Money at Recife–Guararapes International (Gilberto Freyre) (REC)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Recife, Brazil.
Recife uses the BRL (R$). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly R$4–R$40. Card accepted; Pix is common but tourist-hostile.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Recife–Guararapes International (Gilberto Freyre) (REC)?
Brazil uses the BRL (R$). Airport ATMs dispense BRL directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from REC to the city cost?
Expected fare on the REC → Boa Viagem route is roughly R$4–R$40. Around R$80+ is already high, and R$120+ unmetered taxi is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at REC?
Not expected. Drivers in Brazil don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at REC?
Card accepted; Pix is common but tourist-hostile. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of BRL notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at REC?
Only if you need $10–20 of BRL to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.