Traveling with your pet

It’s a leisure trip made in the company of a pet, most often a dog or a cat. The itinerary is planned around what the animal can do: where it sleeps, where it’s allowed, how long it tolerates being on the road and what temperatures it can handle.

In tourism, the term pet friendly, “amigo dos animais” in Portuguese, identifies a place that has policies and facilities designed to receive animals: allowed areas, items for the pet, more spots and specific coexistence rules. That is not the same as “accepts pets.” Accommodation that accepts pets is not pet friendly: it takes the animal by exception and under conditions, such as a pre-booking check, few spots, size and temperament limits, and restricted areas.

So, before making any reservation, ask the accommodation for the pet accommodation agreement, the document that sets these conditions in writing. Only book after reading the agreement and confirming the pet’s spot.

Mountain and countryside destinations concentrate many of the accommodations that accept animals: chalets, inns with lawns and farm hotels. Campos do Jordão, in the Mantiqueira Range, has restaurants with outdoor seating in Capivari and outdoor activities. Gramado, in the Serra Gaúcha, offers parks, cafés, restaurants and accommodations prepared for visitors with pets.

In the interior of São Paulo, Socorro has organized to serve this audience: adventure parks welcome dogs, and there are rafting descents where the dog goes in the boat with the family. Brotas, another adventure destination, also has infrastructure for travelers with pets.

In big cities, the program often includes parks. In São Paulo, Ibirapuera Park has an area where dogs can run off-leash. Fortaleza created a label that identifies establishments that receive animals, including restaurants, shops and accommodations.

Beaches require attention: on most of the Brazilian coast, dogs are not allowed on the sand. Santos, on the São Paulo coast, is an exception established by municipal law: a stretch of José Menino Beach admits dogs in the early morning and late afternoon, with a leash and vaccination record. In national parks, entry of domestic animals is generally not allowed. Confirm the rules of each place before going.

Start with the accommodation, because it defines the rest. Ask whether the place is pet friendly or accepts pets by exception, and request the pet-stay agreement from the accommodation before booking. Read what it says about size, number of animals, rooms, prohibited areas, fee and behavior, and only then confirm the reservation and the pet’s spot.

Next comes transportation. By car, plan stops for water and for the animal to stretch its legs. By plane or bus, check with the company before buying the ticket: each has its own rule, and the number of animals per trip is limited.

Schedule a veterinary appointment a few weeks before. It’s time to check vaccines, request a health certificate and talk about the destination, the climate and the mode of transport. For another country, the deadline is much longer.

In the animal’s bag pack their usual food, bowls, the bed or blanket with the smell of home, the leash, the collar with an ID tag, the pee pad or litter box and documents. Keeping the feeding and walking routine helps with adaptation. Fees and service prices vary: check the current table.