1. BUS SERVICES IN BRAZIL
ANUPAMA SINGH
ABSTRACT: -
The operation of bus services in Brazil and its impact on the people of Brazil. This report
also aims at capturing the perspective of the people of Brazil towards the bus services, bus
operators and various modes of bus bookings.
INTRODUCTION
Bus services are extremely popular in Brazil, with around 200 operators carrying over 140
million passengers each year. Buses are the preferred method of transport due to their
relatively inexpensive cost and the lack of an established rail system.
The bus system in Brazil is run on three different levels:
 Federal: travel across borders and between different Brazilian states
 State: travel within a state
 Municipal: travel within individual towns and cities
OniLinhas has a useful, if limited, list of some of the main bus service operators in Brazil.
These include:
 Pluma
 Garcia
 Transbrasiliana
 Nacional Expresso
The Public Transport Department publishes a handy online journey planner.
The commercial website The Bus Station has a list of many more Brazilian bus companies,
with links to their websites
International bus services operate to all of the border countries around Brazil. However, as
many of these cover some distance, they can involve long journey times. Due to the size of
the country, this is also true when travelling between certain cities in Brazil. For example, the
trip from Rio de Janeiro to Florianópolis takes approximately 22 hours, and the journey from
Rio to Belém lasts around 52 hours.
Long-distance buses, for example those that travel between states, have different classes of
comfort, depending on how much a passenger wishes to pay. These range from regular
(convencional) to luxury (leito). Regular buses tend to be more crowded and are often

2. without amenities, whereas luxury buses offer refreshments, reclining seats, and more space.
Online booking is available via some operators. Bus operators often require an Individual
Taxpayer's Number (Cadastro Pessoa Fissical - CPF) to make a booking.
Children under six years of age that do not require their own seat do not need a ticket. Most
bus companies have a baggage allowance of 30 kilos with a size limit on the dimensions of
the suitcase. Arriving at the bus station 30 minutes before the bus is due to depart is advised.
Foreigners (including minors) travelling on long-distance buses need to provide the following
documentation:
Permanent residents:
 A valid passport (valid for at least six months) or Residence Permit (RNE)
Tourists or non permanent residents:
 A valid passport (valid for at least six months with immigration control stamp)
Pets:
 Pets may travel on buses or coaches with a recent health certificate form from a vet and
a vaccination certificate.
Note: Only original documents are accepted. Photocopies, even if notarized will be rejected.
Jumping on a local bus is one of the best ways to get to know a city. With a map and a few
dollars you can get an overview of the town. Local bus services tend to be decent. Since most
Brazilians take the bus to work, municipal buses are usually frequent and their network of
routes comprehensive. Fares range from R$2 to R$3. In most city buses, you get on at the
front and exit from the back, though occasionally the reverse is true. Usually there’s a money
collector sitting at a turnstile just inside the entrance.
1. ANTT (for all destinations)
The one and only country-wide official source is the website of the Agencia Nacional de
Transportes Terrestres (ANTT), the Brazilian’s government official body for road
transportation. Unfortunately, it’s an incredibly unfriendly site, even more if you are a foreign
user with no grasp of Portuguese. Never mind the fact that can be infuriatingly stubborn. If
the spelling of your destination is different from the one held at the ANTT database, you will
be going nowhere. At Link: buses in Brazil I gave a step-by-step guide on how to search at
the ANTT site.
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2. Socicam (for Aracaju, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo)

3. Much friendlier than the ANTT site is Socicam‘s own website. It would be my number one
choice if it wasn’t for a small detail: its restricted coverage. Socicam is a private company
running the bus stations of the following cities:
Angra dos Reis (Río de Janeiro), Aracajú (Sergipe), Fortaleza (Ceará), Guarujá (São
Paulo), Mogi das Cruzes (São Paulo), Niteroi (Río de Janeiro), Poços de Caldas (Minas
Gerais), Ribeirão Preto(São Paulo), Rio de Janeiro, São Carlos (São Paulo), São João da
Boa Vista (São Paulo), São José dos Campos (São Paulo) and the three bus stations in São
Paulo (Barra Funda, Jabaquara and Terminal Tietê
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3. Linhas Rodoviárias (for São Paulo)
There are excellent resource for departures from São Paulo to any state in Brazil and
international destinations too. We have full details at Linhas Rodoviárias, a site with bus
travel information.
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4. Terminal Novo Rio (for Rio de Janeiro)
If you are travelling to or from Rio de Janeiro, you might as well check the incredibly simple
to use Terminal Novo Rio website. It’s by no means a pretty website, but hey, nothing beats
simplicity. Type the name of your destination (or point of origin) at the PARTIDAS NOVO
RIO box and off you go. The search results show the company (or companies) operating the
route, including a link to their website. If you want more info, we’ve already devoted a blog
post to the Rio bus station: Terminal Novo Rio.
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5. Rodoviária de Porto Alegre (for Porto Alegre)
The Rodoviária de Porto Alegre (Porto Alegre’s bus station) website in another useful source
of information for trips on the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Click on Horários de Ônibus and
then select your destination from the Porto Alegre para menu, the day of the week at the Dia
da Semana menu (choose any day / qualquer dia if you prefer) and the departure time
(Horário do Dia).
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6. Rodoviária de Curitiba (for Curitiba)

4. The Rodoviária de Curitiba (Curitiba’s bus station) is another site that combines ugliness
with friendliness (if that could ever be possible). Simply select your destinations from the De
Curitiba paradrop-down menu and off you go. The results page has a valuable link to the bus
company running the service.
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7. DETER (for the state of Santa Catarina)
A very useful tool for trips that begin and end within the State of Santa Catarina. Go
to DETER‘s website and choose Consulta de Horários de Partida de Viagens. Write your
departure and arrival points, and off you go.
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PEOPLE’S OPINIONS:-
“Buses are a very good your option. There are buses leaving the bus terminals in São Paulo
and Rio de Janeiro roughly every 15 minutes. Buses are also a good option between Rio or
São Paulo and Belo Horizonte. Buses are comfortable and relatively safe. However, keep an
eye on your belongings and leave your valuables in sight at all times.
When I lived in Brazil, I often took the first class bus between São Paulo and Rio that rode
overnight. This way, you can recline your seat comfortably enough so you can sleep.” In
Brazil there are sometimes many different companies running the same routes, so you´ll find
differences in the services. Brazilian bus companies are some of the best in Latin America as
in most cases they offer excellent service and buses are in good conditions, but this is not
always the case. In some places you may find lower quality companies, though Brazil by bus
with the Green Toad Bus will ensure you are always catching the best. You may have delays
sometimes in departures but in general there´s respect for time schedules, with this in
mind your arrival time is always an estimate and depends on driving conditions that day (e.g.
traffic and road works).
The standard way to travel on Brazilian buses is by taking semi-cama services, which literally
translates to meaning semi-bed buses and these are sometimes referred to as conventional
class. The seats do not recline fully but usually a lot further than aeroplane seats. For short
distances and long distances we use the semi-cama bus class, which the vast majority of
backpackers choose. Semi-cama class are a lot better than you find in most first world
countries, and backpackers are usually surprised at their comfort. They offer air conditioning,
and bigger seats, and you´ll find them excellent for sleeping. Long distances buses are always
equipped with a bathroom and they also have regular stops to allow you to buy food and use
the facilities. Crime can be a problem: don’t take valuables onto the buses, and think twice
about taking minibuses, which have seen a recent increase in attacks.
CONCLUSION:-
Bus travel in Brazil really gives you a great opportunity to see the real Brazil, while saving on
the expensive airfares charged for domestic travel. From your seat on Brazil's comfortable

5. buses you will experience the excitement of the larger cities and the tranquillity of small
towns pass you by, while also witnessing some beautiful country-side and coastline. With
rocketing airfares, more and more people are turning to buses as a means of transportation in
Brazil. Buses in Brazil provide you with good luxuries in reasonable price. Despite minor
setbacks like crime, forest areas etc it is the most preferred mode of transport in Brazil used
by millions of people.