Welcome to one of the most popular tourist destinations in South America. Welcome to Sao Paulo.

Sao Paulo, or Sampa as it is locally called, is one of Brazil's largest cities. Along with being the financial capital of Brazil, Sao Paulo is also its cultural center. It is a cauldron of cultures from all around the world including Jewish, Arabic, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Japanese. It is this cultural diversity that inspires the unique art ethos, lifestyle, and entertainment scene of Sampa.

Come to Sao Paulo and fall in love with its beautiful medley of the old and the new. Enjoy its diverse vibrant cultural traditions and rich history along with a metropolis lifestyle, modern architecture, and rejuvenating urban spaces.

Before you travel to Sao Paulo, purchase travel medical insurance or travel insurance so you can enjoy your trip with less worry about potentially costly medical treatment or mishaps.

Sao Paulo Travel Medical Insurance for International Travelers - FAQs

A travel medical insurance plan provides special coverage and benefits to international travelers. Sao Paulo travel medical insurance can protect you from the high costs of medical bills if you were to fall ill or suffer an accident during your trip. If you are worried about losing your hard-earned money to medical bills while traveling, buy travel medical insurance, and leave your worries behind.

Do I need travel medical insurance for Sao Paulo?

The U.S. Department of State and agencies from other governments highly recommend that all travelers to Brazil purchase travel medical insurance. Most domestic health insurance plans to not provide adequate coverage in other countries, making travel medical insurance extremely important for all visitors to Sao Paulo.

Why buy travel medical insurance for Sao Paulo?

Because your domestic health insurance will likely not cover you in Sao Paulo, if you were to get sick or injured, you would be solely responsible for the cost of any treatment you receive. The treatment costs at private medical facilities in Sao Paulo can be very high. You would not want to end up with a bill you find impossible to pay.

Think of travel medical insurance as a financial safety net. Since illnesses and injuries can happen anywhere, your travel medical insurance can cover the costs of the medical treatment you receive abroad. From hospitalization to emergency medical evacuation, this is not coverage you want to go without.

Sao Paulo Trip Cancellation Insurance for International Travelers - FAQs

If you are looking for an insurance plan that provides coverage from travel-related risks, you need trip cancellation insurance. Sao Paulo trip cancellation insurance can provide you wide-ranging protection and different benefit levels to best suit your travel needs and budget.

Why buy trip cancellation insurance for Sao Paulo?

No matter how many precautions you take, there's no way to avoid every travel risk. Trip cancellation insurance can't eliminate those risks, but it can help reimburse you for the money you've spent if your Sao Paulo trip were to be canceled.

It only takes one illness, one family emergency or an unexpected weather event to make traveling impossible. With trip cancellation insurance, you can at least be sure you can be covered for your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses.

What all is covered under trip cancellation insurance for Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo trip cancellation insurance can provide you with wide-ranging protection and benefits including:

• Trip cancellation coverage
• Flight delay coverage
• Coverage for baggage delays or loss of baggage
• Repatriation of remains
• Cancel for any reason coverage

The details of exactly what is covered by a travel insurance plan will be included in its policy wording. Read the plans available to you thoroughly so you can choose one with the right coverage for you.

Things to Do for Travelers in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere, and also the seventh largest city in the world. Just the sheer size of the city means that there's never enough time to see all its attractions. However, if your time in Sao Paulo is short, here are a few attractions you should not miss.

Attend an Annual Event

Thousands of visitors from around the world visit Sao Paulo to attend many of its interesting events that take place throughout the year. The two most famous events are the Sao Paulo Art Biennial and Sao Paulo Fashion Week. Sao Paulo also hosts events like The Festival of Electronic Art, The Brazil Grand Prix Formula 1-- Sao Paulo, and The International Transport Industry Show to name a few.

Visit a Mercado

Located in the heart of Sao Paulo is the historic local market known as Mercado Municipal. Explore the many stalls of this market to discover the flavors of local produce. There's everything from spices, vegetables, meat, nuts, soups, sweets, cheeses, and seafood here. Don't miss the market's iconic dish—the colossal mortadella (bologna) sandwich.

Avenida Paulista

The Avenida Paulista is often called Brazil's "Fifth Avenue." Locally known as "Paulista," this 2.8-kilometer mega-avenida (main avenue) is both the commercial and cultural hub of Sao Paulo. Paulista is where you go to enjoy Sao Paulo at its best. Here you'll find everything, from 18th and 19th century historical monuments and churches to modern museums, cafes, and theaters.

The Night Is Young

Night clubs in Sao Paulo mean exotic cocktails, fantastic DJs, and dancing. What more can you ask for? Some spots our experts recommend include Hot Hot, D-Edge, Ambar, the PanAm Club, and Bourbon Street.

Explore Diverse Neighborhoods

Pinheiros is the coolest place to hang out in Sao Paulo. Liberdade is home to the largest community of Japanese nationals outside Japan. Bixiga is all things Italian including Speranza Pizzeria, the best pizzeria in town. And Vila Madalena with its narrow streets, quirky cafes, trendy bars, and street art is the creative capital of Sampa.

Travel Risks for International Travelers in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is sure to keep you on your toes from morning to late at night. While you are enjoying endless experiences in Sao Paulo, here are some travel risks that you may keep in mind to ensure your safety.

Petty Crime

Foreign travelers in Sao Paulo, like in most large cities, may be at risk of typical tourist-related petty crimes like pickpocketing and credit card or ATM-related theft. Keep valuables like cash, phones, credit cards, and passports out of sight. Also, do not wear expensive jewelry to avoid undue attention.

Sightsee During the Day

Sao Paulo is a massive city, and as such can experience criminal activity, especially at night. To be on the safe side, try to do your sightseeing during the day, and avoid areas with known issues like Santa Efigênia, Consolação, and Capão Redondo.

Weather Concerns

During the summer season Sao Paulo can experience heatwaves and thunderstorms with torrential rainfall. Several neighborhoods as well as roadways can get inundated due to flooding. Severe thunderstorms may also cause flight cancellations or missed flight connections. Allow extra time for travel during thunderstorms, and pay attention to all local weather advisories.

Air Pollution

Sao Paulo experiences acute air pollution during the winter months. The city's cold climate, relatively high altitude, and high density of motor vehicles make it prone to air pollution concentration. Smoggy conditions and unhealthy air pollution may persist for several days.

Infectious Diseases

While in Sao Paulo, make sure to carry effective insect repellent to keep you safe from mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever. The American CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) strongly recommends a yellow fever vaccine for persons traveling to Sao Paulo. Visitors should also be cautious of food and water hygiene to avoid diseases like typhoid and Hepatitis-A.

Before You Travel to Sao Paulo - Do This

• Keep the bugs at bay. One of your essentials for your trip to Sao Paulo is a DEET bug spray. Ensure that you pack enough bug spray to avoid painful bites and mosquito-borne diseases.
• Drink clean water. The water supply in Sao Paulo may not be suitable for drinking. To stay on the safe side, drink bottled water when possible or use water purification tablets.
• Get insured. Before you travel, don't forget to buy travel medical insurance or travel insurance. If things don't go as planned, you'll be glad to have it.

DISCLAIMER: The information within this article is intended as a broad summary of benefits and services and is meant for informational purposes only. The information does not describe all scenarios, coverages or exclusions of any insurance plan. The benefits and services of an insurance plan are subject to change. This is not your policy/certificate of insurance. If there is any discrepancy between the information in this article and the language of your policy/certificate wording, the language of the policy/certificate wording will prevail.

The insurance plans available on this website are not specifically targeted towards the destination mentioned in this article. They can provide coverage while traveling away from home, according to the terms and conditions and geographic restrictions applicable to the specific plan.