Embratel is the phone system, with offices, posto telefônicos in every town for long distance calls. Public pay phones are everywhere.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 5 to 20 minutes
Here's How:
- Brazil international country code is 55.
- For international calls, use 00.
- For international collect (reverse charges) calls, ask for the telefônista internacional.
- Make international collect calls, a cobrar, from any phone.
- Make national long distance from any phone.
- For national long distance collect calls from any phone, dial 9, area code and number, say your name when prompted and wait for approval.
Refer to How To Make a Collect Call from a Telephone in Brazil for more details on collect calls. - Pay phones are called big ears orelhôes and use fichas or phone cards cartão telefônicos. See Orelhão (Big Ear) - The Brazilian Phone Booth for background on these unique phone booths.
Note: Since this feature was first published, Brazil has changed to using cards only at pay phones. - Buy phone cards at newstands, pharmacies, and other shops.
- Calls end without warning when the time or money runs out.
Tips:
- International long distance calls are costly. Check on the discounted times first.