Before Your Trip
How do I get to Maceió?
The easiest way to get to Maceió is to fly to Maceió International Airport (MCZ), also known as Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport. The airport has regular connections with major Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Salvador and Recife.
There are also direct international flights from Lisbon to Maceió, as well as from Buenos Aires.
If you are travelling overland, Maceió is about a 4-hour bus journey from Recife and around 10 hours from Salvador. This can be a convenient option if you are already travelling in northeastern Brazil.
What documents do I need to enter Brazil?
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality, the purpose and length of your stay, and your recent travel history. Before travelling, please check the latest visa and entry requirements for your nationality on the official website of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Do I need a visa to travel to Brazil?.
You can also contact the Brazilian embassy or consulate in your country for further information. Make sure your passport meets the applicable entry requirements.
You may also be asked to show proof of onward or return travel. If you are planning to stay for an extended period, check the applicable entry requirements before booking your flight.
Which currency and payment methods do I need?
The official currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL; plural: reais). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Maceió and throughout Brazil, although some small businesses may accept cash only.
Pix, Brazil’s instant payment system, is also very widely used. As a foreign visitor, however, you may not always be able to use Pix unless you have access to a compatible Brazilian payment account.
How much money do I need?
Your monthly spending will depend on your lifestyle and how much you plan to travel, eat out or go out in the evenings. As a general guideline, we recommend budgeting around €300–400 per month for everyday expenses, excluding accommodation, lunch and long-distance travel.
Some supermarket prices in Brazil are lower than in Europe, especially for locally produced foods such as fresh fruit, rice and beans. Imported products and foods that are not commonly consumed in Brazil can be considerably more expensive.
Local public transport is relatively inexpensive. Meals at good restaurants are generally comparable to European prices. For example, a pizza may cost around €7–15, depending on the restaurant and the toppings.
Which vaccinations are recommended or required?
Vaccination requirements and recommendations can vary depending on your nationality, travel history and the regions you plan to visit. Before travelling to Brazil, check the latest recommendations from your country’s health authorities or consult a travel medicine specialist.
Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date. Vaccinations such as hepatitis A may be recommended for travellers to Brazil, while other vaccinations may be recommended depending on your itinerary and individual circumstances.
Yellow fever: requirements and recommendations can depend on where you have travelled before arriving in Brazil. If this applies to you, check the current requirements well in advance, as some vaccinations need to be given a certain number of days before travel.
What climate can I expect in Maceió?
Maceió has a warm tropical climate throughout the year. Instead of four distinct seasons, the year is generally divided into a wetter period, roughly from May to August/September, and a drier period during the rest of the year.
Temperatures are generally warm throughout the year, with average temperatures around 28°C (82°F).
Do I need a socket adapter?
Brazil has different electrical voltages depending on the region. In Alagoas, the standard voltage is 220 V, so check the voltage requirements of your electronic devices before plugging them in.
Brazil uses its own type of electrical socket (Type N), which may be different from the sockets used in Europe and other countries, so you may need an adapter.
How safe is Brazil, and especially Maceió?
Brazil is a large country with significant social and economic inequalities, and crime is a reality in some areas. Tourists can sometimes be targeted for theft or robbery because they are perceived as having valuables such as smartphones, cameras, cash or cards. Maceió is no exception, although the level of risk varies considerably between neighbourhoods and situations.
As in other large Brazilian cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo, it is important to stay aware of your surroundings and take sensible precautions. Avoid displaying expensive belongings, carrying large amounts of cash or walking alone in unfamiliar areas at night. Use reliable transportation and ask your accommodation or local contacts for advice about areas and routes.
If you are confronted during a robbery, do not resist or try to fight back. Your safety is much more important than your belongings.
With common-sense precautions and some awareness of your surroundings, you can greatly reduce the risk of problems and enjoy your time in Brazil safely.
I am vegetarian or vegan. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Please let us know about your dietary requirements in advance, so our cook can prepare your lunches accordingly. While Brazilian cuisine traditionally includes a lot of meat, vegetarian and vegan options are becoming increasingly common, and many restaurants now offer plant-based dishes.
At GoBrazil, our lunches combine Brazilian and European influences, and we will do our best to make sure you have enjoyable and suitable meals during your stay.
Do I need travel health insurance?
Yes. Travel health insurance is required for all our guests. Please make sure your insurance covers medical treatment during your stay in Brazil.
Is accommodation included in the course price?
No. The course prices listed on our website do not include accommodation. Accommodation is booked separately, and you can find our accommodation options and prices in the dedicated Accommodation section.
How do I pay for my course and accommodation?
To reserve your place, you need to pay a 25% deposit to reserve your place. You can make the payment using an international money transfer service such as Wise or Remitly.
The remaining balance is due upon arrival. You can pay it using the same international transfer services or in cash in Brazilian Reais.
A friend or family member wants to visit me while I am in Brazil. Do they have to pay extra to stay in my room?
Please inform us in advance if you are expecting a guest. For the duration of their stay, the double-room rate will apply.
For your own safety, please be careful about inviting people you have just met back to the accommodation. Avoid bringing strangers or casual acquaintances into the house, especially if you do not know them well. Unfortunately, scams and theft can happen, and it is better to be cautious when inviting someone you have recently met into your accommodation.
How can I reserve a room and a course?
Please fill out our application form with your preferred course, accommodation and arrival details. We will contact you to confirm availability and explain the next steps.
Volunteering & Internships
Do you charge a fee for volunteer placements?
No. We do not charge a placement fee for volunteering or internships. We want to support local NGOs and help them find suitable volunteers.
However, you will need to stay with us for at least one month initially. This allows us to avoid creating additional administrative work for the NGOs and gives us enough time to handle accommodation, orientation, communication and other practical matters related to your placement.
I am interested in volunteering. What should I do?
Check our list of internships and volunteering projects in Brazil. Choose a project that matches your interests and skills.
Then send us your CV and a motivation letter, including your preferred dates and the type of work you are interested in. We will present your profile to the project leaders and get back to you as soon as we receive their response.
Can I get my flight paid for or receive free accommodation while volunteering?
We do not provide free accommodation or cover flight costs. However, you may be able to receive funding through a government programme in your home country. We recommend checking whether you are eligible for any funding or mobility programmes available to you.
I don’t speak Portuguese. Can I still be a volunteer?
Some knowledge of Portuguese is required. You will need to communicate with your colleagues and the people you work with. English is not widely spoken, especially outside tourist areas. Having a good level of Portuguese will make your volunteer experience much easier and allow you to contribute more effectively.
Volunteers are expected to be largely self-sufficient, which may include travelling independently to a volunteer project in a remote part of the country. Without sufficient Portuguese, even simple everyday situations can become challenging.
One way to improve your language skills is to start your trip with an intensive Portuguese course. You can book one of our intensive Portuguese courses.
Why can volunteering sometimes go wrong?
This point is worth repeating because many people have a romantic idea of volunteering and what they will be able to achieve. Remember that you will be working with local NGOs that often have very limited resources. Good structure and organization are not always their strengths, and things may not work exactly as you expected.
Give your host organization a chance, even if your first day as a volunteer does not go as planned. It often takes some time to find a routine and understand how the organization works, what its rules are and what is expected of you. Try not to get frustrated by small things. Be patient, stay flexible and give yourself time to adjust.
You should also be prepared for some boring, frustrating or challenging days. You are entering a new environment with a different language, culture and way of life. Depending on your project and location, you may encounter cold showers, power or internet outages, slow processes or colleagues who work at a different pace than you are used to.
Many volunteers find Brazil’s slower rhythm of life challenging at first. Try to see it as part of the experience rather than something that constantly needs to be changed. The more flexible and open-minded you are, the more rewarding your volunteer experience is likely to be.
Portuguese Courses
How long does it take to reach a good level of Portuguese?
There is no single answer, as it depends on your starting level, how intensively you study and how much Portuguese you use outside the classroom. Our students usually make noticeable progress within the first few weeks, especially because you are surrounded by Portuguese in everyday life.
If you are a complete beginner, you will need more time to reach a comfortable conversational level. If you already have some knowledge of Portuguese, an individual course can help you progress much faster. Living in Maceió where very few people speak English gives you an additional advantage.
What does the Portuguese course programme include?
Our Portuguese courses combine structured learning with plenty of speaking practice. We use a textbook as a foundation for the course, giving students a clear structure for learning and practising grammar, vocabulary and Brazilian Portuguese.
At the same time, a large part of the lessons is dedicated to speaking and communication. Students actively practise what they learn through conversations, exercises and practical situations, so that grammar becomes something they can actually use rather than simply study.
We believe that a good Portuguese course should give you both: a solid understanding of how the language works and plenty of opportunities to speak it.
Who are my Portuguese teachers?
Our Portuguese teachers are all Brazilian locals with a background in linguistics and language teaching. During an intensive course, you will usually work with two or three different teachers rather than having the same teacher every day.
We deliberately use several teachers because each person has their own way of speaking, explaining and interacting. This gives you the opportunity to get used to different Brazilian accents, voices and ways of expressing yourself, which is valuable when learning a language.
Which Portuguese course is right for me?
It depends mainly on your current level, your learning style and how quickly you want to progress.
The group course is a good choice for students who already have some contact with Portuguese and enjoy learning with others. An individual course allows you to progress at your own pace and focus on your specific needs. The PLUS course is our most intensive option and is particularly suitable for students who have only a short time available for learning.
Can I start a Portuguese course on any Monday?
Individual courses can generally start on any Monday, subject to availability.
For group courses, we need at least one other student at the same level to form a group. Therefore, group course dates depend on current bookings and availability.
Please contact us with your preferred dates and current Portuguese level, and we will check whether a suitable group is available.
Can I take a Portuguese course while volunteering?
Yes. Combining a Portuguese course with volunteering can be an excellent way to make the most of your time in Brazil. You can improve your Portuguese in the classroom and immediately practise what you learn while working with your local volunteer project.
We particularly recommend starting your stay with an intensive Portuguese course if your Portuguese is not yet sufficient for independent communication. This gives you a stronger foundation before beginning your volunteer placement.
