5. TECHNOLOGY including CELL PHONES, CAMERAS and COMPUTERS
1. GETTING TO BRAZIL
Q. What’s the best way to fly to/from Brazil?
A. Our tours start in Rio de Janeiro and end in Salvador. You’ll definitely want to fly into Rio, but it’s up to you whether your return ticket is booked out of Rio or Salvador. If your return ticket is from Rio, you can book a separate ticket from Salvador back to Rio. Otherwise, book a multi-city trip that flies into Rio and out of Salvador.
Q. Can I arrive early into Rio?
A. Definitely. And, depending on availability, we’d be happy to book additional nights for you at the hotel where the group is staying for the start of the tour. Please check with our Client Liaison for pricing and availability.
Q. Do I need a visa to enter Brazil?
A. For citizens of many countries, you do not need a visa to enter Brazil. You can find additional information about visas for Brazil here. Please note that our tour also includes a day trip to Argentina to see Iguazu Falls. For information about whether or not you need a visa for the day trip, see our visa info page for Argentina.
Q. What is the best way to get back to my departure airport after the tour?
A. Our tours start in Rio and end in Salvador. You have a couple of options for catching your flight home (or for onward travels). These are outlined below.
1) If you fly into Rio and out of Salvador:
We will be staying in Salvador on the last night of the tour. If you fly out of Salvador, either to return to Rio or to fly home, on the last day of the tour, your airport transfer is included.
If you remain in Salvador and book additional nights at our hotel through us, your airport transfer is also included.
If you remain in Salvador and book additional nights on your own, your airport transfer is not included.
2) If you wish to fly roundtrip from Rio:
Even if your ticket is roundtrip into and out of Rio, you will still need to get to Rio from Salvador on that final morning/day of the tour. While we can book this for you, it’s much more economical for you to book it on your own. Make sure to leave plenty of time (at least three hours) between your arrival into Rio and your international departing flight.
2. WHILE VISITING BRAZIL
Q. Will bottled water be available on the tour?
A. At our request, it is not included. We strongly urge our tour participants to carry their own reusable water bottle and bring a water purifier, such as a SteriPen, so as to cut down on the number of plastic water bottles that get thrown out daily in Brazil.
Some hotels will have water at the breakfast buffet from which you can fill up your own reusable water bottle.
Q. What kind of food should I expect on the tour?
A. Brazilian cuisine is a mix of indigenous, Portuguese, African and immigrant influences and varies greatly by region. Expect it to be heavy on meat in most places and seafood in Salvador. Meals are often prepared with fresh, hearty ingredients such as rice and beans, grilled meats, tropical fruit and bold spices.
Breakfast buffets at our hotels include a generous spread of breads, pastries, cheeses, olives, eggs, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, jams, and tea or coffee.
Most lunches will be at small local restaurants where you’ll have an opportunity to order off the menu from a variety of options, including local and international fare.
Expect the same of dinner at local restaurants or hotels – a wide range of local meats, fish and vegetarian options as well as international fare.
Dietary preferences such as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free can be accommodated.
Q. Do you recommend any special vaccinations for this trip?
A. There’s nothing you need specifically for Brazil. However, you’ll want to consult with a travel doctor for medical advice.
Q. Do I need to be concerned about mosquitoes / malaria?
A. Brazil does have cases of malaria, but most are in the Amazon region (we will not be in the Amazon). It does have mosquitoes, most notably during the rainy season (we will not be there during the rainy season), and these are mostly in the north and northeast (Salvador is in the northeast). We recommend bringing a small amount of insect repellent in case we do encounter these.
Q. How much walking is involved on your Brazil tours?
A. All activities are listed on the itinerary page, which will give you a good idea of how much walking is required. In general, expect that the bus won’t be able to park next to the entrance of some of the sites we visit. In these cases, you’ll need to walk to them. This could be anywhere from a block to five blocks or more once we are at some of the ancient sites.
In addition, there are many cobblestone streets and uneven sidewalks and we do have several walking tours scheduled throughout the tour.
If you’re unsteady on your feet, you might consider bringing a walking stick or pole and shoes with ankle support.
Q. I get motion sickness. Will I be able to sit in the front of the van/bus on the tour?
A. We do try to make our tour participants as comfortable as possible, so please tell your tour guide if motion sickness is an issue for you. We can’t guarantee the front seat of the van or bus every time as it really depends on how many people in the group get motion sick or have other medical issues where they may need a different seat.
We suggest that you bring ginger, wrist bands (like this ReliefBand) or ask your doctor about a prescription.
Q. What should I expect in terms of the weather?
A. May/June is considered an excellent time to visit Brazil as the weather will be somewhat mild. This is their fall/start of winter. Most days should be sunny and can be quite warm with temps dropping in the evening.
Q. Should I learn any Portuguese before traveling to Brazil?
A. While it’s always great to learn a few phrases of the local language, you’ll find that most people we encounter will speak English. Our guide(s) will teach us some basic Portuguese throughout the trip!
4. HOTEL INFORMATION
Q. What hotel is the tour starting from in Rio?
A. Hotel information is listed on the tour itinerary, and this is confirmed about a month before the tour. A complete hotel list will be provided a couple of weeks in advance of the tour start date. We encourage you to leave this with family and/or friends in case of an emergency. Depending on availability, we can also book you a room in the same hotel where the tour starts if you wish to arrive early and explore the city on your own or rest from your travels.
Q. Will hotels have fitness centers and/or safe walking routes? Is there time in the itinerary to get some exercise?
A. Some hotels do have fitness centers, but it’s best to check the hotel websites on the Brazil itinerary for specific amenities.
You will also have opportunities during the tour to explore on your own; however, you’ll want to take some safety precautions, particularly in the larger cities (Rio and Salvador). Never walk around these cities on your own at night. Our guide(s) and the hotel staff can let us know about areas to avoid, even during the day.
Q. Do hotels provide shampoo and conditioner?
A. All hotels will have shampoo in the showers, but not all will have conditioner. If you like, you can always purchase shampoo and conditioner once you arrive if you don’t want to travel with it or if you run out along the way.
Q. Are there hair dryers at the hotels?
A. Hair dryers are available at all of the accommodations.
Q. Are my items safe in my hotel room?
A. Your items *should* be safe. But for valuables you are concerned about, we recommend that you either lock them in your room’s safe or that you place items in your luggage and use small locks to secure the zippers.
When something goes missing, it’s usually later found at the bottom of one’s luggage. In the meantime, hotel staff are the first to be blamed. It’s best to keep your items (especially valuables) locked up so that this is not even a question.
5. PACKING INFORMATION
Q. Is it OK to bring a large piece of luggage that I have to check?
A. While you will be more comfortable moving around with fewer (and smaller) bags, it’s fine if you need to check a bag. There will be porters and hotel staff to help with luggage at each hotel.
Note that not all hotels have elevators, so the fewer bags you have, the better.
Q. How should I dress/pack for this trip?
A. You’ll receive a full packing list for the tour that will help guide you.
Lightweight travel pants, capris, shorts, leggings, dresses and/or skirts, short-sleeved shirts and tank tops are all fine.
It will be cooler on the bus and in restaurants, so have a light jacket or wrap that you can wear. And it can be cool at night as well.
Q. Will I be responsible for carrying my own luggage?
A. You’ll have very little interaction with your luggage as the hotel staff help with moving bags from the bus to the rooms and then back to the bus. We do encourage you to pack light, so a small roller bag that is carry-on size (under 22″) would be ideal.
Q. What type of shoes should I bring?
A. Our rule of thumb is not to bring more than two pairs of shoes – one pair for walking and perhaps a pair of sandals.
Because of the heat, you might find yourself wanting to wear sandals (ie. Tevas) even into the evening. But there will be a fair amount of walking around as we’re touring, so make sure your shoes are comfortable.
Q. What type of day bag do you recommend for touring around?
A. You’ll want to take extra precautions in the cities (Rio and Salvador, specifically). We recommend a shoulder bag or backpack that has safety features, such as one from PacSafe. Most of their bags have slash proof panels and handles so that an opportunistic thief can’t just grab your bag and run.
Q. Should I bring a swimsuit?
A. Yes, there are swimming pools at several of the hotels, and you will have some free time to use them.
6. TECHNOLOGY including CELL PHONES, CAMERAS and COMPUTERS
Q. Will WiFi be available at the hotels?
A. Yes, free WiFi is available at all of the hotels.
Q. What sort of power adaptor do I need?
A. Brazil uses type C and N power plugs. Both of these have two round pins, but the N version also has a grounding wire. Your adaptor should look like this>>>
Q. Will I need a converter for my electrical devices?
A. You will need a converter for any devices needing 110/220 conversion (things like a hair dryer, curling iron, etc.). Most electronics these days (such as a laptop and iPad) have a built-in converter that protects the device from power surges.
Q. Can I use my cell phone in Brazil?
A. There are a few ways you can use your cell phone in Brazil. The most reliable and easiest way to do this is to buy an international data plan from your provider. Most providers offer an international data plan (or your current plan may already include it) where you pay $10 – $12/day. This tends to be pretty seamless.
A much more cost-effective option is to download an eSIM like Airalo (for $3 off, use code ELIZAB3290). This allows you to connect to the local network to use data. It can be a little tricky getting this set up and using it with your own number, but we can help you once you’re in-country. You will need a phone that is “unlocked” in order to use an eSIM. This usually requires that you own your phone and that you are not on a payment plan with your cell phone provider.
Lastly, you can simply turn your data off and only use your phone when there’s WiFi.
Q. Will there be WiFi on our bus?
A. There may be WiFi available on the bus(es), but we can’t guarantee this, so it’s best not to expect it.
7. MONEY, GIFTS, TIPS
Q. What’s the currency used in Brazil?
A. The Brazilian real (BRL) is the currency of Brazil. Consider downloading an app such as Converter so that you have quick access to the exchange rate.
Q. Are ATMs available?
A. There will be ATMs available throughout the trip with the exception of our lodge in the Pantanal Sul. You’ll want to let your bank know in advance that you are traveling so they don’t deny usage of your card thinking it’s a fraudulent charge. You’ll also want to find out what, if anything, your bank charges for international ATM withdrawals. If it’s based on each transaction, you’ll want to take larger amounts of money out rather than making numerous small withdrawals so as to limit the charges.
In addition, there may be a fee charged by the local bank to use the ATM.
Q. How do I exchange money in Brazil?
A. If you have US dollars or Euros, you can exchange money at an exchange bureau upon arrival at the airport or at your hotel, but the rate won’t be quite as good as exchange bureaus you’ll find elsewhere. Our guide can help find the best place to exchange your cash for local currency.
There is often a problem making change in Brazil, and it can be difficult to pay with large banknotes, so be sure to get smaller denomination bank notes as this will make your life easier when paying for inexpensive items such as drinks and souvenirs.
Q. How much money should I bring with me?
A. We get this question a lot, and it really does depend on your spending habits. You can make larger purchases using a MasterCard or Visa (Discover is not accepted at all, and American Express is not always accepted), but small purchases will likely be made with cash. You might consider bringing $100-200 in case you have trouble finding an ATM that will accept your card when you first arrive. Also, having small bills (in your own currency) to tip a taxi driver or bellman upon your arrival might be helpful.
Q. How should I best carry my money?
A. You might consider carrying your passport, credit/debit cards and cash in something like a neck pouch or a large wallet like this one from Baggallini. You could then put that in a larger cross-body bag.
Q. Do we tip our guide(s) and driver?
A. Tips for the guide(s) and driver(s) for the tour itself are included in the cost of your tour. But if you’d like to give something extra at the end of the trip, it would be greatly appreciated by both the guide(s) and driver. A suggested amount is $5 – $10 per day. U.S. dollars or Brazilian reais (plural of real) are both fine.
We suggest leaving a tip for the cleaning staff at the hotels as you would do at a hotel elsewhere. $2 – $5 a night is appropriate. We also suggest tipping for any services when you’re not with the group (a private airport pickup or drop-off, for example).
Q. Do you suggest we bring gifts for the locals?
A. It’s certainly a nice gesture (but not necessary) if you have small gifts to leave with friends you make along the way. Things that might be appropriate include souvenirs from your hometown, including items with logos (Seattle mugs or baseball caps, for example), chocolate or coffee.
8. WANDERTOURS TRAVEL DETAILS
Q. Do I need insurance for this tour?
A. We do suggest that all tour participants acquire travel insurance, but it is 
not required.
We partner with Travel Insured International so that you have the ability to purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance. We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance (no matter who your provider is) to protect your travel investment from any possible issues. Although we are technically not requiring it, you will be asked to sign additional paperwork acknowledging the risk of traveling without insurance.
Here’s some info on insurance that includes an explanation of Cancel for Any Reason insurance.
Q. Is there a schedule for installment payments?
A. We don’t have anything formal set up, but you can definitely send in payments on your own schedule. Some people send in monthly payments while other people send in payments when it’s convenient.
It is common for someone to set up regularly scheduled checks to be sent from their bank until the tour is paid in full by the final payment due date.
Q. Will I receive a refund if I have to cancel my participation in this tour?
A. Once you have paid a deposit, there is a cancellation fee if you cannot join us. The cancellation fee depends on the tour and how far in advance of the tour you cancel. Our refund policy is covered in our Booking Terms and Conditions and is also outlined on the Registration Form that you’ll receive within 24 hours of registering with a deposit.
Any refunds will be sent by check within two weeks of our receiving written notification of your cancellation (email notification is fine). We will respond via email and ask for confirmation of your mailing address for any refunds.
Address must be confirmed within six months; otherwise, expect forfeiture of refund as we close out our books at that time.
Q. Will you be sending an updated itinerary with our overnight accommodations so we can leave it with folks at home?
A. Yes, you’ll receive the hotel information as well as emergency contact information one or two weeks before departure (note: it is subject to last-minute changes).
Q. What’s the emergency contact info that I can give my family?
A. About two weeks before your departure, you will be given a cell phone number for your tour escort and someone in-country employed by our local tour operator.