What to pack for Brazil: the complete checklist

• Passport, with six months left on it Essential It needs to be valid for at least six months past the day you land, with a blank page. Check the date today, not the week you fly.
• Your eVisa, printed Essential If you have a US, Canadian or Australian passport, you need one, and there is no visa on arrival. Print it. The airline checks it at check-in, and you can get turned around without it. Keep a copy on your phone too. How the eVisa works
• A credit card with no foreign transaction fee Essential Brazil runs on cards, far more than the US. Bring two and keep them in different places. When a card machine offers to charge you in dollars, say no and pay in reais. Money, cards and Pix
• Your return flight and first night's booking, saved offline Important Handy to have on your phone at check-in and when you land, even without wifi.
• A debit card for ATMs Important You need less cash than you think, but a few places still want it. Check what your bank charges for foreign ATMs before you go.
• Travel medical insurance, policy number saved offline Important Assume your US health plan doesn't cover you here. The coverage that matters is emergency medical with evacuation. Travel insurance
• Your driver's license, only if you're renting a car Important Ask the rental company what they accept from a foreign driver before you book.

• WhatsApp, set up before you fly Essential Hotels, guides and drivers here use it far more than email or phone calls. Set it up on your US number before you leave.
• An unlocked phone Important It's your map, your translator, your ride home and your boarding pass. It has to be unlocked to take an eSIM, so check with your carrier.
• A universal plug adapter Important The outlets here are little hexagons with three round holes, and a US plug won't fit. Get one with USB ports. You can buy them here, but you'll want to charge your phone the night you land.
• Hair tools that say 100-240V, or none Important Some cities here run on 127V and some on 220V, and an adapter doesn't change that. Phone and laptop chargers handle both. A US-only hair dryer or straightener gets destroyed the moment you plug it in at 220V, so check the label or leave it at home.
• An eSIM, set up before you fly Important Five minutes at home, far cheaper than US roaming, and it works the moment you land. Phones and eSIMs
• The Uber app Important It's how most visitors get around the cities.
• A power bank Important A day of maps and photos drains a phone by mid-afternoon. It goes in your carry-on, never in checked luggage.
• Charging cables, plus a spare Important Electronics cost more in Brazil than at home, so bring the spare with you.

• Prescription medication for the whole trip Essential Keep it in the original containers. Vaccines and health
• Glasses or contacts, and a backup Important A spare pair, or your glasses as well as your contacts. Replacing them mid-trip eats a day.
• Sunscreen Easy to find here The sun is no joke here, even in winter. Every pharmacy sells it, so don't panic if you forget it, but bring your own if your skin likes one brand. Swimming near reefs? Get reef-safe.
• Insect repellent Easy to find here The mosquitoes aren't that bad in most places, but you don't want dengue, and the mosquito that carries it bites in the daytime. DEET or picaridin, on top of your sunscreen. Every pharmacy sells it. Vaccines and health
• Your own shampoo, conditioner and skincare Easy to find here Pharmacies and supermarkets here have everything, just not always your brand. If you're particular, bring it. Anything over 3.4 oz goes in checked luggage.

• Light, breathable clothes Important Cotton and linen, and less of it than you think. Most of Brazil is warm most of the year, and you'll be carrying your bag between places.
• One warm layer Important A light sweater or fleece. Planes and long-distance buses run the air conditioning cold.
• A light rain jacket Important One that folds up small. Tropical rain comes hard and fast, then stops.
• Comfortable walking shoes Important You'll walk more than you expect, and the colonial towns have a lot of cobblestones.
• Flip-flops Easy to find here Havaianas are Brazilian and sold everywhere. Buy them when you get here.
• A hat and sunglasses Easy to find here Sold on every beach, but bring the pair you like.

• Water shoes Important For reef pools, rocky beaches and river swimming.
• A small dry bag Important Boat trips, waterfalls and sudden rain. It's what keeps your phone alive.
• A swimsuit Easy to find here Bring one you're comfortable in. Swimwear shops are everywhere here, cut the Brazilian way.
• A long-sleeve UV shirt Easy to find here For boat days and snorkeling, it beats sunscreen you forget to reapply. Beach towns sell them everywhere.
• A canga instead of a beach towel Easy to find here The Brazilian sarong. It's a towel, a skirt and a picnic blanket, it weighs nothing, and it's sold on every beach.

• A fanny pack Important Worn in front and strapped tight, it's the easiest way to keep pickpockets away from your phone and cards, and it fits basically everything you need for a day out.
• A small daypack Important For beach days and hikes. Wear it on your front in crowds.
• A reusable water bottle Easy to find here The heat sneaks up on you. Refill it with filtered water at your hotel.

Don't travel without it.

• Documents and money Passport, with six months left on it It needs to be valid for at least six months past the day you land, with a blank page. Check the date today, not the week you fly.
• Documents and money Your eVisa, printed If you have a US, Canadian or Australian passport, you need one, and there is no visa on arrival. Print it. The airline checks it at check-in, and you can get turned around without it. Keep a copy on your phone too. How the eVisa works
• Documents and money A credit card with no foreign transaction fee Brazil runs on cards, far more than the US. Bring two and keep them in different places. When a card machine offers to charge you in dollars, say no and pay in reais. Money, cards and Pix
• Phone and tech WhatsApp, set up before you fly Hotels, guides and drivers here use it far more than email or phone calls. Set it up on your US number before you leave.
• Health and toiletries Prescription medication for the whole trip Keep it in the original containers. Vaccines and health

Bring it from home. You might find it here, but it will cost you time or money, or it won't be the one you like.

• Documents and money Your return flight and first night's booking, saved offline Handy to have on your phone at check-in and when you land, even without wifi.
• Documents and money A debit card for ATMs You need less cash than you think, but a few places still want it. Check what your bank charges for foreign ATMs before you go.
• Documents and money Travel medical insurance, policy number saved offline Assume your US health plan doesn't cover you here. The coverage that matters is emergency medical with evacuation. Travel insurance
• Documents and money Your driver's license, only if you're renting a car Ask the rental company what they accept from a foreign driver before you book.
• Phone and tech An unlocked phone It's your map, your translator, your ride home and your boarding pass. It has to be unlocked to take an eSIM, so check with your carrier.
• Phone and tech A universal plug adapter The outlets here are little hexagons with three round holes, and a US plug won't fit. Get one with USB ports. You can buy them here, but you'll want to charge your phone the night you land.
• Phone and tech Hair tools that say 100-240V, or none Some cities here run on 127V and some on 220V, and an adapter doesn't change that. Phone and laptop chargers handle both. A US-only hair dryer or straightener gets destroyed the moment you plug it in at 220V, so check the label or leave it at home.
• Phone and tech An eSIM, set up before you fly Five minutes at home, far cheaper than US roaming, and it works the moment you land. Phones and eSIMs
• Phone and tech The Uber app It's how most visitors get around the cities.
• Phone and tech A power bank A day of maps and photos drains a phone by mid-afternoon. It goes in your carry-on, never in checked luggage.
• Phone and tech Charging cables, plus a spare Electronics cost more in Brazil than at home, so bring the spare with you.
• Health and toiletries Glasses or contacts, and a backup A spare pair, or your glasses as well as your contacts. Replacing them mid-trip eats a day.
• Clothes and shoes Light, breathable clothes Cotton and linen, and less of it than you think. Most of Brazil is warm most of the year, and you'll be carrying your bag between places.
• Clothes and shoes One warm layer A light sweater or fleece. Planes and long-distance buses run the air conditioning cold.
• Clothes and shoes A light rain jacket One that folds up small. Tropical rain comes hard and fast, then stops.
• Clothes and shoes Comfortable walking shoes You'll walk more than you expect, and the colonial towns have a lot of cobblestones.
• Beach and water Water shoes For reef pools, rocky beaches and river swimming.
• Beach and water A small dry bag Boat trips, waterfalls and sudden rain. It's what keeps your phone alive.
• Bags and security A fanny pack Worn in front and strapped tight, it's the easiest way to keep pickpockets away from your phone and cards, and it fits basically everything you need for a day out.
• Bags and security A small daypack For beach days and hikes. Wear it on your front in crowds.

Sold all over Brazil. Bring it to be safe or if you like your own brand, but if you forget it, you're fine.

• Health and toiletries Sunscreen The sun is no joke here, even in winter. Every pharmacy sells it, so don't panic if you forget it, but bring your own if your skin likes one brand. Swimming near reefs? Get reef-safe.
• Health and toiletries Insect repellent The mosquitoes aren't that bad in most places, but you don't want dengue, and the mosquito that carries it bites in the daytime. DEET or picaridin, on top of your sunscreen. Every pharmacy sells it. Vaccines and health
• Health and toiletries Your own shampoo, conditioner and skincare Pharmacies and supermarkets here have everything, just not always your brand. If you're particular, bring it. Anything over 3.4 oz goes in checked luggage.
• Clothes and shoes Flip-flops Havaianas are Brazilian and sold everywhere. Buy them when you get here.
• Clothes and shoes A hat and sunglasses Sold on every beach, but bring the pair you like.
• Beach and water A swimsuit Bring one you're comfortable in. Swimwear shops are everywhere here, cut the Brazilian way.
• Beach and water A long-sleeve UV shirt For boat days and snorkeling, it beats sunscreen you forget to reapply. Beach towns sell them everywhere.
• Beach and water A canga instead of a beach towel The Brazilian sarong. It's a towel, a skirt and a picnic blanket, it weighs nothing, and it's sold on every beach.
• Bags and security A reusable water bottle The heat sneaks up on you. Refill it with filtered water at your hotel.