RIO, BRAZIL TRAVEL GUIDE

This page is a guide only. Venues or official hotels may change for the current season so we recommend that you check the reglements before confirming any travel arrangements. If you are booking hotels before the reglement is out, we advise you may want to consider booking with free cancellation as it is not guaranteed that competition details will stay the same.

Background Info
Rio de Janeiro, also known simply as Rio, is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous city in the Americas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro

Latest Foreign Office Travel Advice
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil

Sign up to Travel Alerts here
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Visa Requirements
You can visit Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism, see https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil/entry-requirements

Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London
Telephone: +44 020 7008 5000 (24 hours), See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.

Venue
The Rio 2026 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships will be held at two venues in the Barra da Tijuca Olympic Park: Arena Carioca 1, which hosted memorable competitions during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and the Olympic Velodrome, an international reference in sports infrastructure. here

Hotel World Championships Rio, Brazil 2026
Nominated Team Hotel: COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, RIO
Address – Av Embaixador Abelardo Bueno 5001, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 22775-039 Rio de Janeiro (10 minute walking distance to the Olympic venue).

Supermarket –Supermarket Abelardo Bueno, Address Avenue Av. Embaixador Abelardo Bueno, 2820 – Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro (15 minute walk from hotel)

Local Emergency Telephone Numbers
Ambulance: 192
Fire: 193
Police: 190 or 911

Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

Health

Medication
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
Read https://www.gov.uk/guidance/in-hospital-abroad

Healthcare in Brazil
Foreign nationals are entitled to emergency medical treatment in Brazilian public hospitals. Public hospitals in Brazil, especially in major cities, tend to be overcrowded and there’s often a long wait for a bed and a lack of medication. Private hospitals will not accept you unless you can show evidence of enough money or insurance to cover your treatment.

FCDO has a list of medical providers in Brazil where some staff will speak English.  

Hospital – Hospital Vitória (Barra da Tijuca) Map
Address: Av. Jorge Curi, 550 – Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22775-001

Safety
Please read https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil/safety-and-security

Weather
Weather varies greatly across regions.
Rio de Janeiro (March): ~31°C avg highs, heavy rain but 208 hours of sun. https://weather-and-climate.com/averages-Brazil-March

Money
The Brazilian Real (BRL) is Brazil’s official currency
Exchange rate GBP to BRL

Tourist Information
Brazil Guide:
https://visitbrasil.com/en/location/rio-de-janeiro-en

City navigation
https://www.touristmaps.com/rio-de-janeiro

Typical Taxi Costs in Rio

• Base fare: R$5–6 to start the meter.
• Per kilometre rate: R$2.50–3.50 during the day.
• Short local rides (e.g., Copacabana ↔ Ipanema): around R$8–15.
• Longer journeys (e.g., to Barra da Tijuca or Arraial do Cabo zone): R$25–50, depending on traffic.
• Night surcharge: +20–30% after 22:00.
• Fixed‑price options: Many hotels and reputable taxi companies offer fixed‑fare airport or inter‑district transfers for predictability.Staying Safe in Rio Taxis Choose Only Reputable Taxis
• Look for official yellow taxis with TAXI RIO or TAXI AEROPORTUÁRIO branding.
• Prefer taxis from official stands, your hotel concierge, or through apps (see below).
• Avoid flagging taxis off the street, especially at night.
• Use Trusted Taxi & Ride‑Hailing Apps
• Safe and widely used: Uber and 99.
• Traditional taxi apps: EasyTaxi and 99Taxis, which help verify drivers and routes.

Passenger Safety Tips

• Always sit in the back seat.
• Keep valuables out of sight (phones, jewellery, bags).
• Confirm the meter is running or agree on a fare before departure.
• Watch for detours, be alert if the driver takes an unusual route.Night‑Time Precautions
• Avoid walking to find a taxi at night; use your hotel to call one.
• Avoid poorly lit or isolated taxi stands.

If You Feel Unsafe

• Ask to stop in a safe, populated area.
• Emergency number in Rio: 190 (Police).
• Keep track of taxi details (plate, driver name) via app when possibleTransport links
  Rio Public Transport
• Main Modes: Metro, tram (VLT), bus, ferry, bike-share
• Single Ticket: R$4.80 (~£0.75), valid 2h on Metro & Bus (March 2025)
• Cheapest Unlimited Pass: 24h R$21.00; 72h R$55.00
• Contactless Payments: Yes, daily cap approx. R$15
• First/Last Metro Trains (Central Station): 5:00 – 00:00

Basics
Telecom, Mail and Internet
There are three main ways to ensure phone service and reliable mobile internet in Brazil: eSIMs, local SIM cards, pocket WiFi devices, and free WiFi. Each comes with benefits and trade-offs, depending on the length of your stay, budget, expected data usage, and how much you plan to use your phone.
Roaming internationally with your home carrier is quite expensive, however
https://wise.com/gb/blog/brazil-sim-card

Plug Types & Voltage in Brazil

• Voltage varies by region: 127V or 220V (e.g., Rio = 110V, Brasília = 220V). [brazilcore.com]
• UK travellers need a Type G → Type C/N adapter. [travelpowerplugs.com]

Flights from the UK to Rio de Janeiro
British Airways/ Virgin Atlantic: Direct flights from London
Other airlines: TAP, Lufthansa, Austrian, LATAM, ITA Airways, KLM.