Visitors to Brazil must realize that even though South America appears not to be that much larger than North America, South America is indeed much bigger than North America. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and occupies about 50 percent of South America. The size of Brazil affects traveling around this country in many ways.

Driving

If you're planning to do a road trip around the country, you must realize that there are long distances between Brazil's largest cities. For example, the distance between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo is 352 kilometers (220 miles) and the distance between Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro is 754 kilometers (468 miles). Driving on Brazil's highways does take longer than on North American or European highways. When driving within a city, make sure to find out about the rush hours. Trying to get from downtown Rio de Janeiro to the amazing malls in the Barra da Tijuca area during rush hour could take you about 2 hours instead of the 40 minutes it usually takes.

Buses

Traveling by bus within the city is a good option if you plan to do most of your traveling when most people are at work. While taking a city bus, don't wear expensive jewelry or watches to draw attention to yourself. If possible, try not to travel with other expensive items such as cameras. Don't worry about having exact change because there will be a bus attendant (not the bus driver) who will give you change. Plan in advance and bring small bills and definitely do not try to use foreign currency.

Plane

Given the long distances between cities, the best way to travel around Brazil is by plane. Make sure to check the local airlines such as Varig, Gol, Azul and TAM for specials and discounted tickets.