Brazil Travel Guide
Brazil makes sense
when someone explains it.
Practical, sourced answers for paying, shopping, getting around and staying safe in Brazil — written for visitors from anywhere, not just one country.
Updated: —
Shown in USD by default since it's the most common travel reference currency — the math works the same for any currency your card bills in. This is a market rate, not what your card, ATM or exchange office will actually charge — those usually add a spread and, for card purchases, Brazil's IOF tax.
What do you need help with in Brazil?
Read before you land
Brazil CPF Guide for Foreigners
What it is, whether you actually need one as a visitor, and every real way to get one.
Read the guide → Money & PaymentsHow Foreigners Can Pay in Brazil
Cards, cash, Pix — and the two questions every cashier in Brazil will ask you.
Read the guide → PixHow to Use Pix as a Foreigner
Why most visitors can't send Pix directly, and every real workaround available right now.
Read the guide → Money & PaymentsBrazil Money & Currency Guide
IOF, exchange spreads, and where to change money without losing to a bad rate.
Read the guide → EmergenciesEmergency Guide for Foreigners
Emergency numbers, embassy contacts for six countries, and what to do first.
Read the guide → CPFHow to Buy Things in Brazil Without CPF
A step-by-step for checkout screens, ticket sites and stores that assume you have one.
Read the guide →New guides and updates
Real questions foreigners ask, answered — updated as Brazil's rules and tools change.
Where to actually go
16 places picked for first-timers
Rio, Fernando de Noronha, Búzios and more — with best-time-to-visit and official ticket links.
Browse Tourism → Extended list77 destinations, all 5 regions
The full list, from Amazon lodges to southern canyons — searchable by name or state.
See all 77 → SurvivalStuck, or in an emergency?
Quick fixes for common problems, plus emergency numbers and embassy contacts.
Go to Survival →Questions people ask before they even land
Do I need a CPF to travel to Brazil?+
No. A CPF is a tax registration number, not a travel or immigration document — you don't need one to enter Brazil as a tourist.
Can foreigners use Pix in Brazil?+
Not directly. Pix requires a key linked to an account at a Brazilian financial institution, which requires a CPF — something most short-term visitors don't have. A few tourist-Pix apps offer a workaround.
Can I use my foreign debit or credit card in Brazil?+
Yes, most international cards on the Visa/Mastercard networks work — confirm international transactions are enabled with your bank first.
What is the emergency number for police in Brazil?+
190 (Polícia Militar). For an ambulance, call 192 (SAMU); for fire, 193.
Do people in Brazil speak English?+
It varies — more common among younger people, in tourist hubs, and in hospitality/business settings, but far from universal nationwide.
Stop guessing. Start traveling.
Everything you need to pay, shop and get around Brazil with confidence — in one place.