Useful Information

Visa

As the Brazilian Foreign Office bases its actions on reciprocity, visitors from many foreign countries will require a visa. Requesting the visa several weeks before the Congress should minimize inconvenience. Appication should be made to nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. More information can be provided by the travel agency.

• Brazilian Mission to the European Community
• Brazilian Embassies

The City – Source: São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau

Beautiful, rich, intellectual, democratic, upbeat, sporty, cultural, sentimental, romantic, modern, serious, extroverted, professional. After all, what could define São Paulo? There is no single adjective that could precisely describe what this world-renowned megacity is about.

Forged from a multiplicity of nationalities, cultures, beliefs, philosophies and ideals, this great pioneering metropolis is truly cosmopolitan, both by vocation and by choice. It’s Italian, German, Jewish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chnese, French, African, Arab, Spanish, Latino, Brazilian, Paulistano. These and so many other facets are present in the architecture of the buildings, the streets, the refined tastes of the city’s culinary delights and in the styles and mannerisms of a people who never stop, day after day valiantly writing the story of the city.

The grandeur of São Paulo can be described in many ways. Highlights include the largest network of hotels in Latin America, the most complete hospital infrastructure and the greatest collection of cultural offerings in Brazil. It is considered one of the international capitals for gastronomy, a consolidated destination for large-scale events, fairs and exhibits renowned around the world, and is home to distinguished academic and research centers, and so much more.

The São Paulo State capital is one of few places where modernity and history coexist harmoniously. Illustrious events took place in the city involving from Brazilian Independence to political, cultural revolutions and pro-democracy protests. It is home to hundreds of cinemas, museums, theaters, historical-cultural heritage sites, parks, performance halls, theme parks, restaurants, bars, hotels, events spaces, fairs, shopping centers and specialized shopping districts.

Each year, about 10 million visitors come to the city to generate business opportunities or network with professionals, go shopping or even enjoy a wide range of cultural options in sync with what’s happening in the rest of the world. Being in São Paulo is to experience an around-the-clock metropolis with a lifestyle that combines work and leisure activities as though they were two sides of the same coin. Capital of a state the size of the United Kingdom, with a population similar to Spain’s, and generating almost half of Brazil’s economic output, the City of São Paulo has become the country’s foremost tourism destination. This is why we proudly invite you to come visit São Paulo.

Currency & Credit Cards

The Brazilian monetary unit is the real R$ (plural= reais). There are 100 centavos to 1 real. The US dollar is by far the most widely accepted foreign currency in Brazil. There is also a network of cash points at which foreign cash cards can be used, and all major credit cards are accepted in Brazil. Traveller's checks and foreign bills may be exchanged according to daily rates at the airport, banks and currency exchange stores.

Electric Current

In São Paulo, the current is 110 volts (60 cycles), although many of the larger hotels also offer 220 volts. In case of doubt, check with the front desk. Transformers to boost the current from 110 to 220 volts are available in most good electrical supply stores. For most electric appliances, Brazil uses a two-round-pinned socket.

Food & Drink

Brazil’s cuisine is the product of tradition. Each region of Brazil — depending on its indigenous culture, which European group colonized it, proximity to rivers or the ocean, annual rain and soil conditions— has developed its own very diverse cuisine. If there is one dish that typifies Brazilian cooking it is probably feijoada. It is a complex bean dish prepared with air-dried beef, smoked sausage, pork, garlic, and pepper. It is customary to fill a plate with white rice and spoon feijoada over the top, and farofa (cassava flour) to thicken the sauce. The whole dish is garnished with spring greens and slices of orange.
The national alcoholic beverage is cachaça, made from crushed sugar cane, which is the basis of the popular caipirinha. Cachaça is also used for batidas - a mix of cachaça and fresh fruit juices. A wide variety of fruit juices are frequent meal companions. Brazil’s own soft drink is called Guaraná, after the berry upon which it is based. As for the coffee, no disappointment here - Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer.

Internet

Most hotels in Brazil offer web access, and cyber cafés can be found in many of the main shopping centers.

Telephone Service and Mobile Phone Coverage

Brazil has a well-developed telephone network, and it is relatively simple to direct dial to anywhere in Brazil or internationally. Brazil’s country code is 55, the São Paulo area code 11. To stimulate competition, long distance calls must add the operator number. For a national call, after obtaining access, dial the operator code, then the area code and number
Mobile phone coverage - Visitors should check with service providers as to exactly what coverage to expect because this does vary from state to state and from one service provider to another - as does the cost. If your mobile phone is not compatible and thus will not work in Brazil, handsets can be rented and arranged to be delivered to your hotel or picked up at the airport.

Time Zone

UTC/GMT Offset: Standard time zone UTC/GMT – 3 hours.

Tipping

Tips are usually 10% of the bill. Nearly all hotels automatically add a service charge to the bill, usually 10%. Most bars and restaurants also automatically add 10% or more to the total of the bill, but are obliged to specify the amount. If service is not included, it will be stated at the bottom of the bill: “Serviço não incluso.” Brazilians don't normally tip taxi drivers, although they may round up the total.

Travel Insurance

A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is recommended.

Climate

During spring, temperatures range from 15ºC (59º F) to 30º C (86º F);

Banks

Are open from Monday to Friday from 10:00-16:00.

Airport Information & Exchange

São Paulo has two main airports. All international flights arrive and depart from the São Paulo International Airport – Guarulhos (GRU), 18 1/2 miles (30km) northeast of the city-center. Local people will also refer to this airport as Cumbica. São Paulo International Airport is the largest in Brazil and one of the biggest in South America. Unlike airports in Europe and North America, it has a duty-free shop upon arrival before clearing customs, where you can purchase up to US$500 of goods.
Arriving at São Paulo's international airport is straightforward. Still you may have to wait up to an average of half an hour to have your passport stamped by the federal police. Be sure to keep the stamped copy of your entrance/exit form for your return journey. The downtown Congonhas Airport (CGH) is the base for the São Paulo-Rio shuttle service (45 minute flight), in addition to offering other domestic flights.

Once you have cleared customs you can change money or traveler's checks or use an ATM to obtain cash in Reais (R$ - Brazilian Currency). American Express office is open daily from 10:00am to 08:30pm and charges no commission on changing cash or traveler's checks (as long as they are American Express checks), located on Terminal 1 - Departures. Banco do Brasil charges a US$20 flat rate for traveler's checks transactions and US$5 flat rate for cash transactions. The ATMs are compatible with Visa/Plus, located in Terminal 1 Arrivals. Also available

Action Exchange – Arrival Terminal: 5am to midnight and Confidence Exchange – Arrival Terminal – 24 hours.
São Paulo International Airport - Guarulhos (GRU)- Tel: +55 (11) 6445-2945
Congonhas Airport (CGH) - Tel: +55 (11) 5090.9000

Transportation Options Available
between Airports and Official Hotels

TAXI GUARUCOOP – GUARULHOS AIRPORT (+ 55 11 6440.7070)
A taxi co-operative that has the monopoly on cabs leaving Guarulhos International Airport. The queue is just outside the exit of the arrival terminal. You can pre-pay for the service at a booth located at the left side of the exit by credit card (AMEX, VISA, MASTER). The amount is fixed. Average fare from the International Airport to the congress venue and hotels is U$ 50,00 (up to 3 people). 24hours service.
RADIO TAXI – CONGONHAS AIRPORT (+ 55 11 3146.4000 / 5532.0676)
A taxi co-operative that works on cabs leaving Congonhas Domestic Airport. The queue is just outside the exit of the arrival terminal. The average fare from the Airport to the congress venue and hotels is US 20,00 (up to 3 people). Service from 5AM to 11PM
AIRPORT BUS SERVICE (+ 55 11 6445-2505)
An executive bus leaving Guarulhos International Airport in 05 different itineraries. Route 316 leaves the Airport and goes by São Paulo's downtown ending at Paulista Avenue, passing by most of the Official Hotels including the Renaissance Hotel. The bus leaves approximately every hour and the fare is R$ 28,00 per person.
Service from 6AM to 11PM. More information at www.airportbusservice.com.br

Regular Transportation

Regular service operated by Mello Faro Turismo: wasm2009@mellofaro.com.br