Brazil Real
Brazil uses the real as its official currency. Each real is then divided into 100 centavos. The currency is issued by the Central Bank of Brazil and is issued in the form of banknotes and coins. The currency is denoted by the symbols R$ and on the international markets as BRL.
Coins are issued in the form of 1 centavo (though this is hardly ever used in reality), 5, 10, 25, 50 centavos as well as a R$1. Notes are in the form of R$2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. The R$100 notes are seen only infrequently and are not desirable to have, since you may experience real problems in terms of changing them.
The plural of real is not reals, but rather Reais.
History of the Real
The real was first introduced in Brazil as early as 1690, when it was brought in by the Portuguese who colonised this area, but even prior to that the Dutch had issued reals when they occupied part of Brazil in the 1850's.
Interestingly, when the real came into being, it was not divided into centavados, but simply the real.
In 1942, the Brazilian currency switched over to the cruzeiro. This circulated in the form of two different currencies, both called the cruzeiro, until 1986, then it came back again in 1990, until 1993.
The switch over to different currencies with different names or types of issue, was the result of inflation and rampant economic problems.
The real as we know it today was introduced in 1994. Originally it seemed a relatively stable currency, then experienced significant depreciation in 1999 and this carried on, with inflation ever present, until a new low was reached in 2002. But since this time it has gained strength, particularly against the US dollar and this seems to be continuing, or at least it is not experiencing devaluation.
Acquiring Reais
Brazil has quite an extensive network of ATM machines and so it is quite easy to get hold of Reais. Usually however, there is only one machine at each branch of a bank that will accept a foreign debit or credit card. So don't panic, if you come to use a machine and it doesn't 'read' your card. Instead check for the symbol of your card on the ATM, for example, MasterCard or Visa. When you see this symbol you will be able to use your card.
Prior to travel, inform your card provider that it will be used in Brazil, just so that they know its use there is legitimate.
It is possible to exchange money at a bureau de change, known as a casa de cambio in Brazil. Banks will also exchange foreign money, but the preferred options for cash are US dollars or euros. British sterling, or other less well known currencies may not be accepted so readily, or you may get a much lower exchange rate.
Credit cards will also be accepted, but mainly in the bigger shops or hotels and if you are making a large purchase. For smaller items, cash is definitely king.
A good tip when using an ATM machine is to try and withdraw funds in small amounts. Otherwise, you will find that you can't get bigger notes changed and you may even have to take them to a bank. Even if you can get them changed in shops or restaurants, staff may complain that you have eaten up all their change, so best keep notes in low denominations.
Safety Issues
Brazil is not a generally unsafe country, but there are violent crimes, not just against foreigners, but also against locals. However, there are things that you can do to protect yourself. First of all do not walk around cities on your own at night, or even as part of a couple. It may be scenic, but it really is not worth the risk. Use taxis (official taxis only) to get around.
If a guide takes you to one of the slum areas, then you should be safe, but there are some issues about visiting slums in the first place. This is how many people are forced to live: they do not live there out of choice. As a result, they may resent foreigners coming in to 'look' at them, as if they were exhibits in a zoo. So be sensitive to the situation and if you do feel the need to go into a slum, just to see how bad things are, go only with a guide and do not treat it as some kind of 'trip out'. It is a very painful experience for those who have to live there and requires a sensitive approach.
Yellow fever has been reported in 2008 in Brazil, so you need to make sure that you are vaccinated against yellow fever.
Spending Reais
Despite the fact that the real is strong, which effectively means that foreigners get fewer Reais for their money, Brazil still offers amazingly good value for money and is not an expensive country to get around. The main cost is really the cost of the flight to Brazil itself.
When considering Brazil you need to bear in mind that as a country, it is bigger than Europe and this size makes it very difficult to generalise about the country. So you will find differences in terms of where you are and what type of terrain you see, even how friendly the people are!
Most travellers come to Brazil for two main reasons and these are to visit the iconic Rio de Janeiro and/or to go to the Amazonian rainforests. If you are lucky enough to have lots of time, then you can do both, but many people only get to do one of these.
Rio is a city that most people are familiar with because of the famous Rio Carnival. However, it is a year round destination, apart from December to February which is the summer holidays and generally it can be difficult to source accommodation.
Rio is a truly beautiful city with a very sophisticated air about it, although many of its population are very poor. There is also an increased risk of robbery in Rio, so keep your wits about you.
One aspect that people often do not think of about Rio, is that of its beaches. They are lovely and generally very safe (just ensure that your valuables are in safe hands when you go into the sea, since otherwise they will be stolen).
Amazonian trips are also a really different experience. Remember however, that the Amazon is a whole eco system in itself and there are no air conditioning units or insect repellents offered by Mother Nature. It is hot, humid and 'things' abound in the Amazon and the Amazonian rainforests. So if you go there, bear this in mind and if you are the type of person who screams the house down when you see the tiniest of spiders or insects, perhaps the Amazon is not the ideal place for you. If you can stand creepy crawlies to at least some degree, then you will probably be blown away by the Amazon and the rainforests. They seem somehow to be independent from the earth, a real universe that exists in parallel to the world, but Is not part of it. Everything has a function, a place in the food chain, a reason for being and many of the animals and wildlife co-exist and to some extent co-depend on each other. For those who are interested in the planet and the environment, this is a dream come true!
But there is much more to see in Brazil than just Rio or the Amazon. There are various places such as the beautifully scenic Salvador, which is slowly becoming more recognised as a holiday destination in its own right. The problem with this is that more and more package tourists are visiting. Unfortunately as an area becomes a 'hotspot' for tourists, it also becomes a hotspot for thieves.
Salvador is a real colonial town and is almost a throwback to the days when Portugal ruled. For this reason alone it is worth visiting and it offers a real antidote to the frenetic pace of life in Rio.
One thing that you will find in Brazil is that if you want to see two or three different regions, you will probably have to fly. Remember it is bigger than Europe, so unless you want to spend considerable amounts of time on a bus, or driving (which is probably not a good idea) then you will have to fly. However, it is usually quite reasonable in terms of the costs involved.
Costs incurred in terms of eating, drinking, getting around and accommodation are quite reasonable, although Rio can be expensive at Carnival time!
Shopping is very good value and many travellers to Brazil pack only a few items of clothing and then pick some up when they are in the country, due to the fact that clothes really are so cheap. Some leatherwork is also well made and very affordable. So shopaholics will love Brazil, but if you do intend to buy a lot when you are in the country, be mindful of the luggage allowance and make sure that you plan accordingly, so that you aren't charged for excess baggage. Otherwise, your bargains may no longer be bargains! But if you pack only the minimum, then you can buy to your hearts content (within reason). If you do exceed baggage requirements then consider having items posted back home: it is a hassle, but can work out cheaper
Overview
Brazil is simply too big to be summed up in a few sentences. It would be like lumping all the people of Europe together and saying 'Europeans are friendly, the area is attractive and so on'. Due to its size, Brazil actually ahs many contrasts, large cities, poor rural areas. Heavily populated areas and then parts of the rainforests where few people have ever been.
For independent travel advice about Brazil (independent in the sense that although they want you to visit Brazil, they are not selling flights or holiday packages), why not check out the official Brazilian tourist office's website? This can be found at http://www.brazil.org.uk/
how strong is the brazilian money compared to the south african rand
— Sam Zunguza · Jul 8, 02:09 AM · #