Brazil travel and visitor guide with airport, airline and entry information. With over 5000 miles of coastline, the list of beaches well worth your visit is endless. Therefore, comprising a list of the best beaches is quite the challenge. Particularly because in many cases we begin comparing apples with oranges, as the diversity of the beaches ranges so extensively.
Brazil is served by international airports in São Paulo (Guarulhos International - Airport Code: GRU) and in Rio de Janeiro (Internacional - Airport Code: GIG). Flight time is eight hours from Miami to São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, ten hours from New York, just over nine hours from Atlanta, thirteen from Los Angeles and sixteen from San Francisco. Brazil is served by American, Continental, Delta, Japan, Tam, United, Varig and others. Visit our Airports & Airlines section for more information.
Baía do Sancho, Baía dos Porcos and Praia do Leão are among the ten most breathtaking beaches in Brazil. Baía dos Porcos and Baía do Sancho are two of the most highly rated diving destinations (link to diving section Fernando De Noronha) in the country, and Praia do Leão is home to abundant sea-turtle spawning.
Espelho and Coruípe are two interconnected beaches surrounded by lush coconut groves, enticing reefs, natural pools soaring white and red rock cliffs. Here the rhythm of life is set by the sun. Adding to their natural splendor is the nostalgic charm of their surrounding fishing villages where electricity still does not exist. The beaches are extremely popular with the locals and are experiencing a growing number of both domestic and international tourists annually.
In Canoa Quebrada you will find spectacular beaches surrounded by rolling dunes and picturesque rocks. Both day and night the animated local bars and restaurants are alive with people dancing to many types of music. Pay a visit to the neighboring Aracati to admire the historic colonial architecture. Visit the official Brazil Tourism web site for more information.
Passport, Visa & Embassy Information
A passport and visa are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil for any purpose. Brazilian visas must be obtained in advance from the Brazilian Embassy or consulate nearest to the traveler's place of residence. There are no "airport visas," and immigration authorities will refuse entry to Brazil to anyone not possessing a valid visa. All Brazilian visas, regardless of the length of validity, must initially be used within 90 days of the issuance date or will no longer be valid. Immigration authorities will not allow entry into Brazil without a valid visa. Visit our Immigration section for more information.
Brazil maintains an embassy in the United States at 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-238-2700). Brazil has consulates general in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles; and consulates in Miami, Houston, Boston, and San Francisco.
The U.S. Embassy in Brasilia is located at SES Avenida das Nacoes, quadra 801, lote 3, Brasilia, DF, CEP: 70.403-900 (tel. 55-61-312-7000), (fax 55-61-225-9136).
U.S. consulates general are in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and a consulate is in Recife. Consular agents are located in Manaus, Belem, Salvador, Fortaleza, and Porto Alegre. Branch offices of the U.S. Foreign Commercial Services are located in Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte.
Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries.
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.
