The Understanding Risk Global Forum #UR22 will be held in person from 28 Nov to Dec 2, 2022, in Florianópolis, Brazil. Also known as Floripa among locals, this fantastic location offers an exceptional opportunity for the world to learn from Brazil, and vice versa, while strengthening ties with the South American disaster risk management community. The event will also have a virtual option.
Get to know UR22 host city
Florianópolis is the capital of the state of Santa Catarina in the southern region of Brazil. The city stands out for its breathtaking scenes and exuberant nature, including mangroves, hills, forests, dunes, lakes, and more than 40 beaches for surfing and recreation. Also known as Floripa among locals, the city possesses a unique vibe and energy enchanting different types of travellers.
The city is bathed almost entirely by the sea. It belongs to the group of threatened coastal areas that make up approximately 2% of the world’s land area and is home to 10% of the population. Nearly half of the city’s territory are protected areas, but land occupation and other challenges have increased the impacts of floods, landslides, and sea-level rise. Extreme weather patterns have increased the threats, both on the coast and in the hills where more vulnerable communities live.
In the last 20 years, more than one million people have been affected by disasters in Florianópolis –twice its population. The state of Santa Catarina is among the most impacted in terms of disaster occurrences, damages and losses in the country.
With over 300 years of history, Florianópolis is among the best places to live in Brazil and South America. Beyond culture and tourism, it has recently become a flourishing hub for the creative industries, technology, research, and innovation.
Logistics Information (Before you arrive)
Language
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Most hotels and tourist services have English-speaking staff.
Electricity
Voltage in Brazil is 127/220V and 60Hz. The power supply in Brazil is 127V, however some of the newer hotels operate at 220V 110V at 60Hz. The power plugs and sockets are of type N (plug A and B don’t fit socket N). When living in the United States of America, you need a voltage converter in Brazil. Because you also need a power plug adapter, you should consider a combined plug adapter/voltage converter. To be sure, check the label on the appliance.
Measurement units
Brazil utilizes the metric system for distances (km), and Centigrade degrees (ºC) for temperature.
Climate
Florianópolis experiences a warm humid subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. Most rain is seen in summer (December to February).
In November/December the weather is warm and quite humid with temperatures between 25 and 29ºC. The rainy season starts in January, but also in November and December, especially in the afternoons and at night there can be heavy but short rain showers. Water temperatures range from 22°C to 24°C between November and December. Check the weather forecast www.accuweather.com
Currency
Brazil uses the Brazilian Real (R$). By law the Brazilian Real is the only currency accepted in Brazil. International cards are widely accepted in Brazil (shops, restaurants, bars, kiosks etc.), inclusive to withdraw reals directly from ATMs. Note that to enter in Brazil carrying more than the equivalent to R$10,000, travelers must submit the “Traveler’s Electronic Declaration of Goods (e-DBV)” to Customs, declaring the amount held in cash, checks and travelers checks. The exchange rate from dollar to real fluctuates, but as of June 2022, US$1 is approximately equal to R$5.05.
Where to Exchange Your Money
If a traveler comes from abroad bringing foreign currency, one should exchange it for reals at an institution authorized by the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) to trade foreign exchange, or at their hired correspondents. You may find options to change your currency at the Florianópolis Hercílio Luz Airport (FLN).
Debit Cards and Credit Cards: What You Need to Know
You can pay with credit cards almost everywhere in Brazil. This is actually the most comfortable option, and it is also possible in small shops or beach bars. While American Express is widely accepted in bigger cities, MasterCard and VISA are more common all over the country.
ATMs
For withdrawing money, most people just use ATMs. Banks such as Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itau or Santander generally accept international credit cards and debit cards to obtain cash in Brazilian reals (R$). In the entrance area of the banks there are usually several ATMs. Please note which ATM is marked with the corresponding credit card logos. Withdrawals are usually limited to R$800 or R$1,000 per day.
Tipping
Tipping in Brazil is typically not expected or given, as service is typically included in the final bill at certain establishments, for instance, most restaurants include a 10 percent gratuity, so there is no need to tip anything extra, unless, of course, service exceeds expectations. Taxi drivers don’t expect any tipping, but you can tell the driver to keep the change.
On Arrival
Airport
Florianópolis International Airport Location (FLN)
Av. Dep. Diomício Freitas, 3393 – Florianópolis – SC
CEP: 88047-900
Distance from the city center: 15 km
Taxis from airport
Taxi services are readily available outside the lobby of the airport, or you may decide to choose Uber that is commonly used in Florianópolis.
Approximate cost of Aerotaxi tariffs:
Airport – bus station (Center): R$ 31.
Airport – Campeche (South): R$ 30.
Airport – Canasvieiras (North): R$ 77.
Airport – Lagoa da Conceição (East): R$ 40.
Recommendations for your security
As a general rule, Florianópolis is a safe city for tourists and to live in. In addition to the paradisiacal beaches and good quality of life, Florianópolis still has one of the lowest rates of violence in the country. There are dangerous areas as in any capital, but in general, the city is safe.
You shouldn’t run into any problems in Florianópolis if you follow some basic recommendations for tourists as released by the Police Department of Florianópolis in its Security Plan of 2019:
Always walk along the main roads.
Avoid the fastest paths suggested by Waze and Google Maps, as they will lead by parallel routes.
Check if the indicated map is up to date.
Check the indicated risk areas on the map.
Check the recommendations on the region where you will be traveling.
Make prior consultation on the GPS and make sure that there are no desert locations on the route.
Share the route with family members and other users.
Avoid narrower streets, especially within communities, and wilderness locations.
Follow roads where there are active shops and police stations.
Divert the hills (for not knowing the geography).
Avoid walking through unknown places, especially at more advanced times (night/dawn).
Phone calls
Country code Brazil: +55
Area code Florianópolis: 48
Emergency services throughout Brazil can be accessed by dialling
Ambulance (Pronto Socorro): 192
Fire Dpt (Corpo de Bombeiros): 193
Police (Polícia Militar): 190
This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and may be called free of charge from landlines and cellphones.
Check roaming charges with your service provider for calls from your cell phone.
You may find it convenient to purchase a pre-paid phone card, available at shopping malls and phone stores.
The Brazilian telephone numbering plan uses a two-digit area code plus eight-digit local phone numbers for landlines and nine digits for mobile lines.
Cell phone numbers within Brazil consist of a two-digit area code followed by a nine-digit local number starting with 9. E.g. cell phone number from Florianópolis: 48 9 XXXX XXXX
Landline numbers also consist of a two-digit area code but are followed by an eight-digit local number. E.g. landline number from Florianópolis: 48 XXXX XXXX
(Note that you will only use the two-digit area code when calling a phone number from another Brazilian city.)
How to make international calls from Brazil:
• First, dial 00
• Dial the 2 digits carrier code: XX (see the table below for the codes)
• Dial the country code of the phone call receiver, in this case, the USA code: 1
• Then, dial the destination code, if any
• Finally, dial the person’s phone number
How to call in Brazil to any phone number in the same city:
• I want to call this cell phone number: 9 XXXX XXXX
• To make this call, I would dial the following on my phone: 9 XXXX XXXX
• To call a landline, I would dial the following on my phone: XXXX XXXX
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