Hello everyone.
I am planning a trip to Brazil, specifically Juiz De Fora as I have a friend who lives there, and I was wondering what the most efficient route would be. I would leave Feb. 1st, and plan to stay about 6 months. I've worked out some of the details with my friend, but he only knew how to get to Juiz De Fora from Sao Paulo, and I found that it's a much easier trip if I fly into Rio and travel to Juiz De Fora from there.
Would taking a bus be the only way to get there?
You could fly but a bus is cheaper - particularly as it's so close to Rio.
Assuming you're a US citizen, I think you're only allowed 90 days in Brazil visa-free. And from what I read a tourist visa will be limited to a maximum of 180 days (so your "about 6 months" just got firmed up a bit! 
) plus to get that you will apparently need to show evidence of funds to support yourself and a flight ticket outbound from Brazil.
Please note this item from the Associated Press:
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil is reintroducing the requirement to obtain tourist visas for citizens of the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Japan starting Oct. 1, the foreign ministry said.
See this link: https://apnews.com/article/brazil-us-tourism-visas-lula-bolsonaro-e206025994b64fa5695484b99a807971