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From the lush beauty of the Amazonian basin to the urban chaos of Sao Paulo, Brazil is a land of contrast. The country comprises a large percentage of the landmass of South America, and so its culture flows widely across the continent. Nowhere on earth will you find a country so full of people committed to living – their zeal for life will become infectious after only a short time there!

While South America begs to be experienced at length, there is need for caution. Parts of the country aren’t always safe for travellers, and anyone who has lived in Australia all their life will no doubt be confronted by a very different style of living. This isn’t to discourage anyone from heading to Brazil – on the contrary, we encourage you to explore!

Your family, money, health, and belongings need to be protected while you’re away. Here’s how travel insurance can help you do that in this lively country.

Is Brazil safe?

Brazil can be safe if you exercise the right level of caution. Numbeo states that Brazil has a crime index (i.e. rating) of 70.64, ranking 9th in the world for its level of crime.1 By comparison, Australia ranks 66th. Tourist areas tend to experience the highest rates of crime,2 as do the shanty towns, or ‘favelas’.3

Smart Traveller lists a couple of great ways you can stay out of trouble: pay close attention to your surroundings at all times, be wary of how you move from place to place (e.g. avoid unlicensed taxis), and be careful with your belongings.

But, travel insurance can really provide you with a little peace of mind! Here’s how.

  • Healthcare. If you’re injured, you can claim back the costs of emergency transport, medical treatment, hospital stays, etc. Luckily, hospitals in major cities have been well maintained, although treatment is contingent on being able to pay…or prove you’re insured.
  • Driving. Many roads in Brazil have been poorly looked after, are frequented by trucks, and motorists sometimes choose to disregard traffic lights in large cities.3 If your rental car is damaged or stolen, you’ll receive compensation from your insurer in the event you owe the rental company an excess.
  • If you get delayed, or need to cancel something due to unforeseen circumstances, you may be able to claim on any costs you incur while waiting to get your trip back on track. This is an important feature to look for in your travel cover’s product disclosure statement because Brazil commonly experiences flight delays, as well as the occasion strike.3
  • Theft. If your luggage/money is stolen or lost, you may be able to recoup their value by claiming.

We recommend you get the following vaccinations, but check with your doctor for an up to date list:

  • Yellow fever
  • Cholera
  • Tuberculosis
  • Typhoid
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Rabies

To sum up, organise the following before you travel to Brazil: a visa, a Portuguese pocket dictionary, a detailed itinerary, and your travel insurance.

Why go to Brazil?

We don’t want you to think Brazil has nothing to offer! There’s so much to experience in this part of the world.

  • Exploring the Amazon. Home to 40,000 types of plants, 3,000 species of fish, and 370+ types of reptiles, the Amazon is one of the most remarkable places on earth. It spans countries, and is absolutely worth exploring with a proper tour guide.4
  • The Carnival Festival. Once a year, a festival galvanises the entire of Rio De Janeiro, uniting them in the pursuit of a single purpose: to party.

Any lover of travel won’t be satisfied with just the one trip! Get covered for trips to a number of different countries.

Sources

  1. http://www.numbeo.com/crime/city_result.jsp?country=Brazil&city=Rio+De+Janeiro
  2. https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=17164
  3. http://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/americas/south/pages/brazil.aspx
  4. http://www.worldwildlife.org/places/amazon

N.B. Please refer to or speak with you insurer about limits, sub limits, restrictions, limitations and additional cover options.