Traveling from outside Brazil

Visas

Non-Brazilian guests need a visa to enter Brazil. This is a relatively inexpensive and straightforward process, but it does take time — please do not mess around on this. It is not possible to get a last-minute visa to travel to Brazil. Start your application at least 90 days before you travel, and make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates.

brazil.vfsevisa.com is the official Brazilian e-visa website. Please do not use any other third-party sources.

Airports & flights

Almost everyone in the wedding will be flying into São Paulo (GRU), the major gateway into Brazil. From there you'll take a domestic flight from São Paulo to Fortaleza (FOR), and ground transportation will be arranged from Fortaleza to Taíba. Plan to arrive in Taíba on Thursday, May 13, with two days of pre-wedding activities before the wedding. Departures are Sunday, May 16 — the main celebration ends Saturday night and Sunday is a relaxed farewell.

Lodging in São Paulo

São Paulo is a major metropolitan city with many hotel options. If you're just transiting and not planning to go into the city, staying near the airport is fine as long as you're going back and forth only between the airport and hotel. Keep in mind the city itself is an hour-plus from the airport, so if you plan on exploring São Paulo, these are the neighborhoods we recommend booking in: Itaim, Jardins and Moema. If you're considering somewhere else in São Paulo, please let us know — the city does have dangerous areas.

Getting around São Paulo

Uber is the preferred method of ground transportation in São Paulo. Please do not take a taxi, as taxi scams can be common. When you're in an Uber, don't hold your phone up near a window while in traffic, and don't have your laptop out in traffic.

Safety in São Paulo

São Paulo, like any major metropolitan city, can be dangerous — especially when it comes to theft of personal property. When traveling any distance, take Ubers point to point. When walking, keep your phone in your pocket. Stow all valuables away and don't bring valuables you don't need. Always be aware of your surroundings, and don't go to areas you don't know well.

Lodging in Taíba

We have booked a small block of rooms at Hotel Carmel Taíba. There are also recommended hotels close by that are more budget-friendly. On the RSVP form there's a section where you can check if you'd like to be matched with a roommate.

Getting around Taíba

As we get closer to the wedding, more details will be shared about ground transportation in Taíba. We will be coordinating shuttles to the hotels and to the wedding venue.

A note on Fortaleza

There are many beautiful places and cities in Brazil — some of them are on the Explore Brazil page. Fortaleza would not be our primary recommendation. We think you'll have the best experience simply transiting through Fortaleza: arrive on your flight and take the shuttle to Taíba.