When to Go to Brazil

A small, but crucial part of every travel writer’s fundamental duties is providing a response to the oft-posed question: “When to Go?”

I can’t speak for my colleagues, but from my own experience writing about Brazil, “When to Go?” used to be one of the easier questions tossed my way. Though lacking a background in meteorology or climatology, I used to feel fairly sure in my predictions as to what kind of weather my readers would likely encounter in a given region, at a given time of year. This is because, traditionally, much of Brazil possessed very stable and distinctive weather systems.

Recently, however, all bets are off. more >>

Will That Be Cash or Capivaris?

Most foreigners who travel to Brazil are aware that the country’s currency is the mighty real (which, tourists will be glad to know, has recently lost some value against the U.S. dollar). Few, however, suspect that there are presently over 60 legal currencies in circulation throughout the country.

With names derived from local flora and fauna – castanha (Brazil nuts), cactus, or paca – or indigenous Tupi terms – acaraú, apuanã, timbau – these monies are printed in limited quantities and small denominations (to avoid hoarding). A far cry from Monopoly money, the hard-to-counterfeit paper bills feature serial numbers, watermarks, and holograms alongside often striking graphics guaranteed to seduce hard-core numismatists. more >>