Rio Branco Getting there & around

Getting around

Rio Branco has an efficient terminal urbano (city bus terminal; Rua Sergipe btwn Av Ceará & Rua Benjamin Constant), next to the market. You pay your fare at a bank of turnstiles, and buses come and go from clearly marked platforms. You can board at bus stops around town as well; there’s a handy one on Av Getulio Vargas, near the Palacio Rio Branco.

The airport is located 22km west of town, on Hwy BR-364. A taxi to or from town costs an eye-popping R$70 to R$80. Coming off the plane, you may be able to find another passenger or two to share the fare; taxi drivers sometimes help pair you up. Alternatively, bus 304, signed as ‘Custódio Freire’ and/or ‘Aeroporto, ’ runs between the airport and town about once an hour (R$1.75, one hour, 5am-11pm). The Pinheiro Palace Hotel and Hotel João Poulo both operate airport shuttles, R$25 to R$30 per person, to (but not from) the airport. The Pinheiro’s is open to guests and non-guests, but is not always available. The João Poulo’s is more reliable but is technically for hotel guests only; those staying elsewhere may be able to plead their case, however.

The long distance bus station (Av Uirapuru) is 1.25km southwest of the center, across the Rio Acre. At least three different city buses run between there and the center of town, including those marked ‘Norte-Sul, ’ ‘Taquarí’ and ‘Domoacir’ (R$1.75, 25 minutes, every half hour). Catch them at either bus terminal or at the bus stop on Av Getúlio Vargas by the Palacio Rio Branco. A taxi to or from the city center costs R$10, a mototaxi R$3.