Like Argentina, the devaluation of the Real (Brazilian currency) against the US Dollar, has made Brazil an excellent destination for low cost, world-class medical tourism treatment. In recent years, Brazil has become internationally renowned for their famous cosmetic and plastic surgery clinics, where the rich and famous have been going in order to maintain their anonymity and recuperate along the pristine Brazilian beaches.
In terms of general medical treatment, Brazil has a couple of medical travel hospitals that are fully accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the largest US Hospital Accreditation organization (JCAHO.) Our partner hospital in Brazil is fully JCI Accredited and among the top health tourism hospitals in all of Latin America.
Brazil is located in South America and can be reached from most US cities within 8 to 12 hours.
MedRetreat offers service to Porto Alegre in Brazil
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Country Information
Brazil is the largest and most populous country in Latin America, with 186 million inhabitants. Named after brazil wood, a tree highly valued by early colonists, Brazil is home to both extensive agricultural lands and rain forests. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America’s leading economic power and a regional leader.
Porto Alegre is one of the country's best known cities. It is one of the most charming cities in South America. The city is known throughout the world for its famous barbeques, exciting nightclubs, and modern shopping malls.
Brazil's people come from many backgrounds. About half the country's population is of European ancestry--mostly German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Many other Brazilians are of mixed African and European ancestry, and some are of only African descent. Indians, the original Brazilians, form less than 1 percent of Brazil's people.
Brazil shares many traditions with Portugal. It was a Portuguese colony from 1500 to 1822 and is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in Latin America. The early Portuguese colonists also brought Roman Catholicism to Brazil. Today, Brazil has more Catholics than any other nation. [top]
Language
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Except for the languages spoken by Indian tribes living in remote reservations, Portuguese is the only language of daily life. There are no regional dialects. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South America. [top]
Religion
Nearly 80 percent of the population of Brazil declare themselves to be Roman Catholic. Recently Protestant groups in Brazil have been growing in number. Today there are sizable memberships in independent Pentecostal churches. There are also followers of mainstream Protestant denominations from Europe and the United States such as Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist. Brazil's diversity includes converts to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (Mormons); small minorities of Jews, Moslems and Buddhists. [top]
Climate
Brazil's winter lasts from June to August, with temperatures between 55 and 64 degrees, but it only gets really cold south of Rio. Summer is from December to February, a period frequently bringing stifling humidity to the far south. Brief rain showers are common, given Brazil's tropical climate, but the dry interior has only a few months of heavy rainfall a year. Of course, the Amazon Basin is the wettest area, with damp, moist temperatures averaging 80 degrees. [top]
Clothing
The first thing to consider when packing for your trip is climate. Remember that the seasons are opposite in Northern and Southern hemispheres. Brazilians tend to dress casually outside workplace. Most restaurants do not require a tie or sport jacket, however, a few fancy clubs and restaurants do. If you plan to travel to São Paulo, you will encounter a cosmopolitan city, where fashion matters. [top]
Mobile Phones
A Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM Card) is now available for Brazilian and foreign customers who are traveling around for work. The SIM Card must be used in conjunction with a Digital GSM mobile phone within the 900-MHz range or a Digital PCN mobile phone within the 1800-MHz range. [top]
Getting Online & Checking E-mail
All of Brazil's leading hotels offer facsimile (fax) and e-mail services. Numerous private businesses offer such facilities, most often in conjunction with translation services. Brazil has been expanding its information service for residents and tourists alike through the Internet system. Services are now available at Brazil's leading hotels and at the many " cyber cafés " that are cropping up in all major tourist destinations. [top]
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Ambulance : 192
Police : 190
Fire : 193
US Embassy, Brasilia (61) 3312-7000 [top]
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