Banks: 10.00 to 16.00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09.00 to 18.00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 09.00 to 18.00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 09.00 to 18.00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 09.00 to 19.00, Monday to Friday; 09.00 to 14.00, Saturday
As far as Brazil’s reputation goes as being an unsafe travel destination, Curitiba is one of the more sedate cities with regards to crime. Pickpockets are, of course, a problem and you should be vigilant when out and about. Neighbourhoods to be wary of at night are: Tiradentes Square in downtown Curitiba, the historic centre,
Reboucas and Prado Velho. Also, take care around the main bus terminal.
220V, 50Hz – twin flat-pin plugs
Curitiba is healthier than most sizeable Brazilian cities but you should stick to bottled water. Take out travel insurance and make sure tetanus shots are up-to-date before you arrive. Pharmacies and Western style clinics can be found in Curitiba but for major emergencies you will want to travel to one of Brazil’s larger cities. Make sure you use sunscreen as when in any other subtropical destination, as the cool weather in Curitiba makes people think the sun isn’t powerful enough to burn skin.
Emergency services: 190
Hospital Vita Curitiba: +55 41 315 1951
Brazilians speak Portuguese yet it is slightly different in intonation to that of the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. German and Italian is also widely spoken in Curitiba, along with English in touristy areas.
Brazil’s currency is the real (R$), with R$1 equal to 100 centavos. It is wise to keep hold of small bills for everyday use, such as taxi fares.
Visitors over the age of 18 years can bring the following amount of duty-free items into Brazil: 400 cigarettes or 25 cigars; two litres of alcohol; and gifts to the value of US$500.
Brazilians are quite touchy-feely, both men and women, although they are a lot more conservative in Curitiba than in the likes of Rio de Janeiro. This also extends to clothing, and wandering the streets in beach attire is not the done thing here. Eating directly with the hands is a faux pas anywhere in Brazil, especially when walking in public areas.
Unless you’re from another Mercosur country such as Argentina, Paraguay or Uruguay, in which case you can enter Brazil with a national ID card, you will need a passport and possibly a visa. Visitors from the EU can get a 90-day visa on arrival, while citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand need to apply for a tourist visa (valid for 90 days) in advance. All visitors who require a visa should have a return ticket.
The Curitiba Convention Visitors Bureau is located at Al Julia da Costa, 64
Curitiba.
Phone: +55 41 233 8500; www.curitibacvb.com.br
