As
one would expect from a major toursit destination, transportation
in and around Brazil is fairly well provided for and it
should not prove to be too difficult for tourists to move
from one toursit attraction to another. With the vast
size of Brazil, however, the biggest question is how should
one travel around Brazil if one wants to travel Brazil
safely. If this is you concern, the following are the
generally accepted modes of transport in Brazil:
Brazil Transportation - Air travel
Brazil's airlines are Varig and Tam. Both Varig and Tam
are the only Brazil airlines that offer airpasses that
allow visitors to fly around the country relatively easily
domestically. Keep in mind though that domestic air travel
on Brazil airlines is not cheap. Also, a note of caution:
keep in mind that domestic flights in Brazil are subject
to a departure tax (as are international flights). Needless
to say though, if you want to travel between Rio and Manaus,
there's every chance you are going to need take at least
one domestic flight.
Brazil transportation - Bus
As is the case in other South American countries, Brazilian's
love to travel on buses, which are a primary means of
cheap transportation around the country. Consequently,
buses in Brazil usually comes with an excellent and reliable
service. Also, unlike other modes of transportation, buses
in Brazil can transport you from all the major cities
and towns, including right into the heart of the Amazon
jungle. In this regard, bus journey in some of the more
remote areas of Brazil have been known to have accidents,
especially at night - so do be careful. Here, as a general
comment, whilst Brazil's bus service is excellent, Brazil's
roads (safety-wise) leave a lot to be desired.
Toursit traveling on any of the buses within any of the
major cities should prepare themselves for long traffic
jams! And, if you travel anywhere by road in San Paulo,
expect to take some time over the journey as the roads
here crawl 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
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Brazil transportation - Train
Train enthusiasts should already know before they arrive
which Brazilian train line to select from, since most
trains in Brazil these days are under serviced and lack
real investment. Having said this, South America, and
Brazil in particular, offer some of the most picturesque
train journeys available anywhere in the world, so you
may want to try the trains in Brazil after all - especially
the Curitiba-Paranagua line, which is delightful!
Brazil transportation - Car hire
It is generally accepted that tourists should not hire
cars in Brazil unless they know what they're doing! Road
safety in Brazil is not the best in the world, and the
standard of driving here leaves a lot to be desired. However,
there are a number of car hire agencies operating in Brazil,
so if you want to rent a car here it is feasible. But,
do travel/drive with a good map and plenty of water.
Brazil transportation- Boat/river travel
Those who enjoy a little more adventurous form of transportation
might want to consider taking one of the boat ferries
through some of the most spectacular, dense, vegetation
in Brazil aboard a boat/ferry. Boats and ferries in Brazil
traditionally trade their wares along the inland waterways
of Brazil, and if you have time this is a recommended
mode of Brazilian transportation.