Also important to notice is that anyone under treatment with prescription drugs would do well to bring enough to last for the whole stay in Rio, as the sale of some drugs have is striclty regulated by federal laws - these are indicated with one thick black or red stripe on the packaging, and can only be acquired with a prescription signed by a brazilian doctor.

while rio de janeiro is a very well developed and modern city, some additional precautions should be taken by foreign visitors unfamiliar with the region - unfiltered tab water should be used only for showering, visitors should only drink bottled water, and raw, under-cooked eggs, and unpackaged mayonnaise should be avoided.

to avoid mosquito bites and the possibility of a dengue or zika infection, insect repellent should be used while entering areas of dense tropical vegetation such as the forest of tijuca, around the lagoons, and inside favelas where stagnant water is often present - travelers should consult with their doctors prior to traveling to rio, regarding immunization and vaccination requirements.