visitante!

Este site faz parte do Pampas Informativo On Line e sua finalidade é divulgar nosso país para aquelas pessoas que ainda não o conhecem e principalmente para estrangeiros que possam vir nos visitar.

Portanto, se você tem amigos no exterior, indique esta página e convide-os para conhecer cada uma das cinco regiões do nosso país, o Brasil agradece.

Brazil isn't only Soccer

Even though Pelé is the world's immortal soccer idol ande the sport is played in every corner - on courts, beaches and any space in which a goal can be set up, ande 22 players can chase a ball - this only one of the country's many passions. You will be cordially invited to share it in the traditional Brazilian style. All sports are played here. On the ground, on the air and, especially, on the sea. Brazil's beaches whose temperature averages 82ºF (mainly in the Northeast), daily invite you to enjoy the pleasures of sun and surf, with waves and sand dunes to satify all preferences. Spas offer medicinal waters and hot springs to purify the soul and heal the body. At night, the large cities churn with the wxciting rounds of night life, mingling the ever-popular dances: "pagode", samba and "forró", as well as the "chorinho", with refined seriuos concerts, "avant garde"theater, modern discotecs and nostalgic ballroom dancing. The public, folk and religious festivals give the people a good reason to get together every month to eat, drink, dance and leave their worries, behind.

Brazil isn't just Carnaval

In this specially-blessed contry, where the people love to celebrate, Carnaval is a great summer event which lasts a week, at most. The people heve fun during the rest if the year, too - in other ways. The food varies, from north to south: all the way from the exotic flavors of typical regional foods and hundreds of fruits you've never heard of before, you've international sea-sonings. You will find a richly musical and harmonious people, represented by the bossa-nova of "The Girl from Ipanema" and the rhythnic African beats. When you go shopping, you will be delighted by the abundance of colors and materials of Brazilian popular art, as well as by the fine quality and bold style of Brazilian fashions, found in more than 80 ultramodern shopping centers.

Brazil isn't just the Amazon

"Me, Tarzan. You, Jane." That's what you fell like when you enter the mystical Amazon, Jungle, where Nature is every thing. But Brazil has many other settings in which you may live out any character you wish. In the Midwest, Mato Grosso's Pantanal, still in its primeval state, brings out the Robinson Crusoe in you. Iguassu Falls, with its extraordinary waterfalls reminds you of the challenges of "Deliverance". Brasília's contemporary architecture brings back Flash Gordon. Olinda/Pernambuco, Pelourinho, in Salvador/Bahia, and the historic cities of Minas Gerais take you back to the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries.

Wherever you go in this imense and surprising country, you can be sure of one thing: it will be one thrill after another, after another, after another.

Larger Information: 

SCN QUADRA 02, Bloco G
Brasília - DF - Brazil
(ZIP )70710-500
Phone: (5561) 3224-9100

Blond children with big eyes, a strong regional accent - are you really in Brazil ? That's the South for you. At the end the 19th - century, a large number of immigrants, mainly Italians and Germans, settled in the south of Brazil.

They exerted a great influence on the architecture, culture, customs and food of the region.

Surprise ! There are four distinct seasons here.

Anywhere else in Brazil, a tropical country, seasons run into each other; they are not well defined.

Summers are very hot in the South, but the temperature in the Fall is extremely pleasant. In the Spring the trees are in flower, and winters are so cold that in may even snow in some of the towns.

The South is famous for its beautiful beaches.

Curitiba is the capital of the State of Paraná. A modern city still very much under the influence of its foreign colonizes, especially Germans, Italians and Poles. Curitiba, although modern and growing, prides itself on the fact that it has none of the violence typical of large cities.

The highlight of Paraná's tourist attractions is the world famous Iguaçu Falls. Thousands of kilometers of rivers, rapids, falls, and water in abundance. The force of the water and sheer beauty of Iguaçu Falls is most impressive. A fantastic sight to behold. But there is another delightful excursion not to be missed in Paraná: you board a little train and wend your way down the mountainside from Curitiba to the port of Paranaguá.

Florianópolis, capital of the State of Santa Catarina, was built on an island.

Several bridges link it with the continent: Governador Colombo Sales, Governador Pedro Ivo Campos, and the 819 meter long Hercílio Luz bridge built in 1926.

This last bridge is a historical landmark and symbol of the town. The Florianópolis shore is famous and unspoilt. Canasvieira, Ingleses, Santinho, Armação and Joaquina beaches attract surfers from all over the world and is parts of the World Surf Circuit. Further south, still more towns and beaches: Barra Velha, Piçarras, Penha, Itapema and Camboriú.

Blumenau, the main town of the Itajaí Valley, is fun to visit at any time during the year. German influence is evident in the well-kept streets and squares, and in its gardens full of flowers.

Germany also left its mark on the cuisine the typical to region and which can be enjoyed during traditional feasts such as the famous Oktoberfest. Blumenau is corner of Europe in the south of Brazil.

Next comes Porto Alegre, the Capital of Rio Grande do Sul, a State very different from any other in the Federation.

"Gauchos", as its inhabitants are known, stand out in any crowd. In the city or country they wear typical baggy pants called "bombachas" and pin a poncho to their shoulders. Their hats are wide-brimmed, and there is always a knife tucked into their belt. Gaúchos serve the best food in the region. They prepare their barbecue - in Brazil called churrasco - with great care, roasting prime meat on the spit. Their favorite drink, enjoyed with the churrasco as well as at any other time, is the chimarrão, a concoction of boiling hot water and mate tea. No native of Rio Grande do Sul can do without this unusual drink.

Traveling towards Osório, you pass the beautiful beaches of Rio Grande do Sul: Tramandaí, Capão da Canoa, Atlantida and, lastly, Torres.

The towns in the mountains of Rio Grande do Sul are well worth a visit: Caxias do Sul followed by Farroupilha and Bento Gonçalves.Also in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the ruins of São Miguel, near Santo Ângelo, remind one of the 210 years of the Jesuit missions in Brazil.

A little along are Canela and Gramado, two lovely resorts whose houses are built in Bavarian style. The hotels are excellent, and it is quite cool during a good part of the year. A tourist's paradise.

Brazil begins to show its urban face in the Southeast. In Rio de Janeiro, called the "Cidade Maravilhosa" (Marvelous City), the luxuriant greenery contrasts with thousands of modern buildings and a bustling metropolis. The city brings together one of the country's besiest night and cultural lives, the world's most well-known Carnaval - with its luxurious samba schools, and a high quality hotelery system. The State also has stunning beaches in Angra dos Reis, Búzios and Cabo Frio, historic buildings in Parati, and the mountainous region of Petrópolis (the renowned Imperial City), Teresópolis and Friburgo.

n the State of Minas Gerais, you cam immerse yourself in the architecture of the past, visiting the celebrated works of the baroque sculptor, Alejadinho, and the historic cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana, São João Del Rey, Tiradentes, Sabará, Diamantina and Congonhas. You can bathe in the waters of the mineral springs found in Caxambu, Araxá and São Lourenço, as well as see the most beautiful precious and semi-precious stones to be found in this old mining region. In the State of Espírito Santo, you should try the famous "moqueca capixaba", a typical, highly-seasoned fish plate, see the historic cities of Vila Velha and Anchieta and the monazite sand beaches in Guarapari.

In the City of São Paulo, Latin America's largest metropolis, you will find the five continents mingled together with all that is modern, cosmopolitan and urban. Its people, whose origins are European, Japanese and Arab, built virtual industrial and commercial empires, bringing with them the culture and cuisine of their homelands, making the city a wonderland of restaurants and shopping centers, as well as center state for the best in Along the North Coast of the State of São Paulo, you will be surprised by the beaches of Ilhabela, Ubatuba and São Sebastião.

In the Country's Midwest, you will find the stark contrast of the new-born and the timeless. On the one hand, Brasilia, the nation's Capital, with its bold architecture style - so "avant garde" that it is the ongly 20th Century architectural complex which UNESCO considered to be a Universal Asset of the Whole of Mankind - is ensconced firmly in the bush country of Goiás. On the other hand, the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, a virtual ecological sanctuary,preserves Nature in its primitive 

 state with its unique eco-system, where the visitor, housed in Lodges, can go on hikes with trained guides, and safely observe alligators, sucurís (snakes), rheas, anteaters, parrots, deer, capybaras and countless birds, which chose the Pantanal as one of the planet's most important stopovers on their migratory routes. The mineral springs at Caldas Novas, in Goiás, present medicinal properties in the fresh water fishermen, here's a "hot tip": the Araguaia River is said to be one of the most abundant fishing rivers in the world and the region has a good infrastructure of accommodations and boat excursions specifically for amateur fishermen.

In order to get to know Brazil's origins, where Nature luxuriant and where the country offers its most plentiful demonstration of popular culture, you must visit the Northeast. Here you will most beautiful beaches. They range from the fascinating Canoa Quebrada Beach, in Ceará, through Genipabu and its sand dunes, in Rio Grande do Norte, Ponta do Seixas and Cabo Branco, in Paraíba, Porto de Galinhas and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, in Pernambuco, Pratagy, in Alagoas,

 and Atalaia Velha, in Sergipe, all the way to Porto Seguro, in Bahia, among others, where all types of water sports are practiced. The delightful swing of the typical "forró", "frevo", "ciranda", "maracatu" and "lambada" dances, as well as the electric instrumental trios and Carnaval, will easily captivate you. You will savor palm oil and pepper seasonings in the greatly diversified African foods, with many seafood dishes and manioc meal, washed down with Brazil's most famous national drink - the "caipirinha"(raw, white spirits with lemon and sugar) or refresh ingly cool coconut milk. The regional crafts present a profuse assortment of souvenirs, offered at the Modelo Market, in Salvador/Bahia, the Casa da Cultura and the Caruaru Fair, in Pernambuco, in Recife and Caruaru respectively - Colonial architecture is found in Olinda/Pernambuco - the birthplace of the Portuguese civilization in Brazil - and in the pelourinho District, in Salvador/Bahia, both proclaimed Universal Assets of the Whole of Mankind by UNESCO.

In the State of Maranhão, the cities of São Luís and Alcântara exemplify the tiled architectural style of the 17th an 18th Centuries. At Pedra Furada National park, in Raimundo Nonato Country, Piauí, you will find cave paintings which date back to the first evidences of man's presence on the American continent.

If you looking for ecological adventures, the north of Brazil offers unique opportunities of find them: the Amazon is the world's largest biological reserve and has unequalled natural resources, and one-third of the planet's living species. The rivers of the Amazon Basin, in which a fifth of the world's fresh water flows, are "roads" that Earth's 20 

largest rivers are found in the Amazon River Basin. One of them is the 5,500km long Amazon River. The Lodges which accommodate you in the jungle, offer comfort and security for hiking out to discover the bound-less flora and fauna.

Amazon folklore and its typical regional cuisine are also special attractions. The "Boi Bumbá" folk Festival, held in Parintins during June, heats up the rivalries between groups which wear the distinctive colors of the "Caprichosos e Garantidos" ("Careful and Certain"). The colorful Indian feather art and ceramics from the Island of Marajoara and the Tapajós tribe, can be found in the popular Ver-o-Peso Market in Belém/Pará. In Manaus, the Duty-Free Zone is a paradise for buying duty-free electronic appliances. In this capital city, you can also visit the Amazonas Theater, built in the 19th Century in the Italian Renaissance style, and the setting for Herzog's movie, "Fitzcarraldo".

 Entry Requirements

A visa is required for foreign citizens wishing to visit Brazil. Passport should be valid for six months from the intended date of arrival in Brazil. Tourist and transit visas are generally processed within two working days. They can be obtained through the nearest Brazilian consulate. One passport-size photograph, along with your flight ticket and a duly completed application form are required to apply for your visa, valid for 90 days (tourist) or 10 days (transit).

 Customs

Besides clothing and personal effects, tourist entering Brazil may bring one of each of the following items: radio, tape player, typewrite, notebook computer, movie and still cameras.

 Electrical Current

In Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the current is almost exclusively 110 or 120 volts, 60 cycles, AC. Salvador and Manaus have 127-volt service. Recife, Brasilia and a number of other cities have 220-volt service. Most hotels provide 110-volt and 200-volt outlets.

 Business Hours

Most shops in Brazil are open from 9:00 am - 6:30 or 7:00 p.m., weekdays and form 9:00 am - 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Some shops may close earlier, and many shopping centers stay open as late as 10:00 p.m.. In some regions, shops may close for lunch. Banks are open from 10:00 am - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in most parts of the country, with small regional variations.

 Camping

For information, contact the Associação dos Proprietários de Camping, Rue. Minerva, 149 - conjunto 131 - Perdizes - São Paulo (ZIP) 05007-000, Brazil. 

 Rental Cars

Chauffeur-driven or self-service rental cars are available at all major airports and in most large cities. Look under "autolocadoras" or "locadoras de automóveis" in the phone book of Hertz, Avis, National, Localiza, Unidas, Nobre, etc. An international driver's license is required for foreigners.

 Hotel Accommodations

Brazil is home to some of the best hotels and hotel chains in the world. These hotels are ranked from one to five stars. Consult your travel agent to find out about making hotel reservations in Brazil.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful in most cities throughout Brazil. Regular, metered taxis can be hailed on the street. Although the meter is used the actual fare you pay is listed on a chart taped to the rear side window (by law) and which will be consulted upon reaching your destination, Radio-dispatched taxis can be summoned by phone. The official airport taxis are also radio-dispatched, but are larger and air-conditioned and more expensive.

 Tipping

Most restaurants and bars include a 10% service charge on the bill. It is customary to leave a bit extra for good service. When not included on the bill, 10-15% is the general rule. Tips are not expected by taxi drivers, although most people tell the driver to "keep the change". Airport and hotel porters should receive the equivalent of US$ 0,75 per bag.

 Currency

The Brazilian monetary unit is the "Real (R$)". The official exchange rate is published daily in the newspapers. Cash and traveler's checks are easily exchanged with hotel cashiers, bank and travel agencies. Many hotels and shops accept foreign currency and international credit cards.

 Transportation

Buses are the most popular means of transportation and the most used for urban and interurban trips. Some of the large cities like Rio de Janeiro,  São Paulo and Porto Alegre have rapid, comfortable and efficient subway systems. Brazil's principal airlines are Varig, Vasp and Transbrasil, and they cover the major part of the domestic flights.