Where to Go in Brazil Now That There's a Temporary Visa Waiver
TPG Contributor Brian Biros outlines some of the other amazing cities, beaches and locales you should visit the next time you're in Brazil. Because there's so much more to this fabulous country than Rio.
To encourage attendance at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil has temporarily lifted its visa requirements for citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and Japan. Best of all, the hefty $160 visa fee and often tedious and time-consuming process isn't just waived for sports fans looking to cram into Rio during the 17-day event — through September 18, travel to all of Brazil can be done visa-free. Here's my go-to list of places to visit in Brazil if you decide to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.
Fernando de Noronha
This archipelago, located off Brazil's northeast coast, has managed to fend off mainstream tourism and remain pristine. This piece of archipelago paradise feels as remote as any and even has its own time zone, FNT.
The beaches of Leão, Sancho and Porcos are often listed among the most beautiful in the world, and with good reason. The scuba diving is unreal, with visibility up to 164 feet (50 meters) so you can view the area's 200 species of fish and five species of sharks, as well as turtles and dolphins. It's best to book flights ahead of time and have a flexible schedule, as the government only allows 460 people to arrive on the island every day. Also be aware of the "environmental tax" which starts at $10 per day and increases the longer you stay.
São Paulo
The most populous city in South America at 20.9 million people, São Paulo has a restaurant scene to match its diversity and a nightlife scene that doesn't stop when the night does. Here, you're just as likely to find a local joint serving a feast of feijoada with its rice, beans and pig scraps, as you are to find a world-class sushi restaurant.
For the perfect São Paulo weekend, start the night off at a boteco in bohemian neighborhood Vila Madalena, then hit a club in the early-morning hours in Barra Funda, Vila Olímpia or whichever neighborhood you're staying in. Just make sure you wake up in time for a stroll with the locals down Avenida Paulista, which is closed to traffic on Sundays until 5:00pm.
Iguazú Falls
With a network of more than 250 waterfalls, Iguazú is three times as wide as Niagara Falls and nearly twice as high. This fantastic display of gravity sits in a lush jungle of palm trees and monkeys instead a concrete jungle of casinos and magnet kiosks, making Iguazú a front-runner for the most impressive falls in the world.
The Brazil side of the falls offers the best panoramic views, but you should definitely spend some time across the border in Argentina checking out the views from that side, too — no visa is needed. This is the place to really create your own adventure: face the thunderous Devil's Throat (an impressive waterfall on the Argentina side), get soaked on a jet boat ride to the base of the falls or take a refreshing dip in the Salto Arrechea waterfall after a long hike.
Rio de Janeiro — After the Olympics
Rio is bracing for a surge of more than 400,000 visitors during the upcoming Summer Olympics, but you can expect most of them to clear out after the closing ceremonies on August 21. This leaves four weeks of the visa waiver period (through September 18) to take advantage of the city's post-Olympic hangover.
Stroll through Rio's historic Santa Teresa neighborhood, then tackle the normal tourist sites a more adventurous way by taking a long, steep hike from Jardim Botânico to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, or rock climbing to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain from the back side. Reward yourself afterward with a cool caipirinha on Ipanema Beach while admiring the eye candy behind tinted sunglasses, then join the late-night street party in Lapa. You'll soon understand why nearly two million people annually visit Rio de Janeiro, even when it's not hosting the Olympics.
More Places Worth Visiting
Many will argue a visit to Brazil isn't complete without experiencing its African roots in Salvador, while a few days in the Amazon outside Manaus will introduce you to a way of life about as different from your own as you'll find in this hemisphere. Set your expectations correctly though; think less jaguars and anacondas and more mosquitoes.
Getting Around: The GOL Brazil Airpass
Perhaps the only secret kept better than the beaches of Fernando de Noronha is the best way to get to them. The GOL Brazil Airpass, currently offered by GOL and Azul Brazilian Airlines, can only be purchased outside Brazil in conjunction with an incoming international round-trip ticket with a respective airline or a partner, such as KLM, Air France or Delta.
The Airpass allows you to visit multiple destinations within Brazil — including every one I mentioned in this article — for a fixed price. Prices start at $505 (before taxes) for up to four destinations, with added increments for each additional stop. Otherwise, the GOL Brazil Airpass starts at $579 for incoming travel on other GOL partners.
A potentially much better deal is on Azul, which offers a 10-day unlimited travel Airpass for $299 or a 21-day Airpass for $399 — including taxes — but the incoming international flight must be on United Airlines or Azul.
Note that the Azul Airpass is only a temporary promotion and must be booked by June 30. There is no fee for changes though, so you can get ticketed by June 30 and make changes later as needed. Considering a round-trip from mainland Brazil to Fernando de Noronha can rarely be found for less than $400, the Airpass offers an incredible value.
A Final Tip
2016's version of our imminent medical apocalypse is, of course, the Zika Virus. The CDC's current advisory is "Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions," advising travelers to use insect repellant to stop mosquito bites from happening in the first place and to practice safe sex to prevent it from spreading. As of right now, only pregnant woman are strongly advised against traveling to Brazil as the virus can cause birth defects. For most other adults, the symptoms can be mild, even unnoticeable, and Zika usually runs its course within a few days. Do your own research and talk to your doctor for more info — with proper prevention, you too can survive the greatest medical threat to humanity since whatever the media was scaring us about last month.
Will you be traveling to Brazil this summer?
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.