Are you traveling to Brazil? Nothing is worse than traveling to a new country and sticking out like a sore thumb. Before traveling to any destination, you need to have a few tips and tricks in mind to ensure you know the local life.
Brazil is an amazing country full of hospitality and nightlife. Here are some etiquette tips to follow whether you are with your foreign friends or hanging out with Brazilian locals you recently met.
Spend More Time Outside
Most Brazilian people experience life and spend time with friends outdoors. They don’t hang out in their living rooms or inside their apartments as many people from other countries do.
If you want to feel like a local with your new friends, spend time at sidewalk cafes or outdoor bars. This is where Brazilian people come to chat with friends and have a few drinks.
Brazil also offers many outdoor attractions like the Amazon Jungle and Iguazu falls, where you can see the beauty of Brazil. If you’re spending too much indoors, you’re probably not seeing all Brazil offers.
Drink Juice
This one might seem weird, but Brazil is known for its juices. Most locals will choose to drink juice over water or another beverage. One of the best parts about the juice is that you will be able to have fruits and flavors you have never heard of before.
The juice vendors know the perfect combinations of mixes, so you’ll have some amazing selections. Some places even have juice bars where you can sit on a stool and drink with the locals.
Juice bars can be a great place to practice your Portuguese and meet some friends.
You’ll Be Expected to Speak Portuguese
Many Brazilians do not speak English. Finding someone to speak English can be extremely difficult if you are not in one of the large cities. Unless someone is very confident in their English, they will probably try to talk in Portuguese with you and expect you to say it back since you are in their country.
If you’re only in the country for a few weeks, you only need to know a few phrases. This will help you ask for directions, get taxis, and order food.
Get Ready to Party
Brazilians know how to throw good parties. Your hotel or hostel will probably have a few. If you make local friends, they will probably invite you to a few parties since there is almost always one.
You might have also heard about Brazil’s famous parties, the Carnival and New Year’s Reveillon. Even if you aren’t in Brazil during this time, another party will almost always be going on to make you feel like a real Brazilian.
Don’t Be On Time
If you arrive at a party or event on time, you will be the first one there. To avoid waiting for other people and wasting time, feel free to be late for everything you’re invited to. It’s not rude to be late or the last person to arrive.
Nothing is on time in Brazil, including the buses. This cannot be very pleasant initially, but it can become enjoyable once you don’t have to rush everywhere anymore. Try not to stress it, or it can make your time much less enjoyable.
Look Your Best
Brazilians are always dressed sharply no matter where they are going. This can often seem hard, especially when the weather is so hot. However, this is one-way tourists often stand out in Brazil. You might see them wearing shorts, tank tops, or sun dresses.
Brazilians wear their best stylish clothing no matter where they go. They also always keep their shoes looking new and polished. If you paint your nails, try to keep them looking fresh and shiny as much as possible.
Take Time for Long Meals
Brazilians do not eat on the go or have fast food. When you want to have a meal, sit down and relax. If someone invites you out for dinner, you should expect to spend two hours or more sitting with them and enjoying the food and drink.
Remember that most Brazilians will eat everything with a knife and fork. Eating with the hands is extremely rare. Brazilians also try to keep their hands and mouths clean while eating, so make use of napkins.
Greet Like a Brazilian
Brazilians might also have different ways of a greeting than you are used to in your culture. It’s customary to kiss people once on each cheek when meeting. Men also hug and put their arms around one another as a greeting or a sign of friendship.
It’s not uncommon to see Brazilian couples kissing and hugging each other in public. When leaving or entering a party, make sure you say hello and goodbye to every person. Ignoring people is considered rude even when you might not know them well.
Don’t Tip at Restaurants
Tipping at restaurants, especially in large amounts, is considered weird. People will almost always know you’re not a local if you leave a large amount of money on the table as a tip. Tipping is also not expected, even at fancy restaurants.
Make sure you have enough local currency before you travel, even if tipping accounts for a minuscule expense; other adventures require a healthy stock of Real. If the service was excellent, or you want to show appreciation, you can leave a few coins or small bills on the table. You might also want to give small tips to hotel employees if they have been helping you for the duration of your stay.
Relax
In all situations, Brazilians relax and don’t let worries from life get them down. Make sure to leave your stress on the plane and learn to relax like a true Brazilian. Many foreigners also find it easy to enjoy a vacation in Brazil since food and services are much cheaper than in their home countries.
Do you want 500 dollars cash to put toward your next trip? Enter Sharemoney’s #ShareTravelPics Contest to earn a chance to win some money for a plane ticket, hotel, tour, or other travel-related purchase.
Earn an entry by submitting a photo of your best travel moment to our contest page. Have a photo of your hike through the White Mountains? Please send it in. Have a picture of you enjoying a tasty treat at a Parisian cafe? Enter it! Whatever the moment, submit it through our contest page and write a few sentences about the special memory behind the photo.
No purchase is necessary must be 18+ to enter, be a US resident, and make one entry per email.
