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(CNN) — If you're planning a trip to Brazil, here's what you'll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the global coronavirus pandemic.
The basics
Brazil has been one of the hardest hit countries by the pandemic. It holds the second highest Covid-19 death toll in the world, second only to the United States.
The Brazilian government has done little to limit the spread nationally. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has criticized the use of masks and lambasted governors who adopt regional lockdown measures.
The Gamma coronavirus variant was first detected in Brazil and spread rapidly across the country in early 2021.
Hospitals in Brazil have struggled. Intubation, medication and oxygen have run low at points during the pandemic.
Cases in Brazil spiked in late 2021/early 2022 following the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant, they have since dropped but remain high.
As of February 24, 73% of the population in Brazil is fully vaccinated.
What's on offer
Brazil is a bucket list destination -- a country that really does have everything. Beachside Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most beautiful cities, capital Brasilia is a whirl of modernist architecture, and Salvador is the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. There are some of the best beaches on the planet, plus, of course, the main part of the Amazon rainforest -- which visitors can help protect, by contributing toward the conservation economy.
Who can go
Brazil's government has been infamously relaxed about the pandemic -- and that includes border control. The country recently introduced some new measures following the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
Entry requirements
Some Brazil land borders are closed to everyone except non-residents, unless you're en route to fly home. In that case, travelers must get authorization in advance, present a note from their own embassy or consulate authorizing their crossing at the border, show the plane ticket and go straight to the airport.
Travelers arriving into Brazil by land must also show proof of vaccination, unless they're exempt.
US CDC travel advisory:
Level 4: Very High. The CDC advises to avoid travel to Brazil and advises if you must travel to Brazil, make sure you are vaccinated.
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