Brazil

(Rio de Janeiro)

Brazil

(Rio de Janeiro)

            Rio de Janeiro is an iconic city,one of the most readily identifiable in the world, not least because of its fabled carnival. The grand dame of South America, it stretches out between rain forests and emerald half-mooned shaped bays with its two famous beaches, Copacabana and Ipanema, overlooked by the imposing Christ the Redeemer. It is a vibrant and youthful city fired by an inexhaustible energy that can be experienced on its beaches, its restaurants, and its nightlife

Rio’s landscape is extremely unique as dotted throughout the city centre are a host of mountains. The most famous of these are the Two Brothers overlooking Leblon and Ipanema, the Sugar Loaf which looms over Guanabara Bay, and Corcavado. The Guanabara Bay awed the first sailors who arrived in Rio de Janeiro, and the sparkling bay continues to awe visitors. There are 130 islands scattered throughout the bay, surrounded by rolling green hills, granite peaks, and golden beaches. We offer a Schooner Cruise through the Guanabara Bay for those on a tour in Rio de Janeiro.

Sugarloaf Mountain is one of Rio de Janeiro’s highlights, both literally and figuratively. At 396 meters (1,299 ft), this granite peak looms over the bay. Those who climb to the top via a cable car “bondinho,” gain panoramic views of all that makes Rio de Janeiro the “Marvelous City.” The cable car ride to Sugarloaf is included in all our Rio de Janeiro city tours.

Corcovado Mountain is another one of Rio de Janeiro’s indisputable must-sees. This mountain rises 710 meters (2,329 ft) in the Tijuca National Forest, located within the city. Atop this mountain is the 38-meter-tall (125 ft) Christ the Redeemer Statue known as “Cristo Redentor” — one of the icons of Rio de Janeiro. Climb to the top via the trenzinho railway, also included in our Rio de Janeiro city tours.

Tijuca National Forest encompasses 3200 hectares (7907 acres), all within the borders of the city. This massive urban forest of Atlantic Rainforest includes the Cascatinha Waterfall, the Pedra da Gavea, several vista points and picnic tables, and walking and hiking trails. We offer a 4×4 off-road adventure safari that takes you through the forest, stopping to see the flora and fauna along the way.

Rio is where you will find two of the world most famous beaches. The most noteworthy of the two is Copacabana, which is one of the most famous beaches in the world. And while no trip is complete without checking it out, you may prefer the other of the two beaches which is Ipanema, as here it isn’t as hectic and the waters are cleaner. And when you’re in Ipanema make sure to called into Garota de Ipanemaon the corner of Vinicius de Morais and Prudente de Morais as it is where the famous song ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ was written.

There are two great places to get away from the craziness of Rio de Janeiro:

·         Botanic Gardens: Covering over 130 hectares, they are extremely peaceful and home to over 6,000 types of plants and trees.

·         Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas: A stroll around this lake which borders many neighbourhoods is a great way to relax for a couple of hours.

Rio It isn’t as dangerous as you might think it is.Rio has a reputation for being a dangerous city, and theres a reason for this “ unfortunately petty crime does exist and you might feel a little bit more nervous walking the streets here than in other cities. But it wouldn’t have got the Olympic Games if it was that dangerous “ it is definitely a lot safer than it has been in recent years, particularly in touristy areas like Copacabana and Ipanema. So have your wits about you when walking the streets and try not to look too much like a tourist “ do this and your stay in Rio should pass incident free.

 The best way to see the city is from the sky

While Rio looks breathtaking from the ground, it looks even better from the sky. And the best way to get an aerial view of the city, is by going hang gliding.

You have to catch a football game in the Maracana

The Maracana is Brazils most famous football stadium. Four teams play here regularly - Botafogo,Flamengo, Vasco da Gama and Fluminense . Games are played almost all year round so if you’re in town when there’s a game on make sure to go to it.

When the New York Times recently published an article titled “The 46 Places to Go in 2013,” Rio de Janeiro was featured in the limelight. The sub-header revealed why Rio was chosen for the #1 spot: “Because the whole world will be there in 2014.”

Rio de Janeiro will indeed be the world’s center stage in the coming years. In 2014, the World Cup will be hosted in the Marvelous City, and in 2016, the Summer Olympics will compete there as well. But Rio de Janeiro is a chart-topping travel destination even without those upcoming events. Here’s why you should plan to travel to Rio de Janeiro in 2013.