Territory capital · Brazil
Rio Branco
Go for 2 nights as an Acre stop, not a destination in itself: the riverfront, the Chico Mendes park and açaí are a half-day each.
Rio Branco is the capital of Acre, 1,300 km from Manaus and closer to Peru and Bolivia than to most of Brazil. It is a low-rise, well-organised Amazonian city: a riverfront promenade, a handful of free museums, forest parks and a food scene built on açaí and tacacá. Two nights covers it; most travellers pass through on the way to or from Peru.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BRL
- Best months
- May–Sep (dry season)
- avoid Oct–Apr (heavy rain); Aug–Sep heat and smoke
- Airport
- RBR
- Nights
- 2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Brazil ↗US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-visa (about US$81 — check) applied for online at the official VFS portal before travel; EU and UK citizens do not. Check your passport with Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.
- Brazil ↗Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for many areas, including the Amazon and Pantanal; check with a travel clinic at least 10 days before travel.
- Brazil ↗Keep your phone out of sight in the street and on beaches; phone theft is the most common crime against visitors in big cities.
- Brazil ↗Carnival 2027 runs about 5–10 February (Tuesday 9 February; Salvador from 4 February): book Rio, Salvador and Recife/Olinda months ahead or avoid those dates.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Rio Branco190 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Rio Branco, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$).Brazil-wide
- SIM or eSIMVivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.Brazil-wide
- Tap waterDo not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.Brazil-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.Brazil-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/N. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 127 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Brazil-wide
- SafetyRio Branco is calm by Brazilian big-city standards; the real risks are heat, mosquitoes and the remote airport road at night.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPut toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.Brazil-wide
- Emergency numbers190 police · 192 ambulance · 193 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysCarnival shuts many businesses for several days; museums often close on Mondays.Brazil-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportRBR Rio Branco – Plácido de Castro International (About 15 km (9.3 mi) from the centre; most flights land in the early hours.RBR Rio Branco – Plácido de Castro International (About 9.3 mi (15 km) from the centre; most flights land in the early hours.
- Getting aroundcheckCity buses run from the Terminal Urbano; fare about R$ 4 (≈ under US$1) with a free transfer at the terminal (check).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- BeerBeer in a barR$ 10–18 (≈ US$2–4)
- Metro or bus rideCity bus fareR$ 4 (≈ under US$1)
- Budget bedHostel or simple hotel bed, a night, per personR$70 (≈ US$13)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomR$260 (≈ US$50)
- High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomR$420 (≈ US$80)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$180 (≈ US$35) · Mid R$330 (≈ US$65) · High R$600 (≈ US$120)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- RBR Rio Branco – Plácido de Castro International (About 15 km (9.3 mi) from the centre; most flights land in the early hours. City bus to the centre roughly hourly 06:00–23:00 (check).)RBR Rio Branco – Plácido de Castro International (About 15 km (9.3 mi) from the centre; most flights land in the early hours. City bus to the centre roughly hourly 6:00 AM–11:00 PM (check).)RBR Rio Branco – Plácido de Castro International (About 9.3 mi (15 km) from the centre; most flights land in the early hours. City bus to the centre roughly hourly 06:00–23:00 (check).)RBR Rio Branco – Plácido de Castro International (About 9.3 mi (15 km) from the centre; most flights land in the early hours. City bus to the centre roughly hourly 6:00 AM–11:00 PM (check).)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jun
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Care
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Care
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Oct
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: May–Jul. Mixed: Aug–Sep. Avoid: Oct–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Sep (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jul (18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C) low), wettest Jan (20 rain days), driest Jul (3). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Rio Branco: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
20 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
19 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
19 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14 rd
May
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
5 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Sep
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
6 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
City buses run from the Terminal Urbano; fare about R$ 4 with a free transfer at the terminal (check). The centre is small enough to walk, but the parks and the airport need a bus or a car. Uber operates with few drivers and is often unavailable; taxis at the airport quote a fixed price.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Xapuri
cautionDoor to door: About 4 h each way
PetroAcre bus from the international terminal, about 3.5 h
Chico Mendes' home town; the return bus is early, so check times before committing.
Brasileia and the Bolivian border
skipDoor to door: About 5 h each way
Bus from the international terminal, about 4.5 h
A border run, not a day out; only worth it if you are crossing to Cobija.
Porto Velho
overnightDoor to door: About 9 h
Verde bus, about 9 h
The onward link to Manaus by boat; sleep on the bus.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centro
Around the Terminal Urbano, the Calçadão and Praça do Relógio; walkable to the riverfront and most museums.
Bosque
Leafier residential district 2–3 km (1.2–1.9 mi) south-east of the centre, with several mid-range hotels and easy bus links.Leafier residential district 1.2–1.9 mi (2–3 km) south-east of the centre, with several mid-range hotels and easy bus links.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- R$ 150–250 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- R$ 250–450 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
- High
- R$ 450 (≈ US$85)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 2 nights × R$260 | R$520 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × R$330 | R$1,320 |
| Airport bus, both ways2 × R$10 | R$20 |
| City bus day of sightseeing2 × R$12 | R$24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × R$60 | R$120 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | R$200 |
| Trip total≈ R$551 per person per day, bed included | R$2,204≈ US$450 |
2026 estimate in reais; long-distance buses and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Açaí bowl with manioc flour and fruit | R$ 15–25 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Tacacá (small / medium / large) | R$ 15 (≈ US$3) / 18 / 20 |
| Fresh orange juice, 300–500 ml | R$ 3–5 (≈ under US$1) |
| Pay-per-kilo lunch | R$ 60–71 (≈ US$12–14) per kg |
| Beer in a bar | R$ 10–18 (≈ US$2–4) |
| City bus fare | R$ 4 (≈ under US$1) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The airport taxi fixed price is far above the app rate: agree the fare or use the bus.
- The Peru border post closes at 19:00, so the 06:00 bus to Assis Brasil is the only same-day crossing.The Peru border post closes at 7:00 PM, so the 6:00 AM bus to Assis Brasil is the only same-day crossing.
- August and September bring 37 °C (99 °F) heat, low humidity and wildfire smoke: carry water.August and September bring 99 °F (37 °C) heat, low humidity and wildfire smoke: carry water.
- Museu da Borracha has been closed for renovation for years: do not plan around it.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 190
- Ambulance
- 192
- Fire
- 193
Pocket card
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Rio BrancoRio Branco
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police190
- Ambulance192
- Fire193
Embassy
No embassies in Rio Branco; the US, UK and most others are in Brasília, with consulates in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → centre, taxi fixed price: about R$ 100 (≈ US$19)
- Airport → centre, app ride: about R$ 35 (≈ US$7) when a driver is available
- Bus to Assis Brasil (Peru border): about R$ 62.50 (≈ US$12), 8 h
Say or show
- Bom dia — Good morning (bom DEE-ah)
- Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (oh-bree-GAH-doo / dah)
- Quanto custa? — How much is it? (KWAN-too KOOS-tah)
- A conta, por favor — The bill, please (ah KON-tah por fah-VOR)
- Não entendo — I don't understand (nowng en-TEN-doo)
- Onde é o ponto de ônibus? — Where is the bus stop? (ON-jee eh oo PON-too jee OH-nee-boos)
English is limited outside hotels and tour desks; a translation app helps.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Rio Branco. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep (dry season) · avoid Oct–Apr (heavy rain); Aug–Sep heat and smoke · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for RBR: bus window, taxi fixed price, app fallback.
- Walking clusters: Centro riverfront, Praça do Relógio and Calçadão, Bosque, Parque Chico Mendes.
- Place pages for the free museums and parks with opening days checked.
- Peru crossing fixture: 06:00 bus, border hours, Iñapari money exchange.
Sources
Ask about Rio Branco
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