Participants can exchange currency in the major cities and International airports. Major credit cards are accepted at the city hotels, and shops. You can bring in any amount of foreign currency, travelers checks, etc. and take out as much as you brought in. However, if you are carrying more than USD $2,500 you will need to declare it upon arrival on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF). CREDIT CARDS: American Express, MAster Card, Visa and Diners Club Credit  Cards are generally accepted by large establishments, including hotels and shops. Passport and Visa Passport and Visa: Participants will need a valid passport and visa to enter Brazil. Passport and visa must be obtained in advance. Each participant is responsible for having or obtaining these necessary documents prior to departure. For passport application and information: visit US Dept. of State. Participants must obtain visas from their local Brazilian Consulate offices, the Tourist Visa is recommended for all Tour Participants. In order to avoid any difficulties, it is recommended that passports and visas be obtained well in advance of travel. Visas can be purchased up to six months prior to the date of travel. For Brazilian consulate information in your area, please visit: http://washington.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/brazilian_consulates_in_the_us.xml Vaccinations and Inoculation: While there are no required vaccinations and inoculations at this time for travel to Brazil, it is recommended that all participants consult with their physicians 4-6 weeks prior to departure for advice on vaccinations and inoculations. For further information, contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at 1-800-232-4636. About Brazil Official language: Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Except for the languages spoken by Indian tribes living in remote reservations, Portuguese is the only language of daily life. There are no regional dialects. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South America. Area: 3,286,470 Population: 170 million Geography: Brazil is in east-central South America and occupies nearly 50% of the South American continent. Around 58% of Brazil is covered with forests, which include the largest rainforest in the world, located in the American River basin. The country has eight river systems, which carry approximately 20% of the world’s fresh water. Biggest Cities: Sao Paulo (10.4 million), Rio de Janeiro (5.8 million), Salvador (2.4 million), Belo Horizonte (2.2 million), Brasilia (2 million), Recife (1.4 million) Money: The official currency is the real, which is divided into 100 centavos. One real is about .50 US cents. or $1.00 USD is $2.060 Reals. Climate: Although 90% of the country is within the tropical zone, more than 60% of the population lives in areas where altitude, sea winds, or cold polar fronts moderate the temperature. There are 5 climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi arid, highland tropical, and subtropical. Plateua cities such as Sao Paulo, Brasilia, and Belo Horizonte have very mild climates averaging 66°F (19°C). Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Salvador on the coast have warm climates balanced by the constancy of the Trade Winds. In the Southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba, the subtropical climate is similar to parts of the US and Europe with frosts occurring with some frequency. In this region temperatures in winter can fall below freezing. Despite the popular image of the Amazon as a region of blistering heat, temperatures of more than 90°F (32°C) are rarely experienced there. In fact, the annual average temperature in the Amazon region is in the range of 72° – 79°F (22-26°C), with only a very small seasonal variation between the warmest and the coldest months. The hottest part of Brazil is the Northeast where, during the dry season, between May and November, temperatures of more than 100°F (38°C) are recorded frequently. The northeast has greater seasonal variation in temperatures than does the Amazon region. Along the Atlantic coast from Recife to Rio de Janeiro, mean temperatures range from 73°F to 81°F (23-27°C). Inland, on higher ground; temperatures are lower, ranging from 64°F to 70°F (18-21°C). South of Rio, the seasons are more noticeable and the annual range of temperature greater. The average temperature for this part of the country is in the range between 63°F to 66°F (17°-19°C). Flight Duration: Approximately an 10 hour flight from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo. Important Information: Visas: American Citizens must obtain visas for going to Brazil. Check for a list of Consular Jurisdictions in the United States.

• The consulates in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco DO NOT accept applications by mail
• Applications must be submitted in person.

General Tourist Visa Information Requirements for TOURIST visas:

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond the applicant’s intended period of stay in Brazil.
• One passport sized photograph (2″ x 2″)
• A photocopy of the round trip ticket or itenerary
• A duly filled out and signed visa application form. Find a visa application form at:
• For American citizens the fee is $100.00 USD. For citizens of Canada, the fee is US $40.
• A non-refundable handling fee of US $10.00 per visa applies to visa applications submitted by mail or by any individual other than the applicant or an immediate member of his or her family.

The consulate in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco do not accept applications by mail, therefore applicants MUST use a visa service agency. Please visit the website for the consulate in your jurisdiction for a list of visa service agencies. You must contact the consulate of your jurisdiction. Check with the consulate where you will be applying for Visa processing times. It may take from 1-10 business days for applications received in person. Consulates that accept applications by mail require 7-10 business days (NOT including transit times). If you are applying by mail do not forget to include a prepaid, self-addressed/stamped return envelope with the application so that the consulate can mail it back to you (Only USPS envelopes will be accepted). The Brazilian Tourism Office Organizer reserves the right to make changes that may become necessary (i.e. due to unforeseen circumstances such as landslides, road blocks, bad weather, etc.), with or without advance notice. Charges will not result in a refund or any portion of the Tour Price. Note: In the event of any change in rates or exchange, tariffs, fuel surcharges and/or airline taxes or fees, or itinerary, the resulting additional costs, if any, must be paid by the participant before departure or as soon as the charge becomes known. Cancellations / Refunds: All requests for cancellations must be submitted in writing to the Tour Organizer. Regardless of the reason, cancellations result in additional costs and processing time for the Tour Organizer. Accordingly, the following service charges plus and hotel or other non-refundable costs will be assessed for cancellation:

• 25% USD before Nov 1, 2019
• 50% USD after Nov 1, 2019

If a participant leaves the tour prior to its conclusion, refunds will be made only in the amount, if any, recovered from the companies involved in the operation of the Tour. The Tour Organizer is under no obligation to seek any such recovery. No refunds will be made for fewer than 4 nights absence from the Tour or for any excursion, sightseeing, lectures/classes, kirtan, meal or other activity that the participant misses or decided not to take for any reason. Travel Insurance: Participants are advised to consider purchasing travel insurance for their trip to cover any unexpected problems. Release/Responsibility: The Retreat Organizer and its representatives will have no responsibility or liability for any delays (including delayed departures or arrivals); missed airline or other carrier connections; injury, loss, or damage to persons or property (including luggage), unless it results from the negligence or willful misconduct of the Retreat Organizer or its representatives; or additional expenses resulting from changes in exchange rates, tariffs, or itinerary. By signing this Retreat Participant Agreement, the participant releases the Retreat Organizer and its representatives from any such responsibility or liability. The liability of common carriers, including liability for lost luggage, is generally limited by applicable law. Participants may wish to consider purchasing cancellation, luggage, and accident insurance. The Retreat Organizer reserves the right to accept or reject any Retreat participant at any time without liability and without any obligation to pay a refund or any other amount whatsoever. The Retreat Organizer will have no responsibility or liability for any participant who leaves the Retreat prior to its conclusion or for any activity undertaken by any participant which is not included on the Retreat itinerary. By registering for this retreat you agree to these terms and conditions. Contact Please contact us if you have any questions about our Rio Wellness Retreat. We’ll be happy to assist you in answering your questions. Brazil is such a beautiful country, and the retreat is full of wonderful adventures, yoga and spiritual experiences, so we are confident that this will be the trip of a lifetime.