Airport information & exchange
São Paulo has two main airports. All international flights arrive and depart from the São Paulo International Airport–Guarulhos [GRU], 18.6411 mi. [30km] northeast of the city-center. Local people will also refer to this airport as Cumbica.
São Paulo International Airport is the largest in Brazil and one of the biggest in South America. Unlike airports in Europe and North America, it has a duty-free shop—www.dutyfreedufry.com.br—upon arrival before clearing customs, where you can purchase up to US$500 of goods.
Arriving at São Paulo’s international airport is straightforward. Still you may have to wait up to an average of half an hour to have your passport stamped by the federal police. Be sure to keep the stamped copy of your entrance/exit form for your return journey.
The downtown Congonhas Airport [CGH] is the base for the São Paulo—Rio shuttle service [45 minute flight], in addition to offering other domestic flights.Once you have cleared customs you can change money or traveler’s checks or use an ATM to obtain cash in Reais [R$—Brazilian Currency]— http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_real
American Express office is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 08:30 p.m. and charges no commission on changing cash or traveler’s checks [as long as they are American Express checks]. It is located at Terminal 1–Departures.
Banco do Brasil charges a US$20 flat rate for traveler’s checks transactions and US$5 flat rate for cash transactions. The ATMs are compatible with Visa/Plus and are located at Terminal 1—Arrivals.
Action Exchange is located at Arrival Terminal and it is open from
5:00 a.m. to midnight.
Confidence Exchange is located at Arrival Terminal and it opens 24 hours.
São Paulo International Airport–Guarulhos GRU T 11 2445 2945
http://www.infraero.gov.br/usa/aero_prev_home.php?ai=217
Congonhas Airport CGH T 11 5090 9000
http://www.infraero.gov.br/usa/aero_prev_home.php?ai=219
Mello Faro Turismo e Viagens Ltda
Av São Luís 165 1º andar conj. 01A
01046-001 São Paulo SP Brasil
Phone 55 11 3258 5044 Fax 55 11 3231 1343
www.mellofaro.com.br
eventos@mellofaro.com.br
Transportation options available between Airports and Official Hotels
Taxi Guarucoop | Guarulhos Airport | T 55 11 2440 7070
A taxi co-operative that has the monopoly on cabs leaving Guarulhos International Airport. The queue is just outside the exit of the arrival terminal. You can pre-pay for the service at a booth located at the left side of the exit by credit card [AMEX, VISA and MASTER]. The amount is fixed. Average fare from the International Airport to official hotels is U$ 50,00 [up to 3 people]. This is a 24hours service.
Rádio Táxi Vermelho & Branco | Congonhas Airport | T 11 3146 4000
A taxi co-operative that works on cabs leaving Congonhas Domestic Airport. The queue is just outside the exit of the arrival terminal. Average fare from the Airport to official hotels is US 20,00 [up to 3 people]. 24 hours service.
Airport Bus Service | T 11 6445 2505
An executive bus leaves Guarulhos International Airport in 5 different itineraries. Route 316, for example, leaves the Airport and goes by São Paulo’s Downtown, ending at Paulista Avenue and passing by or very near the official hotels – Renaissence São Paulo, La Residence Paulista, The Landmark Residence and Fotune Residence. The only exception is the Ceasar Bussiness Paulista Hotel, two blocks away from the bus stop. The bus leaves approximately every hour and the fare is R$ 28,00, per person. Service from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. For more information: www.airportbusservice.com.br
Regular Transportation
Regular service operated by Mello Faro Turismo, the Official Travel Agency for ISPA 2009. eventos@mellofaro.com.br
Price per person R$ 108,00 [~US 60,00] | round trip between Guarulhos and official hotels. This services includes:
» meeting at the arrival gate in the airport and transportation in a vehicle with other participants.
» maximum 20 minutes waiting time in the airports before departure to hotels.
» pick-up back to the airports in three and a half hours prior to international flight time departure and two and a half hours prior domestic flights.
Important: Reservations must be made in advance along with flight details. Payment must be made in advance by credit card charge authorization. There is English speaking assistance.
Private Transportation
Price per vehicle | one way | International Airport [GRU] | Domestic Airport [CGH]
Carro Executivo | 1 or 2 people
GRU R$ 110,00 [~US 50.00] | CGH R$ 90,00 [~US 40.00]
Van | for Groups | maximum 6 people
GRU R$ 180,00 [~US 80.00] |CGH R$ 165,00 [~US 75.00]
Important: Reservations must be made in advance along with flight details. Payment must be made in advance by credit card charge authorization.
There is English speaking assistance and other vehicles upon request.
Maximum 2 people in the car. Private services from 11:00 p.m to 5:30 a.m
will be increased in R$15,00, per car.
Prices are subject to change until final reservation and
full payment of services.
Mello Faro Turismo e Viagens Ltda
Av São Luís 165 1º andar conj. 01A
01046-001 São Paulo SP Brasil
Phone 55 11 3258 5044 Fax 55 11 3231 1343
www.mellofaro.com.br
eventos@mellofaro.com.br
Luggage Informations
International Flights
For more information about check-in luggage, please reach your flight company.
Restrictions on luggage and allowed weight changes according to the ticket and destination. Generally 20 kg for Tourist class and 30 kg for Business Class.
For some destinations the luggage weight is not considered but only the
number of items.
Domestic Flights in Brasil | TAM | GOL | VARIG
Checked luggage
Adults may check up to 2 [two] volumes as personal luggage if they don’t exceed the total weight of 23 kg. Children under 2 [two] years of age do not have the right to carry any luggage and children between 2 [two] and 12 years old can carry up to 11,5kg of luggage.
Special luggage [considered special due to oversize or extra weight] will be charged for its difficulty of transportation. The tax of “extra-transportation” is R$100,00 [one hundred Reais] and will be charged at the check-in counter at the airport.
An excess fee will be charged whenever the baggage allowance is exceeded according to the flight class. In case of excess, it will be charged 0,5% over [Y] fare for the traveled segment, for each exceeding Kilogram.
Luggage exceeding 70 kg should be transported as Cargo and not as regular luggage.
Hand luggage
Weight should not exceed 5 Kg and the sum of its dimension
[height + width + length] should be 115 cm or 45 inches at most, otherwise the baggage should be checked.
Checked luggage recommendations
Do not lock your baggage due to Transportation Security Administration screening of every checked bag.Place your name and address on the inside as well as the outside of your baggage.
Carry valuable items such as electronic equipment, cameras, film, cash and jewelry with you on board the aircraft.
Carry necessary items such as medication, prescriptions and keys with you on board the aircraft.
Claim your baggage immediately upon arrival.
Visas and Passports
Tourists and visitors from Mercosul countries do not need to present passports. They merely need to show their ID cards. Visitors from other countries must present a passport that is valid for the next six months. For further information on Visas and necessary documentation, visit: www.mre.gov.br
