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By Patricia Spears

 

(Photo acquired from World Cup: The Guide)

Planes

Your fastest option would be to fly. Domestic flights in Brazil are frequently the same price as long-range busses.  Be sure to book your flight early, because although demand for air travel has tripled in recent years, there has been no increase in infrastructure. Airports are overcrowded, with many operating beyond capacity, and ticket prices, which had already been steadily increasing, spiked even higher after groups were drawn[i].  Brazil was planning to expand its travel system, but has had to postpone most of its modernization efforts.  There was also a time when a top tourism official suggested foreign airlines might be able to operate domestic flights within Brazil to help fans get from game to game, but the aviation minister rejected this proposal.[ii]  If you plan to fly to multiple games, and you’re able to book flights, the least costly way to fly is to purchase an airpass, bought with a round-trip international ticket, from TAM[iii].  This airpass generally consists of up to nine flight coupons, and is significantly cheaper than buying each trip separately. Similar offers exist, the most similar from Gol Airlines[iv].

 

(Photo acquired from www.urbanhabitat.org)

Busses & Railways

Brazil has an extensive railway system, but it’s mostly used for cargo.  Rails that exist for passengers exist mainly on the coast, but are unheated and can be lengthy.  The only railway with comfortable cabins and air conditioning is the route between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero.  Instead of trains, a traveler may choose to go from city to city by bus.  Long-rage busses are cost-effective, and some can be extremely .  This may not be a realistic option for the tournament, given the locations and short turn-around of the games–a bus ride from Sao Paulo to Fortazela to watch Brazil play would take 24 hours–if you’d like to tack on a touristy trip to the end of the tournament, some say that the bus is the quintessential way to explore Brazil.  Long-distance bus-ride prices are standardized, and although these are changing because of the World Cup, they will remain equal across providers.

For reference, currently, prices from Rio to…

Sao Paulo ~ R$80

Bel Horizonte ~R$75

Foz do Iguacu ~R$200

Salvador ~ R$240

The station to get on the train from a city (usually on that city’s outskirts) is called a rodiviarla.  Luxury busses that generally run overnight trips between cities are called leitos, and have many amenities you might find on a luxury flight.  Prices for the leitos are generally a third of the price of airlines, and double the price of a standard bus ticket.  If you’re crossing state lines, be prepared to be asked for your passport.[v]

 

Cars

If you have an international license, it will apply to Brazil, but driving long distances is inadvisable, given that Brazil has one of the highest death tolls from road-related accidents in the world.  Cars can be rented easily from any major city, using international corporations like Hertz and Avis.[vi]

 

 

(Photo by Joseph A Pharell)

Boats

Amazon Riverboats are more of an experience than a form of transportation, but in this case, they can do both.  For the more touristy trip, riverboats will take you up the Amazon river, to cities like Manaus[vii].  Like busses, it’s a slow form of transit, so it won’t be your best bet for quick turnarounds. Boats can range from luxury excursions, to triple-decker vessels to smaller one- or two-level boats. You can also choose cabin, first, or second class similar to airlines.  If boat travel interests you, look into special packages offered by tour companies–many are offering world-cup specific packages that offer lodging, and a tour package that accounts for game time rolled into one[viii].