected in your blood (0.2g per litre, or the equivalent of a glass of

wine) are enough for the police to apprehend the driving license, apply a
fine of around USD 600 and prosecute the drinking driver.
The police will often search for drivers that seem to be under the effects
of alcohol in large avenues and areas with an active nightlife - locals refer
to these kinds of searches as a blitz.
Parking fees: (Zona Azul or "Blue Zone"): The city council charges a
parking fee of R$2 for one-hour parking in some of the main streets in
the central area, so be careful not to be fined for not paying the charge.
Check for signs in the sidewalk and yellow lines on the pavement. There
are plenty of authorized shops, newspaper stands and transit guards
selling parking tickets (Zona Azul) in the streets, which have to be filled
in with the car plaque number, the date and the hour of the parking and
placed inside the car, on the frontal window pane.
These tickets are valid for one hour only, but they can be renewed if you
plan to stay longer. Only two one-hour tickets can be placed at one time,
which means that you'll have to check on your car every two hours to
renew them. The fee is charged Mon-Sat 7AM-7PM, and charging hours
may vary across neighborhoods.
Driving at night: Buses stop at 1AM and the metro around midnight, so
it can be tricky to get to many of the famous bars and night clubs unless
you take a taxi, or you can drive.
If you go out at night by car, expect to pay a small fee to unofficial "car
keepers" in order to park your car along the streets.
This is a common use in many busy outing hubs around town, which may
seem unfair given that parking your car in the streets is free of charge
after 7PM, but they occasionally may check your car against stereo
robbers. If the neighborhood seems a bit dodgy or deserted, try to find a
parking lot rather than parking in the streets.
Valet services: Most bars and restaurants offer non-compulsory parking
and valet services to customers, for which you will be charged a fee (it
might be as costly as R$ 25 in upscale places). These services are often
covered by insurance, nevertheless, whenever using valet service, do not
leave valuables such as handbags, wallets, electronics and sunglasses in
the car, as these items are usually not covered by the insurance policies
in parking spaces.

Fuel: At petrol filling stations, you'll notice that ethanol is as common as
traditional fuels in the pumps. That is because, after the oil shocks in the
1970s, the Brazilian government encouraged carmakers to develop and
improve the existent ethanol-fueled engines.
This policy, applied over the years, has resulted in a large number of
people choosing to buy this type of car. Ethanol tends to be cheaper than
petrol, but the consumption in litres is around 30 percent higher.
Many flex-power cars can now be fueled with either ethanol or gas, or a
mixture of both in any proportion. Staff in petrol stations will fill in the
tank for you, so you don't even need to step out of the car, unless if
you're paying by credit card, in which case you will need go to the
cashier to swipe it.
By bicycle:

Cycleway Marginal Pinheiros, with 21.2 km, is the longest of So Paulo.
So Paulo is definitely not one of the easiest places in the World around
by bike. Most drivers respect cyclists, but unfortunately, there are also
many drivers (including bus drivers) who don't. Most of the city is flat or
moderately steep, with only the extreme north part of the city being
extremely hilly.

The basic "survival tips" are: use a helmet, follow the direction of traffic
at all times, watch out for car doors opening without warning, never ride
in freeways, and use a cycleway whenever possible.
Cyclists with bicycles are allowed in the metro/train network at the
following times:
In the metro (Metr/Via Quatro): Monday-Friday starting
from 8:30, PM Saturday starting from 2:00 PM, Sundays and
Holidays the whole day
In surface trains (CPTM): Saturday starting from 14:00,
Sundays and Holidays the whole day
There are public bicycle parking lots in many metro stations (6:00 AM-
10:00PM daily), and in some it is also possible to borrow a bike using a
credit card. Check the Metr website for an up-to-date list of stations
with infrastructure for bicycles.
Parking lots (mainly the ones designed for cars) may not accept your
bicycle; so if you are to chain yours to a pole, use a good chain with a
strong lock. In metro/train stations, cyclists are allowed to put their
bicycles on escalators to go up, but not to go down.
So Paulo has about 55 km of cycleways. On Sundays, it is also possible
to use the Ciclofaixa de Lazer. The cycleways that cover more than one
region are listed below; others are described in the individual district
sections.
Cycleway Marginal Pinheiros: This cycleway runs between Cidade
Universitrio to Jurubatuba train stations. The longest cycleway of So
Paulo, running in the east shore of the Pinheiros River and linking the
West, South Central and Far South regions.
Offers very nice views of the city, although the bad smell of the river may
take some time to cope. The only problem of the cycleway is that it is
isolated from the city by a train line and a motorway, so it is only
possible to enter and leave the cycleway at specific points. 21.2 km.

Cycleway Radial Leste: This cycleway runs between Tatuap to
Corinthians-Itaquera train/metro stations. It goes from the middle of the
Southeast to the middle of the Far East regions, running in parallel with
the Line 3-Red metro line and the Radial Leste Avenue. The cycleway

gives an extensive view of suburban residential areas in So Paulo's East
region. 12 km.

On foot: Although required by the national transit law, pedestrians are
definitely not the priority in Sao Paulo, where cars dominate the streets
and roads. Take care whenever crossing the streets, watching out for
cars that may come unexpectedly, even when the pedestrian lights are
green. Do not try to cross large roads with high volumes of traffic.
Usually there will be a pedestrian viaduct or bridge at some point in the
sidewalk. Despite the aggressiveness found in the transit, one can still
have peaceful walks across town.

The Historic Center area and Avenida Paulista are definitely places to be
explored on foot. Check the individual district listings for other nice
walks.

What to see in So Paulo?
Avenida Paulista:

Avenida Paulista (Paulista Avenue) is one of So Paulo's most popular
postcards, as it is the pride of Paulistanos.
It is one of the largest business centers, and probably the largest cultural
region in the city. Its architectural contrast reflects the fact that the
avenue is located between the "old" and "new" parts of the city.
The avenue and its surroundings, such as Rua Augusta, Alameda Santos
and Rua Oscar Freire, contain numerous shop galleries, art galleries,
theatres, movie theaters, pubs, hotel, coffee shops, bookstores, and
gourmet restaurants. Gay nightlife is intense on Consolacao and
Haddock Lobo Streets.
Historic Center:

So Paulo Downtown, Vale do Anhangaba.
So Paulo's Historic Center met a period of degradation, but it is
gradually recovering with recent projects and investments.
Even though it still has some problems, it is an area that is not to be
missed due to its historical and cultural value for the city. Here you can

find many constructions and landmarks from glorious moments of So
Paulo's history, ridiculously crowded commercial areas, and a multitude
of theatres and cultural activities.
Regarded as an "ugly and gray concrete jungle" even by many
Paulistanos, So Paulo's city center indeed does not conform to a
standard definition of "beauty", but nonetheless, it has become a source
of inspiration for countless artists and photographers who can see on it
much of the personality of the city.
Parks:
Although So Paulo is commonly associated with gray, concrete, and lack
of green space, the Atlantic rainforest still covers large portions of the
city and even of the municipality. These green areas are constantly under
threat by irregular occupation, so the government has turned many of
them into public parks in order to better protect them.
Parks in the city can be divided into three types:
Leisure parks are those with plenty of recreational, sport and cultural
facilities, but do not contain considerable amounts of original vegetation.

Parque do Ibirapuera: (see So Paulo/South Central) is certainly the
most famous park of this type in the city, hosting various museums,
monuments, and cultural activities. Free Admission.

Ibirapuera Park: (Portuguese: Parque Ibirapuera) Ibirapuera is a major
urban park in So Paulo, Brazil. It has a large area for leisure, jogging and
walking, as well as a convention center. Its importance to So Paulo is
comparable to that of the Central Park to New York City. The Ibirapuera is
one of Latin America largest city parks, together with Chapultepec Park, in
Mexico City and Simn Bolvar Park in Bogota.(Source: Wikipedia)
Ecotourism parks: These are parks which are mostly covered by the
Atlantic rainforest and other natural ecosystems, and contain limited
recreational facilities. They are suited for those seeking an adventure.
These include:
Parque Estadual da Cantareira (Northeast)
APA Capivari-Monos (Far South)
Parque Estadual do Jaragu (Northwest)

Mixed parks: These are a mix between the two above types: they have
both leisure facilities and preserved nature areas. They are a nice option
if you think that nature is best enjoyed with the company of other
people, or if you want to do something more relaxing and less
adventurous.
These include Parque do Carmo, Parque Ecolgico do Tiet (Far East)
and Horto Florestal (Northeast).
Check the individual district listings for a more comprehensive list of
parks and more detailed information.

Museums and cultural centers

Museu do Ipiranga (Museu Paulista da USP).
Usually the Museums in Sao Paulo are closed on Monday. As the art
center of the country, So Paulo offers innumerous museums and
cultural centers.
Two museums that are not be missed, due to their size, architecture, and
historical importance, are:
Museu do Ipiranga (in the Southeast)
Address: Avenida Nazar, s/n - Ipiranga - So Paulo.
Appreciators of art should also check
Museu de Arte de So Paulo (Paulista), at Trianon Station
(Subway).
Address: Avenida Paulista, 1578 - Bela Vista, So Paulo - SP, 01310-200.
Phone: +55 11 3251-5644

MASP Museu de Arte de So Paulo:

Memorial da Amrica Latina (in the West): The Latin America
Memorial is a cultural, political and leisure complex, inaugurated in
1989, in So Paulo.
Address: Avenida Auro Soares de Moura Andrade, 664 - Barra Funda,
So Paulo - SP, 01156-001

Pinacoteca do Estado (Downtown):

Address: Praa da Luz, 2 - Luz, So Paulo - 01120-010.
Phone: +55 11 3324-1000

Instituto Tomio Ohtake, Museu de Arte Contempornea (West)

Address: R. Corop, 88 - Pinheiros, So Paulo - SP, 05426-010.
Phone: +55 11 2245-1900

Panoramic views
So Paulo is a beautiful city seen from above, so spare some time to go to
one of the few points where you'll be able to see how far this city extends
to, especially at sunset.
Torre do Banespa (Banespa Tower): The observation deck is on the
34th floor, 160 m above ground. For many decades, it used to be the
highest building in town. There is a small museum on the top of the
building." Make sure and bring ID (passport) because it is required for
entrance. Free entrance.

Address: Rua Joo Brcola, 24, Centro- So Bento Metr station.
Phone: +55(11) 3249-7180.
Hours: Mon-Fri, 10 AM- 5 PM.

The Jaw-dropping view of Sao Paulo - Terrao Itlia Restaurant
The restaurant has delicious pasta and great atmosphere. It is located on
the 42nd floor of the Italia Building, so you have a wonderful view of the
city.
The restaurant is beautiful, it shows its age but is very well maintained.
Take the elevator to the top of the building and enjoy the amazing view,
which is jaw-dropping. The Piano Bar is a good place to start off, as it does
not require reservation, it is a very good for waiting area until the main
room opens. Arrive early and ask to be notified when your table is ready.
The service is really good and attentive. It is really nice to see that they have
retrieved your car while you were taking the elevators down to the lobby. It
is pricey but totally worth the money.
Address: Avenida Ipiranga, 344 - Repblica, So Paulo - SP, 01046-010 -
Phone: +55 11 2189-2929
http://www.terracoitalia.com.br/ing/index.html (Site in English, Portuguese,
Spanish and Italian).

Special places
Restaurant Skye: Hotel Unique, Avenida Brigadeiro Luiz Antnio,
4700. On the rooftop of posh Hotel Unique, Skye serves excellent fusion
food under the supervision of the Chef Emmanuel Bassoleil. Good for
night views of the area around Ibirapuera Park.

So Paulo Jockey Club: There are two bars and a couple of posh
restaurants with a great view of the River Pinheiros, especially around
6PM, when you can go straight from work or a busy day walking about to
watch the sun set above town.

Address: Av. Lineu de Paula Machado, 1263.

Theaters and Concert Halls
The two most important concert and opera houses of the city are:
Teatro Municipal: In the Old City
Address: Praa Ramos de Azevedo, Centro, So Paulo - SP,
01037-010. Phone: +55 11 3397-0300

Sala So Paulo: The Julio Prestes Cultural Center, which is located in
the Julio Prestes Train Station in the old north central section of the city
of So Paulo.

Address: Praa Jlio Prestes, 16 - Campos Elsios, So Paulo - SP, 01218-
020,- Luz Station (Subaway).
Phone:+55 11 3367-9500.

So Paulo has a great number of theaters, most of which feature plays in
Portuguese.
The British Cultural Centre, Goethe Institute, Instituto Cervantes and
Alliance Franaise occasionally have plays in English, German, Spanish
and French, respectively; check individual District listings.

Leisure
Ciclofaixa de Lazer: Now it is possible to safely cycle in the city during
Sundays and holidays, using the Ciclofaixa de Lazer. It is a 45 km route
that passes mainly through middle and high class residential areas in the
West and South Central parts of So Paulo, passing also through cycling-
friendly parks such as Parque Villa-Lobos and Parque do Ibirapuera.

Fun for the Family:
Both adults and kids are ensured to have fun by seeing the animals in
the So Paulo Zoo.

Address: Avenida Miguel Estfano, 4241 Sade So Paulo.
Phone: (11) 5073 0811.

Simba Safri: With animals and vegetation from Africa. Closed on
Monday.

Address: Rua Cursino, 6338- Vila Moraes So Paulo.
Phone: (11) 2336 2131 - 2336 2132.

Watch Football (Soccer)
Football is an inherent part of Brazilian culture, and So Paulo is no
exception, being home of four football teams that generally run in the 1st
division: So Paulo, Corinthians, Palmeiras and Portuguesa.

The four large football stadiums in the city are:
1. Morumbi
2. Parque Antarctica
3. Pacaembu
4. Canind

Arena Corinthians or Itaquero is the newest stadium of So Paulo. It is
almost done in the So Paulo/Far East region, and it will host the
opening of the FIFA World Cup 2014.

A word of warning, however: although most matches are safe and fun
events, games between the biggest local rivals have had episodes of
violence flaring up (the majority of cases, such incidents happening
outside of the stadium), due to a minority of violent fans (ultras). Going
to such games can be a risky proposition.

City tours
So Paulo Historical City Tour: This tour is a panoramic tour for
those keen to have an introduction to the history, culture, and the
lifestyle of the biggest city in the Southern Hemisphere.
The city tour takes about 3 hours, during which the visitor will pass by
places in So Paulo Old Centre and get familiar with highlights such as
the Cathedral of S, Ptio do Colgio (short stop at the square, the site
where the city was founded), Monastery of So Bento, the Banespa
Building (So Paulos Empire State Building), Martinelli Building (the
first skyscraper in South America), Viaduto do Ch (Tea Viaduct), the
Municipal Theater, Sala So Paulo concert hall, Estaao da Luz train
station and the Municipal Market.
They also have tours to the Zoo and Simba Safri.

Phone: +55 11 3875-6512
Mobile: +55 11 98426-6880
E-mail: sptours@sptours.com
http://www.sptours.com.br/city-tours-sao-paulo.html

SP Up Close: This tour is run by Americans who love So Paulo and
have experienced the ins and outs of the city and are able to showcase
the best of the local flavors. SP Up Close operates Culture, Architecture,
Shopping, Food & Custom Tours to meet any visitor's needs. The price of
their Tours includes transportation, snacks & drinks.
http://spupclose.com/faq/
Email: info@spupclose.com

Learn Portuguese in So Paulo
There are a number of language schools where you can learn Portuguese,
for as short as two weeks or for a longer period of time. These include
both private lessons and classes with more students.
Polilnguas: Alameda Ira, 620, Cj. 114. Phone: +55(11) 5051-
7162 (contato@polilinguas.com.br).
Alumni: Rua Padre Joo Manoel, 319. Phone: +55(11) 5644-9700.
University of So Paulo (USP): Ave Prof. Luciano Gualberto, n 403
(Prdio de Letras) - Sala 263, Cidade Universitaria. Phone: +55(11)
3091-4851 (clinguas@edu.usp.br).
Unio Cultural Brasil-Estados Unidos: Rua Teixeira da Silva, 540.
Phone: +55(11) 3885-1022.
Senac So Paulo: Rua Dr. Plinio Barreto, 285, 4 andar, Jardins.
Phone: +55(11) 2182-6900 (novedejulho@sp.senac.br, fax: +55(11)
2182-6941).
Cultura Espanhola: Rua Pamplona, 818 3 andar Cj 32 (Metr Trianon
Masp). Phone: +55(11) 3266-5855. www.culturaespanhola.com.br

Shopping

You can find practically anything in So Paulo. Imported goods can be
expensive, but look out for Brazilian-made bargains in all categories.
Spend some time in one of the many "shoppings" (as Brazilians call the
shopping malls) and also look out for areas with shops catering for
specific interests.
Remember that street shops usually operate 10AM-6PM, including
Saturdays (when they close earlier), but are closed on Sundays. The
countless shopping malls operate Mon-Sat 10AM-10PM and Sun 10AM-
8PM.

Central shopping areas

Shopping street in So Paulo Downtown.
Avenida Paulista and Rua Augusta (Paulista) form a smooth transition
between the popular commerce of Downtown and the affluent
commerce of Rua Oscar Freire.
Shopping Malls:

Paulistanos, especially those with higher income, have an indoor
shopping culture. The fear of criminality, traffic and So Paulo's
unpredictable weather are strong factors to this.
Shopping malls in So Paulo are not only centers of "shopping" but also
leisure areas, typically offering spaces for kids, cinemas, food courts, and
sometimes even theatres, expositions, and sport areas. Many shopping
malls in So Paulo also offer miscellaneous services such as banks,
laundry, repairs, and sometimes even police stations and doctors.
The selection of shops of a mall depends on the type of public
predominant in the surroundings: at shopping malls located at working
class neighborhoods, it is easier to find bargain department stores, while
shopping malls in wealthy areas may be the only way to have access to
exclusive designer stores. Check the individual district listings for a
comprehensive list of shopping malls in the city.

Some shopping malls that deserve special mention are:
Morumbi/Market Place: A mall containing more than 600 shops and
dozens of restaurants.
Address: Avenida Roque Petroni Junior, 1089 - Vila Gertrudes.

Eldorado: This mall contains an immense food court.
Address: Av. Rebouas, 3.970- Pinheiros.

Iguatemi: The oldest shopping mall of So Paulo, with very upscale
profile.
Address: Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 2232, Jardim Paulistano, So
Paulo.

Aricanduva: The city's largest and most famous working class shopping
mall.
Address: Avenida Aricanduva, 5555 - Vila Aricanduva, So Paulo -
03527-900.

Frei Caneca: The favorite of the LGBT public.
Address: Rua Frei Caneca, 569 Consolao.

Costs
So Paulo has the highest cost of living in the Americas, and it's the 10th
most expensive city in the world, according to the Mercer Worldwide Cost
of Living 2011 Survey. However, it should be remarked that such
rankings are based on averages, which hardly describe a city as huge and
with so many contrasts as So Paulo.
It is absolutely possible to enjoy the city's attractions while spending a
moderate amount of cash in both accommodations and food. For
example, a set meal with drinks included, in a reasonably good place is
around R$43. Ask locals for tips how to make the best out of your money
if you're on a tight budget.

Where eat in So Paulo?

Virado Paulista, a typical dish from the state of So Paulo.
So Paulo is home to a superb diversity of restaurants and cuisines,
where you can enjoy typical dishes from literally all over the world.
The price range is as wide as the diversity of the restaurants in the city,
from cheap snacks and meals in simple and cozy restaurants and food
tents in popular markets, to the hugely expensive high end cuisine and
internationally recognized restaurants, such as D.O.M, which was (in
2012) elected the 4th best restaurant in the World and the best in South
America by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Restaurante D.O.M.:
Address: Rua Baro de Capanema, 549 - Cerqueira Csar, So Paulo Zip
Code:01411-011.
Phone: +55 11 3088-0761

The city is also home to a vast array of Brazilian and international fast-
food chains, offering varying options ranging from burgers, to sushi and
kebab. The fast-food chain Habib's, which originated in So Paulo, is the
favorite of lower class Paulistanos due to its cheap "Arab-Brazilian"
snacks.

In So Paulo, the ever-present beans-and-rice accompaniment typically
involves brown beans instead of black beans, as in Rio.
Another typical food in So Paulo is the Virado Paulista, which
consists of rice, tutu de feijo (a paste of beans and manioc flour;
sometimes made of corn flour, in order to be drier than the manioc flour
one), sauted collard greens (couve) and pork chops, typically bisteca.
This dish is usually accompanied by pork rinds, bits of sausage, a fried
egg and a fried banana.
Another typical type of restaurant in So Paulo, are the world
famous churrascarias, where an enormous range of meats and cuts are
delivered to your table. They also offer a range of sides and salads. In
those places, you can eat as much as you want, paying a single fee whose
price range may vary from R$45 to R$115 (Prices as of December 2013).
This system is called rodzio, and it has been very successful in the city,
spreading to other types of cuisine like Italian, where you can find
the rodzio de pizza and Japanese, with the rodzio de sushi.
The cuisine of So Paulo shows the influence of European, Middle
Eastern and Asian immigrants. The majority of immigrants in So Paulo
arrived from Italy, and other European countries like Portugal, Spain and
Germany.
There are also large numbers of Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants
from Japan, Lebanon and many other nationalities.
Therefore, it is possible to find a wide array of cuisines in the city of So
Paulo. Pizza is a particularly popular dish, which can be found with and
endless range of toppings, and paulistas will swear their city has the best
pizza in the country, if not in the world.
When eating out, a tip of 10 percent on the value of the bill is usually
included. Some restaurants don't include this service charge (when you
may come across the message "Servio no incluso" at the end of the
bill), but unless the staff is upsettingly rude you should pay the
standard 10 percent tip, as it is usually part of their wages.
So Paulo has thousands restaurants, here there is a list of the ten best
restaurants, in according with The Guardian. I also recommend them:

Restaurante Figueira Rubaiyat:
A large and elegant restaurant where you get to eat in an outdoor
environment while still being indoors! The dining room is built around
an enormous fig tree and huge branches have been glassed in. This
restaurant is known for its inventive architecture and interesting food.
They server very good fish and seafood (including Brazilian fish like the
Tucunar, Tambaqui and Pirarucu) plus serious steaks. A traditional
feijoada - the heavy pork and black bean stew that is the national dish - is
the special on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Very slick service and upper-
middling prices.

Address: Rua Haddock Lobo, 1738, (Jd. Paulista),
Phone: +55 11 3087 1399
http://www.rubaiyat.com.br/figueira/

Speranza:
It is said that every day a million pizzas are eaten in So Paulo and when
you've seen the number and variety of pizza houses it rings true.
Speranza opened its doors over 50 years ago and is still the pizza place of
choice for discerning Paulistas. The margherita is the house specialty
but everything stands up - good value and good pizzas fresh from the
ovens.
Address: Rua 13 de Maio 1004, +55 11 3288 8502
Sky Bar, Unique Hotel:
The Unique Hotel is shaped like a giant boat. The brave architecture and
design are a feature of Brazil and this imposing building is truly striking.
Take the lift to the roof and the Sky bar for some research into the
caipirinha - Brazil's most famous cocktail. There's an amazing terrace
complete with loungers, a pool and a stunning view of the city. At the
heart of the true caipirinha is cachaa - a vicious spirit made from sugar
cane. The Sky bar also makes a variant of the famed cocktail using sake,
but it's not as strong or as good as the original.
Address: Av. Brigadeiro Luis Antonio 4700,
Phone: +55 11 3055 4710
http://www.hotelunique.com.br/

Tenda do Nilo:
This place is very much off the beaten track, a small family-run
restaurant serving Arabic food. Good dips. Good bread. Good chopped
salads. They serve the most amazing falafel - impressively light and
digestible. Also fatte, a Lebanese dish combining mince, chick peas,
bread and yogurt. Accompany these delicacies with a cold beer. You will
experience charmingly bossy service from the lady of the house. This
restaurant is great value.

Address: Rua Coronel Oscar Porto 638, +55 11 3885 0460
Dalva e Dito:
This bright and ambitious new restaurant only opened in January, so it is
still a fledgling enterprise. D.e.D is the brainchild of Alex Atala (of the
highly respected D.O.M. which made it into Restaurant magazine's 50
Best Restaurants in the World list) and Chef Alain Poleto.
Their culinary mission is to take traditional Brazilian home cooking and
refine it. So you may be served a moqueca (an Afro-Brazilian casserole)
containing fresh fish and shellfish cooked in palm oil and coconut milk -
very rich and very creamy. Or an ultra-slow cooked saddle of lamb -
exceptionally tender. What about a chocolate and priprioca mousse?
Priprioca is an Amazonian root that tastes rather like patchouli.
This is an upscale restaurant (with prices to match) serving the kind of
food that would earn a Michelin star or two if it were sited in Europe.
Address: Rua Padre Joo Manuel, 1.115 (Jardins)
Phone: +55 11 3068-4444 /3062 6282,
http://www.dalvaedito.com.br/

Benjamin Abraho Bakery:
Most mornings, Paulistas wander down to the bakery for a coffee and a
little something. There are several branches of the Benjamin Abraho
bakery but the one in the fashionable Jardins district has a particularly
pretty first-floor terrace. Linger over really good coffee and juices,
pastries and croissants - the cheese croissant is particularly popular.
Friendly service.

Address: Rua Jose Maria Lisboa, 1.397, Jardins,
Phone: +55 11 3061 4004,
http://www.benjaminabrahao.com.br

Restaurante Fasano:
For over a century, the Fasano family has been at the heart of the
hospitality industry in So Paulo. Now they have a number of hotels and
restaurants across Brazil. Their boutique hotel on the Rua Vittorio
Fasano is relentlessly chic and the hotel of choice for supermodels
attending SP fashion week in January. The restaurant occupies a
cavernous room and is very formal. Expect classic Italian pasta dishes;
fine wines; sophisticated service and a large bill!

Address: Rua Vittorio Fasano 88, 0114-020, (Jd. Paulista),
Phone: +55 11 3062 4000
http://www.fasano.com.br/

Frang:
This bar/restaurant is five or six kilometers from the center of town but
it is worth the journey. It specializes in beer, and there are over 250
different brews to choose from. Try some of the Brazilian beers from
small local breweries like the Colorado Indica IPA.
Then dig into the snacks which are legendary: the house special is the
coxinha - a small, pear- shaped croquette with a crisp outside and
mixture of chicken and cheese within. Also the "poro de torresmo" -
freshly fried pork rinds! A very friendly place with nice prices.

Frang

Address: Largo da Matriz Nossa Sra do , 168 Freguesia do .
Phone: +55 11 3932 4818, 3931-4281
http://www.frangobar.com.br/

Consulado Mineiro:
Brazil is an enormous country with various distinct cuisines. This small
and very busy restaurant celebrates the cooking of the state of Minas
Gerais. Huge dishes (they are mainly for two people to share) come to
table with traditional accompaniments.
During the weekend, look out for rabada com agrio - this is a mega-rich
stew based on oxtail and watercress served with a corn porridge that is a
first cousin to polenta. Beware, this restaurant stocks 97 different
cachaas!
Located at 3 Addresses:
Rua Cnego Eugnio Leite n 504 - Delivery: 9.
3476.9556
Praa Benedito Calixto n 74 - Phone: 0.055 0.
Rua Professor Arthur Ramos n 187 - Fone: 0.9 .05

http://www.consuladomineiro.com.br

Kinoshita:
There are 1.5 million people of Japanese origin living in SP so it should
come as no surprise that there are hundreds of Japanese restaurants,
from excellent cheap sushi joints to high-end places like this one.
Kinoshita has won numerous Brazilian accolades and operates at the
very highest level. If you want a benchmark, think Nobu, and were this
restaurant in Europe it would certainly be Michelin starred. The more
cutting edge dishes like seared foie gras - are underpinned by ultra-
fresh, ultra-traditional nigiri sushi and whisper-thin crisp tempura. The
presentation is elegant in the extreme - for once you really do get a
"picture on each plate". Expensive, but worth it.

Address: Rua Jacques Felix, 405 - Zip Code: 04509-000.
Phone: +55 11 3849-6940
http://restaurantekinoshita.com.br

(Source: The Guardian Travel:
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/feb/24/sao-paulo-food-
drink-restaurants)

Where drink in So Paulo?
driving.

Vila Olmpia, is one of So Paulo's main nightlife areas.
You will have no trouble finding bars in So Paulo, where you can enjoy
an ice-cold beer, a shot of cachaa or a caipirinha - or anything else for
that matter.
A chopp (a 300 ml glass of draught beer) will set you back between R$5
and R$12 (in extreme cases), depending on the bar, but anything around
R$6, R$8 is fine. Vila Madalena and Itaim have a very high concentration
of bars, and are great spots for an all-nighter. For specific suggestions of
bars, check the district section.

Clubs
This city has an unbelievably rich and diverse night life, and is able to
provide entertainment for all tastes, from traditional samba-rock live

music to electro-pop night clubs, raves and even some fetish clubs. It is
worth planning at least one night out while you're in town.
On the other hand, So Paulo's nightlife can be quite expensive; most
clubs charge an entrance fee. Usually, entrance hovers around R$25, but
they can be over R$250 (US$145) in some upscale places.
The main areas for nightlife in the city are Vila Olmpia, Vila Madalena,
and Barra Funda (West), Moema (South Central), Tatuap and Mooca
(Southeast), and Santana (Northeast). Be sure to check the individual
District listings.
Visit vejasp.com.br or buy one of the paper editions to have the latest
clubbing updates.

Where sleep in So Paulo?
If you plan to explore the city and cannot rely on car/taxi, staying near a
Metro or train station is a very wise choice. Just be sure to avoid
degraded areas. For lists of recommended hotels in the city, see the
individual District listings. Visit the site: www.booking.com and choose
your hotel in So Paulo.
Public telephone booths can be found on almost every corner of town.
They work with phone cards only, which can be bought at any
newspaper stand. Regular phone cards allow you to make local and
national calls, but the credits fall at an incredible rate if the call is
directed to another city or to mobile phones.
There is a special phone card for international calls, so make sure you
ask the clerk for the correct one if that's the case.
The city code (also known locally as the DDD code) for So Paulo is (11),
hence local telephone numbers have the following format: +55(11)
0000-0000. If you are making local calls, the +55(11) prefix should be
dropped.
When making national calls from SP, you have the option to choose your
telephone provider: dial 0 followed by (15) Telefnica, (23) Intelig or
(21) Embratel, plus the two-digit DDD code and telephone number.

When making international calls from So Paulo to abroad, you also have
the option to choose your telephone provider: dial 00 followed by (15)
Telefnica, (23) Intelig or (21) Embratel, plus the country code and
telephone number.
To make reverse charge calls within the same city code area, dial 90 90 +
the telephone number (do not use the city code (11)).
To make reverse charge calls to other cities, dial 90 followed by (15)
Telefnica, (23) Intelig or (21) Embratel, plus the 2-digit DDD code and
the telephone number.

Internet Coffe Store
Internet cafs (also called cyber cafs or LAN houses) can be easily found
in every neighborhood.
Respect
People from Sao Paulo kiss on the right cheek once when they say hello
or goodbye and nice to meet you. Some will kiss twice, once on each
cheek, or a kiss in the air. Men kiss women on the cheek and women kiss
women as well, but two men won't give the kiss out unless they're gay or
with intimate long-time friend or family.
If you feel the occasion is a bit formal, especially on business occasions
or if you don't know the person too well, a handshake will do the job.
However, if a paulistano takes the initiative to kiss, make sure you turn
your face to the left side to avoid embarrassment.
Be safe
So Paulo, once one of the most violent cities of Brazil, has managed to
drastically reduce crime during the 2000s. Rio de Janeiro has done
similarly. According to the Sangari Institute, So Paulo was the safest
capital city of Brazil in 2011, in terms of homicide rate.
Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that a visitor can really relax about
safety, because So Paulo is simply too large and diverse to be described
by average statistics. In fact, two of the most visited areas, Downtown

and the Pinheiros subprefecture (in the West), have respectively 150%
and 50% more violent crime than the city average.
Check the individual district listings for safety advice in each area of the
city. The general advice is as follows:
Visitors should avoid walking in deserted areas at night, or at least avoid
walking alone. Buses are reasonably safe, but waiting alone at a bus stop
at night is not.
The metro is always safe, but commuter trains that go to peripheral
areas can be dangerous late at night.
Be extremely careful when using ATMs at night (or better, do not use
them if they are located in a deserted and dark places, if you really need
one, try searching in places like shopping malls, theaters and cinemas
and gas stations).
Driving can sometimes also be risky, especially when you are alone
and/or in an upscale bar/clubbing area, like Vila Madalena or Vila
Olmpia. If you are driving at night, check your surroundings when
stopping for whatever reason (even at a traffic light).
Keep your doors locked and windows closed during the night. If
possible, when going back to the hotel late, take a cab or ride with a
group of friends. During the day, keep valuable objects away from the
window (even if you are using a taxi).
Some areas can even be dangerous during the day. These include run-
down areas, like favelas and areas populated by drug addicts. The last
can be easily recognized by the presence of poorly maintained buildings,
bad odor, and dirty streets - there are many of those in the Historic
Center. Most drug addicts are harmless, but a few may resort to violence
to get money to buy their drugs.
Contrary to popular belief, poor neighborhoods in So Paulo aren't
usually dangerous, at least not more dangerous than an ordinary
neighborhood. Still, some of them can be dangerous; if you are in doubt,
don't go without the company of a local.
And naturally, every safety recommendation that applies to big cities in
general also applies to So Paulo:
Don't trust strangers, especially those who seem excessively
helpful;

Always prefer the help of an identified officer or employee
than that of a stranger;
Watch your belongings all the time in crowded streets or
public transportation;
Avoid withdrawing and carrying large amounts of money;
Avoid using expensive clothes and jewelry that make you
stand out.

Police Station

Mobile Police of Sao Paulo - They are polite and helpful with tourists,
but most of them don't speak English very well, but if you speak Spanish
it can help you.

Weather in Sao Paulo during June and July

During June and July starts a dry season in Sao Paulo. The cold weather
appears only with the winter in June 21st. Usually it doesn't rain, and
Sao Paulo looks like London due to intense fog.
Sao Paulo has a warm temperate climate with dry winters and hot
summers.
Temperature in June
The month of June is characterized by daily high temperatures around
72F throughout the month, exceeding 80F or dropping below 64F only
one day in ten.
Daily low temperatures are around 54F, falling below 48F or exceeding
61F only one day in ten.
Temperature in July
The temperature of July is characterized by the similarity with June and
also essentially constant daily high temperatures, with daily highs
around 72F throughout the month, exceeding 82F or dropping below

Daily High and Low Temperature in July.
Daily low temperatures are around 53F, falling below 46F or exceeding
Pollution and the Greenhouse Effect in Sao Paulo
If you are allergic, you must take care of your health during your travel in
Sao Paulo.
Many of the "paulistas" seem to get an intense flu that bothers everybody
around (especially in the subway). The symptoms are of sore throats
and sinus infection. This could be due to the air pollution, allergies, or
real sickness. Watch for those that dont cover their mouth/nose when
sneezing and avoid them.
The air has been drier than normal, however the humidity during June
and July increases, and thus the air pollution in Sao Paulo starts to be
worse. Every time the humidity goes down many people there get sick.
You will feel the "Greenhouse Effect" in Sao Paulo.
Bring your medicines and also a small humidifier or vaporizer.
Eucalyptus tea is awesome and relieves the nasal congestion and sinus
pressure. Eucalyptus can be drank and also vaporized carefully into the
face. You can use also the oil in the hotel tub or shower.

Beautiful places around So Paulo
The city of So Paulo is only one hour driving from the Paulista Coast,
which is a typical Brazilian region full of splendid beaches and great
seafood. The young and the old of So Paulo alike head there on the
weekends to enjoy the sand, sun and fun.
Note the telephone code changes from 11 to 12 (northern coast - So
Sebastio and remaining cities to the north) or 13 (Bertioga and
remaining cities to the south) as you travel from Greater So Paulo to the

Paulista Coast. All coded from 14 to 19 are upstate So Paulo. The rich
agricultural state offers winter destinations, upscale retreats and large
Rodeos.
In parenthesis below are the typical durations of the journey by car
(using the fastest route in good traffic conditions). During long holidays
(like Carnival and New Year) or World Cup 2014, expect it to be much
more.
Coastal Region:
Santos (1h) - Estuary city near So Paulo, home to Pel's famous football
team Santos F.C. and Brazil's most important seaport.
Santos
Guaruj (1h) - Many Paulistanos have their beach houses in this town,
which becomes packed with tourists during the summer months of
December, January and February.
Guaruj

Bertioga (2h): just NE of Santos and Guaruja, this beach town hosts a
variety of annual festivals, including a Japanese, an Italian and a Native
Brazilian. Don't miss the waterfall on the way down the mountain (via
Moji das Cruzes), as there's no access on the return trip.
Bertioga
So Sebastio (2:30h) - Second in preference for summer houses, the
beaches of So Sebastio are a mixture of rustic paradisiac nature with
first class night life. Contains one of the most famous beaches of the So
Paulo coast, Maresias.
So Sebastio

Ubatuba (3h) - Beautiful beaches are the main attraction of this place, as
well as its well-preserved nature. Hotels sometimes provide leisure
activities such as scuba diving, mountain biking and trekking. The city is
known for providing a good surfing environment.
Ubatuba
Ilha Bela (3:30h) - Accessible only from So Sebastio by ferry, it is an
archipelago with various savage beaches and ecotourism options.
Ilha Bela

Countryside:
Campos do Jordo (2h) - Charming little town in the mountains, at
1,600 m high. Well-off Paulistanos buy their winter houses in Campos do
Jordao, due in part to the famous winter classic music festival in July,
when the high season takes place in town. Many upscale club and bar
owners go up the mountain and promote events and parties at this time
of the year.

Theme parks:
Hopi Hari (1h) - A big theme park located in the city of Vinhedo, one
hour from So Paulo. It offers many rides, from those for children to the
radical ones for adults. There are various restaurants, from snacks to a
la carte. You can get there by car or shuttle buses from many places.

Address: Rodovia dos Bandeirantes Km 72.5, Moinho, Vinhedo - SP,
13280-000 Phone: +55 11 4007-1134
Wet'n Wild So Paulo (1h), Itupeva (See the Vinhedo article). A water
park of the American Wet'n Wild chain, just beside Hopi Hari, with 12
rides and many food shops.

Address: Rodovia dos Bandeirantes, Km 72 - Zona Rural, Itupeva - SP,
13295-000 Phone:+55 11 4496-8000

Things You Must See in So Paulo (city)

Praa da Repblica: An open-air market with music. Just be careful
here! It is not such a safe place, but if you want to know more about
Brazilian Street Art and also friendly sellers. Repblica Subway station
Red Line (Downtown) - Sao Paulo.

Escondidinho da Amada: There are few more agreeable ways to while
away a Saturday So Paulo afternoon than to take a turn around the
open-air market at Praa Benedito Calixto in Pinheiros. According to
paulistanos, it is one of the few places where the city loses its formality.
You can go around with a beer in hand and flip flops on your feet. The
area approaches something like the easy, street-level sociability of Rio de
Janeiro.
In the mornings, families and couples wander the second-hand stalls at
the Saturday market looking for knick-knacks, furniture and classic
second-hand samba CDs. From 2.30-6.30pm, the Chorinho na Praa in
the middle of the market is the place to hear live chorinho musicians
perform this whimsically melodic samba style as you munch on doces
caseiros homemade sweets and watch the crowd drift by.
Mid-afternoon, theres a changing of the guard as the gay contingent
arrives, and the pavements fill with groups of people hanging out,

drinking beer and chatting.
Whatever your sexual persuasion, throughout the day and into the
evening the atmosphere here is always open, relaxed and friendly. And
with the shopping done and the appetite whetted, whats called for is a
cold beer and something to eat. Which is where our handy guide to the
best bars on and around the square comes in.
If you like Art, try also Praa Benedito Calixto, in Pinheiros
neighborhood.

Inside of Escondidinho da Amada
Address: Praa Benedito Calixto 177
Phone: 55 11-3807 7628,
www.escondidinhodaamada.com.br

Trianon Park: Just across the street, in front MASP Museum.

On the weekends, it is worth visiting the "Hippie Market". You will see a
lot of street vendors selling Brazilian handmade goods, and under the
museum MASP, a lot of people selling vintage goods. It is very
interesting and highly recommended.
Avoid the Trianon Park at night time especially for tourists, pick
pockets, down-and-out males are known to frequent that park!

The best samba, feijoada and caipirinha at
Saturday afternoon in So Paulo

Bolinha Restaurante:

Address: Avenida Cidade Jardim, 53 - Jardim Europa - So Paulo
Phone: (55) 11 - 3061.2010 - 2532.3982 - 7904.2575
http://www.bolinha.com.br/ingles/

Be healthy
No vaccination is required for So Paulo, unless you are planning to
travel to central-western (Mato Grosso) or northern (Amazon) regions of
Brazil afterwards, for which you should take a shot against yellow fever,
and carry anti-malaria medication (quinine).
Tap water in So Paulo is generally safe, at least when straight from the
water supply system. However, several buildings can be lacking in the
periodic cleaning of their cisterns and water tanks (the locals themselves
tend to avoid tap water and drink bottled or filtered water instead).

Hospitals
beforehand.


Public Hospitals:
Hospital Pirajussara- Vila Clementino
R. Borges Lagoa, 783 - Vila Mariana - So Pa

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