Brazil is currently open to American travelers, though the U.S. State Department maintains a Level 4 Travel Advisory ('Do Not Travel') to Brazil, due to continued high daily COVID-19 case levels.
Nevertheless, Brazilian tourism officials say that the South American country is ready to receive more international visitors and that additional flights from the U.S. are expected to be added by the end of 2021.
The Brazilian Agency for the International Promotion of Tourism, Embratur, reports a recent increase in the volume of foreign visitors arriving in the country.
"In the month of June, the embarkation and disembarkation operations had an increase of 11.35 percent, compared to May, in one of our main tourist cities, Recife," said Carlos Brito, president of Embratur.
Two of Brazil's three busiest airports, Guarulhos (GRU) and Brasília (BSB), also reported an increase in arrivals (13.62) and departures (14.26 percent) during the month of June. Brito credited Embratur's marketing campaigns, which highlight that nation's adoption of COVID-19 biosafety protocols, as contributing to its recent tourism growth.
Fully vaccinated American visitors are able to bypass quarantine upon arrival by providing proof of their inoculations, with all three vaccines currently approved for use in the U.S. accepted by Brazilian authorities. Regardless of vaccination status, U.S. travelers to Brazil will need to present negative results from a PCR or antigen test performed within 72 hours of departure in order to enter the country. For unvaccinated travelers, a negative test gets you into the country, but you'll still need to quarantine for 14 days.
Children over the age of two and under the age of 12 who are accompanied by adults are exempt from testing requirements, provided that the adults in their party provide their own negative test results. Unaccompanied youths under 12 will need to test and present their own negative test results for entry.
Brazil no longer requires proof of health insurance to enter the country, but the U.S. Department of State continues to recommend that all travelers purchase insurance before departing the United States or verify that their existing health insurance will cover them while abroad.
Inbound travelers must also complete the Traveler's Health Declaration, and present a digital or paper copy upon arrival, indicating that they agree to adhere to all instituted health measures during their stay in Brazil. The Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency has made versions available in Portuguese, Spanish and English.
According to the Brazilian federal government's Vacinometer data, as of July 30, over 184 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been distributed to the states with over 141 million doses administered. Reuters' tracking tool estimates this means that just under 34 percent of the country's population is now fully vaccinated.
"We have no doubts that, in addition to paying attention to the sanitary protocols indicated by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Health against coronaviruses, vaccination is the way to resume activities related to tourism," Brito emphasized.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
