Dear Kay and Andrew,

Check out the U.S. Department of State's consular web page on Brazil:
http://travel.state.gov/brazil.html

It says, among other things,

"A passport and visa are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil for
any purpose. Brazilian visas must be obtained in advance from the Brazilian
Embassy or consulate nearest to the traveler's place of residence. There are
no "airport visas," and immigration authorities will refuse entry to Brazil
to anyone not possessing a valid visa. All Brazilian visas, regardless of
the length of validity, must initially be used within 90 days of the
issuance date or will no longer be valid. Immigration authorities will not
allow entry into Brazil without a valid visa. The U.S. Government cannot
assist travelers who arrive in Brazil without proper documentation. In
response to the introduction of the US-VISIT program, on January 1, 2004 the
Government of Brazil began fingerprinting/photographing all U.S. Citizens
arriving in Brazil. U.S. citizens can expect long delays, up to several
hours, in being processed through immigration at Brazil's major airports.
U.S. travelers to Brazil should avoid planning tight transit connections due
to the expected delays. Additionally, visitors may be required to present an
inoculation card indicating they had a yellow fever inoculation or they may
not be allowed to board the plane or enter the country. Minors (under 18)
traveling alone, with one parent or with a third party, must present written
authorization by the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, specifically
granting permission to travel alone, with one parent, or with a third party.
The authorization (in Portuguese) must be notarized and then authenticated
by the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. For current entry and customs
requirements for Brazil, travelers may contact the Brazilian Embassy at 3009
Whitehaven St. N.W., Washington, D.C., 20008; telephone (202) 238-2818,
e-mail [log in to unmask]; Internet: http//www.brasilemb.org. Travelers
may also contact the Brazilian consulates in Boston, Houston, Miami, New
York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Addresses, phone numbers, web
and e-mail addresses, and jurisdictions of these consulates may be found at
the Brazilian Embassy web site above."

Cheers,
Andrew K. Rindsberg

Geological Survey of Alabama