Like most trips, you must at least know a few things about travelling to Rio de Janeiro so that you can avoid embarrassment or being halted at the border without ever getting the chance to enter the real city. A checklist is necessary for your trip and planning ahead is the key to experience the best the place has to offer.
- Entry requirements for Rio de Janeiro: for US citizens, they will need a valid visa and passport to enter the country of Brazil. Standard duration given to a tourist usually lasts up to 90 days and can be extended for another 90 days when inside the country.
- In tourist areas, street crime is very rampant, particularly at night. It is not safe to bring your valuables with you so the least you can do is bring cash enough to spend your street stroll for the day. You should leave all your valuables inside the safe of the hotel you are staying at. When you go to the beach, all you are going to need is a beach towel and a few change to get your cold drink. Do not get paranoid in this case as tourists are conspicuous enough to be get attention. Always stay alert and never let your guard down. As with transportation, avoid using city buses, getting cash from public ATMs and venturing into the favelas or shanty towns by yourself.
- The standard immunizations for the place are hepatitis, typhoid, diphtheria or tetanus and yellow fever. The latter is required for you to gain entry into the country. If you are traveling to more rural areas of the country you will need to get rabies immunizations, hepatitis B, MMR and polio. You should also take drugs for anti malaria.
- The city of Rio de Janeiro is 3 hours ahead of the eastern time of the US starting from the month of November to the middle of February while it goes two hours ahead after that until the start of the daylight saving time in the US and an hour ahead during the US daylight saving time.
- Currency used in Brazil is real. Check out first when to get the best deals from converting your cash.
The best time to go to Rio will depend on your preference of the weather. It is a famous tropical paradise, having between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius and humid during summers while temperatures drop between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, having drier winters.