Avoid This Common Tourist Mistake When Dining In Brazil

South America is an intriguing place full of colorful cultures, mouth-watering cuisine, and jaw-dropping natural wonders like this stunning national park in the mountains of Argentina. This is a continent that offers so much that it would take a lifetime or more to see it all, and while many travelers hit highlights like Peru's Machu Picchu, Ecuador's Galápagos Islands, and Tierra del Fuego in Chile, the country of Brazil sometimes gets skipped over.

With over 220 million people, this Portuguese-speaking nation is the largest in South America and is home to a melting pot of cultures that all combine into one intoxicating, unique flavor. It also boasts vital cities, pristine beaches, and sweet ecotourism meccas — not to mention a massive expanse of the Amazon Rainforest — which is sometimes described as "the lungs of the planet."

Brazil is also home to wild, hopping nightlife and a delectable cuisine that will have you happily anticipating your next meal. However, many establishments require the use of a plastic consumption card called a "comanda." Losing your consumption card is a big mistake that could land you in hot water, so it's best to know how it works and why it's so important to keep on your person.

Say you're on the road, which is a common experience in Brazil, given that it's the fifth largest country on the globe. Any long-distance trip will involve food stops, and many of them will probably be at a roadside buffet-style restaurant. These types of joints are ubiquitous in Brazil and simply charge what you eat by the kilo, so instead of busting out a pen and paper, you're given a plastic card that records all of your culinary choices. 

You pay for exactly what you've eaten, which is about as fair as it gets. At the end of the meal, you simply present your card to the cashier who tallies up your consumption, and then you pay and move on. The comanda card ensures that the businesses get exactly what they're owed, while also protecting the consumer from issues of overcharging or fraud that plague some tourist zones. 

While these cards are employed at truck-stop buffets in the middle of the country, you'll also find them in bakeries, bars, and nightclubs. The comanda card is your guarantee that you've gotten everything that you're paying for, but if you lose it, it could cost you a lot of money,  so treat it like you would cash or a credit card.

Brazil is a massive place with rules that may not apply in other parts of Spanish-speaking South America. It's a gorgeous and very delicious country that can also be a bit unpredictable at times, so it pays to educate yourself before rolling up on its sublime shores — like knowing exactly what not to do in Rio de Janeiro.

One thing to keep in mind is that greetings in Brazil usually employ a kiss on the cheek, with the exception of men meeting men, where a handshake will suffice. When it comes to cities, there is much more to the country than Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and given its gargantuan size, try to stick with just one region instead of trying to see it all. Also, for safety reasons, it's best to only use ATMs inside of banks, and avoid using your phone on the street, as snatch-and-grab theft is common.

While you may feel the need to exercise your Spanish while in Brazil, despite the similarities to Portuguese, it will only get you so far. In fact, most people won't understand a word you say. Learning a bit of Brazilian Portuguese will go a long way, especially given the fact that — outside of the big cities — English will get you even less love. For a perfect escape during cold-weather months, check out the picture-perfect Brazilian archipelago Fernando de Noronha.