Head and Neck Surgery in Brazil

Head and Neck Surgery in and around Brazil

About Brazil

Brazil is South America’s largest country and has a population of over 209 million people and is famous for its football (soccer) and carnival traditions. Steeped in natural beauty, with the Iguacu Falls and Amazon Rainforest and famed for its 98-foot tall statue of Christ the Redeemer. Brazil offers more than 60 JCI-accredited facilities and is one of the leading destinations in the world for cosmetic surgery, with Head and Neck Surgery procedures being especially popular. Doctors are often Western-trained and speak English on top of Portuguese and Spanish. Local accreditations include the Consortium of Brazilian Accreditation and the Brazilian Hospital Medical Quality Organization (ONA). Popular locations within Brazil include the capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Curitiba.

Popular Parts of Brazil

• Rio de Janeiro is a combination of natural attractions and metropolis. It is known to be a party city that offers good times and an unforgettable experience. Lounge around in the world-famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, sample Brazilian cuisine, hike the summit of Corcovado and see the high statue of Christ the Redeemer, dance in Rio Carnival, and see the spectacular views of Ipanema and Guanabara Bay from the Sugarloaf Mountain.
• São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. It is a huge city that at first glance seems intimidating. It offers hundreds of museums, quirky urban art, delicious cuisine, lively nightlife, and intense cultural experience. Visit Avenida Paulista (Paulista Avenue), a street filled with shopping centers, parks, bars, restaurants, museums, theatres, and cultural spaces.
• Salvador is full of vibrant cultures. It is the heart of Brazil’s Afro-Brazilian community. The city’s charm lies in its pastel-colored neighborhood, centuries-old architecture, and freshly-cooked acarajé and completed with wild festivals and capoeira circles every night.
• Brasília is Brazil’s capital. It’s very modern with futuristic architecture that looks more like artworks than ordinary buildings. It’s a paradise for architecture buffs. Besides the architecture, the food and nightlife in this city is something that should not be missed.
• Manaus might be isolated in terms of location, but it’s actually a large city with a prospering industry and a rich culture. The city is also filled with natural beauty; green spaces, waterfalls, and ecological parks surround its colonial buildings. It is the gateway to the Amazon Rainforest.

Weather and Climate in Brazil

As a large country, the weather in Brazil varies from tropical in the north to temperate in the south. A large part of the country lies in the topics. Brazil is a year-round destination because it has a steady average annual temperature. The temperature rarely drops below 20 °C.

Winter in Brazil starts in May and ends in September. The weather remains tropical in the north with an average temperature ranging between 20 °C to 30 °C. In Rio de Janeiro, the temperature varies between 14 °C to 25 °C. However, the evenings usually feel a lot colder. There are a lot of rainy days in Rio during this season. The weather in São Paulo is colder than Rio.

The temperature in Rio rise between November and March, with the highest temperature of around 40 °C but with a thermal sensation of around 50 °C. The Rain rarely lasts long during these months. In the north of Brazil, the rainy season starts in December. March and May see the heaviest rainfall. It’s hot and humid with frequent rain throughout the year in the Amazon.

Getting Around in Brazil

The most popular international airports are Rio de Janeiro–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (popularly known as Galeão International Airport) and São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport. Both airports serve domestic and international flights to many cities around the globe. The airports mainly serve major airlines but there are budget airlines such as Norwegian Air UK. Tourists can take taxis, bus, train, or car rental from both airports to the city centers.

Brazil is really big, so there will be a lot of long-distance travel to get around the country. The easiest and fastest way to get from one city to another is by domestic flights. The only downside is that the tickets are very expensive. LATAM and GOL airline offer multi-trip tickets or air pass. The most economical option is to buy an air pass if you plan to visit a number of different cities.

Buses are popular in Brazil, servicing most areas of the country. The bus system is excellent and provides a comfortable and economical way of travel. Be aware that the distance can be really tiring and overwhelming; some trips can take over 40 hours. The buses are operated by hundreds of different private companies, but the price is standardized. The fare varies from 75 BRL to 240 BRL. There are luxurious buses too.

A good way to get around major cities like São Paulo and Rio is to use Brazil Metro (subway). The fares are around 3.50 BRL to 3.80 BRL. You can purchase rechargeable travel cards. The metro does not operate at night. Be sure to watch your belongings at all times when traveling on the metro.

Taxis run on a metered system, but if you travel a bit further out of town, you need to negotiate the price with the driver. It is best to phone for a taxi or pick one up at a taxi station and make sure to get into a licensed taxi. Ferries and other water travel are important in many parts of Brazil.

Tourist Visas in Brazil

Citizens of 72 countries and regions can enter and stay in Brazil for up to 90 days. An identity document is accepted instead of a passport in some cases. Other nationalities (including China and India) need to apply and obtain a visa before entering the country. It is advisable to check to the nearest Embassy of Brazil for more information regarding visa.

e-Visa is available and valid for two years for stays up to 90 days per year.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the Brazilian real (BRL). 1 USD will get you approximately 3.80 BRL.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are widely available in Brazil and it is the easiest way of getting cash in big cities. ATMs in smaller towns usually don’t work for non-Brazilian cards. Credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) are accepted in numerous shops, restaurants, and hotels. It might be handy to always have cash with you, but always be extremely cautious. Tipping is optional for housekeepers, tip parking assistants 2 BRL or more since they do not receive wages and depend on tips. Taxis do not expect tips. Restaurants usually include a 10% service charge in the bill.
3. Local Language: The official language is Portuguese. English is not widely spoken, especially outside Rio and São Paulo.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The largest religion in Brazil is Christianity with more than 60% of the population follows Roman Catholicism.
5. Public Holidays: Brazil celebrates major Christian religious holidays as well as Independence Day and Civil Servants Day. Festa Junina, Parintins Folklore Festival, and Oktoberfest are three of the biggest annual festival in the country.