What is the largest state in South America? Of course, this is Brazil. It was discovered by Pedra Cabral - the Portuguese navigator - more than 5 centuries ago. This country was underdeveloped, exchange in kind replaced commodity-money relations. For 500 years, Brazil has changed dramatically.
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. It can be said that the “golden age” has come for Brazil. 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 Brazilian currency is and where to get it. These and many other tasks will always help to solve the agency.
The national currency of Brazil is real (R $). In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and coins - centavo (100 centavos - 1 real) - 1, 5, 10, 26 and 50, as well as 1 real. Despite the fact that for many years the monetary units have been renamed and depreciated, now the currency of Brazil is one of the most stable in the world. And all thanks to tourism and international trade.
Modern Brazilian banknotes are not only issued in paper form. 10 reais anniversary denomination made of soft plastic. Although in practicality, it is significantly inferior to conventional banknotes. The paint on it erases very quickly, so the life of a plastic bill is only six months.
Tourists traveling on vacation need to know that the currency of Brazil has certain difficulties in the exchange and purchase. The state is very strict about importing its currency from abroad. That is, it is not advisable to acquire Brazilian realities 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 go to the bank or to special points - Cambios. These exchangers can be found at airports, train stations, and in many hotels. In addition to realities, in many retail outlets and entertainment centers you can pay for purchases with 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 reverse exchange is carried out at a very low and disadvantageous rate. Therefore, it is recommended to buy Brazilian currency in small portions as expenses.
How to distinguish a fake bill
In order not to fall for the bait of scammers, you should not buy reals from hand. And although it is not difficult for local residents to distinguish fake banknotes from real ones, foreigners need to know how to do this correctly. Brazil's real currency has watermarks, stripes, and identifiers for the visually impaired. Features of the real - the presence of very small letters in certain areas of the bill, which can be seen only with a magnifier.
On the front of each banknote should be printed the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the President of the Central Bank of Brazil. They are also almost impossible to fake. At the slightest doubt, the authenticity of a banknote can always be checked at a bank with a currency detector. Also, tourists can, when exchanging or surrendering, slip on the reals of the old type or even Cruzeiro, long out of circulation. To avoid this, you need to carefully examine the appearance of coins and banknotes in circulation.
Exchange
Now, knowing exactly what currency in Brazil is, how correctly and where it can be exchanged, a tourist can remember a few important points:
- In many outlets there is a shortage of bargaining money. Therefore, when exchanging, you need to ask the cashier to give out the amount in small bills.
- Banks in this country work on weekdays, that is, from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And only at airports and train stations can you find round-the-clock branches.
- Brazilian ATMs issue money strictly from 6 AM to 10 PM. It is advisable to use a VISA card. The rest of the cards are reluctantly accepted and not everywhere. This nuance should also be taken into account by those who are used to paying with a card.
Conclusion
Brazil's currency is considered stable and relatively expensive in the world. Its import and export are strictly regulated, and for this a special license is needed. Any other currency can be freely imported and exported from the country, provided that the amount above $ 10,000 in equivalent is declared.