Frequently asked questions
To visit Brazil for vacation purposes, most countries with bilateral agreements do not need a visa and you can stay in Brazil for up to 90 days. If your passport has less than 90 days to expire on the date of your arrival in Brazil, you may be refused entry. Likewise, you may be refused entry if you plan to travel to other countries from Brazil and your passport has less than six months to expire. Also, some airlines won't let you fly with less than six months left in your passport. Check with your travel agent if you have any questions. Please note that it is Brazilian law that you carry your passport (or a photocopy) with you at all times, including on all excursions outside our Pousada.
We recommend that you contact your doctor or a Travel Medicine clinic for advice on which vaccinations you will need. A good source of information for visitors to the UK is the NHS National Services Scotland Fit for Travel website. Please note that if you are entering Brazil from a country known to have endemic yellow fever and cannot prove you have been vaccinated, you may be denied entry to Brazil.
The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by mosquitoes, and for most people it is a very mild infection and is not harmful. However, it is more serious for pregnant women, as there is evidence that it causes birth defects – in particular, abnormally small heads (microcephaly). Zika is found throughout most of South and Central America, some southern US states, India, parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Malaysia. Standard advice for people traveling to these areas is to use bug spray and wear loose clothing that covers your arms and legs. So far (January 2019) we are not aware of any cases of Zika in the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu where REGUA is located.
More information about the Zika virus is available from the World Health Organization.
Other essentials to bring include:
Binoculars
Camera
Good quality, sturdy hiking boots/shoes
Lightweight waterproof jacket
Lightweight, quick-drying pants
Long and short sleeve quick-drying T-shirts or shirts
A rimmed hat or cap
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
A small backpack (for hiking)
Swimwear (for the pool and waterfalls along the trails)
Two-pin plug adapter
A small flashlight (for any night excursion)
A lens cloth
A bottle of water
It can also be very humid, so it's worth bringing some silica gel packets (available at camera stores) to keep binoculars, cameras and electrical equipment free of moisture.
In 2015, REGUA published the first field guide for birds in the Serra dos Órgãos region in southeastern Brazil (ISBN-13: 9788591915705). This photographic guide presents 875 images of more than 500 species of birds that can be found in REGUA and Serra dos Órgãos. Copies are available in the UK from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest Trust or worldwide from NHBS. Shortly after the launch of this first book, the field guide "Aves da Serra dos Órgãos e Adjacência" (ISBN: 978-85-919157-1-2), whose repercussions were quite positive among the general public and specialized critics, was released. The main objective of this work is to present almost all the bird species that occur in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo through photographic boards. The book contains 161 plates, illustrating 936 species with 1765 images.This copy is also for sale at REGUA.
The best field guide currently available covering all birds of Brazil is A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil, Ber van Perlo, 2009 (ISBN-13: 9780195301557). NHBS in the UK offers worldwide delivery and also donates a small commission to REGUA on every copy sold.
For those who are renting a car, the best map is the Brazilian Road Map 2006 Rio de Janeiro (1:500.000), published by Guia Quatro Rodas. This map covers the entire state of Rio de Janeiro, shows the national parks and also includes nice city maps and a distance chart. The map is available in the UK at Stanfords, or locally in Brazil.
To make an inquiry or a reservation, please contact Nicholas, Thomas or Raquel Locke by email (turismo@regua.org.br or WhatsApp +55 21 98370-6712).
