John of God
and the
Casa de Dom Inacio
Money Exchange
This is absolutely the best deal! (see note!)
Wurl Tur Travel, located close to the Casa in Abadiania will exchange money at the daily rate without any fees or commissions. Karlla will be happy to give you an airfare quote either by phone or email. See What's New for details.
US dollars to Brazilian Reals: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic Whatever currency rate this site shows, 95% of that amount is what you will receive when you exchange your money at Sao Paulo. If site shows R2.12 (as of October 20, 2006) then you will get approximately R2.0. Note: Update 29 August 2010 emailed by Veronica "We changed our plans and instead of drawing money from the cash dispenser on arrival at Brasilia, we took sterling for exchange at the agents. We actually found that the exchange rate for sterling was very disadvantageous, and it cost us quite a lot of extra money. Perhaps you might mention on your website that the advantageous rate applies only to dollars, and not to other currencies?" I am grateful for the feedback.
Sao Paulo Airport
On the flight from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo, you will be given 2 forms to fill out, one for immigration and one for customs. On arrival at Sao Paulo, you have no time to waste.
1. You will go through a long line to get your passport stamped at immigration and they will take one copy of the Cartao de Entrada/Saida. Be sure to keep the 2nd copy in your passport for your return flight home.
2. You must pick up your bags at baggage claim. If you don't, your bags will stay in Sao Paulo. While you are waiting for your bags to arrive on the conveyor, the money exchange will be to your left. When you exchange your money, be sure to get some small bills. You need to keep changing R50's for smaller bills. If you buy anything at the airports, keep breaking down your R50 bills. You will need small bills in Abadiania. You cannot give a R50 to a taxi driver for a R5 ride or for a R1 ice cream or for a R2 water, etc.
3. Repeat: You must pick up your bags at baggage claim. If you don't, your bags will stay in Sao Paulo.
4. You then go to your airline ticket counter, TAM and Varig are on the lower floor. They will put an airport stamp on your boarding pass pass and recheck your bags.
5. You then proceed quickly to your gate. The Sao Paulo airport at times is very chaotic.
If your running late, do not waste time trying to exchange money if the window is busy. You may miss your connection. There is another money exchange on the upper level in the departure area. It is located across from the entrance to concourse B, which is the one you need for Brasilia.
If you don't exchange your money at Sao Paulo, you can still do it in Brasilia. (We have just been notified by a traveler going to the Casa that the Brasilia money exchange is closed on Sundays).
Arrival--Language Taxi Pousadas
If you are making a room reservation with one of the pousadas, some of them will offer to send a taxi from Abadiania to the airport to pick you up. We recommend that you do not accept this.
If you miss your connection in Sao Paulo (it happens frequently) or your plane is delayed, and have to catch a later flight, you will be charged by the pousada for the taxi, even though you were not able to use it.
There are many taxis at the curb at both airports, and they all know where Abadiania is. Confirm the price before getting into cab.
Taxi to Abadiania
Write on a piece of paper, "Joao de Deus, Abadiania R150." Always confirm prices before getting in the taxi. Most taxi drivers in Brazil are honest and work with fixed prices. If a driver tries to charge you more on your arrival in Abadiania, then get your pousada owner involved to set the driver straight.
The set price to and from Brasilia is R150 and from Goiania R120.
For the return trip to the airport:
The pousada will call for the taxi. Write on a paper:
"Taxi Goiania/Basilia aeroporto 15:00 hoje/amanha, por favor."
Taxi to Goiania/Brasilia airport at 3:00pm today/tomorrow, please.
This is an example: The driver will know you are going to an airport, he just needs to know which one. They use in 24 hr time in Brazil, so put the time that way and put either today or tomorrow.
Taxi Costs in Abadiania
A taxi from your Pousada to the Casa is R8 one way.
Taxi to the sacred waterfall (cachoeira) from the Casa is R20 round trip. These are set prices. Stick to these prices and do not give tips. The driver waits at the waterfall for you.