General information
Weather and climate in Guarujá
Click here to see the forecast for Guarujá for the next ten days. The average temperature varies from 17o C in the winter, July to August, to 30o C during the summer. The rainy season begins in November ending on February when strong showers are very common. The winter is dry and colder, when temperature can drop to 12o C.
Brazil: Banks & Money
The currency in Brazil is the Real (plural is Reais).
Banking hours are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Some HSBC branches open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
ATM Machines of banks are generally open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Note that not all ATM machines accept international credit cards. The machines that do accept international credit cards will have the symbol(s) of the types of international cards it accepts. Banks that typically have ATM machines that accept international credit cards are HSBC, Citibank and Banco do Brasil.
Generally, ATM machines that accept international credit cards are readily found in large cities. However, if travelling outside the city or to remote areas, it will be much more difficult to find an ATM machine. So plan ahead.
Generally, it is advisable to arrive in Brazil with at least a small amount of local currency (Reais). Most Brazilian airports have an exchange desk or ATM machines.
Foreign currencies can be exchanged in shops with signs showing "Cambio". The exchange rates given for exchanging cash are generally better than those from withdrawing cash from a credit card from an ATM machine (especially with all of the little fees most card companies charge these days).
Most major international credit cards are accepted in Brazil. Credit card receipts from stores and restaurants will be priced in reais although you will be billed in the currency of your own country, the official exchange rate having been taken into consideration.
Brazil: Electrical Current
In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the current is 127 volts (60 cycles) but many of the larger hotels also offer 220 volts. If there is any doubt, check with the front desk of the hotel or the owner of the house or apartment. Transformers to boost the current from 110 volts to 220 volts are available in most good electrical supply stores. Not all of Brazil is 127 volts, however. Salvador and Manaus, for example, are, while Recife and Brasília are 220 volts. For most electric appliances Brazil uses a two-round-pinned socket.
Brazil: Health & Insurance
Brazil has an excellent network of private hospitals in the major metropolitan centres. Private medical care is expensive, so it is advisable that all visitors take out medical insurance prior to their arrival. Even without insurance, Brazil has a public health service that will look after foreign visitors in an emergency.
Brazil: Customs
Customs and Duties do not typically apply to tourists visiting with their own belongings.
Technically, the limit for goods brought back by Brazilians/residents to the country (via air travel) is US$500.00. This would also apply to foreigners if they are planning to leave the goods in the country (say a gift for a Brazilian friend).
When passing through customs, there are two lines, Nothing to Declare and Goods to Declare. Those that go through the "Nothing to Declare" line can still be selected to pass their bags through X-Ray and/or have the bags physically searched.
A note of warning for those who do not declare an item above the allowed value and pay the required duties. The penalty of being caught doing this is impound of the subject goods until a tax/fine is paid equal to the value of the good. This can be paid at the time, though.
Typically, however, this is not an issue unless the traveller is greatly and obviously exceeding the limit. Additionally, electronic equipment is more closely inspected as electronics in Brazil are much more expensive than say in the US or Asia.
Brazil is the biggest country of South America and it has also the largest road network: more than 1.6 million kilometres of roads. On major distances, it will be the best to travel by plane, but for travelling within a smaller area, a car is often the most comfortable way. It allows you to reach destinations independently and flexibly which are difficult to reach with public busses or only within much more time.
An international driver's license is not required to drive in Brazil, but it will be useful for police controls. The traffic rules are mostly the same that you know from your home country. The maximum speed in Brazil is 60 km/h inside cities, 80 km/h outside (but only 40 km/h on rural roads) and 100 km/h on highways. Apart from gasoline, gas stations also sell alcohol- in Brazil, most vehicles can run with both fuels. You will find stations all over the county. However this does not apply to the large Amazon area where you better refill the tank wherever you can. You better take a reserve canister with you.
Many roads in Brazil are in very good condition, especially along the coast and in the populated areas in the south. In other regions you will also find gravel and dirt roads for which a 4WD is the much better option. This is especially important if you travel to the Amazon jungle where many routes are difficult to pass - or not at all in the rainy season (November to March). This is why you better take a good map with you (e.g. the Brazil waterproof road map from World Mapping Project) and inform yourself carefully before your trip about distances, road conditions, and the required travel time.
Tipping & Etiquette
Tipping in Brazil is typically not expected nor given. Obviously, if someone provides a typically good or special service, you might consider a bit extra. A Brazilian typically might not.
At almost all restaurants and bars, a standard "Serviço" service fee of 10% is included as a line item at the end of the "conta" or bill. It is not expected to surpass this amount. It is always clearly identified. While this fee is not obligatory, it is expected that you pay it.
At bars, the bartenders do not handle cash. In a bar or a restaurant, you ask the bartender for your bill, and he brings a total (usually with full details). You decide how you'll pay and then give the money, check or card. Sometimes in crowded bars and night clubs, you have your individual control paper or number and go to the register to pay at the end.
Common taxis (yellow in Rio de Janeiro and white in São Paulo) run on a taxi meter. Typically, if the total for the trip comes to say R$12.20 (i.e. a bit above R$12.00), people pay the amount round to the next whole number (in this case R$13.00) so that no one has to deal with coins. No other tip is required or expected. To/From the airport, a taxi may apply a R$3 per case charge on top of the fare. This happens occasionally and, supposedly, they have a right to ask for it. However, if they apply this charge, they should definitely transfer your luggage out of the car for you. There are also special or radio taxis. These typically quote prices for a trip and do not use a taxi meter. A tip should not be given in this case as you are already paying a higher price for these taxis.
For most hotels, tip the bell hop if they transfer all of your luggage to/from the room. In this case a small tip (R$5 to R$10) is appreciated. The chamber maid should be tipped (about R$5+ per day) for good service, as she is integral to the enjoyment of your trip.
Organized tours (especially boat trips) also typically make a request of a tip by passing the hat at the end of the tour. It is up to the individual if and how much they wish to give to the crew.
For tourist information on Guarujá see the web-page of the Tourist Information Office