Visa
For citizens of several countries, no visa is required to enter Brazil. Other nationalities have to apply for a visa before arriving to Brazil. Please check here whether you will need a visa or not. The Conference Secretary will provide participants with a letter of invitation to NANO 2008 if necessary.
Brazilian authorities require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination from travelers that have traveled to one of the countries listed below during the past 90 days:
Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.
South America: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru, Surinam, and Venezuela.
Central America & Caribbean: Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Currency
The Brazilian monetary unit is the Real (R$), made up of 100 centavos. Current exchange rates may be found here. Especially for US$ and EUR, it's better to change money when in Rio than changing money abroad.
Health
In Rio, some private medical facilities are on par with US or European hospitals. The US consulate provides lists with english-speaking physicians. Most drugs are available in pharmacies at reasonable prices. Although Yellow Fever does not occur in Rio, some travelers might need proof of vaccination when entering Brazil (see visa section). As mosquito-transmitted Dengue Fever can become endemic in Rio, use insect repellent extensively during daytime and beware of the Asian tiger mosquito.
Climate
The conference will take place in the Brazilian winter. Usually, the weather will be warm and dry with temperatures between 20 and 25 °C (70-80 °F). The weather forecast for Rio may be found here.
Sights
If you come to Rio for the first time, you might want to do some sightseeing. A half-day sightseeing tour will be provided by the organization team, but if you want to explore more of Rio, you might want to visit these places:
Sugarloaf Mountain
is situated in the southern part of Rio. This hill rises 396 metres above sea-level and provides an amazing panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro. A cable-car runs between the ground station in Urca and the top of the hill every 20 minutes, daily from 8 am to 9 pm. Tickets cost about 20 US-$. Take a cab to Praia Vermelha, and make sure to go on a clear day.
Cristo Redentor
is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. This Jesus statue is some 38 meters tall, standing atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. It was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa and is one of the world's best-known monuments. Trains run between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, departing every half hour. Tickets cost about 20 US-$.
Maracanã Football Stadium
Once housing more than 200,000 spectators, Maracanã stadium underwent reconstruction and today has a all-seated capacity of 95,000. Tickets cost around 15 US-$. If you want to go there for a football match, check the official website where detailed information about upcoming matches will be given a few days in advance.
Tijuca Forest
is what's left of the Atlantic rain forest once sourrounding Rio de Janeiro, and considered being the largest urban forest in the world. In this exuberant green you will find many different bird and animal species. It's best to book a jeep tour which takes approximately 4 hours.
Historic Centro
The center of Rio is excellent for getting an impression of the city away from its famous beaches. Packed with imperial buildings, museums and theaters, the center should only be explored during the week. Make sure you leave before sunset.
