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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Boa Vista
Spend 1–2 days: walk the riverfront, visit Fort São Joaquim ruins and catch a sunset cruise; skip longer trips unless you have extra time.
Boa Vista, capital of Roraima, is a small but orderly city on the Amazon basin. Most attractions are within walking distance, and a short river cruise adds a scenic finish. One full day covers the highlights; a second day allows a relaxed pace or a border‑bus day trip.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Apr (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$70–120 excl. bed · Mid R$120–200 excl. bed · High R$200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
Get in
By air
- BVB · Boa Vista International Airport
- Taxi to city centre fixed R$30
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Most sights are walkable from central hotels. City buses stop at the Terminal Urbano; taxis (lotação) are slightly pricier but faster and can deviate for a fee. Airport taxis run a fixed R$30 fare to the centre.
See and do
Known for
- Ruins of Fort São Joaquim
- Orla Taumanan riverfront
- Sunset cruises on the Branco River
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fort São Joaquim ruins | Taxi or bus 30 km (19 mi) north, about 45 minTaxi or bus 19 mi (30 km) north, about 45 min | ≈1 h |
| Pacaraima border town | Morning bus from Terminal Internacional, 07:00, 2 hMorning bus from Terminal Internacional, 7:00 AM, 2 h | ≈2.5 h round‑trip |
Sleep
- Hotel Ideal
- Basic rooms; single R$50, double R$70; central location near bus terminal
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Desculpedeh-skool-peh |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-gah-doo |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?kwahn-toh koos-tah |
| Where is the bathroom? | Onde fica o banheiro?ohn-jee fee-kah oo bahn-yay-roh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus to Manaus includes a Federal Police passport check; allow extra time.
- Airport taxi price is fixed at R$30; negotiate if using a regular meter taxi.
- Border buses to Pacaraima leave early (07:00) and cost R$22; shared taxis cost R$30‑35.
Boa Vista is generally safe for tourists; stay aware of pickpockets in crowded buses and keep valuables hidden; night travel outside the centre is discouraged.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Boa Vista yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ruins of Fort São Joaquim
- Orla Taumanan riverfront
- Sunset cruises on the Branco River
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Boa Vista, revision 4684489 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4684489
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/boa-vista). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.