Contact   Imprint   Advertising   Guidelines

Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Forum for travel reports and travel questions
jorg
Medium Poster
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:06 am
Local Beach: Toronto, ON
Style: Big Air
Gear: Ten Velox, XR, Ozone Edge
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 44 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby jorg » Sun Jul 18, 2021 1:56 pm

Hi Fam,
we r planning a safari trip in late November without a guide.
Our plan is to rent cars from Forteleza, from there to Atins over 3 weeks. Everybody in the group has some experience in the 3rd world countries, sketchy stuff, and is not afraid of getting in small troubles here & there.
What kind of advice can you give us? any gotchas?
Where is the best place to rent car/money conversion..etc
looking forward to your reply.
Cheers

User avatar
Toby
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 50346
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2001 1:00 am
Kiting since: 2000
Weight: 95 kg
Local Beach: Cumbuco, Brazil
Barra do Cauipe, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: same
Style: Airstyle
Gear: Rebel 2015 18
Brand Affiliation: None.
Location: World (KF Admin)
Has thanked: 832 times
Been thanked: 2365 times
Contact:

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby Toby » Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:04 pm

Hi, I will try to give some advices.

Don't bring valuables. Take an older fone with you.
Normally not a problem, but just in case.

Get money at the bigger towns. Some areas don't have ATM's ! You will have a problem sometimes. Normally every business needs to accept credit cards, but not all machines work with foreign cards...good to have some cash.

Fortaleza Airport, Cumbuco, Paracuru, Paraipaba, Itarema have ATM's. Not sure if some others have it.
Bradesco doesn't take a fee, Banco24 horas takes 24 Reais fee.

Some place exchange money, but the rate isn't that great. Better to take from a (Bradesco) ATM.
But, a place in Cumbuco exchanges and normally offers a good rate...send me a private message to get the contact.

Rental cars check online. Be aware, that some like to advertise a 4x4, but once you book, it's a Jeep, that only has 2x2...so pay attention!

Make sure to have your guesthouse (pousada) booked early in advance...might be all booked. e.g. Cumbuco was fully booked this weekend...
November is highest season. Although maybe less foreigners will come, but more and more Brazilians are kiting.

If money is not an issue for you, I would book with someone, who offers downwinders as a business...then you just pay one sum, and you arrive in Fortaleza and they take care of the rest...and bring you back to the airport after your trip. Much less to worry about.
They know the area, speak the language, take care of rooms and cars. And none of you need to drive while the others kite. Plus they know the little kite secrets...
Send me also a private message for the contact.

Maybe see you around. Just stay of the Cauipe lagoon, I am filming there and need space...and the space is very limited, many lessons by local kite schools, and locals training hard :-(
Better to go to the Tabuba or Taiba lagoon.

See you soon! :bye:
These users thanked the author Toby for the post:
jorg (Tue Jul 20, 2021 2:32 am)
Rating: 3.03%

fzonatto
Medium Poster
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2019 11:55 pm
Kiting since: 2010
Local Beach: none
Favorite Beaches: Guriu
Style: freeride
Gear: north rebel
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby fzonatto » Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:37 am

It is more simple than u think... just have good sense, dont show of and don't think u re superior pretty much...
These users thanked the author fzonatto for the post (total 2):
rnelias (Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:38 pm) • jorg (Tue Jul 20, 2021 2:31 am)
Rating: 6.06%

User avatar
Havre
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 2176
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2017 11:38 am
Kiting since: 2015
Local Beach: Oslo
Favorite Beaches: Jericoacoara (area) & Cabarete
Gear: Ozone Edge v11 13m, Ozone Edge v11 9m, Ozone Zephyr 17m, Ozone Enduro v1 12m, Ozone Enduro v1 9m, HQ Topaz 7m, Shinn Ronson Player, Mystic Majestic X Harness, Mystic Stealth Bar
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 324 times
Been thanked: 411 times

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby Havre » Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:03 am

I was surprised how widespread the use of credit card was in that part of Brazil. I guess it might be different in the more remote places, but I hardly used cash at all.

Amazing area. Should be a fantastic trip.
These users thanked the author Havre for the post:
jorg (Tue Jul 20, 2021 2:32 am)
Rating: 3.03%

BarraGrande
Rare Poster
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 3:52 pm
Gear: North Evo 12+8, Kitelement Resolve, Slingshot Space Skate Foil
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby BarraGrande » Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:28 am

I did the exact same trip 2 years ago. was amazing.
You definitely need someone with you that speaks Portuguese. If you do, then no guide needed IMO.
we had a little medical emergency (abdominal influenza) on our trip and no one at the local hospital spoke a word of English.
I recommend renting a small truck (i.e. Amarok) with 4x4.
These users thanked the author BarraGrande for the post:
jorg (Tue Jul 20, 2021 2:31 am)
Rating: 3.03%

User avatar
Toby
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 50346
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2001 1:00 am
Kiting since: 2000
Weight: 95 kg
Local Beach: Cumbuco, Brazil
Barra do Cauipe, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: same
Style: Airstyle
Gear: Rebel 2015 18
Brand Affiliation: None.
Location: World (KF Admin)
Has thanked: 832 times
Been thanked: 2365 times
Contact:

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby Toby » Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:32 am

Make sure your credit cards are unlocked for Brazil.
Check in your app or call them to see if unlocked.
These users thanked the author Toby for the post:
jorg (Tue Jul 20, 2021 2:31 am)
Rating: 3.03%

rnelias
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 1144
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:07 pm
Local Beach: RJ, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: Arubinha, RJ
Cumbuco, CE
Barra da Tijuca, RJ
Praia da Bica, RJ
Style: freeride
Gear: Boxer 9m for foiling
Rebel SLS 8m or Crave HL 9m for boosting on twintip
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 291 times
Been thanked: 273 times

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby rnelias » Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:47 pm

Havre wrote:
Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:03 am
I was surprised how widespread the use of credit card was in that part of Brazil. I guess it might be different in the more remote places, but I hardly used cash at all.

Amazing area. Should be a fantastic trip.
In fact, our banking system is very good. The main issue is that the country is huge and we don't have signal coverage in most remote areas like you'll find in the north/northest coast of Brazil. On these places, you'll probably need some "Reais" to make payments, however, if you have phone coverage, be sure that you'll find debit/credit payment including for international cards.
fzonatto wrote:
Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:37 am
It is more simple than u think... just have good sense, dont show of and don't think u re superior pretty much...
Very well said. I'm brazilian, live in Rio de Janeiro and never was stolen here or outside Brazil. A friend of mine, living in Rio de Janeiro, never had a problem here too. The first time he was stolen was in Miami :-? :-? :-?
These users thanked the author rnelias for the post (total 2):
Toby (Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:54 pm) • jorg (Tue Jul 20, 2021 2:32 am)
Rating: 6.06%

User avatar
Toby
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 50346
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2001 1:00 am
Kiting since: 2000
Weight: 95 kg
Local Beach: Cumbuco, Brazil
Barra do Cauipe, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: same
Style: Airstyle
Gear: Rebel 2015 18
Brand Affiliation: None.
Location: World (KF Admin)
Has thanked: 832 times
Been thanked: 2365 times
Contact:

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby Toby » Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:56 pm

caps wrote:
Mon Jul 19, 2021 8:16 pm
Thanks for the reply Toby. We are downwinding to Atins and returning to Fortaleza via Sao Luis airport. We need to find a rapid Antigen (American Airlines) test ideally at the Sao Luis airport or prior to our international flight out of Fortaleza. Are there testing sites at Sao Luis or Fortaleza airports? Are there many foreign tourists going to Brazil? I figured by now that there'd be a fair number of testing options at or near airports to support testing within 72 hours of flights for vaccinated tourists.

Cheers!
normally all pharmacies have rapid tests. And there are also pharmacies at the airport. Check maybe on Google maps for opening hours.

Make sure to know the late rules to fly into your country. I only know few Europeans who left for Europe or came to Brazil.
Not many foreigners here...but many Brazilian tourists from further south.

jorg
Medium Poster
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:06 am
Local Beach: Toronto, ON
Style: Big Air
Gear: Ten Velox, XR, Ozone Edge
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 44 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby jorg » Tue Jul 20, 2021 3:59 pm

Thanks 🙏 everyone, great info.
Do you think it would be a good idea to keep the gear in the bed of the truck? Wouldn't an SUV be a better option?

BarraGrande wrote:
Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:28 am
I did the exact same trip 2 years ago. was amazing.
You definitely need someone with you that speaks Portuguese. If you do, then no guide needed IMO.
we had a little medical emergency (abdominal influenza) on our trip and no one at the local hospital spoke a word of English.
I recommend renting a small truck (i.e. Amarok) with 4x4.

Pana
Frequent Poster
Posts: 222
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2016 12:46 am
Kiting since: 2010
Weight: 200 lbs
Local Beach: Lake Champlain, Baie des Brises
Favorite Beaches: Cabarete, Paracuru, Santa Veronica
Style: Smooth, old school, wave carver
Gear: Ocean Rodeo Roam HL 6-7-8 & 9m. Aluula 10-12 & 14m
Nomad wave TT
Shared gear with adorable wife
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Qué./ Canada
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 66 times

Re: Brazil Safari Trip Advice

Postby Pana » Tue Jul 20, 2021 4:06 pm

I suggest the folowing ;

Get a good translator app on your phones
Download the google map needed for the week on your phone. We found google to be better than the gps in the rental car.
Take a car a bit larger than you initially plan if you bunny hop several places.
We travel 2 couples and have found it is worth having 2 cars rather than one big vehicule.
Get a local sim card and package or a package from your existing providor to allow local communication with hotels etc and friends.
Do not travel at night going out of FORTALEZA unless you are a group.
Out of For, follow a taxi to avoid all the photoradars or respect speed limits.
Do not expect a highway out of For airport, it is all small streets.
The roads can be a tad crazy on weekend evenings & nights, beware of intoxicated drivers.
Expect pple to drive with their high beam at night and not dim.
Book most of your poussadas prior to leaving, it is the high season.
Unless you are very familiar with off roading beware of the very fine wind blown Brazil sand if you plan 4x4. Bring tow strap & buy local cheap compressor to adjust tire pressures as needed.
Atm work ok for cash but not all banks worked for our card, try different banks as needed. The more north the more cash you will prbably need.
Go with the flow, Brazil is ALLWAYS an adventure, in every aspect.


Return to “Travel”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 109 guests