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4 Reasons Why Brazil Is One Of The Least Tourist-Friendly Destinations In Latin America

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Brazil may be home to a beautiful coastline and some of the world’s most iconic sights, but the cold, hard truth is that it remains one of the least tourist-friendly destinations in Latin America, and in this article, we will give you four reasons why you may find it more challenging to travel Brazil than neighboring countries.

Aerial View Of Christ The Redeemer In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I get it: catching a glimpse of Christ the Redeemer standing watch mercifully over the bustling metropolis that is Rio, sunbathing in Ipanema as you sip some coconut water to the soothing sound of crashing waves, or exploring the colorful streets of Salvador, the regional capital of an under-visited Northeast, all sound appealing enough.

Sadly, it only takes a couple of hours being in the country for visitors to realize there is a lot your usual travel brochure does not cover:

You May Have Your Purchases Limited For Not Being Brazilian

Close Up Of A Person Holding A U.S. American Passport

Perhaps one of the most unbelievable entries on this list, and something not that many Americans are aware of, unless you hold a CPF (Cadastro de Pessoa Fisica), which is the Brazilian equivalent to a Social Security Number, it will be extremely difficult, and at times impossible, to buy anything online – this includes tickets for events, some cultural attractions, purchasing data, and intercity transportation.

Let’s take SIM cards, for instance: although e-SIMs have become massively popular in recent months, and roaming fees are not as expensive as they once were, you will certainly get the best value for your money buying a local Brazilian SIM. While there are several companies to choose from, perhaps shockingly, it is extremely difficult to find one that offers a tourist data package.

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Young Woman Seen Logging Into WhatsApp At The Beach

It gets worse: in some places, SIM cards can only be purchased upon presentation of a CPF, supposedly for security reasons – a serious inconvenient seeing that, for obvious reasons, non-Brazilian tourists do not have one. You read that right: a passport will not cut it. Alternatively, visitors can buy a pre-paid SIM from unofficial vendors or kiosks, though online activation of the SIM will normally still require a CPF.

It’s a dead end, and that’s only one example.

Searching Google, you should come across numerous reports of visitors to Brazil who had trouble not only accessing data but even getting from point A to B thanks to their status as non-Brazilians, and, subsequently, individuals without a CPF. There is a way for foreigners to get their own Brazilian Social Security Number, but it is so complicated it’s comparable to a visa application process, and it takes time:

Young Woman In A Bikini Or Swimming Attire Looking Shocked Or Worried As She Checks Her Phone On A Beach Lounge
  • Passport in hand, proceed to a CPF registration center: Banco do Brasil, Caixa Economica Federal, or Correios;
  • Request a CPF application form*;
  • Provide proof of residence in Brazil (energy or water bills will suffice).**

*Application forms are also available online

**When staying at a friend’s house or with a host family, you should ask them to write a declaration confirming you reside in the address. This needs to be notarized at a Registry Office (Cartorio)

It costs BRL 7,00 to apply.

Aerial View Of Avenida Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil

You can certainly enjoy a stress-free, short-term vacation in Brazil if data roaming isn’t a big concern/ you’re an Airalo user, and you’re not planning on ordering items online/booking inter-municipal tickets in advance, but if you’re a digital nomad staying longer than a couple of weeks, you’re best advised to apply for a CPF.

I have seen foreign visitors routinely using their Brazilian friends’/ acquaintances’ CPF numbers as well, though they may pose a problem if ID verification is required upon boarding a bus or entering a venue.

Brazil Is In The Top Ten For Highest Crime Rates Globally

Starking Contrast Of A Favela And High Rise Developed Apartment Blocks In Brazil, Latin America

Being born in Brazil myself, and having lived several non-consecutive years in the country, I have always maintained an increased level of situational awareness due to the widespread violence and impossibly high crime rates. That being said, even keeping a low profile and exercising caution might not entirely protect you from harm in large urban centers.

Most visits to Brazil are trouble-free, irrespective of high crime levels, as attested by the U.K. Government, but there is no denying safety is a pressing concern for tourists and locals alike. As any Brazilian who’s grown up in this environment will immediately warn you, flashing any valuable items – jewelry, phones, tablets – is most definitely a no, daytime or nighttime, as is drawing attention to yourself by speaking English, or any foreign language, in city centers.

Federal Police In A Favela In Brazil, Latin America

This is particularly true in places like Rio, which have long struggled to keep crime levels in check, mostly to no avail as a result of the city’s own complex social fabric and the systemic issues that pervade Brazil’s judiciary. I was only ever mugged in Brazil once as a teenager, and ironically, the traumatizing experience transpired in Rio.

More precisely, in Copacabana, a developed beachfront area lined with five-star hotels where the carioca elite is normally seen about. For me, this is a testament to how ‘normal’ safety rules applying to other countries, such as Mexico, cannot necessarily be replicated in Brazil. Whether you’re being reasonable by sticking to well-lit pedestrianized streets and tourist zones or not, you could still be affected.

Small Town Of Pipa In Northeastern Brazil, South America

I have lost count of the number of times I was urged by Brazilian friends to leave my phone at home going out at night, or at the very least, bring a secondary one with me ‘in case’ I am approached violently, so I would have something to give up; or then again, always calling an Uber from inside the building, as opposed to standing by the sidewalk, where you’re in a vulnerable position.

It just feels like being in a constant survival mode, 24/7, except when you’re home or safe inside your hotel.

Currently, Brazil has the ninth highest crime rate globally, with 67.49 incidents recorded per 100,000 inhabitants. It surpasses all of its closest competitors in the region, most notably Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, which are not traditionally deemed ‘unsafe’, though it still fares a lot better than Venezuela, where rates reach a staggering 83.76.

Ninguém Fala Inglês. Ninguém Mesmo.

Colonial Style Buildings In The Historic Old Town Of Salvador de Bahia, Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, Latin America

Brazil’s unpreparedness for international tourism means local staff and service providers outside Rio, Sao Paulo, and other metropolitan hubs are not usually trained to host international guests. A mere 1% of Brazilians are able to speak English fluently, and this normally poses a problem for tourists in need of assistance.

Internet in Brazil isn’t exactly the fastest or most reliable, so it may be, at times, that Google will not be available as a translation tool. In any such scenario, knowing a useful phrase or two in the local language is crucial. According to previous visitors who have shared their experiences on the online forum Travel Stack Exchange, ‘people understand very little other than Portuguese‘.

Young Male Tourist Sat On Top Of A Rock Overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Matt Colson, an expat who was reportedly living in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte in 2016, confirmed himself ‘tourist staff will not be able to understand anything beyond the most basic phrases‘. Believe it or not, consolidated tourism hubs like Rio are no exception: ‘even in Ipanema, one of the most popular parts of Rio for international tourists, English is not spoken‘, remarked forum member ‘Tim’.

Brazil Needs Better, Faster, Smarter Public Transportation. Urgently.

City Bus In Sao Paulo, Brazil, Latin America

Unlike other destinations in Latin America that have been investing heavily in infrastructure in hopes of bettering themselves and improving the tourist experience – notably, Mexico’s laudable Tren Maya project – Brazil is still lagging behind as a continent-sized behemoth where the flow of goods, services, and people takes place almost exclusively via road.

Naturally, traffic can be wild, with three people dying in car collisions per hour, and traffic jams influenced by a lack of transportation planning and dual carriageways. In the likely event that your bus will get stuck behind a heavy lorry – or a whole queue of them – you should anticipate hours wasted in excruciatingly long bus journeys. Flights remain an option for major destinations along the coast, but other off-path gems like Ouro Preto can only be reached via land.

Aerial View Of Colonial City Of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Brazil does not have a railway system or an equivalent to Germany’s autobahns, even between the economic powerhouse trio of Rio, Sao Paulo, and Minas Gerais. Cross-country travel is mostly reduced to buses, with a poor to average service, owing their inexistent infrastructure and sub-optimal schedules to long-standing transportation monopolies. In other words, planning a multi-destination trip is cumbersome, to say the very least.

Fortunately, privately-owned platforms like Buser are transforming the travel landscape within Brazil, offering the country’s first-ever luxury coaches operating between state capitals. I have traveled myself on the lie-flat, Sao Paulo – Belo Horizonte luxury express twice, and I am glad to say I was pleasantly surprised with the experience:

Aerial View Of Christ The Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America
  • You get your own TV screen;
  • Free drinks;
  • Snacks;
  • You sleep comfortably through the night, knowing you’ll wake up in the next city in the wee hours.

The only downside to it all? You will need a CPF to book your ticket. Sorry.

@vinigoesglobal I. Am. Obsessed. 🇧🇷 #brazil #travel #tourist #gringo ♬ Tainted Love – Soft Cell

Is Brazil Worth Visiting?

Historic Building In Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

We should bear in mind we’re talking about a vast country encompassing different customs, ethnic groups, and cultural influences. Brazil is certainly not a homogeneous bunch, and some states are less tourist-friendly than others – smaller towns, in particular, are not as plagued by violence as state capitals, much like anywhere else – but it’s evident there are issues that need to be addressed.

Do I wish tourism officials improved the quality of services provided and did away with all the pointless, excessively bureaucratic hurdles (e.g. mandatory CPF for e-commerce)? Yes, that would help. Do I feel like local authorities have historically failed, and continued to fail, in keeping cities safe, in stark contrast with the Mexican Government’s latest acts? Absolutely.

Pelourinho, Historic City Centr OF Salvador, Bahia, Northeastern Brazil

Will I ever let my guard down and walk the streets of Rio completely carefree as if I was back home in Europe? Probably not 90% of the time, when I’m not staying in a gated community or find myself strolling alone in rundown downtown areas. As the U.S. Government clearly states, ‘violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, is common in urban areas, day and night‘.

Moreover, U.S. Government personnel are discouraged from using public and municipal buses in all parts of Brazil ‘due to an elevated risk of robbery and assault at any time of day’, reinforcing my earlier impressions that Uber, and other private transportation providers, are the safest and easiest way to commute in a Brazilian city.

Historical Colonial Town Of Tiradentes, Minas Gerais, Brazil, South America

With that being said, I would not discourage foreigners from visiting Brazil. Despite its ongoing war against crime and the violence surge noted in some states, it is an essential part of your Latin America puzzle map. Incredible regional cuisine, historical sites, stunning nature: it truly has it all.

As long as you’re extra vigilant and follow local guidance, chances are you’ll love it in the end – but I would urge people to calibrate their expectations to the reality on the ground: international tourism, and the well-being of visitors, are truly rather poorly handled.

Young Man Taking Photo From Cruise In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Being one of the world’s top ten economies with a developing society and democracy, Brazil is surely no crumbling state in the Global South plagued by incessant humanitarian crises and on the brink of collapse. It has the financial means to do better and the potential to become a global leader on the tourism front.

It’s simply a shame it does not seem to have the political will to do so.

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Ka

Thursday 1st of December 2022

Sao Paulo is amazing, violent crime is low. It is as safe as Mexico City or Santiago, Chile. Stay in downtown or crowded areas and nothing will happen to you.

Have heard not so good things about Rio.

The only major difference is cell phone snatchers-normally young 12 year old kids on bikes in Sao Paulo who do this. Watch out for them.

Otherwise, all good!

Tshepo Gono

Thursday 1st of December 2022

If all of what you say is true how was Brazil able to pull off a successful Olypic Games?

James

Wednesday 30th of November 2022

It is one of the bucket list to go to countries! Ditto. It needs to drop the stupid COVID policies. Do you any recommendations on how to stay there for a long-term? Does one need to study Portuguese first before going there if you are saying there is one percent speaks English fluently? How about knowing to speak Spanish help?

Keith

Saturday 10th of December 2022

@James, There are no Covid policies. I just left there. You might have to wear a mask in the airport, but that's it. I would learn a little Portuguese if you're going to stay for while. I don't know much and I didn't have a problem. Just use Google translator. I stayed in an AirBnB for 2 months.

Ka

Thursday 1st of December 2022

@James, See my comment above. Brazilians and Thais are the friendliest, nicest people of the world. I have traveled to 30 countries, for extended stays. Sao Paulo and Bangkok are my top two places forever.

Marcelo

Wednesday 30th of November 2022

Well, at least we dont have mass shooting on schools, shopping centers and like each and every week. Now, one can buy sim cards on every corner in the big cities. Again, at big cities, wifi hotspots are pretty normal. Speed? have you experienced internet connection in Germany?... So, in your country all people speaks any other language than english? A good railroad net, yes, you are right. But we dont like it really. We prefer plane, bus or even ship as long as it works, and yes, it works ok. urban transportation at Rio de Janeiro, btw is far better then again, Germany, imho. That´s it, not really accurate description.

Art

Wednesday 30th of November 2022

@Marcelo,

I grew up in Brazil and I can 100% attest and agree with what the author of the post said. You are just being defensive. There's no comparison of the infrastructure and level of English found in Germany with that found in Brazil. Brazil keeps being stuck in the past with no advancement, unfortunately.

max

Wednesday 30th of November 2022

I got SIM card with no issue just with my passport at official mobile provider "Claro" with 4G date bundle

Hristos Konstantinou

Thursday 1st of December 2022

@max, I was in Brazil in 2017 and couldnt buy sim card from any official vending points with my Republic of Cyprus passport. I had a Brazilian girlfriend at the time and luckily I was able to use her CPF to get a SIM. After I turned single went to Brazil again 2021 and wasnt so lucky

Tyler Fox

Wednesday 30th of November 2022

Hello Max, Regarding SIM cards, you will be able to find other articles from different sources confirming our own findings. Claro may be an exception, but our writer has tried buying a local SIM from two different companies, including Vivo, one of the top-rated in Brazil, both from official stores and kiosks, and he has had no luck. Naturally, your experience may have been different, perhaps because the staff at Claro were more relaxed about CPF requirements. Again, thank you for your comment, and we appreciate your input!