What is the largest country in South America? Of course, this is Brazil. It was discovered by Pedro Cabral - a Portuguese navigator - more than 5 centuries ago. This country was underdeveloped, natural exchange replaced commodity-money relations. Brazil has changed dramatically in 500 years.
Now it is a strong state with a stable currency. In recent years, the flow of tourists wishing to visit the country has increased significantly. We can say that Brazil has entered a "golden age". Now the state ranks second in terms of tourist flow among the countries of South America.
Currency
A future tourist, buying a ticket to this exotic country, always wonders what is the currency of Brazil and where to get it. These and many other tasks will always help the agency to solve.
The national currency of Brazil is the Real (R$). In circulation are both banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and coins - centavos (100 centavos - 1 real) - 1, 5, 10, 26 and 50, as well as 1 real. Although the monetary unitsrenamed and depreciated over the years, now the Brazilian currency is one of the most stable in the world. And it's all thanks to tourism and international trade.
Modern Brazilian banknotes are issued not only in paper form. The 10 reais commemorative banknote is made of soft plastic. Although in practicality it is significantly inferior to ordinary banknotes. The paint on it wears off very quickly, so the life of a plastic banknote is only six months.
Tourists going on vacation need to know that the Brazilian currency has certain difficulties in exchange and purchase. The state is very strict about the import of its currency from abroad. That is, it is not advisable to purchase Brazilian reais outside the country. The best way out of this situation is to exchange money as needed in Brazil itself. At the same time, you should know that in hotels the exchange rate is the lowest, it is best to contact the bank or special points - Cambios. These exchangers can be found at airports, train stations, and in many hotels. In addition to reals, in many retail outlets and entertainment centers you can pay for purchases in US dollars. The export of Brazilian reals abroad is strictly prohibited. This must be remembered by all tourists who are already leaving this beautiful country. Unfortunately, the return exchange is carried out at a very low and disadvantageous rate. Therefore, it is recommended to buy Brazilian currency in small portions as you spend.
How to spot a counterfeit bill
In order not to fall for the bait of scammers, you should notbuy reais from hand. And although it will not be difficult for locals to distinguish fake banknotes from real ones, foreigners need to know how to do it right. The real currency of Brazil has watermarks, stripes and identification identifiers for visually impaired people. Features of the real are the presence of very small letters on certain parts of the bill, which can only be seen with a magnifying glass.
The signatures of the Minister of Finance and the President of the Central Bank of Brazil must be printed on the front of each banknote. They are also almost impossible to fake. At the slightest doubt, the authenticity of the banknote can always be checked at the bank on the currency detector. Also, tourists can be slipped old-style reals or even cruzeiros, which have long gone out of circulation, when exchanging or for change. To prevent this from happening, you need to carefully study the appearance of coins and banknotes in circulation.
Exchange
Now, knowing exactly what currency is in Brazil, how it is correct and where it can be exchanged, the tourist has to remember a few important points:
- In many outlets there is a shortage of change money. Therefore, when exchanging, you need to ask the cashier to issue the amount in small bills.
- Banks in this country work on weekdays, that is, from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm. And only at airports and train stations you can find round-the-clock branches.
- Brazilian ATMs dispense money strictly from 6 am to 10 pm. At the same time, it is desirableuse a VISA card. Other cards are accepted reluctantly and not everywhere. This nuance should also be taken into account by those who are used to paying by card.
Conclusion
Brazil's currency is considered stable and relatively expensive in the world. Its import and export is strictly regulated, and this requires a special license. Any other currency can be freely imported and exported from the country, provided that the amount above 10,000 dollars in equivalent is declared.
