BRAZIL TRAVEL BASICS
LANGUAGE
Portuguese, in its Brazilian variety (and multiple accents), is almost the only language you will encounter. Learning the basics will prove very useful.
For Spanish speakers, it is quite easy to learn a lot of Portuguese quickly, considering the similarities. The same goes for other Romance language speakers to a lesser extent. Be careful about trying to speak Spanish to Brazilians. While they can often understand some simple spoken Spanish, it can be laborious and inefficient. There are a few common words that are radically different, and there are some key pronunciation differences. Putting in the work to learn them is highly valuable.
English speakers are virtually nonexistent except in tourist hubs and large cities.
MONEY
The Brazilian real (plural reais, sign $R, code BRL) is the official currency.
ATMsto withdraw money are found in cities, but they often charge exorbitant fees.
Credit cards are very commonly accepted by businesses, including some small rural ones. It is a convenient way to pay for things without carrying large amounts of cash.
Pix, an instant payment platform, was created by the Central Bank of Brazil a few years ago. It became extremely popular, and now a few businesses refuse credit cards (and their high fees). Seamlessly using Pix requires a Brazilian bank account, but workarounds might be possible with apps.
Money transfer apps can be used for payments that can wait, for example lodging. Owners will often accept to give you the necessary banking information for the transfer. One such app used by some businesses is Wise, but the apps usually work even if the receiver is not registered.
CELL PHONE
Mobile phone service is dominated by three providers (Claro, Vivo and Tim).
Network coverage varies according to the region. Most towns are now covered, but the signal generally disappears almost as soon as you exit them.
SIM cards (physical and digital) from one of the three providers can usually only be obtained by people with a CPF, which is a taxpayer identifying number.
A CPF can be obtained by foreigners through Brazilian embassies and consulates or once in Brazil. This might be worth it for people planning to spend extensive time there.
International eSIM apps are the simplest but more expensive way to get network access.
WhatsApp text messaging is usually the way to reach small businesses.
Instagram is sometimes the only place to find important information about businesses such as campgrounds, as they often lack websites.