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We can’t say it enough: Nomad Cruise is just the beginning. For many it’s a kickstart to their new lifestyle and way of working. After the cruise is the time where you get to know your new nomad friends better and make real bonds. You’ll be able to put the skills you learned onboard into practice and let your business shine.

In case you don’t have a flight back yet, we recommend to stick around with us for a few weeks to enjoy the beauty of Brazil.

None of this is mandatory – we want you to stay the free spirit that you are, travel around, organise your own meetups and reunite with us wherever you want.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BRAZIL  |  AFTER CRUISE GUIDE  |  ARRIVAL IN RECIFE  |  PORTO DE GALINHAS  |  JERI  |  FLORIANOPOLIS  |  RIO  |  AFTER THE LAST REUNION  |  GENERAL GUIDANCE  |  SAFETY IN BRAZIL

With over 250 nomads arriving in Brazil there are simply too many of us to be able to stay together all of the time. Therefore we won’t be organising our meetups and reunions in just one place, but in four different spots around the country:

  • Porto de Galinhas – 1st of December
  • Jericoacoara – 7th & 14th of December
  • Florianopolis – 7th / 14th / 24th of December
  • Rio de Janeiro – 31st of December

Jericoacoara is a laid back village in northern Brazil, a fun place to kitesurf and relax at the beach sipping Caipirinha. If you’re in work mode, we recommend Lagoa da Conceição close to Florianopolis. This is also where we suggest you to stay for the Christmas celebrations.

We’ll be ending the year off with a bang! One final reunion in Rio de Janeiro on New Years Eve. So you can choose to travel with us to one or more of the Nomad Cruise Camps or just travel around by yourself and join us in Rio. It’s all up to you!

But of course, we’re not the only ones organizing meetups. Our experience after every cruise is that many of you get together in different places all over the country and the world. So stay connected and organise your own meetups wherever you are.  

We arrive at the port of Recife, the capital of the state Pernambuco, on the 30th of November. It’s one of the biggest cities in Brazil with almost 1.5 million inhabitants. Recife was founded in 1537 by the Portuguese and you can still find many old colonial houses in the city center.

While that does sound beautiful, Recife is a really big city and we’re pretty keen on the beach vibe so we’re recommending that you go to Porto de Galinhas, which is about 60 km south of Recife. This is the place where we’ll stay for the first 3-5 nights after our arrival and it’ll be where we arrange our first meetup. This vibrant beach town is the perfect spot to come down from the cruise high and slowly get back into your working routine.

To give you a soft-landing, we’ll arrange buses that will take you directly from the cruise ship terminal in Recife to Porto de Galinhas (for details, please check section “How to get there”). It’s located in the south of the state Pernambuco and was voted as having the most beautiful beach in Brazil at least 10 times by various international magazines. So look forward to clear blue water, white sand beaches and natural swimming pools all just waiting for us to arrive and enjoy!  

The origin of this little town’s name comes from when Brazil was a Portuguese colony, the direct translation of Galinha is chicken and was the word used to refer to slaves that arrived in the port back during the colonial period. People would frequently ask if the ‘new chickens’ had arrived yet? While it’s an unfortunate start to the town’s heritage, the little town is now a culturally rich little corner of Brazil.

FOR WHO

Everybody! It is always hard to say goodbye after the cruise. For all of those who won’t be staying in Brazil for long and those who have their own travel plans after the cruise, join us for one last hoorah before heading in a different direction. For those who are going to be doing Brazil Nomad Cruise style, this is just the beginning of the after cruise program. Either way, we really recommend that you stay a couple nights in Porto de Galinhas before traveling further into Brazil. Our first caipirinha on land won’t be the same without you!

WHERE TO STAY IN PORTO DE GALINHAS

Porto de Galinhas is a small village but has more than 18 km of beachfront. Our recommendation is to book your accommodation in the city center. This way we can easily organise spontaneous meetups and find great places to work together. You can either book a room in a pousada or an apartment in a condominio via Airbnb or Booking.com, or choose one from our recommendations below.

Hostels:

Hotels:

HOW TO GET THERE

  • As mentioned above, we will be organizing buses from the cruise ship terminal to Porto de Galinhas directly after our arrival in Recife. The booking will be available a few weeks before departure in our excursion shop. Please note that we only can guarantee your seat if you book in advance.
  • If you prefer to stay in Recife for a few days, an Uber to Porto de Galinhas will cost between 160 – 250 Reais.
  • By local bus: The cheapest colectivo (bus) is Via Cruizeiro. It leaves every half hour and costs about 20 Reais. The ride can take up to 2,5 hours and the bus will drop you off at the entrance to the town.

Jericoacoara – or just Jeri as the locals say – is a small fisherman’s village. Jericoacoara is a remote place in the north of Brazil. It’s located 300 km north of Fortaleza in the state of Ceará. It’s famous for its enormous beaches and the Natural Park of Jericoacoara. The weather is tropical, so most days are sunny and warm but if it rains it’s normally just a short, but heavy shower. You won’t find a  sandier place in Brazil than Jericoacoara as the roads aren’t paved but made entirely out of sand. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you’re planning on visiting Jeri then bring cash! There are no ATM’s in this village. Most restaurants and shops have card facilities, but it’s impossible to withdraw money there. There are options to exchange dollars but usually, the rates are unfavorable, so our advice is to plan in advance and bring cash with you.

FOR WHO

Kiters and wannabe kiters, as well as beach lovers. Jeri is a kitesurfing paradise between October and February, for both beginners and experienced kiters. Rumor says, it’s the best spot to learn kitesurfing. The weather is always good and it’s windy enough to kite all year round. You can enjoy amazing sunsets, eat delicious fish dishes and go on buggy adventures.

WHERE TO STAY

It will be almost impossible not to bump into other nomads in Jeri as it’s a pretty small town. We recommend that you book in advance as it can get pretty crowded, especially in December when Brazilian Holidays start. Stay in the city center or close to the beach. Get an Airbnb or stay in one of the pousadas (Brazilian B&B).

HOW TO GET THERE

Azul Airlines offers some direct flights from Recife to Jeri. Try to get on one of those, otherwise it can be a little difficult to get there, as Jeri is one of those middle-of-nowhere gems.
Flying to Fortaleza is another option. From there you can take a bus or private 4×4 to get to Jeri. Depending on your driver and way of transport it takes between 4 and 7 hours to drive from Fortaleza to Jeri.

Important to note: From Jijoca, the last place with paved roads before Jeri, all travelers end up taking a 4×4 or buggy for the last 45 minutes of the trip.

The only bus company is Fretcar and a bus ticket from Fortaleza to Jeri costs between 72 and 85 Reais. You can go by private 4×4, the prices vary according to the number of people in the car, but the maximum you’ll pay is 150 Reais. A 4×4 car leaving from the airport will get you to Jeri within four hours. Give Sergio a call to book your ride in advance (+55 88 9871 9866).

For those who don’t have the patience for an extended road trip, a small airport was opened in 2017 and it caters for helicopters and small aircraft so you have the option of taking an AirTaxi, which will get you from Fortaleza to Jeri in about an hour.

Florianopolis (or Floripa as it’s more commonly known) is the capital and second largest city of the state of Santa Catarina in the south of Brazil. Part of Florianopolis city is located on mainland Brazil, but once you hop on a bus and cross the bridge to the island you’ll be on Brazil’s “Island of Magic”. Colonial architecture, local folklore, traditional fishing villages that are resisting modernity and 60(!) beaches make this an incredible destination to discover. Its good reputation for safety is the icing on the cake! 

FOR WHO

If you’re looking for a place where you can get a lot of work done while still enjoying both the peaceful beach life and the advantages of bigger cities, this is the place to be. Known as the Silicon Valley of South America, Florianopolis town offers plenty of good coworking spaces. Simply choose the one you feel best at and finish your to-do list before you go deep sea diving at Dolphin Bay, take a sailing trip around Anhatomirim Island, go scuba diving in the biological reserve of Arvoredo or hit the waves at Praia do Santinho or Campeche. This is also the place where we recommend you to spend Christmas.

WHERE TO STAY

If you’re looking to connect with nature, we suggest you to book your place in Lagoa da Conceição, which combines beaches, dunes, hills, and the biggest lagoon on the island, plus it’s close to town. Florianopolis town is close, where coworking spaces are plenty and within easy reach.

Hostel / Pousada:

Both hostels / pousadas offer dorms and private rooms:

Vintage Hostel

Native Pousada e Hostel

HOW TO GET THERE

Florianopolis is the farthest of the places we recommend to visit, so you’ll probably want to take a flight to get there. 

Florianopolis has one airport – Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) – located in the Southern part of the island. The airport is 13km (15 minutes) away from the main hotels located downtown, and 40km (30 to 40 minutes) away from hotels & resorts located in the Northern end of the island. The main Brazilian airlines (see in section Brazil/Airlines in Brazil) operate regular flights to and from Florianopolis, in fact the city receives 71 domestic flights daily.

If you’re coming from Rio, you can also take the direct bus operated by Kaissara. They have one bus departure from the Novo Rio bus station in Rio per day and the journey takes 17 hours to arrive to the Rita Maria bus station in Florianopolis located on Avenida Paulo Fontes 1101, in the downtown area.  Because there is only one departure per day, we recommend you book as far in advance as possible to secure your seat. If you’re too late, don’t despair – you can also go to Sao Paulo first and continue your trip by bus to Florianopolis from there, where they have more departures per day.  

There is no place like Rio de Janeiro. It’s called Cidade Maravilhosa – the wonderful city. And it totally deserves the title. Amazing sunsets, lush rainforests, buzzing nightlife and plenty of cultural sights topped with friendly people, tons of street art and many cute cafes and places to relax. There is simply no reason not to go to Rio when you are in Brazil. 

FOR WHO

Well, basically, all of us! We are planning to have our Final Reunion in Rio de Janeiro for New Years with the biggest party of the year. 

WHERE TO STAY

Rio has lots to offer. If you prefer to stay in a bit more crowded and touristy place, you should stay in Ipanema or Copacabana, the best spot is in the triangle between both neighborhoods. We recommend you to book a place as soon as possible in Rio de Janeiro if you’re planning on staying there for NYE as it is always full and it can get really expensive around those dates. We recommend to share an AirBnB with fellow nomads.

HOW TO GET THERE

Being one of the biggest cities, you can fly from and to all destinations inside and outside of Brazil. There are also several bus stations with buses from and to major destinations in the country. All roads lead to Rio ;-)

WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT BRAZIL?

Stunning beaches, friendly people, delicious food, vibrant cities, samba and caipirinhas.

There are no words to truly describe the beauty and diversity of this amazing country. It’s  the biggest country in Latin America and you’re sure to find the perfect spot that matches your needs entirely. We’ll be arriving in Recife in the Northern part of Brazil. So this’ll be a great opportunity to get to know this part of this energetic country. The north of Brazil is less well known than the hugely popular southern parts, but it is equally as beautiful and not to be missed.

THE CURRENCY

The currency in Brazil is the Brazilian Reais and the local language is Brazilian Portuguese, which has a friendlier ring to it than the Portuguese you’ll hear in Portugal. In general, Brazilians are a friendly bunch but not many speak English, especially in those places that are not tourism focused, so occasionally you may struggle to find someone who understands you. But fear not, we have you covered: learn these phrases, offer a big smile and you’ll get around easily enough.

FOOD

If you were planning to lose those extra cruise kilos in Brazil, then we’re afraid you’re out of luck.

Brazilian cuisine is delicious and you just have to try everything. They absolutely love sweets and chocolates and it all begins with breakfast. You can expect a menu of cakes, fruits, different kinds of breads and yoghurts for you to sample. Amolço (lunch) is an occasion and depending on the region of Brazil you are in, you can expect a variety of excellent dishes.

The main ingredients in most dishes are rice, beans, potato, cassava and a lot of fruits. On the coast they enjoy a diet of fish and sea fruits. Meat is also very popular. Vegetarianism isn’t very common in Brazil but don’t worry – you’re sure to find vegetarian dishes wherever you go.

Brazilian portions are enormous and a single dish for one person is often enough for two and sometimes even three people. Make sure you try all of these amazing delicacies: Churrascos (barbecue meat), Moqueca (delicious fish stew), Brigadeiros (kind of chocolate truffle)  Pão de queijo (cheese bread), Açaí (Amazonian fruit, mostly eaten frozen with granola and banana) and Feijoada (stew of black beans).

AIRLINES IN BRAZIL

Brazil is a big country but it’s a pretty easy place to travel through. For longer distances the best way to get around is to fly. While it’s not the best for the environment, bus rides of 35 hours or more aren’t that great for the planet either or for your peace of mind.

There are several relatively cheap airlines in Brazil.

BUSES IN BRAZIL

If you’re traveling by public transport or long distance bus, make sure you bring something warm as most drivers set the aircon temperature to below freezing to ensure you don’t melt along the journey;-). You can find (and buy) bus passages via https://www.buscaonibus.com.br/en.

For those of you who plan to stay in South America after the Final Reunion in Rio we recommend that you keep traveling south towards Buenos Aires in Argentina. Make sure you stop in Florianopolis and don’t forget to visit the impressive Iguazu Falls.

After Buenos Aires, you can make your way south to Patagonia or go overland and take the usual backpacker route towards Colombia traveling via Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. Medellin in Colombia is a great Nomad Hub.

  • Keep your wristband on until it crumbles off! We know some of you hang on to your wristbands like a badge of honour, while others are just not big wristband fans but we really recommend you keep it on as long as possible, because we will always try to arrange discounts and nice deals for nomads and the best way to prove you were on the cruise is your wristband!
  • Keep in mind that it can be quite a challenge to get a local sim card in Brazil. You can buy the card easily enough but to activate it you need a CPF (Brazilian ID). There are some little stores where they use a CPF generator. Technically it’s not legal but it does work. So your best bet is to make Brazilian friends and ask them to activate the sim card for you. And who doesn’t like making new friends?
  • Most of you probably use Uber already, but if you don’t, download the Uber App before going to Brazil. It’s a safe and convenient way to move around and more reliable than most of the taxi’s.
  • Zika virus, Dengue, Yellow fever and Malaria are common illnesses in Brazil. Make sure you get vaccinated before leaving for the cruise and take precautionary measures when going to remote places.
  • Brazil is strict with their Visa requirements. Most Europeans can enter with a passport that’s valid for 6 months or more and get their tourist visa upon arrival. But Canadians, Americans, Japanese and Australians have to apply (and pay) for a Visa in advance. Also for some countries, you need to prove you have sufficient funds for your stay in Brazil. Make sure you know the entry rules that apply to your country of origin before getting on board and allow for enough time to apply for and receive a Visa where necessary. It is most likely that you will get a Tourist Visa for 90 days. Each day you overstay, you will get a penalty of 100 reais per day with a maximum of R. 10.000,-. You will be banned for 6 months and can only re-enter after paying the penalty.

Brazil has a reputation for being really dangerous

It’s not unfair, but it is slightly exaggerated. Don’t let fear take the spotlight off this beautiful country. Like everywhere, most problems happen in big cities like Salvador, Recife, São Paulo and Rio. So be extra alert in those places.

Take the precautions you always do when on the road and just keep a close eye on your belongings, as theft is the most common crime tourists face. Criminals are aware that there will be a lot of negative media if a foreigner is harmed so that almost never happens.

Keep the following in mind:

  • Stay on busy streets with street lights, don’t wander around in empty back alleys.
  • Don’t go out alone (that’s boring anyway), stay in groups, especially in the cities.
  • Use Uber (or taxis) in cities after sunset, it’s safer than walking when it’s dark.
  • Leave your passports in (the safe of) your hotel or Airbnb, when you go out just take a copy with you.
  • Carry only the amount of money you’ll need for the day with you.
  • Don’t wear any jewelry. Thieves don’t recognize the difference between expensive and inexpensive items so just don’t wear any so you won’t be in danger of losing anything.
  • Scams happen on a daily basis: they say you have dirt on your shirt and will offer to help you clean it. Before you know it the stain is gone along with your wallet.
  • In case you are the victim of an assalto (hold-up): just hand them everything you have. They want your possessions, not you. Don’t resist, it’s not worth the trouble and potential harm.
  • Laptops are a beloved item for pickpockets. Don’t make it obvious you are carrying one with you.
  • Demonstrations and protests happen often in Brazil. If there is one set to happen close to you avoid it and follow the recommendations of the local authorities.
  • Although you see a lot of people smoking marihuana: it’s not legal in Brazil. All drugs are illegal. If the police stop you and you have drugs in your possession you are in big trouble. Just get high on nomad life!
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