Intercity Bus Travel in Brazil

I am planning on taking the bus from SP to Paraty and spend a few days, continuing on to Rio from there. Later, I will take the bus from Rio to Tiradentes/Sao Joao del Rei, stay there, and go up to Ouro Preto, spend a few days there, then go to Belo Horizonte (from where I'll fly back to SP).

1) Should I be reserving seats on any of these buses, or is it safe to just show up and assume there will be an empty seat? (I'll be traveling early-mid April).

2) Is there a direct bus from Tiradentes/Sao Joao to Ouro Preto? I'm having some difficulty locating one, and I'd like to avoid having to go to Belo Horizonte just to get to Ouro Preto.

3) As it stands, I'm thinking of spending 3 nights in Tiradentes/Sao Joao and 2 nights in Ouro Preto. (Using BH as just a transit stop). Is this too much time in any of these towns? I don't want to be rushed but nor do I want to be bored.

... more »

Amazon Trip Start Manau

Hello togehter,

i am planning a 6 day trip in the jungel around Manaus.

I have choosen 2 options

first with igunao Turismo
http://www.tripadvisor.de/Attraction_Review-g303235-d1628804-Reviews-Iguana_Turismo-Manaus_Amazon_River_State_of_Amazonas.html

second with a local guide and his lodge.
http://www.tripadvisor.de/Hotel_Review-g1984154-d2547880-Reviews-Amazon_Tarzan_Lodge-Careiro_State_of_Amazonas.html

its in the Juma Reserve

i like to have a real jungel adventure. Sleeping in the jungel etc. is iguano Turismo to toristical for it?

Does someone has some experience for such a trip?

i can not decide which one i should choose

Please Help !!! more »

Biz trip to Sao Paulo, then have 4 days free, stay in Sao Paulo or Rio

Hi
I'm flying to Sao Paulo tomorrow, my hotel is in Santo André. I have about 2 days of work there, then I am free till Saturday when I fly back home.
At the moment my return flight is from Sao Paulo as well.
I looked at the things to do at Sao Paulo and it seems much less interesting then Rio. Am I right about that, especially considering the fact that my hotel is in Santo André?
I would really like to hit the beach and make the best out of the short stay I have in Brazil, get the most out of the culture and people.
Am I right about Sao Paulo being less touristy? Would it be more efficient for me to catch a flight to Rio and spend a few nights there?

Thanks in advance!

Help with research - language barrier

Hi,

I'm just doing some preliminary research on barriers that exist while traveling in countries where there is a different language. On RTW trips, it is almost impossible to learn a new language every couple of weeks to try to survive. I, myself have ended up playing charades, talking slower in my language (because that makes it better...) or even just repeating the one or two words I do know until I find out the information needed.

The most common places I have found this is when lost in a new city needing directions or looking at a menu and figuring out the type of meat (mostly leading to me making animal sounds, oink, moo, cockle-doodle-do).

My problem is I need a big list of things that people have trouble with in countries all over the world, in all languages.

If you have any experiences where this has happened to you and would like to share them, I would appreciate... more »

Tabatinga to Belem: weather issues in April?

Hello,

soon I will be in Colombia and planning to take a flight to Leticia to travel the amazon river from Tabatinga to Belem by boat. I am just worried about possible season problems (rain season, level of river water, etc..)?

Can anyone confirm is doable in April and maybe provide a link with the boat schedule for March/April?

Thanks!

MM

amazon boat travel

hola good people

it seems there is much dispute on actual prices of amazon boat travel, i read somewhere tabatinga to manaus costs $240 for two people in a cabin. in most other places it says $500. does anyone have up to date numbers and is it nicer to do tabatinga - manaus or manaus -belem?? if time is not an issue can u take smaller slower boats that stop in small villages along the way or its not worth it??

thanks in advance for the input

cheers

Stay Away from Brazil... New ATM rules limit 300.reais a day.

I have been reading on line about the new ATM rules in place in Brazil. I found out the reports are in fact TRUE.. I tried my card today and was only given 300 reais even though I have a large daily rate on my US card..

ATM's will now only give you 300 Brazilian Reais a day.. American and Canadian cards have this new Limit.. I have heard that cards from the EU are no longer accepted AT ALL, but can not confirm this yet...

Australian Studying in Brazil

Hi there,

I am struggling to enroll in any of the universities in Brazil! I am desperate to go back, the culture, people, cities and atmosphere was simply amazing when I went recently and I would love to study there!

I am already undertaking Portuguese lessons here in Aus in preparation for going back, but I would happily enroll in a Portuguese as a second language course. Alternatively, if I get my Portuguese up and running, I would take any course on the history, culture or politics of Brazil.

I would love to study in either Brasilia or Rio. I have tried contacting a couple of the universities but have had no luck in getting a response and a couple do not have English web pages.

Any advice, contact or information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Looking to go back anytime between November or Jan next week for a period of 6-12 months.

Cheers,
Sarah

Edi... more »