TICKET
I purchased my ticket for just under $600 from Los Angeles to Rio with a short stop in Sao Paolo from Varig on an internet special. According to the Varig website, http://www.varigbrasil.com/english/, peak season is 6/18 - 8/15, and 12/10 - 1/14. You may want to travel outside those dates for the best prices.

VISA
As a US citizen, you will need a Visa to enter Brazil. You cannot obtain a Visa until AFTER you purchase your flight ticket. The application form and instructions can be found at http://www.brazilhouston.org/. Note that you will need to submit the form to a consulate office determined by where you live. You will need to include your original passport. I got mine back within a week. It's important that you make your trip within 90 days as indicated for the Visa to be considered valid.

COPIES
Whenever I travel, I have photocopies of my tickets, identification, birth certificate, and passport on myself and in both of my bags. In case of any problem. I have these copies everywhere to make things easier to prove who I am. This is probably overkill and I don't necessarily recommend it, that's just what I do.

MONEY
I don't like to use traveler's checks, but that's also a personal kind of thing. (You can get reimbursed for lost travelers checks, not for lost cash) I'll typically bring a bunch of cash that I'll keep in a safe, an atm card, and a credit card that I can also withdraw cash from by using an ATM. My hotel goes on the credit card, so daily budget is based on food, girls, and taxi fare. If you mix up your options as far as girls go, I would estimate approximately $80 US per girl. If you stay out of Barbarellas and Centaurus and don't do many allnighters, you can probably bring that down to $65 US. These are my personal guestimates based on the current exchange rate of 2.8 reals to the dollar.

OTHER STUFF
The items previously mention need to be prepared beforehand. The other stuff is helpful, but not really necessary. Most things you can buy when in Brazil. For one thing, it's important than you have a supply of condoms in your room in case you bring a girl back and she doesn't have them. Keep in mind that the stores close in the evening, so do your shopping early. You wouldn't want to be wandering around at night anyways. Herbal supplements and performance enhancers (i.e. Viagra) are popular, but I do not know much about them. One item that may really be helpful to enhance your sessions is a pocket rocket(small, portable vibrator). Keeping those on me isn't really my style, but I know a lot of sex travelers who swear by them as a means of getting the most out of a girl.

Athos provides a great list of things to bring in his Carioca Athos report.

Great photos. I'll catch the report tomorrow.