The Onzuka Brothers' Definitive Handbook for Traveling to Brazil

Here is everything that you wanted to know about traveling to Brazil, but were either afraid to ask or did not know where or what to ask. The costs listed were based off of a trip taken in 2003, some prices have been updated. As of July 2010 the exchange rate was $R1.75 - $1.00US. If you have any useful information that you would like to add or update on this page, please email us.


A Primer for Brazil:

Essential Items Needed:
Passport - Not everyone has one and they are valid for 10 years from the date of issue. This takes 6 weeks to process or can be expedited to take 2 weeks for an additional $60. (http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html)

Items Needed: - Passport Application Form - Proof of US Citizenship (previous U.S. Passport, Certified birth certificate, a few other methods) - Proof of Identity (previously issued U.S. Passport, Naturalized Certificate, Valid Driver's License, Current Government ID or Current Military ID) - Photocopy of the Identification Document Presented - Passport fees Initial Passport + Card: $165.00 ($140 Application fee + $25 Execution fee) Initial Passport: $135.00 ($110 Application fee + $25 Execution fee) Renewal Fee Passport + Card: $140.00 Renewal Fee Passport: $110.00 Expedited Service Fee: $60.00 - Checks (personal, certified, cashiers, travelers), payable to "Department of State," - Money orders (U.S. Postal, international, currency exchange), payable to "Department of State" - 2 recent Passport Photos (2"X2", taken within 6 months)

HONOLULU Passport Agency Prince Kuhio Federal Building 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 1-330 Honolulu, HI 96850 Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. HST M-F, excluding Federal holidays Recorded Information Number: (808) 522-8283

Lost or stolen Passport:
While in the US:
Report the loss when you apply for a new passport. In addition to Form DS-11, you will need to complete a Form DS-64, "Statement Regarding a Lost or Stolen Passport." You may also call (202) 955-0430, which has voice mail for nonbusiness hours, Eastern Time.

Outside the US:
Immediately report the loss to local police authorities and the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

American Consulate General (US Embassy in Brazil)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil American Consulate General Avenida Presidente Wilson, 147 20030-020 Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil Tel.: 011-55-21-2292-7117 Fax: 55 21 2262-1820

Sao Paulo, Brazil American Consulate General R. Padre João Manoel, 933 Cerqueira César 01411-001 São Paulo - SP, BRAZIL Tel: 011-3081-6511 Fax: 011-3062-5154 After Hours, weekends, holidays: Tel: 011-3064-6355 Consulate Business Hours: 08:00-17:00

Brasilia, Brazil American Consulate General Avenida da Nacoes Lote 3 Brasilia, Brazil Tel: 011-55-61-312-7000 Fax: 011-3062-5154 After Hours, weekends, holidays: Tel: 011-55-61-312-7400 Consulate Business Hours: 08:00-12:00, 13:30-16:00

Recife, Brazil American Consulate General Rua Goncalves Maia 163, Recife, Brazil Tel: 011-55-3421-2641 Consulate Business Hours: 08:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00

Tourist Visa - This can be obtained by submitting an application form (this can be downloded from the site below) from the Consulate General of Brazil in your area. You can look up the Consulate in your area by going to the Consulate General of Brazil web site (http://www.brazilian-consulate.org/index.php). It takes 2-5 business days to process, possibly longer. It is valid for 90 days from the date of first arrival into Brazil.

Brazil tourist visas can no longer be applied for through the US mail. If you live in Hawaii and want to go to Brazil, you must go down to the Brazilian consulate in Los Angeles in person to apply or get your visa applied for through a third party agency. See below for third party agencies.

Note that the Brazilian consulate will charge an absentee fee of $20 bringing the visa cost total up to $150 plus whatever the visa agency wants to charge. My Brazil Visa charged $40 for a tourist visa, although they normally charge $50. Other agencies charge from $50-80 for service fees. Turn around time varies from 20-30 days.

Items Needed: - Passport (valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Brazil - Visa Application Form - The visa application/protocol form is valid for only 30 days from its issuance date. After 30 days, a new protocol number must be acquired by completing a new visa application/protocol form. - 2 recent Passport ID Photos (2"X2", taken within 6 months) - Copy of a booking slip or a booked itinerary showing travel to and from Brazil, passenger names, itineraries, flight numbers and arrival/departure dates - A proof of residence within the consular jurisdiction for the past 12 months (i.e. utility bill, driver license) - US Passport holders pay a $130 processing fee (Additional $20 absentee fee if you do not file in person) (No personal or company checks are accepted, only cash (exact change), US Postal Service Money Order, made out to the Consulate General of Brazil.) - International vaccination record (just in case they ask for it) - State that you are going as a tourist and not a competitor. If not, you will need to obtain an affidavit from the organizing institution in Brazil, with specific information on the activity to be performed, location and duration, stating that the participant will not receive payment and that no tickets will be sold for the event. A notary public in Brazil must legalize the letter.

Honorary Consulate of Brazil Honolulu, Hawaii USA Honorary Consul Eric G. Crispin For information, please refer to: www.brazilian-consulate.org Mailing Address: c/o Eric Crispin 2909 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 Information Line: (808) 235-0571 Cell: (808) 255-2658 Fax: (808) 923-0851 E-mail: brazilconsul@hawaii.rr.com Visa Applications Processed at: Consulate-General of Brasil in Los Angeles 8484 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 711/730 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Attention: Visa Department Email: info@brazilian-consulate.org Phone: (323) 651-2664 Fax: (323) 651-1274 ATTENTION: NO WALKIN INS for a visa, without an appointment.

Hiring a Service to Process Your Visa:
Located in Los Angeles, they specialized on passports, visas and translation services related to Brazil.

Brazil Visa Center
George Castro, Senior Visa Advisor
8484 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 220, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(Same building of the Consulate of Brazil in Los Angeles)
323-271-0885
323-265-1855 fax
Email: info@brazilvisacenter.com
Website: www.brazilvisacenter.com

Fees: Processing Time: Consular Fee: Total Cost:
$76 26-30 days $150 $226
$86 21-25 days $150 $226
$96 16-20 days $150 $226
$106 11-15 days $150 $226
Shipping and handling fees apply. Please complete the order form when submitting all the above, and make sure to select the delivery service option available to your region.


MyBrazilVisa
8484 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 725
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
323-653-7928 tel
323-653-9951 fax
Email: questions@mybrazilvisa.com
Website: http://mybrazilvisa.com/
VISA FEES :
USA $160.00 ($140 + $20 absent fee) per applicant
$50 for a tourist visa
SHIPPING - Please choose one. Signature WILL be required upon delivery:
Return Shipping Form
•FEDEX Priority Overnight Delivery (to all locations including Honolulu, Hawaii) : $22
•FEDEX Priority Overnight Delivery (to Non-Honolulu Address anywhere in Hawaii) : $35
•UPS Ground (1 - 4 days transit time, available to residents in the Continental United States) : $7
•USPS EXPRESS MAIL SERVICE : $18
Make check payable to "TODD KAPLAN".

Travel Tips:
Like every other place that you are not familiar with, use common sense. Here are some of the basics:
- Learn at least the essentials of the language (numbers, how to say common phrases like directions or how to order food, where's the crapper, and know your address, etc.). Start off with "Fala Ingles?" which means "Do you speak English?" It will save you a lot of grief and embarassment if the person speaks English already.
- Do not carry your Passport on you. Leave it at your hotel or apartment. Keep a copy of it on you and in a couple different places just in case you lose or get your Passport stolen and leave a copy at home.
- Do not bring or wear jewerly (wear a cheap plastic watch)
- Take only enough money with you that you need that day, plus a little extra. That way if you do get robbed, you don't lose your whole stash.
- Do not take out or count your money on the street (if you are exchanging money, count and put your money away while inside the establishment not facing the door.)
- If you are buying something or going shopping at a street market, keep a little bit of your spending cash in your front pocket, which is easily accessible and you don't take out your whole stash every time you buy a soda or something. If you are using a hidden fanny pack to hold your money, DO NOT BE LIKE SOME OF THE IDIOTS THAT WE TRAVELED WITH and pull it out every time you are buying something so everyone sees that you have one and can guestimate that all your friends have that too.
- Be aware of your surroundings, do not allow someone to sneak up on you.
- When walking around at night, walk on the street or close to it (but be careful), so that it is more difficult for someone to jump out of an alley and grab you.
- Always carry a spare $R100 (the R stands for Real which is the Brazilian monetary unit) with you in case you get stopped by the policia and need to grease some palms. We always were told to do this, but only on our fourth trip to Brazil did Mike's car get stopped and cost him and his fellow travelers $R150. Now we are believers. If people tell you that the police are reformed, laugh, and still keep the extra $R100 handy. Don't blatantly just bribe a polica or they may throw you in jail. Just be very apologetic and see if you can get off on being ignorant to the Brazilian laws (which you probably are anyway). Being apologetic to police officers is pretty much a good tip anywhere in the world for that matter.

Essential Items to bring:
Small Calculator - to calculate and verify exchange rates. If you don't check their math, count on getting screwed. Also, use it to see how much items cost in US dollars to see it is a good deal or not.

Pocket-size Note pad and pens - It is easier to write things down and give it to taxi drivers than to pronounce it. If one little word is slight mispronounced, Brazilians have no idea what the hell you are saying. Also good to write down contact phone numbers, etc.

Portuguese-English dictionary - A MUST to be able to communicate or look up words that you see on signs, menus, etc. This can be purchased at any major book store. Pocket size is best so you can carry it easily.

Language 30/Portuguese Book & Tape - A reference guide and phrase book along with a tape. I found this to be essential. The guide is small enough to fit in your back pocket and has most of the most common things you need to say. The tape will help you get a handle on pronunciation of the language. This can be purchased at any major book store.

Common medication - If you are prone to getting sick or a boyscout (always prepared), bring your own cold and cold medicine. I got sick and had to look up words in my dictionary for my symptoms, write them down and hand them to a questionable looking Brazilian who worked at the local pharmacy and hope that he would recommend the right thing. I survived that, but was sick for one week in Brazil and then three weeks after when I came home, trying to get over the cold. Our recommendations are Pepto tablets (the wonder drug), Advil, Nasal decongestant, flu and cold medicine, cough medicine

Cash:
Cash withdrawls are easiest through ATMs although not all are 24 hrs. ATMs will usually charge a $5 USD fee for usage as well as the international fee that your bank/card charges you (usually between 1-3%).

Accommodations:
Apartments
There is often no telephone inside of an apartment, so you will have to use the public phones. They are at almost every corner but require a telephone calling card (telefono cartao) because they do not take change. If you buy some beer and give one or two beers to the doorman of the apartment every night or every other night, you will receive exemplary service. You may need his help at some point. Bring a couple rolls of toilet paper, as the apartment does not have maid service like a hotel. You can buy more toilet paper at any one of the drug stores that are on every block of the main streets in Copacabana and Ipanema.

Where To Stay
First off, you have to decide if you are going to Brazil to train or to have fun or to do both. This is two totally different things. If you are staying in Rio de Janeiro for fun, I would recommend staying in Copacabana. If you want to train, then figure out which academy you are going to primarily train and get a place in that general vicinity.

My preference would be to stay in Copacabana because there are a lot of things to do in Copacabana, so you can save a lot in taxi money by being able to walk to places. Ipanema is a close second because is a short cab ride away from Copacabana (about $R5-10) and there are many good restaurants and corner food counters.

Ipanema - $530-920US for 2 weeks.

Copacabana - $530-750US for 2 weeks (smaller apartments and it is more expensive per sq. ft.).

This is paid up front. One year the cost of the same rooms almost doubled. Ipanema is nicer, but Copacabana has more things to do. Copacabana did not have one apartment that could hold 6 people. The room must be returned to the condition that it was in when you came in. For instance, in our room, there were bed sheets and towels that needed to be washed and folded and all rubbish taken out of the room and the bathroom cleaned. That costed us about another $100R.

Taxicabs:
We traveled with 5-6 people so we either used a van or 2 taxis for transportation because the taxis would not let us squeeze 6 people in one taxi (at least most did not). Always check the taxicab's rate meter to make sure that it is started and so the driver knows that you are paying attention to it. Brazilian taxi cab drivers will try to rip you off at every opportunity by either not starting the meter and making up a number, settling on a price before you start driving or if the meter is on the floor where it is difficult to see, they will make up a fare. The taxis that are waiting outside of clubs for people are the worse because they are more likely to rip you off. To be safe, always go with a meter. Sometimes the cab drivers can set their meters faster than usual, keep an eye on that.

From Ipanema to:
Airport (Galeao (GIG) - R$90 (via van or car shuttle to Copacabana/Ipanema/Leblon area) - 30 minutes
Tijuca Tenis Club (for Mundial) - $R15-20 - 20-30 minutes
Copacabana - $R5-13 (incl. $1 tip, higher end is during traffic) - 10-15 minutes

Shopping Centers: (in order of preference):
Taxi fare and travel time listed below.
Tijuca Shopping Center - $R18-21 - 30 minutes
Vitamins & Minerals, Arrentacao, Cyclone, Company

Barra Shopping Center - $R120 (via van shuttle) - 30 minutes
Vitamins & Minerals, Arrentacao, Cyclone, Company

Rio Sul Shopping Center - $R10 - 15 minutes
Cyclone, ST/Comp, Company

Copacabana Street Market 6pm-12:00am (on a median in between lanes on Avenida Atlantica, the street that runs along the beach) - $R7-10 - 10-15 minutes
Open on the weeknights, except for Sundays
You can buy stone chess boards, cheap shirts, basically tourist items.

Ipanema Street Market - Open on the weekends during the day and early evenings (across the street from Carretao Churascarria)
You can buy stone chess boards, cheap shirts, basically tourist items and craft type things. This is larger than Copacabana Street Market.

Tijuca Street Market - $R15 - 30 minutes
Open on the weekends
You can buy stone chess boards, cheap shirts, basically tourist items and craft type things.

Botofogo Praia Shopping Center - $R10 - 15 minutes
Company

Site seeing:
Corcorvado or Cristo Redentor (Christ Statue) - Large statue of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms that overlooks the whole city of Rio and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
Taxi ride: $R13 - 15-20 minutes to the base of the mountain where you can spend another $R20 for a Trolley ride up to summit or
You can spend about $R18-24 for a taxi ride all the way up to the top (recommended). There are now escalators and elevators to take you to the statue so there is some relief if you are traveling with a big boy.

Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf) - Two mountains that have a sky car that runs up to the top of them. Nice view of the Botofogo area. It can be seen from Copacabana beach. It is the sky car that James Bond fought Jaws in one of the James Bond movies.
Taxi ride: $R20 - 30 minutes
Entry fee of $R20

Maracana - World famous soccer stadium. Soccer is Brazil's national sport and people are crazy about their teams. It holds a reported 150,000 people. You can go inside the stadium during the day (9AM-5PM, some days it is closed). It is near Tijuca Tenis Clube (where the Mundial de Jiu-Jitsu is held), in fact you will pass it on your way to the Mundial.
Taxi ride - $R15-20 - 20-30 minutes

Praia do Copacabana (Copacabana Beach) - Great beach to hang out at, there are food stands there and pretty good body surfing if the waves are decent.
Free

Praia do Leme - This is a walkway around a mountain at one end of Copacabana beach that overlooks all of Copacabana
Free - At the end of Copacabana beach.

Praia do Ipanema (Ipanema Beach) - Not as nice as Copacabana beach, but still worth seeing. Go to the point between Ipanema and Copacabana and climb up the rocky area for an unreal view of Ipanema beach.
Free

Pepe Beach - in Barra. This beach was named after a famous man named Pepe, who was the first to sell things at the beach (the original beach boy), so they named it after him. This beach is known to have the most beautiful women of any beach in Brazil. It is a few blocks away from Gracie Barra and you will probably see guys doing business there and some Jiu-Jitsu guys from Gracie Barra hanging out.
Free

Favela Tour - which will take you through 2 guided tours of 2 different favelas. Extremely safe. I used http://www.favelatour.com.br/ which let you walk through the favela (as opposed to drive through as some other tours do).
Cost was R$65.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academies:
Brazilian Top Team
AABB
Avenida Borges de Medeiros 829 - Lagoa
Ipanema
BTT is where Mario Sperry, Murilo Bustamante, Bebeo Duarte, Minotauro Nogueria, Ricardo Arona and many other top MMA and BJJ fighters train.

Gracie Barra
Avenida Comandante Julio de Moura #300 (The nearest cross street is Avenida Olegario Marciel.)
#276 is actually the CBJJ headquarters
Barra da Tijuca
Gracie Barra and the CBJJ headquarters are a few doors away from each other. Gracie Barra is on the third floor of a gym.

Gracie Humaita - $R8.00 - 10 minutes
(Rolker Gracie)
Avenida Humaita #52

Food:
Acai (fruit sorbet that Brazil is famous for. Order it with granola (com granola), it can be eaten as an entire meal and the larger sizes are served that way). Acai with granola ranges from $R3.00-7.00, depending if you get it in a tigela (bowl) or copo (cup). Give it a couple of tries before you make your decision if you like it or not. I didn't like it on my first try, now I love it.

Guanara - Brazilian 7up or Mountain Dew. It has a strong initial taste to it, which makes it different. I prefer it when it is flat and not very cold. You either love it or hate it.

McDonald's - There is a McDonald's in every mall and in the general vicinity of Copacabana and Ipanema for those of you that don't want to take chances or prefer this type of meal. Prices range from $R5.00-8.00

Corner eateries - Almost every busy corner has a place where you can buy juice (sucos), soda and a meal. The food is in glass cases and you can point and order. This is a very cheap way to eat and the food is very good. Our favorite is the presunto misto (ham and cheese wrapped in a bread). This you can get from $R1.20-2.00.

Churrascarias - Examples are Porcao, Carretao, Montique's, etc. These are all you can eat buffets where waiters will walk by your table and offer meat, chicken and sausage that are on a metal rod, hot off the grill and cut by piece directly onto your plate. Some Churrascarias have a flat charge per person (drinks and deserts are extra), usually R$15-R$30, while others are based on the weight of your food (per kilo). Be careful because drinks and desserts are additional and not included in the meal. Check out the prices because the Porcao in Ipanema is $R10 more expensive than the Porcao in Copacabana. Montique in Copacabana is the best deal in Rio that we found at about $R7-10 a meal.

Miscellaneous items:
Telephone Calling Cards (telefono cartao domestic or public) - Public phones are at almost every corner in the city, but require a telephone calling card (telefono cartao) because they do not take change. The cards are $R5.00 that will be good for 20 minutes or so. They can be purchased at local drug stores or the corner magazine stand. If you find yourself using the phone a lot buy a couple of these. The display will show how many units (unidades) you have left. 1 unit does not equal 1 minute. If you are running out of units on a card, in the last minute the phone will beep or if you notice 0 (units) unidades, then you can pull out the card and insert another one without dropping the call.

International calling cards (telefono cartao internacional) - These cards are $R10.00-15.00 but you need a domestic telephone card. A $R10.00 card will get you about 5 minutes of talk time. They also can be purchased at local drug stores or magazine stands. Just type in the card's phone number, a voice in Portuguese will ask for the calling card number (listen for the word "numero"). Type that in and then it will say in Portuguese, "for directions in Portuguese, press 1, for directions in English, press 2." Then you can either dial the country code + 001 (for the US) + area code + telephone number or press 00 for assistance. The operators, when they are available, speak English. They can dial the number for you too. If you are calling the USA, the number should be 0021+1+ area code + phone number. If that fails, just keep trying to reach operator assistance (press 00).

Police Presence:
Police presence was heavy in the Copacabana/Ipanema/Leblon areas. Never really felt not safe in the tourist areas, even at 2am.

Attitudes Toward Jiu-Jitsu guys - People that work in the stores like Jiu-Jitsu guys, but the Brazilian public who have nothing to do with Jiu-Jitsu thinks that all Jiu-Jitsu guys are violent.

Rounding Your Change - Brazil is a weird country where some stores and places will give you exact change and others will round off the change to the nearest 5 or 10 cents (centavos).

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