Travel Insurance

It is not until you really need travel insurance that you wished you had it. Medical attention overseas can be very expensive and as the saying goes, 'if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.' Make sure you read the fine print of what exactly you are insured for. E.g. Are you covered for adventure tourism? What is and what is not classed as adventure tourism? You don't want to find out the wrong answers to important questions afterwards.

In the event you do get robbed you need to report this to the police. Don't expect the police to actually investigate anything unless you are reporting murder but insurance companies like to see that you have filed a boletim de ocorrência (police report). It just makes everything easier when you return home. If luggage has been stolen from a locked vehicle where the boot/trunk lock has been forced get this noted on your statement. Many travel insurance policies do not cover loss of goods from hire cars or from cars where the item taken was visible to passers-by.

Travel insurance really is a must in Brazil. The public hospitals can only offer a basic level of services so for access to better quality medical facilities you'll be paying. Unusually most people don't like taking short cuts with surgery (have you ever seen an ad for discount medical advice?) so if you want a well resourced hospital in an emergency you'll need travel insurance.

A final point is to make sure you bring a copy of your insurance with you. Put it with your passport. That way if you're unconscious and they find your passport they also find your travel insurance.