Rio de Janeiro is truly one of the world’s great cities. It is known to its people, the Cariocas, as the Marvelous City and every visitor to Rio will understand why. Much of that is due to the city’s unbeatable location, nestled between the deep blues of the Atlantic Ocean and Guanabara Bay and the dark greens of the forested mountains, and fringed by stunning golden beaches such as Ipanema and Copacabana.
The mountains give breathtaking views over the city, especially from two of its most famous treasures. The statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio is the iconic figure that can be seen from many locations, day and night, while Sugarloaf Mountain guards the entrance to Rio’s bay. Many more mountains overlook the numerous beaches, giving Rio an exotic allure unmatched by any other city. But a city is nothing without its people, and the Cariocas are as vibrant and exotic as their city. Whether it is watching their favorite football team at the enormous Maracanã Stadium or holding the annual Carnaval festival, the joy of the people and the beats of the samba drums will find their way into the heart of every visitor.
MARVELOUS CITY RIO DE JANEIRO
There are activities for everybody in Rio, but it can be just as much fun to sit on the beach and relaxing as the locals play volleyball, beach soccer or go surfing. As you drink a caipirinha at the end of a day on the beach, with a gold and pink sky over the mountains, you may find yourself agreeing with your new Carioca friends when they say that Rio de Janeiro is the most beautiful city on earth.
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What not to miss in Rio
Copacabana & Ipanema Beaches
Beaches are to Rio what delis are to New York. While each beach in Rio has its own particular traits, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are a must-see. Copacabana remains a firm favorite with travelers who enjoy strolling along the beautifully landscaped Avenida Atlântica, while Ipanema beach has less restaurants and peddlers on the beach, slightly more residential crowd.
Christ the Redeemer Statue
The views of Rio de Janeiro from the Christ the Redeemer Statue are stunning when visited on a clear day. The iconic figure of the Christ Statue overlooks Rio de Janeiro from the summit of the 2,329 ft (710m) high, atop Corcovado, one of the mountains that is both iconic and around which the city is built. Stand beneath it’s towering enormity, with breathtaking views of Rio from all sides, there’s no wonder it’s a must see in Rio.
Sugarloaf Mountain
On the shores of Guanabara Bay is Sugarloaf Mountain, named of its steep sides leading to a round summit. From the top is a stunning 360-degree view across the sprawling city, Over Copacabana Beach and all the way up to Christ the Redeemer Statue. Trolleys taking you to and fro offer incredible views, and sometimes in the evenings, events are held with music, drinks, and local Cariocas alive and dancing above Rio.
Botanical Gardens
Hosting over 6500 species of plants both foreign and domestic to Brazil, and positioned next to the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, is a lovely way to keep you distracted from spending all your time on Rio’s beaches, take some time to surround yourself with exotic wildlife. There are a handful of great restaurants nearby the botanical gardens, a lovely neighborhood nestled between the small boutique strip of eats and the expanse of natural garden green space.
Historical City Center
Samba and Bossa Nova Shows
The beat of the Samba drums are the tropical rhythms that drive Rio de Janeiro and the Carioca lifestyle. Samba is thought to originate across the Atlantic Ocean in Angola, and was brought to Rio from Bahia. The nights of Rio are dim, but lit up with liveliness in many of the bars playing bossa nova and jazz from early into the late night hours. Lapa is a place to start, best to go to/from in private transfers or with a guide, but a visit to Rio Scenarium is a delight.
destination map
| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
Rio de Janeiro | Río de Janeiro, Estado de Río de Janeiro, Brasil | Rio de Janeiro is truly one of the world’s great cities. It is known to its people, the Cariocas, as the Marvelous City and every visitor to Rio will understand why. Much of that is due to the city’s unbeatable location, nestled between the deep blues of the Atlantic Ocean and Guanabara Bay and the dark greens of the forested mountains, and fringed by stunning golden beaches such as Ipanema and Copacabana.Read more… |
Buzios | Búzios, Estado de Río de Janeiro, Brasil | Búzios is one of the prettiest places in Brazil, and possibly in the world. Any visitor will be able to understand why it is regularly voted amongst the top ten most beautiful places on the planet. The romantic charm of Búzios is not just in the quaint old fishing village with its winding cobblestone streets and picturesque harbor. It occupies part of a small peninsula ringed by 25 beautiful tropical beaches. Read more… |
Paraty | Parati - Estado de Río de Janeiro, 23970-000, Brasil | Paraty is a fabulously picturesque colonial town on one of Brazil’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, the Costa Verde. The town itself, with its colorful old buildings and fishing boats, is dwarfed by the forest-covered mountains behind, which slope down to meet blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The rocky coast has many bays and sprinkled with over 60 islands and 100’s of secluded tropical beaches. Read more… |
Iguaçu Falls | Foz do Iguaçu, Estado de Paraná, Brasil | Possibly the most picturesque waterfalls on earth. Unlike other great waterfalls, the majesty of Iguaçu is that the Iguaçu River drops around 328 ft (100m) into 275 separate Falls across its 0.6 mile (1km) width. Many of the Falls would be tourist attractions in their own right, but as a whole, the spectacle is as awe-inspiring as any of nature’s great sights. Read more… |
Manaus & the Amazon | Manaos, Amazonas, Brasil | The idea of visiting the world’s biggest river and the rainforest that surrounds it attracts many adventurous travelers to Brazil. With over half of the world’s largest jungle found in Brazil, it is little wonder that the area’s main city, Manaus, serves as the nexus for most travelers who begin their adventures into Brazil’s lively Amazon Jungle. Read more… |
Southern Pantanal & Bonito | Bonito, MS, 79290-000, Brasil | The world’s largest inland wetland, over half of it lies in Brazil, with Bolivia and Paraguay sharing the remainder. Wildlife viewing here is always spectacular as unobstructed views of large areas of the flooded plains make it possible to spot jaguars, pumas, wolves, deer, anteaters, armadillos, monkeys, around 650 species of bird, and 250 species of fish. Read more… |
Salvador de Bahia | Salvador de Bahía - Bahía, Brasil | Salvador is the heartbeat of Brazil’s African culture with rhythms, dances, clothes, food and beliefs all imported, along with the people, from the continent across the Atlantic Ocean. The majority of Africans were taken to Brazil as slaves to work on sugar and coffee plantations in Salvador, the first capital of Brazil. Read more… |
Lençóis & Chapada Diamantina | Chapada Diamantina, Andaraí - State of Bahia, 46750-000, Brasil | Nature doesn’t get much better than Chapada da Diamantina, and luckily isn’t flooded with tourists. So the only distractions from mountain scenery are natural: orchids and bromeliads; butterflies the size of your hand; monkeys; alligators; deer; and possibly even jaguars can be seen amongst the trees. Read more… |
Depending on your client’s preferences, we can help you determine the best experiences tailored for your clients. From where to visit, when to go, what to do and how to get there safely, our travel experts will help you create an experience your clients will love.
Best times to visit Rio de Janeiro
Carnaval time in Rio should signal the start of Lent, 40 days before Easter. While this is not strictly the case, the festival is held between mid-February and mid-March. New Year’s Eve is another peak time to visit Rio, and during the summer months of December to February, the city is alive with people, color, music and dancing. These months are also wetter and more humid. Rio has a fairly stable climate although temperatures on summer days can reach well over 86˚F (30˚C). There are many stunning days year-round for you to enjoy the views from the Christ the Redeemer Statue or Sugarloaf Mountain. You will also be able to spend some winter days on the beach.
The football season in Brazil also seems to be year-round for those who want to visit the Maracanã Stadium, and the beats of samba and bossa nova never stop!
practical information
HOW TO GET THERE
Rio de Janeiro has a major international airport with many international carriers bringing visitors from all over the world to marvel at the view of the city as they arrive at the airport. There are many direct schedule flights from major cities in Europe and North America, as well as from all the big cities in South America. The domestic airport in Rio has connections to all the major cities and tourist destinations in Brazil.
GETTING AROUND
As well as the rides to the tourist sites, Rio has a good, cheap metro system, supplemented by a few local train lines. Buses are plentiful but can be packed, hot and slow on the busy roads. Taxis can always be found for every journey, and many friendly taxi drivers will be happy to act as your tour guide for a day or two around the city. Prices can be agreed in advance. It is possible to hire a car and drive around the city, but although it is easy to see sights such as the Christ the Redeemer Statue from many places in Rio, it might not be so easy to find them!
WHERE TO STAY
Rio de Janeiro has all the facilities you would expect from one of the world’s great cities, including 5-star hotels with beach views and restaurants serving Brazilian and international cuisine using the freshest ingredients from the land and the sea. Shopping is just as good as the food in Rio, whether you prefer to shop at markets on the beach or upmarket boutiques on the boulevards.
More highlights of Brazil
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