Country Information
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, covering almost half of the continent and bordering every country on it except for Chile and Ecuador. With all that space its no surprise that it’s home to everything from untouched beaches to wild jungles and exciting cities and that it spans across four time zones! Framed by the Amazon River to the north, the Amazon basin covers a massive 60% of Brazil’s surface. Containing the world’s largest rainforest there are adventure opportunities aplenty and with a coastal strip 9,000km long, you are sure to find some beautiful beaches!
Brazil has a long and interesting history. Discovered by the Portuguese in 1500, it gained its independence in 1822, however, its time under Portuguese rule has left a lasting impression on the country. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in Latin America, and it has the largest Roman Catholic population in the world, with 74% of its people following Catholicism. With a climate perfect for growing sugarcane, the slave trade is subsequently a major part of Brazil’s history and this continued into the 19th Century when trade moved to coffee, but was finally abolished in 1888.
Brazil now benefits from a diverse population bringing together a great mixture of sounds and sights. The culture of the country revolves around eating, dancing and music. It is a massive sporting nation most popular, of course, being football, with the national team winning the World Cup a record five times. On the whole, the people are energetic and inviting and are sure to make you feel really welcome.
Time
Brazil has four time zones. Standard time is three hours behind GMT; Amazon time is four hours behind GMT; Acre, a state in Brazil, is five hours behind GMT; and finally the Fernando de Noronha archipelago is two hours behind GMT. With the exception of Acre, the country observes Daylight Saving Time between October and February/March, and clocks move forward one hour.
Getting There
You need to arrange your flights into Rio de Janeiro International Airport. Many airlines fly there direct from the UK, including British Airways and Varig (Brazil's National carrier). Cheap one-stop options include TAP Portugal via Lisbon, Iberia via Madrid and Air France via Paris.
Climate
Brazil has a tropical climate but due to its vast size the weather can be quite different in different areas. On average, expect temperatures to be in the 30s, though in high summer it can reach the mid-40s in northern and central Brazil. Though rare, the south of the country can see snow in the winter, so be prepared for cold temperatures if necessary.
Remember, the seasons in the Southern hemisphere are the opposite of those in the Northern hemisphere.
