Internet & Calling in Brazil

Internet Access & Telephones

Internet and Phones

Home to the largest rainforest in the world, the world’s most beautiful city, and remote tropical beaches, Brazil is a great place to disconnect and relax. That said, for those who have to stay connected, here are our tips:

Most hotels in Brazil provide internet access (sometimes at a cost) and international telephones – although for calling home, you will likely receive better rates using an internet-based phone service such as Skype or WhatsApp. Do not expect good WiFi access in all locations, especially in remote lodges and on cruises. In particular, in the Amazon, the Pantanal and remote beaches or island’s WiFi should not be relied on. If you are taking an Amazon cruise, you should check what type of sockets they have on the ship.

For heavy internet users, a service such as Skyroam, a wireless hotspot device, could be your best option for connecting to the internet in Brazil. GlocalMe is another good hotspot option. If you plan on bringing your smartphone to Brazil, make sure to remember to leave it on airplane mode to avoid any roaming charges. Just enable WiFi to access the Internet.

We don’t recommend buying a cell phone or sim card in Brazil. There are often long waits, non-English speaking employees and local ID may be required. In addition, if you are traveling to multiple countries within South America, you will most likely need to buy a sim card for each. The easiest option for travel to Brazil is to get a plan with your carrier in your home country that allows you to make emergency calls and/ or receive texts. If you do choose to buy a sim card in Brazil, ask your guide where they recommend finding one and make sure your telephone is unlocked. Before traveling, consider checking about international call options and prices with your network provider.

Electrical Adaptors

When traveling to Brazil, we recommend taking an electrical adapter on your trip. Some hotels in Brazil provide adapters, but you should not rely on this. Before using adapters make sure to check the voltage of your electronic device to ensure that you have a charger equipped to handle a higher voltage. If not, you will need to use a voltage converter.

In the Amazon and the Pantanal, they focus on conservation so electricity is not always provided all day. We recommend bringing portable chargers for cameras and phones and a digital watch for an alarm.

Brazil uses plug type and socket type N. But, a C type plug will also work with an N socket. There are two different voltages in use in Brazil – 127 V and 220 V and frequency 60 Hz. You may find different sockets in hotel rooms have different voltages.

This means:

• When traveling from the USA or Canada to Brazil you will need an electrical adaptor and voltage convertor.
• When traveling from Australia or New Zealand to Brazil, you will need an electrical adaptor and you may need a voltage converter.
• When traveling from the UK, Ireland, Malaysia or Singapore to Brazil, you will need an electrical adaptor and you may need a voltage converter depending on the destination.
• When traveling from South Africa to Brazil, you will need an electrical adaptor you may need a voltage converter.