r/Brazil

Hello Everyone,

I'll be in Porto Alegre for over a month, coming from India and was wondering if you can share what should I know or pack up with me.

I am a vegetarian, would that be a challenge?

There is a supermarket near my AirBnB, zoffari. Is it pricey or would it make sense to carry things from India?

Also, I am going there for office workshop. Anything to keep in mind when I'll be with my Brazil colleagues? Is it okay to smoke in public ?

So a guy I was sexually involved with told me ‘you’re like a hg’ and I thought he was friendzoning me so i got mad at him and fought over text lol
After a few days I complain about him calling me that again and he’s like idk why you’re mad it’s cute in Portuguese like whatt??

Guys is it really a thing or I’m getting gaslighted
P.s. he’s not great at English and often translates terms that dont quite work in English

Hi All

So I’m about to turn 55 and am planning to retire to São Paulo

I will be moving with a friend of mine and we plan on sharing a nice 2 bed apartment.

Pinherios seems to be top of our list.

I was wondering what people would suggest is needed budget wise for a very good lifestyle. We won’t bother with a car. But aim to be active.
Hot yoga
Martial arts
Art
Dining out, local and high end
Some travel
Dating often (2-3 times a week).

Hey everyone,

How are you? I am wondering what part of the coast is your favorite in Brasil? I love the coast between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Ubatuba, Ilha Grande, Paraty...it's so amazing and for me I prefer it to the northeast because I think the landscape is prettier.

On a different note but related to coastline, has anyone been to João Pessoa? I have read that it is a good city with nice beaches. However, I was talking to my friend from Brasilia who said that the beaches in João Pessoa aren't that great - that they are not beautiful blue. I looked at some pictures and videos on YouTube and the water seems to be quite brown at the shore.

Thank you for any insights and opinions you have!

Hi everybody,

I have a degree from usa. At This moment, i am trying to get a student visa from Brazil. Unfortunetely, they are asking me to do apostile on my original diploma.

Currently, I am outside the usa. I am uzing an apostille service that are asking me mail them a notorized diploma.

From my understanding, an original document can't be notarized. Only a copy can be notarized. However chat gpt tells me is possible but doesnt Tell Me how. Silly but i had to try.

I would like to know what I Can do. Is ​there a way to get an original document notarized. Thanks in advance.

Hello !!
I’m trying to rent a car in Belem to make a road trip to Fortaleza, do you have some advices about what to do on this trip ? 😊
Also, I find cars to rent pretty expensive (600€ mini) to do point A -> point B therefore a friend of mine got his car two weeks before his vacation for 300€ on same site. Do you have any tips or suggestion ?

Thank you !!

I’m from Colombia and I see the Colombian peso weakening against the dollar in the next weeks and months. I don’t want to be affected by this and I was thinking about moving my funds to binance and save them in usdc or usdt, once in Brazil, sell it for Brazilian reais, but I’m not sure whether this will be accepted in immigration office or not. What do you guys think?

I have my mercosur visa, and will stay in Brazil at least for 2 years. Traveling in September or October.

I’m trying to understand when and where people should apply mosquito repellent on their body. For example, I read somewhere that in coastal areas like Ipanema, it may not be necessary because mosquitoes are less common due to the ocean breeze. Is repellent something you should use only during certain times of the year, or is it recommended year-round? I’d appreciate any advice or practical tips.

As a Brazilian raised abroad (North America), I often get told, when I say I'm Brazilian, that I don't "look Brazilian" (I have white skin and brown hair). I feel like many gringos think Brazilian is an ethnicity or a certain appearance. Is it mainly because of the stereotypes about Brazil and Brazilians, or is there something else that could possibly explain this misunderstanding/confusion? Is there maybe a lack of knowledge on how diverse Brazil is?

Hello, I’m leaving Sunday for a 21 day adventure to Brazil and I was wondering what vegetarian options exist and what you recommend. This is my first time visiting, so I’m not sure where to really start.

Thank you in advance. 🫶🏻

Edit: I’m going to São Paulo.

If you would just have to spend 4 days with your family in a beach town , to relax, eat & drink, maybe some (wind) surf , and maybe 1 or 2 excursions, would you opt for Pipa or Jericoacoara, and why? (Not taking ‘easy to get there’ into account). Thanks!

Hey everyone

How are you? I have been in São Paulo for a few months on a job assignment. I have lived in Mexico and have worked in NYC, CDMX, and now here. I have really enjoyed this city - the restaurants, the public transportation, the unique neighborhoods, the closeness to the beach, and the architecture (I really like mid-century and brutalist buildings).

One thing I have noticed in my time is that it does not seem very common to ... "saludar" one another, I think in English the equivalent verb is "to greet". I will often say good morning or good afternoon in the condo I live in and I won't get a response. The other day I held the elevator for someone who was rushing and they did not say anything when they got on. I was also in line at the post office and the person behind me had a lot of boxes, I said they could go in front of me and they didn't say anything (not even thank you) - they just walked pass. I notice this with interactions with others also - for example I was in an Uber who was entering through a gate - the guard said hello and the uber driver didn't say anything.

Has anyone else had similar experiences? Even in the big city of CDMX, it is very common to engage in pleasantries between strangers.

One time, a man came in with a hand injury because a big tree branch or piece of wood fell on his hand while he was chopping wood in the jungle. So I asked him, “What happened?” He said, “Machuquei minha mão” (“I hurt my hand”). I said, “Com o quê, uma árvore?” (“With what, a tree?”). Then he said, “Com um pau”.

I was a bit confused because I knew “pau” can mean “penis". And I’m not very fluent in Portuguese. So I didn’t know whether he was joking with me or not. But later I googled it and found out it also means “wood.” Lol.

We're travelling with an elderly person who is not able to walk a lot (maybe 5 mins max, if that). We would be uber-ing everywhere to prevent walking and has the following activities in mind:

1. Christ the redeemer
2. Sugarloaf
3. Maracanã tour (for some, elderly person won't join)
4. Visit/take a look at the beaches (Copa, Ipanema)
5. Selaron (just at the base, not going up/down the stairs)

We can't do Parque Lage, Santa Teresa, Botanical Garden, Museums etc - since those would require a bit of walking.

Since we have 4 days in Rio, was wondering if you guys can suggest any light activity/tourist attraction that won't require any walking?

My friends and I have been planning on going to Brazil for about a month in 2027 (mid January to mid Feb). I’ve been wanting to go to Brazil since I was 10 (turning 30 next year!) so I have been really looking forward to it!

However my sister is also just confirmed her wedding date… for February 5th.

My friends are likely still going and I could go, but I would have to leave early and miss carnaval.

I’m also thinking of going during new years or another time during the year and doing carnaval in 2028. But the FOMO might kill me :( What should I do?

Hi. Anyone obtained Brazilian citizenship papers for a minor born in the US to one Brazilian parent (with no Brazilian residence, but with current Brazilian passport) recently and have tips? Eg it’s not clear to me based on what I’ve read so far if the child actually needs to attend the appointment or if both parents need to attend or just their IDs with the Brazilian parent.

Additional details: child is currently 11 and US residence is Washington DC.

Thanks in advance!

EDITED TO ADD: what about the step of transcribing the birth certificate in Brazil in Brasilia? Has anyone actually done that in person?? https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado-washington/consulate-general-of-brazil-in-washington-dc