Logistics
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Currency: Reais US$1 ≈ R$3
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Seasons: Summer Dec-Feb (40°C), Autumn March-April (30-35°C) , Winter June-Aug (25°C, rain), Spring Sept-Nov
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Main Airlines: Copa, Azul, Gol, Avianca & LATAM
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Phone Carriers: Tim & Vivo (best coverage). You can get a sim card at any street kiosk. At a phone carrier store, you need to bring your passport. You can recharge your card at nearly any pharmacy or kiosk.
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Housing Websites: Easy Quarto, Home Exchange, Guestoguest, Facebook groups
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Useful sites: OLX (Brazilian Craigslist)
- CPF: Brazilian identification card. If you’re in Brazil for a few weeks or months, definitely get a CPF, it will make your life so much easier to do just about anything like getting a sim card with a plan, a gym membership, signing up for a local supermarket card etc.
Go to a Receita Federal with your passport and say you want a CPF. It only takes a few minutes (if there’s no queue). There 2 locations: one is in Ipanema close to Posto 9, Rua Barao de Torre 296. Closest metro station: Nossa Senhora da Paz. The other location is in the Centro.
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Tourist Stay: up to 90 days (3 months) for tourists. To stay longer, you need to go the Federal police at the airport and get an extension. Otherwise, you will pay R$100 per day or $33 per day for each additional day you overstay after 90 days.
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Grocery shops: Zona Sul, Pão de Açúcar, Mundial (Mundial is the cheapest so go off-peak hours otherwise it’s mayhem)
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Gyms: Smart Fit (modern equipment for R$89.99 – $30 / monthly with an initiation cost that varies best on their promotions. I joined their gym without an initiation cost so be on the lookout for their discounts), BodyTech (very expensive, the Brazilian Equinox), Balance fitness
Apps
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99 – order a real taxi from your phone
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Cabify – another Uber but better because the they partner with big parties & events and offer 40%+ discounts on those nights with the party promo code)
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BeerorCoffee – find coworking spaces
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Gympass – get gym access
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Mude – find gyms nearby and working out classes
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MetrôFácil – plan your journey on the metro (Rio de Janeiro)
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Fogo cruzado – see where there have been shootings (This is really important to check before you plan on going on a hike in the forest or through a favela)
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Transcarioca – find hiking trails in the Floresta de Tijuca
movies
Watch these amazing films to get a better understanding of the cultural & historical context.
- Cidade de Deus
- Tropida elite 1
- Tropida elite 2
- O mecanismo (Netflix series)
Music
- Forro “foho” (for all)
- Sertanejo (sad love stories with a mix or RnB and country music)
- Funk “funki “ favela freaky dance
- Samba
- Pagode – tipo de música, when you’re sad bc you cheated on ur gf for instance. It’s a way to cultivate the pain
- Bossa nova
- MPB – Musica popular brasileira
Main Hobbies
Just about every Brazilian is a pro at one of these activities, if not all of them!
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Capoeira
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Jiu jitsu
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Samba
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Foot volley
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Altinha – soccer at the beach in circle
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Frescobol (racquetball with wooden rackets)
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Surf
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Malhar – working out
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Novelas – soap operas
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Beijar – making out
Carnaval
Carnaval There are 3 different styles of carnaval parties all happening at the same time, which usually takes place at the end of February during 1 week – officially. Unofficially, pre-carnaval blocos (street parties) starts weeks before and continue weeks after the official carnaval dates.
- Desfile: samba schools parade competition, which takes place in a designated stadium. (You need to pay to go in)
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Blocos na rua: block parties in the street (free)
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Bate bola: favela ‘gangs’ celebration (free, but you absolutely need to go with a local)
I will put out more info about Carnaval, as they’re so much to share!
Food
Here’s a compiled list of my all-time favorites, that I ate on a daily or weekly basis.
Sweet Snacks
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Churros
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Açaí com banana & sem xarope = without Guarana syrup. Most Brazilians love the syrup, but I think the Xarope de Guarana tastes really unnatural and chemical, so I always get it without.
Salty Snacks
- Pão de queijo – cheesed bread
- Pastel de camarão – shrimp with fried dough
Dishes
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Filet de frango o de peixe (grelhado o asado no forno o empanado) com arroz & feijão – basic meal: fish or chkien with rice, beans and salads
- Feijoada – beans stew with pork and sausage etc.
- Bobo de camarão – shrimp in sauce
- Moqueca – fish stew
- Salmão com molho de maracujá – salmon with passion fruit sauce
- Brocoz (brocoli com arroz) – rice with brocoli
- Xuxu (“chuchu”) – local green vegetable
Desert
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Creme o musse de maracujá – passion fruit mousse
Drinks
- Sucos naturais (de laranja, de maracujá) – natural freshly pressed juices (orange juice passion fruit juice are delicious)
- Caipirinha – cachaça (Brazilian sugar cane alcohol), crushed ice, sugar, with lots of lime
- Capivodka – a caipirinha but with vodka instead of cachaça
- Capifruta de limão, abacaxi, maracujá – cachaça or vodka, crushed ice, sugar, lemon, pineapple, passion fruit (or whatever fruit you want, they can mix it various things for you, just ask)
Here’s a complete list of all the typical Brazilian dishes you should try while you’re there!
other resources
Destinations
Events
- www.catracalivre.com.br
- www.tudus.com.br
- www.compreienaovou.com to buy second hand tickets. The name of the website means “I bought it, but I’m not going”
Expats Facebook Groups
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