Apple Pay is accepted almost everywhere. Just tell the cashier something like "pagamento por aproximação" or just "aproxima". The most common payment method (after cash) is PIX, but you will need a CPF and a national bank account for that.
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees. I use my Fidelity to get 2% cash back. There are others. Capital One Venture X is another good option that gives you lounge access, and no FTFs. The annual fee can be offset by their concessions.
As for cash... I barely used it. But it comes up from time to time. I just kept like 200$ Reals on me. I use my Fidelity Debit Card to withdraw cash in the countries I visit. They refund you all ATM fees world wide. Make sure you select local currencies when the ATM asks you (also when using credit but why don't seem to ask that in Brazil) Aside from Fidelity debit, Charles Schwab checking also refunds ATM fees worldwide. There might be others.
Oh and small vendors take credit cards... I bought a 50 cent lighter with mine and he didn't bat an eye. They prefer credit to cash which is mind blowing. Guess they don't care that the credit card companies are fleecing them. I suppose it's just convenience.
Also... Bring two credit cards just in case 1 gets stolen. Slightly higher occurrence in Brazil, Rio especially. And a second backup phone JIC.
It is available because a lot of people use credit cards, and people who use, use with contactless cards.
So even though not a lot of people use Apple Pay, most PoS will have tap to pay.
Pix is more used as a replacement for debt cards imo.
Most places accept credit cards, but this year I’ve been surprised a couple of times by restaurants that only accepted cash or Pix.
To pay with credit cards, you need an internet connection, and it’s not uncommon for small towns to have poor signal.
I've seen many street vendors accepting credit cards lately, but there are definetely a few that only accept pix.
If you carry cash, make sure to have smaller bills, as not all places that require cash accept large notes due to a lack of change. I'm pretty sure no subway will accept more than a 20BRL bill
PIX
How to get it as a gringo, How to get a CPF? Pix, which is an amazing payment system between banks that is practically instant and has no fees.
DEBIT CARD
Open Schwab checking to be reimbursed for all foreign ATM fees. Ask them to rush card if you’re on short notice and transfer cash early
CREDIT CARD
Use Apple Pay - Do not used plastic directly (to avoid cloning)
Capital one quicksilver can be used there with no fee and a perfect exchange rate
IF GIVING THE OPTION, ALWAYS PAY IN REAIS (Do not choose pay in dollars, they fuck you with the exchange rate)
Also just to note, with other advice, in Brazil when you pay they will ask “credito ou débito” obviously pick credito but if it declines explain its international and try debit - different machines sometimes take it differently and need more time to process it.
International cards need to be paid using credit option in Brazil. Even if the card in your home country is a debit card.
Call the bank and notify them that you are traveling in Brazil. Secondly, always make sure the card is processed as credit and always pay in Reals, not your home countries currency. Never allow the payment system to do the conversion for you. Some Brazil processing systems do not do international transaction, however most businesses carry multiple payment systems, one of which will process a foreign card. If the merchants system won't approve your card, ask them to use the other card payment system if they have one.
Always ask them if they have another machine, preferably the green one (they won't offer it because they don't often see foreign cards).
Always ask them if they have another machine, preferably the green one (they won't offer it because they don't often see foreign cards). It'll all depend on what systems the store is willing to pay for (the more "local", the more likely they won't have a machine that takes a foreign card. I deal with this constantly, even in São Paulo. If it Does work, the cashier may still be confused with the process (you may get a screen that asks us dollars or Brazil reals). Brazilian cards also have a PIN number required, so your not needing one will be strange "oh magic! The receipt just comes out?")
If you are in a store, they have a special card reader to swipe a US card. Brazilian cards normally have a pin. So the card readers at registers might not work. Same at restaurants sometimes.