Eight tips for the traveling woman in Brazil
Friday, January 2nd, 2009Whether you’re launching into Brazil on your own (or with friends or a partner) as a woman, you may be wondering what you should know. Brazil is a relatively safe country for a woman to travel on her own. If you do plan on traveling with a companion or a group, it’s still good to be aware because invariably, at some point, you’ll find yourself alone on the streets of Rio or São Paulo or Recife, and it’s best to be as empowered as you can.
Like other Latin American countries, Brazil has its own set of rules set by a machismo culture that caters to an often-patriarchal system of power in many spheres of public life. However, this entry is not about ‘who wears the pants’ in Brazil, for this could be debated endlessly! This is more about what you can expect as a foreign woman traveling through the cities, towns, villages and beaches. Brazil is a wonderful country to visit, overall, and if the word machismo gave you a scare, don’t let it. Brazilians (men and women alike) are incredibly warm, friendly people who will for the most part; go out of their way to help you, and to share with you the richness of their culture. Machismo is less overt in Brazil than it is in many other Latin American countries; attitudes towards sex are quite liberal. As demonstrated on the beaches, Brazilians overall are comfortable wearing very little clothing, and they are not shy about admiring their own and other peoples’ bodies; this should not be mistaken for leering or jeering (though of course, trust your instinct and remove yourself from a situation that suddenly feels uncomfortable). Open your mind and heart to Brazil, but be smart about it, and you’ll be fine. Take a look at these tips, do some of your own research, and get ready for a wonderful experience.
Tip 1: Learn some Portuguese! If you speak some Spanish, you have a slight advantage because many words you will be able to figure out. However, the two languages can differ greatly, so take some time to learn some phrases, at least, and customary greetings. Also, learn some emergency phrases; write these down (including phonetic pronunciation so you don’t forget!) on a slip of paper that you carry with you. Very few people speak English in Brazil; it’s not only good for communication, but it will impress the locals if you can say some phrases in their language. Carry your hotel or hostel address (in Portuguese) on your emergency slip of paper, including the phone number.
Tip 2: Regardless of the situation, be confident. If you’re not feeling even slightly confident, fake it; this holds mostly true for walking around by yourself on city (or town, for that matter) streets. If you need to consult a map, pull yourself over, tuck into a shop, and then take a look. Walk like you know where you’re going, even if you suddenly realize you don’t know where you are. Ask directions in a shop or police station or to the nearest friendly person; this is one way to practice your language skills, make a new friend, and avoid the “big map pulled out on the street” situation, which marks you as an obvious tourist.
Tip 3: Dress like a local. Style and amount of required clothing for women will vary from city to town to countryside. What women wear in downtown, urban Rio will be very different than what women wear in steamy, laid-back Salvador. In general, the warmer the climate in Brazil, the fewer clothes the women (and men) wear. Try to blend in as much as you can.
Tip 4: If you are a blonde or a light-haired woman, and have light / pale skin, you will get some attention, especially in the northeastern parts of Brazil where there are significantly fewer pale-skinned people. You might receive some catcalls or whistles, but much less than in other Latin American countries. Women in Brazil flirt just as much as the men do; this is part of the culture, so don’t assume this kind of attention is an insult or some form of exploitation. Trust your instinct always, and get out of any situation that feels like it might be harmful or dangerous; but 99% of the attention you will receive will be good intentioned and complimentary.
Tip 5: Men and women kiss a lot in Brazil. Men will typically shake hands and pat each other on the shoulder; both men and women will kiss one (or both) of your cheeks upon meeting and departing, so be prepared to reciprocate. People also dance very close to each other; so if you find yourself on the dance floor, pressed up tight against a strange man, don’t be alarmed. But, of course, stay a bit on guard and respect your own comfort level.
Tip 6: Bear in mind that in any town of any size in Brazil, the area around the rodoviária (train station) is potentially a red-light district at night, so as a woman on your own, it’s not a good place to hang around. Transport terminals, however, are usually policed and fairly safe at all hours.
Tip 7: For both women and men, it’s not a good idea to carry your camera around your neck, or in any kind of flashy camera bag, for that matter. Try using a different bag that isn’t easily identified as a camera bag. Wear minimal flashy jewelry and don’t speak in a loud voice so that everyone around you knows instantly that you’re a foreigner. Carry just enough cash for the day (stash the majority of it somewhere safe on your body and carry only small bills or coins in your pockets); carry an ATM (VISA and MasterCard is accepted in almost all cities and towns) card but make sure you have the cancellation number handy in the event that your card is stolen. Don’t carry anything valuable with you on the beaches, and certainly, don’t leave anything valuable on the beach while you go swimming. If necessary, befriend someone and have them watch your things for you.
Tip 8: If you are traveling alone, it’s a good idea to stay at a hostel or another social overnight accommodation. Not only is it safer than staying all by yourself in a remote or secluded hotel room, but you’ll also meet people, and be able to find company for the late night dinners, parties or other festivities that might otherwise be a bit risky on your own. Neighborhoods can quickly merge into each other in cities and towns, so what was a very safe place to be on your own at night can easily become a dangerous place to be simply by walking down the wrong street. So avoid going out on your own late at night; if it’s unavoidable, be smart and strategize. Avoid taking the public buses all by yourself late at night, especially if you don’t know the lay of the land. Rather take a cab, show the driver the address, and negotiate the fare.
You will have a wonderful experience in Brazil if you can speak some of the language; if you stay smart, savvy and alert; and if you open your eyes, ears, and heart to the warm people around you. Empower yourself before your trip as much as you can (a little knowledge can go a long way), and once you’re in the country, learn some of the ground rules of the specific locations where you’ll stay. Most of all, enjoy your trip, and bring back good stories to keep in your heart and to share with people back home.
