In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Bonfim
Skip unless you need the Guyana border crossing: half a day to cross, zero reason to stay overnight.
Bonfim is a tiny border town in northern Roraima, 124 km east of Boa Vista on BR-401. Its only function for travellers is the crossing to Lethem, Guyana. There are no sights, no tours, no reason to linger. The town has a few basic hotels and a bakery. Plan to arrive, cross and leave the same day.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Sep–Mar (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Aug (rainy season, road conditions may worsen)
- Stay
- 0 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$80–150 · Mid R$150–250 (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.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Snack at Padaria Central | R$5–15 |
| Taxi from town centre to border | R$15–25 |
| Bus Bonfim → Boa Vista | R$30–50 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BVB · Boa Vista International Airport
- Nearest airport, about 124 km (77 mi) west via BR-401; bus about 1.5 h, 6x per week (check)Nearest airport, about 77 mi (124 km) west via BR-401; bus about 1.5 h, 6x per week (check)
Typical fares
- Bonfim → Boa Vista by bus
- about R$40, 1.5 h (check)
- Taxi to border
- R$15–25
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
Walkable centre; taxis and moto-taxis for the 2 km (1.2 mi) to the border post.Walkable centre; taxis and moto-taxis for the 1.2 mi (2 km) to the border post.
See and do
Known for
- Border crossing to Guyana
- BR-401 highway
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Boa Vista | Bus (6x/week) or taxi via BR-401 | About 1.5 h |
| Lethem, Guyana | Van or taxi to the border, then walk across | About 20 min |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A handful of basic pousadas and hotels near the main avenue; fine for a night if you miss the last crossing.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Bom diabohm DEE-ah |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
| Where is the border? | Onde fica a fronteira?OHN-jee FEE-kah ah fron-TAY-rah |
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
- The border to Guyana closes at 18:00 (check); plan to arrive before 15:00.
- No ATM in Bonfim (check); bring BRL cash from Boa Vista.
- Road BR-401 is paved but can have potholes; avoid driving at night.
Very safe by Brazilian standards; petty crime is rare. The main risk is the road condition on BR-401 at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bonfim yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Border crossing to Guyana
- BR-401 highway
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: Bonfim, revision 3948105 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3948105
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bonfim). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.