www.singlestravelservice.com

Passport:

A valid passport is required for travel to Brazil. Please make sure that your passport expiration date is at least six months beyond the date of return. If you do not have a passport, you will need to acquire one for international travel. United States citizens can usually apply for a passport at a number of facilities including many Federal, state and probate courts, many local post offices, some libraries and many county and municipal offices. Apply early! Depending on the agency used, you will receive your passport within 5-6 weeks. If expedited service is necessary, you must apply in person at one of 13 passport agencies found in most major cities. You must present your airline tickets or airline generated itinerary and the other required items for the application. You need to make an appointment with your passport agency for expedited service. If you do not live near a passport agency, you can use an overnight delivery service and your local passport acceptance facility. An Additional $35 is charged for expedited service per application. Further information and your local passport processing facility can be found on the website of the U.S. Department of State: http://www.state.gov/index.cfm

Visa:

You do need a visa to Brazil.

Cost is $100 and must be used within 90 days of when it is received and is valid for one year. A visa can be applied for at the Consulate General that serves your region of the United States. Citizens of other countries will have to check if a visa is required for travel to Brazil. Visa application forms and the application procedure, as well as a full list of other countries requiring a visa can be found on the website of the Consulate General of Brazil in Houston: www.brazilhouston.org.

You can download (click here to download the application form now) . The Los Angeles Embassy website has a pdf form that you can fill out right on the computer to avoid handwritten mistakes.http://www.brazilian-consulate.org/forms/visa_application_form.pdf

Chicago: 401, NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE SUITE (3050) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – 60611
TEL : (312) 464-0244/5/6/7 (GERAL)
Los Angeles: 8484 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITES 711/730 , BEVERLY HILLS,
CALIFORNIA 90.211-3216 TEL.: (001213) 651-2664 (GERAL)

• New York: BRAZILIAN CONSULATE GENERAL
1185, AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 21st FLOOR, NEW YORK N.Y. 10036 -2601 USA
TEL.: (001917) 777-7777 (Geral)

In order to process your application for a tourist you must present the following all at once:

1. Your passport, must be valid for at least 6 (six) months from the intended arrival date in
Brazil (at least one whole blank page);
2. One Visa Application Form, filled out, dated and signed by the applicant
One recent (2in x 2in) passport-photo, front view, white background. Snapshots or
computer pictures are not acceptable;
3. A copy of a booking slip or a booked itinerary showing travel to and from Brazil, passenger
names, itineraries, flight numbers and arrival/departure dates;
You will need to include a contact and address while in Brazil. The contact you can use is:

James Hodson, Brasil Travel
Florianópolis,SC 88025, Phone: 48 3335 0153

The address you can use for where you will be staying:
Pousada Morro Grande, Km 110, SC 428, Bom Jardím da Serra, SC 88640
Phone: 49 3232 0103

Meeting Place/Time:

Final destination is Florianopolis (city) airport in the state of Santa Catarina, mid-late morning, Saturday, November 24 or Dec. 1via São Paulo (first entry point and customs clearance for all international flights from the U.S.). Note the connecting flights to Florianopolis below (which are around noon) which means you should make sure that you arrive in Sao Paulo early morning.

Accommodations:

On the coast: Hotel Samuka (www.samukahotel.com.br): Hotel Samuka is a very quaint tropical hideaway. Recently renovated, the hotel has lush vegetation surrounding the rooms and views of Lagoa da Concessao (Consession Lagoon) from the second floor. Most restaurants and shops are in walking distance and the lagoon beach is right across the street.

In the mountains: The Morro Grande: Vitorli Machado and his son, Inizio, are the 4th and 5th generations to operate the ranch Morro Grande (the Big Hill) near Bom Jardim da Serra, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Vitorli's Great Grandfather was of Spanish descent and immigrated to the region toward the end of the 19th century via the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Like many of the immigrants, he took advantage of the natural grasslands and abundant water supplies and became a cattle rancher. The Morro Grande ranch continues to produce free range, chemical and hormone free cattle and provides succulent beef to the region and the rest of Brazil. In 1990, an addition was put on the farmhouse to accommodate travelers passing by and the Pousada (Bed and Breakfast) Morro Grande was born. The Pousada has treated thousands since then with home grown, home cooked meals, horseback tours through the tranquil invigorating countryside, and the warm atmosphere of the traditional Gaucho lifestyle

Medical:

• Check with your health care provider, and/or visit a travel immunization clinic.
• Make sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot.
• Also if you have traveled to any of the following countries within the last 90 days, you need to show a yellow fever immunization certificate:: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (ex-Zaire) or Venezuela.
• If possible, get a prescription for a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
• Although Southern Brazil is benign of diseases, yellow fever, dengue, cholera, and meningitis, exist in other parts of the country. For this reason, Brazil is a quarantined country and blood donors will not be able to give blood for a year after the trip. If a donor does not want to wait a year to give blood, he/she will have to present a detailed itinerary of all the locations visited while in Brazil to their donor station. Consult the American Red Cross for further details. Southern Brazil is relatively benign and no vaccinations are required for travel to the region.

Weather:

The weather is mild throughout the year with temperatures on the coast being 80 – 85°F during the day and 70 – 75°F at night. The mountains tend to be coo ler at night with temperatures ranging from 60 -65°F. How ever, temperatures can be can also be cooler in the mountains when it rains, 65 70°F.

Electricity:

The current varies throughout Brazil. In Southern Brazil the current is 220V but it is 120V in most other regions. The outlets generally have holes for 2 flat prongs or 2 round prongs. If you plan on bringing electric appliances, a converter and adapter plug may be necessary.

Safety:

Don’t take anything out with you on the streets that you’re attached to—you may not return with it. Just the fact there. Suggestions are to sew a pocket inside your pants, disperse your money in different pockets and don’t carry more than what you need that day.

Packing & Equipment and Clothing List:

The following checklist has been prepared in order to help you procure the proper equipment and clothing needed to make your trip an enjoyable and comfortable experience. Please check your equipment carefully to make sure that it fits well and is in good working condition before arriving for your trip. We will supply all group equipment, including food, support vehicle, and emergency medical supplies.

We suggest a large duffel-type bag or other soft-sided luggage and a smaller daypack. On overnight stays we will transport your luggage via jeep, however, a daypack will be necessary to carry cameras, film, sunscreen, swimsuit, etc. Wheels are nice for the airport, but some of our locations are not going to have paved side walks

• Extra passport picture
• Wrap your toiletries in plastic bags separately. Bring extra plastic bags  (wet bathing suits, etc.)
• Wet ones and/or hand sanitizer gel
• Lip balm
• Moisturizer
• Power bars/granola. It’s bound to happen, you’re hungry when others aren’t.
• Purse or pouch to carry your passport and travelers checks
• Flashlight
• Travel alarm
• Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, hairbrush, etc…
• Camera and film with extra batteries for your camera and binoculars
• Pocket knife (optional, but sometimes handy)
• Personal first aid kit: aspirin, ibuprofen, Band-Aids, antihistamine tablets, prescription
medications clearly marked in their original containers, caladryl, moleskin, etc…
• Extra copy of your prescription for any medication…written in generic drug terms
• Extra pair of glasses and/or contact lenses
• Water bottles or camelback. at least a holder for your water bottle
• Sunglasses with UV protection and retainer leash (such as Croakies.)
• Sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and lip balm wit UV protection -this is a must!
• Insect repellent
• Towel (2)

• Small hiking daypack to carry items such as a camera, sunscreen, chapstick, snacks and rain gear.

Extra Recommended Items:

• A broad brim sun hat with strap or a baseball-type hat. Although the temperature is never excruciatingly hot, thesun can still be quite dangerous especially being out in it for extended periods. The mountains can be breezy and the wind is almost always gusty near the tops of peaks, so a strap on the hat is necessary.

• 2 bandanas, great for keeping the sun off of your neck.
• Casual dress cloths for going dancing, jeans or dockers will work here, nothing too fancy.
• pair of comfortable long pants for horseback riding or hiking. Jeans or Dockers are great for riding. We ride in theraditional Gaucho dress of baggy bombacha pants. They are cotton and extremely comfortable for riding. You can -3 pairs of shorts to hike or lounge around.
• Comfortable shirts for each day, we recommend bringing at least 2 long sleeve field shirts for riding and hiking to
  protect from the sun or wind.
• Enough socks and underwear for each day (We recommend a sports bra for women for horseback riding, thong underwear are NOT recommended for  horseback riding.)
• A fleece, sweatshirt or sweater, nights and days with rain or mist can be cool.
• A thermal or polypro shirt, layering works.
• A light-mid weight waterproof or water resistant coat
• Rain gear, including a coat and pants. Unless you are in the desert on this earth there is always the chance that it might rain. Southern Brazil is not a desert, so it may rain.
• 1 or 2 Swimsuits
• Comfortable gym shoes or hiking boots to ride horses or rubber boots if you have them.
• Comfortable broken-in light hiking boots or gym shoes for trekking. Since the treks are of minimal intensity and distance (3 miles or less) across flat terrain, we generally use rubber boots. Again, the terrain WILL BE wet, so if you have a pair of comfortable water boots or old gym shoes, bring them.
  -a pair of old gym shoes, water shoes, or water sandals that can get wet for rafting and sailing. Rafting in bare feet IS NOT ALLOWED. Sailing in bare feet is allowed and encouraged!
• A pair of sandals for the beach or relaxing on the veranda or in the barn.
• Sunscreen with spf 15 or higher and lip balm with spf 15 or higher.
• A small towel while at the Uncles’ ranch or to take while swimming in the falls
• Toiletries, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, comb, etc.
• A camera with plenty of film or these days, disc
• Sunglasses that block UVA and UVB
• Any special medications that are specific to you
• Any small instrument that you can play around a fire, harmonica, jaw-harp, etc.
  

In the South we have available and provide:

• Rubber boots for hikes through wetland areas. Although for this trip our supply may become exhausted so old gym shoes that you don’t mind getting trashed will work also.
• Soap, towels, toilet paper
• Basic first aid supplies including, topical antibiotic, Band-Aids, Ace bandages, etc.
• We have a guitar for those who like to play around the fire and sing.
• We realize despite the planning and organization, some things get accidentally left behind. We can find any items needed for purchase in any city.

Equipment Details:

Of course, you know you best, so bring what you deem necessary and leave behind what you don’t, i.e. if you are a “cold” person, bring along an extra sweater or sweat shirt. The county where we live in the South is deemed the County of Water. Literally, the water bubbles out everywhere form the mountains and creates a lot of wetland habitat. On some of the hikes, you will be ankle deep in water or mud so bring a solid pair of water boots. Mud and water will go over the top of regular hiking boots, they WILL muddy and wet and run the risk of destruction!!! We (and all of the
locals) use rubber boots and have rubber boots for people to use if they choose. However, some people may find them uncomfortable so if you have a pair of your own, bring them. When on horseback in the South, we mostly ride in rubber boots again. Cowboy boots or high boots will work but they will get splashed and possibly muddy. The horses splash water and mud while riding through puddles, so be prepared back country shower! A rain jacket is a must as most of our
activities will proceed rain or shine. We do have ONE washing machine on the ranch for a minimal charge, however, all clothes are line dried which may delay drying. We will assign one saddle bag per person while on the ranch. We use saddle bags as day bags for all horseback rides, overnight