getting money across the border

I need to take a large amount of cash to Brazil. Can anybody who has done this tell me how you did this? (I don't need alternatives, just what is customs like, did you declare, stay silent, etc.)

If it's over 10000 american you are supposed to decalre it and fill out a customs form. I got around this by wiring it to my surgeon before hand. Another way is to spilit it up between travelling companions so no one has more than 9999.99. I was told that if I got caught not declaring it, it would be a big mess. Leanne