Brazil Trave Tips For Your Maceio Trip
Here are some Brazil travel tips for both those who have been to Brazil before, and those who are heading to Maceio for the first time to experience Brazil.
Visas
People from most countries need a visa to travel to Brazil. If you are from the United States, Australia, the UK or Canada, you need a visa. You can get a 90 day visa from your country's Brazilian embassy. In case 90 days isn't enough (and it never is!), you can always renew your visa once from within Brazil for another 90 days.
Safety
Maceio is much safer than Brazil's big cities like Rio and Sao Paolo, but you should still take precautions. Avoid going places alone at night. Keep track of your money, passports and other important things. Make photocopies of all your documentation. Try not to carry valuables or dress in designer clothes. If you want to take you camera or jewelry, keep these expensive goods in a belly pack where they will not be easily stolen. Always keep alert for pickpockets when you are in crowded areas. Maceio is relatively safe, but you should still always be careful.
Water
Avoid drinking tap water in Brazil. It is recommended that you drink only bottled water. This is because there are different types of bacteria in Brazil, and you don't want to spend your Maceio holiday in bed in your hotel room.
Money
The currency of Brazil is the "real." Like US dollars, 1 real is 100 centavos. The symbol for reais (plural of "real") is $R. Reals are bills and centavos are coins. Because 1 centavo isn't worth much, most vendors will round purchases to the nearest 5 centavos, so don't be surprised if this happens. 1 centavo coins are hard to get rid of.
It's a good idea to carry no more than a couple of $R10 or $R20 bills. You can make all the small purchases you need with this amount, and for anything more you can use travelers' checks or credit cards. Most restaurants, hotels, bars and shops in Maceio will accept Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards. Quite a few also accept American Express.
Clothes
Bring warm clothes! You will not need a jacket if you are going to Maceio. It is hot all year round.
Language
In Brazil, the language is Portuguese. It's not usually possible to learn Portuguese before you go, but learning some basic phrases helps. In the heavy tourist areas most people will speak English, but it's a lot more fun if you can communicate with the locals. Learn a few useful phrases and bring a Portuguese-English dictionary along on the trip.
Electrical Current
Brazil uses either 110 or 120 volts. Make sure you have adapters for all the electronics you plan to use, especially your cell phone charger.
If you heed these general Brazil travel tips, you should be safe and ready to hit the beaches. It's very important to know a few Brazil travel tips before you go anywhere in the country.
From Brazil Travel Tips back to Brazil Maceio Guide
Maceio FAQ
Here is a short Macieo FAQ. This Maceio FAQ will answer some of your biggest questions about Maceio.
Cultural Event
With Maceio cultural events, you can see all the great music, dances and festivals the northeastern Brazil has to offer. The Festa Junina is the most popular, but there are many Maceio cultural events held all year round for visitors to enjoy.
Maceio Beach Tips
Before you head for Maceio's beaches, make sure you've gotten everything ready. These beach tips will help you plan your trip.
Barra Nova
Barra Nova is where the lagoon meets the ocean. Head down south to Barra Nova for a relaxing afternoon swinging in a handwoven hammock.
Barra De Santo Antonio
Barra de Santo Antonio is a great place to get away from it all. For urban beach excitement, stay in Maceio, but for a quiet trip to the wild Golden Coast beaches, head north to Barra de Santo Antonio.
Barra De Sao Miguel
Barra de Sao Miguel is a little way from Maceio, but it is well worth the trip. The long sandbar and beautiful reef that make up the Barra de Sao Miguel make it a great day trip from Maceio.