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It is a common mistake to think of Rio as [wiki=42537f0fb56e31e20ab9c2305752087d]Brazil[/wiki]'s capital, a distinction it lost on 21 April 1960 when newly built [wiki=87e752b1e04515f6bb896ec2c49afbdf]Brasilia[/wiki] became the capital. Beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema, the Christ The Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue, the stadium of Maracanã and Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) are all well-known sights of what the inhabitants call the "marvelous city" (cidade maravilhosa), and are also among the first images to pop up in travelers´ minds, along with the Carnaval celebration.
Sadly, most people also know Rio for its violence and crime. The drug lords and the slums, or favelas, are the tip of very old social problems. The favelas are areas of poor-quality housing, slums usually located on the city's many mountain slopes, juxtaposed with middle-class neighborhoods. But now, with the UPP's (Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora = Pacifying Police Unit) almost all the favelas are safe to go, because the police took the area from the drug dealers, so you can go there for some cultural gathering. A pretty calm and safe favela is "Morro do Pinto". It is so calm that it doesn't look like part of this urban Rio and it is in the center of the city.
The South Zone holds most of Rio's landmarks and world-famous beaches, in an area of only 43.87 square km (17 mi²). Many of them are within walking distance of each other (for instance, the Sugar Loaf lies about 8 km/5 mi from Copacabana beach). Most hotels and hostels are located in this part of the city, which is compressed between the Tijuca Range (Maciço da Tijuca) and the sea. There are important places in other regions as well, such as Maracanã stadium in the North Zone and the many fascinating buildings in the Centre.
If you plan on staying in Rio for more than a couple of days it would be good to invest in a copy of ``How to be a Carioca``(Priscilla Ann Goslin, Livros TwoCan Ltda, R$32). This is an amusing look at the people of Rio and will help you enjoy the city as well as appear less of a `gringo` when you hit the streets.
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History
Rio was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese as a fortification against French privateers who trafficked wood and goods from Brazil. Piracy played a major role in the city's history, and there are still colonial fortresses to be visited (check below). The Portuguese fought the French for nearly 10 years, both sides having rival native tribes as allies.
For the next two centuries it was an unimportant outpost of the Portuguese Empire, until gold, diamonds, and ore were found in [wiki=c249a545f156d7612d3f22566ed65b2a]Minas Gerais[/wiki] in 1720. Then, as the nearest port, Rio became the port for these minerals and replaced [wiki=b1dbcbd57e27e25b7b3cf6bbc16dd566]Salvador[/wiki] as the main city in the colony in 1763.
When Napoleon invaded Portugal, the Royal Family moved to Brazil and made Rio capital of the Kingdom (so it was the only city outside Europe to be capital of a European country).
When Brazil became independent in 1822, it adopted Monarchy as its form of government (with Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II). Many historians and Brazilians from other places say cariocas are nostalgic of the Royal and Imperial times, which is reflected in many place names and shop names.
In 2009, the city won their bid to host the games of the XXXI Olympics in the summer of 2016. This was the fifth bid by the city, whose 1936, 1940, 2004 and 2012 bids lost.
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[wiki=563ea18c885153a9794d84ce97337a33]Centro[/wiki] including Lapa and Santa Teresa. The city's financial and business centre also has many historic buildings from its early days, such as the Municipal Theatre, National Library, National Museum of Fine Arts, Tiradentes Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral and Pedro Ernesto Palace.
* [wiki=a2601344b6f1ba614ed2818c282d37dd]Zona Sul[/wiki] (South Zone) including Copacabana, Leblon and Ipanema, as well as the districts along Flamengo Beach. Contains some of the more upscale neighborhoods and many of the major tourist sites, such as the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, and Sugar Loaf and Corcovado Mountains.
* [wiki=237f39c725a468d6c08784771c5627b3]Zona Norte[/wiki] (North Zone). The Maracanã stadium, Quinta da Boa Vista Park with the National Museum the city's Zoo, the National Observatory and more.
* [wiki=ab10e5391b2ca2cdd5d44fe5d607e871]Zona Oeste[/wiki] (West Zone), a rapidly growing suburban area including primarily the districts of Jacarepaguá and Barra da Tijuca, popular for its beaches. Most of the Olympics in 2016 will be hosted there.
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Rio is one of the country's major transportation hubs, second only to São Paulo.
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By train
Rio's glorious Central Station, or Central do Brasil, made famous by a movie of the same name, serves mostly local commuter lines (SuperVia [http://www.supervia.com.br/]), so it's unlikely that you'll arrive through here. It's worth a visit just to see it, though, you can get there either by bus or subway (subway is better; get off on Central station, line 1).
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By bus
The long-distance bus depot, Rodoviária Novo Rio[http://www.novorio.com.br/ ], is in the North Zone's Santo Cristo neighborhood. Taxis and coach buses can get you to the South Zone in about fifteen minutes; local buses take a bit longer. Frescão air-conditioned coaches can be found just outside the bus station. The coaches connect the station to the city centre and main hotel areas of Copacabana and Ipanema. Bus companies include Itapemirim [url=http://www.itapemirim.com.br],]Penha [url=http://www.nspenha.com.br[/url],]Cometa [url=http://www.viacaocometa.com.br[/url],]1001 [url=http://www.autoviacao1001.com.br[/url],]and Expresso Brasileiro [http://www.passagem-em-domicilio.com.br/expresso%20brasileiro.asp[/url].
Several companies offer bus passes from Rio to the rest of the country. The Green Toad Bus [url=http://www.greentoadbus.com/en/]]also offer bus tickets online for buses from Rio de Janeiro to [[Ilha Grande[/url]], [wiki=7b26d187e298aa81cda2b9b460346fa4]Paraty[/wiki], [wiki=ea76c0ae9dd817eb448fd1b3db6253bb]São Paulo[/wiki], [wiki=288c2b65cbd4eea152ed053e7c4e26f1]Florianopolis[/wiki], [wiki=955281b4c4be6b20e301e8a9d0efd4d8]Campo Grande[/wiki], [wiki=5ac9fa4d7db3047f369a2e5cdb26b78f]Foz do Iguacu[/wiki] and some other destinations in Brazil. They have bus passes to take you to other countries as well.
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By car
Rio is connected by many roads to neighboring cities and states, but access can be confusing as there are few traffic signs or indications of how to get downtown.
The main interstate highways passing through Rio are:
*BR-116, which connects the city to the southern region of Brazil. Also known as Rodovia Presidente Dutra
*BR-101, which leads to the north and northwest, and
*BR-040, which will take you in the central and western areas.
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By boat
Ferries (barcas) connect neighbouring [wiki=7d76d2cdecafb29fff075549be17f502]Niteroi[/wiki] to Rio de Janeiro and arrive at Praça XV, in the city centre.
International Charter Group: Yacht charter and sailing, one of the worlds largest acht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in Rio de Janeiro. Operating from nine offices worldwide (USA, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Honk Kong and Dubai).
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By taxi
A cab is one of the best ways to move around Rio. However, be aware that traffic jams in Rio can be terrible at times. For instance, a taxi ride from Ipanema to the bus terminal Rodoviária Novo Rio normally takes something like 25 minutes, but if you get seriously stuck, it may take 90 minutes instead. Therefore, make sure you have a time margin in case you really can´t afford to be late.
Rio taxis are not too expensive on a kilometer basis, especially, if you can share the cost among your party - a cab can usually hold up to four passengers. That said, beware however, that distances can be quite considerable. E.g., a journey from Zona Sul to the Centro is around R$35 and takes approx. 16 min; from the International Airport to Copacabana it's around R$44 / 28 minutes.
Rio's taxis come in different flavours:
* Yellow taxis
* Special service cars
* Radio taxis
* Illegal taxis
Yellow taxis are yellow with a blue stripe painted on the sides. In Rio, they are in great supply and are available to wave down at any time of the day or night in the primary tourist and business areas of the city. Throughout the city, there are numerous taxi stands where taxis queue to await passengers. It is preferrable to get a taxi from one of these stands as they are typically a bit more reliable as they are associated to that stand . These taxi stands also exist at or near to most hotels as well. The stands range from a formal service with logos (in other words, part of a cooperative). and contact by phone to just a regular group of "freelance" taxi drivers that have come together to serve the spot.
Yellow taxis possess of meters, but make sure or ask (just say "Taxímetro?") that these are really turned on. Fares consist of a fee for the minimum ride, called bandeirada (R$4.90 as of 2014) and a per kilometer fee:
* R$2,35 on Sundays and holidays, any day between 21h00-06h00, any time in December (so called "Bandeira 2")
* R$1.95 on other times (so called "Bandeira 1")
About once every two years, the rate is raised by the city. When this happens (most recently in March 2014), all taxis will put a rate table on the window to convert the meter total to the updated rate. This is necessary as it generally takes about 9 months or so to get the thousands of taxis re-calibrated.
Special service cars are private cars without identifying markings nor a light on top. As they are typically associated with hotels, the door man will ask whether you would like to use them and will say that they are safer and more comfortable than a regular yellow taxi off the street. Special service cars do not operate from a taxi meter and the drivers are not regulated or controlled. For a certain journey they can quote whatever price they think is reasonable or that they can get. It is therefore advisable to negotiate (or at least request) the price before starting out. A good deal would usually be about R$5 more than what a yellow taxi would cost by meter.
Radio taxis are usually blue, green, or white. If you want to avoid being ripped off, which is most likely after arrival at the airport, then it may be worthwhile taking a Radio taxi. These are organized by calling (or your hotel staff calling) one of the about four companies, each serving all of Rio. When calling by phone, the operator indicates a non-negotiable price which does not depend on time of day or heavy traffic, so that passengers need not to worry about being overcharged. Radio taxi services are very reputable, knowledgeable of the city and directions and reliable and have the best/cleanest vehicles. Radio taxis are the safest form of transportation, especially when travelling late at night, or in a less travelled area of town. Due to their high reliability, they are also best option if you need to be picked up at an exact time (especially at night or early morning). On the downside, Radio taxis are also the most expensive form of transportation.
Generally, taxi drivers in Rio are quite knowledgeable when locating the usual destinations and hotels. However, it is advisable to write down the address of less familiar destinations on a piece of paper to show the driver before you go. This should include the neighborhood (Bairro) such as Ipanema or Copacana or Centro. This is an especially good idea for those who don't speak the language.
You can also ask a cab for a city tour and arrange a fixed price (may be around US$20).
For those travelling to Rio for Carnival it's worth using a company that allows you to book and pay in advance, and to try and pay as much in advance as possible as prices tend to increase a few weeks before Carnival.
Taxi transport from/to the International Airport (named Tom Jobim or previously Galeao) is a special situation, see above.
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By bus
Buses are still the cheapest and most convenient way to get around the South Zone (Zona Sul) of the city due to the high number and frequency of lines running through the area. There are designated bus lanes in most streets that make travel times shorter. For the adventurous or budget traveler, it is worth asking your hotel or hostel employees how to navigate the system or which routes to take to arrive at specific locations.
However, you should be mindful of questionable characters and your belongings. By night buses are more scarce, and most lines will usually not be running by the time the bars and clubs are full.
Keep an eye out for pickpockets when the bus is crowded, and don't be surprised if your driver goes a little faster and brakes a little more suddenly than you'd like. Except for minibuses, buses now have two doors: passengers get in through the front door and get off through the back (it was otherwise until 2001-2002).
Buses cost R$3.00 (March 2014) with no distinction for the few buses with air conditioning. The fare is paid in cash to a controller or the driver inside the bus, by passing through a turnstile. There are no tickets, and try to have change/small bills. Some residents and students have a digital pass card called Bilhete Único. These days, you can get them easily at Galeão Airport, at both terminals, when you buy a ticket to the BRT bus. The ticket that you get is a Bilhete Único Carioca that also offers you a discount if you have a combined trip with the metro and city bus (you will pay R$ 4.55 instead of R$6.50). Alternatively, you can buy the Rio Card Expresso [url=https://www.cartaoriocard.com.br/scrcpr/]]which works on the Metro and Buses but with no cost savings on connections. Anyone can buy them easily at Edificio Largo da Carioca at Rua Uruguaina 10, Level 3. For a card with R$40 credit you only pay $32.50 and moreover when your credit runs out, you hand the card to the bus driver and it counts as a R$3 fare (only buses, not Metro).
Some bus stops in the South Zone are equipped with a shelter and a bench, but sometimes, far from tourist areas, they are less obvious and have no signs at all - you might have to ask. As a general rule in most parts of Brazil, buses stop only when you hail them, by extending the arm. If you don't hail and there are no passengers waiting to get off, the bus simply won't stop. The same can be said if you are on the bus wanting to get off at a particular stop. You should know the surroundings or the name of the intersection of the area you are going, or inquire to the employee operating the turnstile, so you can signal to the driver that you want to get off, or he may not stop! Typically bus drivers and controllers won't understand any foreign language. If you can't speak Portuguese at all, use a map. Trying to speak Spanish is usually not helpful.
There are no schedules or timetables, but there is an invaluable book called Ruas de Rio de Janeiro (The streets of Rio de Janeiro) that has maps of Rio and lists bus routes by bus line. Although it does not list the exact schedule of arrivals and departures, it lists the bus stops, and one can easily orient oneself and navigate the city using it. Usually buses run at least every 15 minutes, but it may be just once an hour or more infrequently late at night or in remote areas of town. Google Maps and the Maps app also has the Rio bus system in it, allowing you to plug your location and destination with step-by-step instructions.
There are a baffling 1000+ bus lines in Rio (including variants), covering nearly all of the city, operated by about a dozen independent operations. At least 6 of them ply the streets of Copacabana and Ipanema. The [url=http://www.rioonibus.com]]website contains a catalog of the lines, but is of little help unless you know the line number or can enter exact street names. The website VaDeOnibus [http://www.vadeonibus.com.br[/url] contains a route planner: you can enter two addresses and it gives you the buslines that go between them, including their time tables. Many lines differ only a few streets from each other in their itineraries, and some even have variants within the same line. Bus lines with a * or a letter means that this bus has a variant. It means that there may be a bus with the same name, same number, same origin, even same destination but with a complete different route. Lines are numbered according to the general route they serve:
* beginning with 1 - South Zone/Downtown
* beginning with 2 - North Zone/Downtown
* beginning with 3 - West Zone/Downtown
* beginning with 4 - North Zone/South Zone
* beginning with 5 - within South Zone
* beginning with 6 - North Zone/West Zone
* beginning with 7 and 9 - within North Zone
* beginning with 8 - within West Zone
Some of the most popular lines for tourists are
* 583 and 584 from Copacabana and Ipanema to Corcovado railway station
* 464 and 435 from Copacabana to Maracanã
* 511 and 512 to Urca, passing near the lower cable car station up the Sugar Loaf mountain
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By subway
The Metrô Rio [http://www.metrorio.com.br] is safe, quick, clean, comfortable, air-conditioned and has much better signage than most transport in Rio, making the lives of foreign tourists easier. It operates
* 05:00 to 24:00 mondays to saturdays
* 07:00 to 23:00 sundays
* 00:00 to 24:00 during Carnival
There are two lines (see map), Line 1 (Orange) and Line 2 (Green). Between the stations Central and Botafogo they share the same route. On weekends and holidays, transfer between the two lines is only at Estácio station as Line 2 only runs from Pavuna to Estácio.
A one-way subway-only "unitario" ticket is R$3.70 (May 2015). The ticket window will give you a card that you insert in the turnstile; do not pull it out unless you've purchased a multi-trip or transfer pass. Rechargeable IC cards (minimum charge R$5, no deposit required) are also available and definitely worth getting if you'll be in town for a few days.
Since 2003, the Metrô company operates bus lines from some metro stations to nearby neighborhoods which are not served by the subway system. This is particularly helpful for places uphill such as Gávea, Laranjeiras, Grajaú and Usina.
The minibuses on these lines are officially called Metrônibus and Metrô na Superfície (literally, Subway on Ground), but actually they are just ordinary buses in special routes for subway commuters.
You can buy tickets for these buses from the normal ticket windows at your departure metro station - just ask for expresso (pronounced "eysh-PREH-sso", not "express-o"). Prices range from R$ 3.50 to 4.55 (as of July 2014), depending on the transfer you want. This ticket must be kept after crossing the turnstile to the metro. When you leave the destination subway station after the metro ride, give the ticket to the bus driver who shall be waiting in the bus stop just outside of the station. If you don't have an expresso metro ticket, you may use the expresso buses all the same, at the cost of a regular bus ticket.
Recently, the last car of each train has been marked with a pink window sticker to indicate that during rush hours this car may be used by women only. This policy, aimed to avoid potential harassment in crowded trains is sometimes considered unnecessary as women have been using Rio's subway for hassle-free everyday travel since long.
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By car
Traffic within some parts of Rio can be daunting, but a car may be the best way to reach distant beaches like Grumari, and that can be an extra adventure. Avoid rush-hour traffic jams in neighborhoods such as Copacabana, Botafogo, Laranjeiras, and Tijuca, where moms line up their cars to pick up their children after school. Buy a map, and have fun.
Note that Rio has an interesting program of traffic management. Between 07:00 and 10:00 on weekday mornings the traffic flow of one highway on the beachfront roads of Ipanema and Copacabana is reversed, i.e. all traffic on those roads flows in the same direction, towards the city. Note also that on Sundays the highway closest to the beach is closed to allow pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, skaters and others to exercise.
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By bike
Rio de Janeiro is the perfect city to discover by Bike. The last five years the city improved it's bike lane infrastructure from 100 kilometer to almost 400 kilometer.
The cheapest way to bike is using the state government Bike Rio system [http://www.mobilicidade.com.br/bikerio.asp], similar to those in major European cities where there are bike stations dotted around the city. Currently they are only around Zona Sul and limited places in Centro. The bike lanes are well maintained and extensive eg. It is possible to bike all the way from Leblon to Centro on dedicated bike lanes along the coast. Subscription is R$10/month or R$5/day. No extra charges apply as long as you return the bike to any station within an hour and there's a 15 mins interval between changing bikes. There is an App for iOS and Android where you can register, pay, find nearest stations, and withdraw the bike. You can only withdraw the bike by either calling a special number or via the App.
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By scooter
In the last couple of years it has become common to use scooters in Rio de Janeiro. Several rental agencies exist to serve this demand. Travellers that are used to riding motorbikes will find it very confortable and convenient to zip around Rio de Janeiro on scooter. It gives an extra dosis of liberty and autonomy to visit touristic spots little bit further away, such as Vista Chinesa, Prainha, or Largo do Boticário.
* [url=http://www.happymoto.com.br]Happy Moto[/url]
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On foot
Rio is a fantastic walking city. There are several tour companies available like [url=http://www.realriotours.com]RealRio Tours[/url] and [url=http://www.rioculturalsecrets.com/]Rio Cultural Tours[/url]that will show you the most famous sites in Rio de Janeiro, and some of the 'hidden' local neighborhoods often unexplored by tourists. Nearly all tour guides in Rio are fluent in English, but of course it is best to confirm that before you sign up.
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Beaches
Even the most seasoned tourist will find the beaches here quite amazing. They are wide and clean, with soft white sand. The main beaches from Leme to Barra have plenty of services for the beach goers, including free showers at the beach, wet trails to walk on cool sand, clean pay toilets, life-savers and police, tents and chairs for rent, soft drinks and alcoholic bars, food.
The beaches are from East to West (Downtown outwards):
*Ramos (in-bay) - inappropriate for bathing
*Flamengo (in-bay) - usually inappropriate for bathing
*Botafogo (in-bay) - inappropriate for bathing
*Urca (in-bay) - usually inappropriate for bathing
*Vermelha (oceanic) - Mostly appropriate for bathing
*Leme (oceanic)
*Copacabana (oceanic)
*Arpoador (oceanic)
*Ipanema (oceanic)
*Leblon (oceanic)
*São Conrado (oceanic) - sometimes inappropriate for bathing
*Barra da Tijuca (oceanic)
*Recreio dos Bandeirantes (oceanic)
*Grumari (oceanic)
*Abricó (oceanic, nudist beach)
Abricó is the only official nudist beach in the area of Rio de Janeiro, it lies next to Grumari beach. Only accessible by car/taxi. An option is taking the bus numbered S-20 (Recreio) that passes along Copacabana/Ipanema/Leblon, and from the end of the line (ponto final) take a cab, for a travel time of almost 2 hours.
It is also worth visiting the beaches in the island [wiki=c973b8b70dd8d2e2b029f9e015e57380]Paquetá[/wiki], particularly:
* Praia da Moreninha (on the Guanabara Bay, but often not clean enough for swimming)
Cariocas have a unique beach culture, with a code of customs which outlanders (even Brazilians from other cities) can misconstrue easily. Despite what many foreigners may believe, there are no topless beaches. Girls can wear tiny string bikinis (fio dental), but it doesn't mean they're exhibitionists. For most of them, it's highly offensive to stare. Until the 1990s, men and boys wore speedos, then wearing bermuda shorts or trunks became more common. Speedos ("sungas" in Portuguese) and square leg suits are now making a comeback. Jammers are less common but still accepted.
Waves in Rio vary from tiny and calm in the Guanabara bay beaches (Paquetá, Ramos, Flamengo, Botafogo, Urca) to high, surf-ideal waves in Recreio. In Leme, Copacabana, Arpoador, Ipanema, and Leblon, there's a popular way of "riding" the waves called pegar jacaré (pe-GAHR zha-kah-REH; literally, "to grab an alligator"). You wait for the wave to come behind you then swim on top of it until it crumbles next to the sand.
Commerce is common in Rio's beaches, with thousands of walking vendors selling everything from sun glasses or bikinis to fried shrimp to cooling beverages (try mate com limão, a local ice tea mixed with lemonade, or suco de laranja com cenoura, orange and carrot juice). For food, there is also empada (baked flour pastry filled with meat or cheese), sanduíche natural (cool sandwich with vegetables and mayo) and middle eastern food (Kibbehs and pastries). Vendors typically shout out loud what they're selling, but they won't usually bother you unless you call them. All along the beaches there are also permanent vendors who will sell you a beer and also rent you a beach chair and an umbrella for a few Reais.
The beaches in Barra and Recreio (Quebra-Mar, Pepê, Pontal, Prainha) were favored by surfers and hang-gliders until the 1980s, but now they are outnumbered by the middle-class and nouveau riche from the suburbs and also West Zone favela residents, such as now world-famous Cidade de Deus (City of God, made famous in the eponymous film).
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Buildings
Paço Imperial (1743) - Old Royal and Imperial office where order were sent, and formal inquiries with the monarch took place, colonial architecture (in downtown, next to Praça XV, Fifteen Square). Nice quiet restaurant inside.
*Casa França Brasil (1820) - French cultural centre, with gallery and video hall (in downtown, next to CCBB).
*CCBB - Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (1906) - A cultural centre with gallery, movie theater, video room, library and stages; usually hosts the main exhibitions in town (in downtown). An interesting building with old-fashioned elevators/lifts.
*Candelária Church - Neoclassic cathedral (next to CCBB) is a fine piece of art.
*Mosteiro de São Bento (1663) - Saint Benedict's Monastery, colonial architecture (in downtown).
*Ilha Fiscal Palace (1889) - Located in the Guanabara Bay, next to the Navy Museum
*Gloria Church (1739). Small but interesting church reached by a funicular. Nice views. (metro: Gloria)
*Palácio Gustavo Capanema - Former ministry of culture, designed by French architect Le Corbusier; though small, it is regarded as an important pioneering in modern architecture (downtown).
*Arcos da Lapa (1750) - Lapa Aqueduct, colonial structure that brought water from springs to downtown.
*Catedral Metropolitana - a modern, cone-shaped cathedral, designed by Edgar de Oliveira da Fonseca (in Lapa).
*São Francisco da Penitência church (1773) - Colonial church.
*Teatro Municipal (1909) - City Theater, inspired by the Paris Opéra House (in Cinelândia square).
*Biblioteca Nacional (1910) - National Library (in Cinelândia square).
*Câmara Municipal - The City Hall, hosts the city council (in Cinelândia square).
*Palácio do Catete - The former presidential palace (1893-1960), now hosts a museum of recent history and nice gardens (in Catete).
*Itamaraty - Former presidential palace (1889-1893) and foreign office; now hosts a museum of South American diplomacy, a library and the UN information offices in Brazil (in Downtown, next to the Central station).
*Palácio Guanabara - Former palace of the Imperial Princess, now governor's office; eclectic architecture; not open to public (in Laranjeiras).
*Art Deco. Rio is a major centre for the Art Deco style of architecture. Indeed, the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado is considered a classic example of Art Deco work. There are numerous buildings in Copacabana and elsewhere that employ this style.
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Museums
There is no shortage of things to do on a rainy day. In addition to a wide range of museums, Rio has many cultural centres, which are run by banks and other organizations and usually host free exhibitions. Details of what is on can be found in the Segundo Caderno section of the daily O Globo newspaper, which provides more detail in a weekly Friday supplement. Also very useful is the Mapa das Artes Rio de Janeiro, which provides detailed bi-monthly listings as well as detailed maps of the city. This is free and can be picked up at most museums.
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Parks
In addition to Jardim Botânico and Parque Lage, mentioned above, other parks worth a visit are:
* Parque do Flamengo, also known as Aterro do Flamengo.
* Parque Guinle
* Campo de Santana
* Quinta da Boa Vista
* Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos
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Carnaval
Still the greatest reason for visiting Rio seems to be the Carnaval. This highly-advertised party lasts for almost two weeks and it is well known for the escolas de samba (samba schools) that parade in Centro, on a gigantic structure called Sambódromo (Sambadrome). During Carnaval, Rio has much more to offer though, with the blocos de rua, that parade on the streets. There are now hundreds of these street "samba blocks", that parade almost in every neighborhood, especially in Centro and the South Zone, gathering thousands of people. Some are very famous, and there are few cariocas that have not heard of "Carmelitas", "Suvaco de Cristo", "Escravos da Mauá" or "Simpatia É Quase Amor".
The rest of the year, samba shows are popular with tourists, and are held at several venues like Plataforma and Scala. These are expensive and not really representative of Brazilian culture, they present a lot of almost naked women and bad musicians, a tourist trap (much like the real thing.) Much more interesting and genuine, though, are the night practice sessions held by the various samba schools in the months leading up to Carnaval. You will find only a small number of tourists here, and you will be served the best caipirinhas of your trip! These go on into the wee hours of the morning, with the fun really only starting at 13:00-14:00. A good cab driver should be able to hook you up, and cabs will be available to take you back when you are samba-ed out. Salgueiro and Mangueira are good choices, as they are two of the larger samba schools, and are located relatively close to the tourist areas in a fairly safe area.
Note that a change is afoot that may make this genuine experience a thing of the past (or more convenient, depending on your viewpoint) for all but the most savvy tourists. The local government built a complex of buildings (Cidade do Samba) where many of the samba schools are moving their practice halls and float-construction facilities from the gritty warehouses typically located in or near their home favelas. One can expect many more tourists, and shows made-up for the tourists as the tourist bureau milks this facility for all it's worth year-round.
Here is a list of some of the samba schools:
*
*
* Acadêmicos da Rocinha [http://www.academicosdarocinha.com.br/ ].
The newest addition for tourists is the Samba City [http://www.sambacity.info/].
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Music
Rio was the cradle of three of Brazil's most important musical genres: samba, choro, and bossa nova. In recent years, there has been a boom of traditional samba and choro venues. A lot of them are in the downtown district of [wiki=14676fb7131ce898641b24a3ca70286b]Lapa[/wiki]. There are good and cheap nightlife options, where you will see some of the best musicians of the country. Any of the city newspapers provide pointers to the best shows.
If you're not such an anthropological type of tourist, you can check out the same papers for tips on other kinds of music. Being a big city, Rio has big and small clubs that play almost every kind of music. The major mainstream clubs mostly play whatever's on the Radio - which is usually whatever's on the USA radios and MTV - but the underground scene has a lot to offer on Rock, E-Music, Rap and such. The best way to find out about those are the flyers handed or left at hostels, cinema and theater lobbies, nightclub lines, etc.
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New Year's Eve celebrations
Rio hosts the country's largest and most popular New Year’s Eve celebrations. The huge fireworks display and music shows attract 2 million people to the sands of Copacabana beach every year. People dress in white for luck and toast the arrival of the new year. It's usual also to have some national and international concerts on the beach for free.
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Gay Travels
Rio de Janeiro is the main destination for lesbian and gay travellers from all over Brazil and the rest of the world. The city has been chosen as the best lesbian and gay international destination in 2009, and the sexiest gay place in the world in 2010 and 2011.
Brazil has an extensive and functional treating of [wiki=b1c735ffa03683c4bfbedb3b43d4f647]AIDS[/wiki]. Anti-retrovirus drugs are freely distributed on the public healthcare system.
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Family
Brazilians value family above all else. Large extended families are very common, and thus social functions such as weddings and reunions tend to be large. It is not uncommon for children and young adults to live with their immediate family until marriage.
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Hang gliding and paragliding
The Hangliding and Paragliding flights have found in Rio de Janeiro, the ideal land for its high hills and favorable wind. Different from other places in the world, in Rio, the sport could be done in urban areas and landing on the beach!
These conditions naturally attract many tourists who get the courage to enjoy a flight. And even the most inexperienced person can flight since there´s no training or special gear needed.
Operator:
*Sky Center [http://www.skycenter.com.br] (21) 2437-4592 / 7817-3526
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Hiking and Trekking
Not surprisingly, a huge city that has an actual forest within its limits has lots to offer for hikers. It's always advisable to have a local with you when trekking in Rio ([url=http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=1234]Couchsurfing's Rio de Janeiro group[/url] usually organizes hikes around the city), as some treks are not very well-marked. Since the early 2000s there hasn't been any reports of violence/burglary on the city's trails (a problem in the 90s), but the rules on the Stay safe section apply as anywhere else in the city. Some of Rio's hiking trails include:
* Parque Lage - Corcovado
The trek is fairly demanding and steep, and takes about 1h30/2h to complete, but yet very popular among locals - it's normal to see whole families doing it, as well as groups of friends and foreigners. Ask the park's staff or look for signs that say "Trilha" to get to the start of the trail, just behind the ruins of an old house. From there you have two paths: going straight ahead leads to a waterfall that is usually full of families on the weekends (it's a good spot to stop on your way back if you go back the same way), and left leads straight to the main path of the trek. Along the way there are 3 waterfalls (just one you can actually bath in, though) and a small path where you have to hang on to a chain to pass through some rocks. Until this point you will be going up, but always surrounded by forest. The first views of the city will start after the chain (about 1h/1h30 in). Then you get to the train tracks, which you can follow up to the Christ (another 15/30 minutes). Views from here on are breathtaking.
June 2011: Hiking up to the Christ is possible, but at the top you must get in a van and take it a about a half mile down the mountain. From there tickets can be bought for 25R (this includes the van rides).
* Sugar Loaf
This is a short and fairly easy hike, taking about 20/30' to complete, also very popular among locals, specially because you can go up for free then hitch a ride back on the cable car (after 6pm, it's free to return on it). The hike begins at Pista Cláudio Coutinho in Urca, and is very popular among the locals. If you ask the guards they'll point you to the start. It's uphill, but just the first five minutes are really steep and will need you to use your hands. From there on just keep to your left. There are amazing views of Urca and the Guanabara Bay during the final 20 minutes, some of which are angles you don't get from the vantage points above. The trek actually ends on top of Morro da Urca, the smallest of the two. You have to buy a ticket for the cable car if you want to go up the other hill.Note that you will no longer be able to purchase any tickets on top of Morro da Urca (Dec 14), be prepared to 1. get stuck on the mountain till 7pm as you can get free ride downhill or 2. walk all the way back to the bottom if you don't have a ticket before hiking up.
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Panoramic flights
If you have the money the following operators give you panoramic flights in helicopters:
* Cruzeiro Taxi Aéreo [http://www.cruzeirotaxiaereo.com.br/]
* Helisight [http://www.helisight.com.br/]
* Ds Taxi Aéreo [http://www.dstaxiaereo.com.br/]
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Favela (Shantytown) tours
A number of operators offer tours of Rocinha, the largest (but not the safest) in Rio. Many tours are done by outside companies in safari-like buses, which can lead to awkward interactions with the locals. Try to go with someone who lives in Rocinha on a walking tour. It is also possible to arrange tours to other favelas, although Rocinha has a longer history of tourism and is one of the more developed favelas.
You may hear stories about people being invited by locals to visit their home in a favela. If you receive such an invitation do think carefully about it and perhaps ask around about the person that has invited you. Many of the favelas are rife with drugs and guns so think carefully about how much you trust the person that is inviting you. A search on the Internet may reveal some accounts of tours others have taken. A visit like this will obviously be more authentic than a book tour and could be the highlight of your visit to Rio; on the other hand you are taking a risk.
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Capoeira
Learning capoeira, a mix of dance and fighting created by the then enslaved African community is not as hard as outsiders may think, and it's original and fun. At Casa Rosa Cultural [http://www.casarosa.com.br], an antique house in Laranjeiras neighborhood, they offer special classes for the beginner tourists.
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Samba
Samba is the national rhythm. For a traditional escola de samba (samba school), try Mangueira. As it is close to a favela, you should go with a trustful guide.
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Language
If you are staying in Brazil for an extended time, major universities offer Portuguese courses for foreigners, usually for a very low price and with high educational standards.
* Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro[http://www.uerj.br]
* Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) [url=http://www.ufrj.br]]- Offers courses at various levels in Portuguese for Foreigners [url=http://www.scri.ufrj.br/oprt30.htm[/url].]R$428 for one semester, or R$214 if you're a regular student at UFRJ.
* Universidade Federal Fluminense [url=http://www.uff.br[/url]](located in [[Niterói[/url]])
* Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) [url=http://www.puc-rio.br]]- Its courses Portuguese for Foreigners [url=http://www.cce.puc-rio.br/letras/portuguesingles.htm[/url]]are popular, but a bit pricey at R$1632 per semester for the beginner's levels.
* Goethe-Institut [http://www.goethe.de/br/rio[/url]
* Instituto Brasil-Estados Unidos [http://www.ibeu.org.br/]
* Cultura Inglesa [http://www.culturainglesa.com.br]
* Instituto Cervantes [http://riodejaneiro.cervantes.es/br]
* Aliança Francesa [http://www.rioaliancafrancesa.com.br]
* Instituto Nacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada (IMPA) [url=http://www.impa.br]]- the National Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics. A centre with an international renown for scientific excellence and superb working conditions in Mathematics. You can take any course for free. The summer courses (Jan-Feb) are very popular and there is even the possibility of getting some modest funding for the summer.
* Casa do Caminho Language Centre [url=http://casadocaminho-languagecentre.org/[/url]]- Learn Portuguese here with the profits going back into the Casa do Caminho [http://www.casadocaminhobrasil.org/[/url]
* Carioca Languages [http://www.carioca-languages.com/] - Learn Brazilian Portuguese at Carioca Languages. The school is situated in Copacabana, offering intensive group courses of all levels, private lessons, conversation classes and CELPE-Bras exam preparation
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Money
Banks do Money Exchange but only the bigger branches and major currencies. There might be a commission. Better rates can be found at shops with the sign ´´Cambios`´ which base their rates on a semi-official ´´Parallel`` rate, which is slightly higher than the commercial rate and thus better than you will get with a credit card or ATM. These are usually found on the main commercial streets, i.e. Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, one block from the Copacabana sea front, and Rua Visconde de Pirajá, two blocks from the Ipanema beach. Rates vary, so ask around. The shop offering the best rate today may not offer the best rate tomorrow so if you are changing money more than once ask around again.
* Changes almost any type of currency. Even unexchangeable Paraguaian Guaranis. The rate can be quite bad for less common currencies. No commission.
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Shopping
When shopping in street commerce, always bargain; this can lower prices considerably. Bargaining in stores and malls, though, is usually impolite. But naturally merchants won't bargain unless you ask, especially if you are clearly a tourist. To tourists, items can easily be overpriced by a factor of 20% especially in highly informal markets such as Saara or on the beach.
*A typical Brazilian hammock shouldn't be more than R$20-30 but they can sell for up to US$150.
*A beer on the beach should cost around R$3.00-R$4.00
*A caipirinha can be had for around R$7.00-R$9.00 and you get a great show as the ingredients are produced from a cooler and lime slices muddled before your eyes
*You can get coconut water for R$3.00-4.50
*For trinkets, your best bet is the "hippie fair" in Praça General Osório in [wiki=d27a0dd69a28c8a605049438ea4b06dd#Buy]Ipanema[/wiki] every Sunday.
Great bargains can be had on Brazilian-made clothing, as well as some European imports. Most imported items, however, such as electronics, tend to be insanely expensive due to protective import duties. For example, you will find digital cameras sell for about twice what they sell for in Europe or the U.S.
Store managers in Rio often speak some English, as this gains employees an almost-automatic promotion. But "some" can be very little, so it is useful to learn at least some very basic Portuguese. Just knowing basic greetings, numbers, and how to ask directions and prices will get you at least a "B" for effort, and despite finding that store clerks may know more English than you Portuguese, it can still come in handy to know a bit of the language. Don't be afraid to resort to writing numbers, pictures, or resorting to pantomime. Shop assistants will often tap out prices for you on a calculator. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Brazil, with American Express to a significantly lower degree. But beware that many stores will accept either Visa or Mastercard, but not both! If you carry only one, look for the sign in the store window before attempting to buy.
A great choice of gift, since they do not take much space in the suitcase back home, are bikinis, a trademark from Rio for its quality and fashion style.
Shopping malls can be found all over town, with the cheaper ones in the [wiki=237f39c725a468d6c08784771c5627b3]Zona Norte[/wiki] like Shopping Tijuca and Shopping Iguatemi and popular upscale shopping malls concentrated in the [wiki=a2601344b6f1ba614ed2818c282d37dd]Zona Sul[/wiki] like Shopping Rio Sul and Shopping Leblon and São Conrado Fashion Mall and BarraShopping in [wiki=ab10e5391b2ca2cdd5d44fe5d607e871]Zona Oeste[/wiki].
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In Rio de Janeiro you can probably find something to fit any craving. A good approach to local food is "comida a kilo" - buffet style restaurants where you pay by the weight of the food on your plate.
For the hungry, nothing beats a good rodízio (all-you-can-eat service). These are available in numerous types, although the most well-known are the churrascaria, all-you-can-eat grilled meats.
At various restaurants around town, you can also find rodízio style dining featuring seafood, pizza, or various appetizer-style snacks. The defining element of rodízio is that unlike an all-you-can-eat buffet, the servers continuously bring skewers of various meats.
Brazil has the largest population of Japanese outside of Japan, and sushi has become widely popular in Rio too. If you are a sashimi and sushi lover, you will find a great deal of options in Rio de Janeiro.
Because its huge coast, many Brazilian specialties are in the seafood area. They are very rich in shrimps, lobster, calamaris, shellfish, clams, mollusks and many other tasty fishes. So, once in this land, don't miss the opportunity to order those lovely dishes.
Travellers with fatter pockets may also splash out a bit at the Dias Ferreira Street in Leblon, Rio's up-and-coming restaurant row.
There are many places to get pizza and lots of restaurants also offer pasta.
Rio has open juice bars. Very often, these are located on street corners and have long, curved bars offering you juices from pretty much every fruit you can imagine. The best option is a small chain of juice bars called "Big Bi'".
The juices are astounding value alongside their good selection of salgados and sandwiches. Their açaí is one of the best in terms of value and taste and the staff are excellent. On top of all this, if you leave a tip, you get a big "Obrigado" (Thank you) from all the staff. For the best Big Bi's experience, try the Tangerina ao Limão juice along with the famous Bauru sandwich for a total of a mere R$15.
Finish it all off with an açaí to go. Perfect. Big Bi's has a few branches dotted around Copacabana and Ipanema.
There are many specialized "health food" shops that offer an incredible variety of rich meat and vegetable sandwiches, plus an awesome variety of fruit juices, many of them delicious and usually unknown by foreigners. Among them are graviola, fruta do conde, jaca, açaí, guaraná, pitomba, mango, coconut, orange, lemon, papaya, melon, etc. They make it as you ask and all food is 100% organic and fresh.
The meal is often prepared as you wait, so you can ask them to mix whatever fruit you want and create a customized mix if you like. You must try açaí and guaraná, Amazon fruits which are famous to be the strongest energizers and anti-oxidants of the world.
They also offer Brazilian snacks (including many Italian and Oriental delicacies), and other simple but delicious things to eat. I never got enough of them! These shops usually are cheap and hang many fruits at the entrance or somewhere visible to display their quality.
Warning: look for clean places, as hygiene can be poor in many street shops.
Some different flavours:
* Coxinha - Rio is also famous for its pastries and street food, heritage from Portuguese and old European culture. In most cafeterias (lanchonete; lun-sho-NETCH) you can have a pastel (pahs-TELL) or salgado(saw-GAH-do; local pastry) for less than R$3. Typical pastries are coxinha (ko-SHEEN-ya; chicken nugget shaped like a chicken leg), and unique Rio's joelho (zho-EH-lyo; rolled dough filled with ham and cheese). Also try pão de queijo (paw-djee-KAY-zhoo; cheese baked dough), typical from Minas Gerais but very common in Rio as well, and tapioca (typical from Bahia), a kind of crepe made out of manioca flour.
* Guaraná - For drinking, ask for guaraná (gwa-ra-NAH; soda made from the seed of an Amazon fruit, also available as a strong drink), mate (MAHTCH; sweet ice tea; not like Rio Grande do Sul or Argentina's hot and sour mate), água de coco (ah-gwa-djee-KOH-ku; natural coconut water) or caldo de cana (caw-do-djee-KAH-na; sugarcane juice).
* Açaí - There is also a common fruit called açaí (ah-sah-EEH), with a dark-purple pulp out of which are made juices, and ice-creams. Typical cariocas eat it like cream in cups or glasses, mixed with granola, oats or other flakes.
If your palate is homesick for more familiar tastes, Rio has most of the fast-food chains found around the world (McDonald's, KFC, Domino's, Outback, Subway, Pizza Hut and Burger King). Bob's and Habib's are the biggest national fast food chains.
Many foods that in other countries are simply picked up in the hands and eaten or are eaten with knife and fork (such as pizza), also are picked up by wrapping a napkin around the food so that it is not touched with the hands (such as sandwiches). You will undoubtedly notice napkin dispensers on the tables in most restaurants for this purpose.
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What
Caipirinha, a drink made of cachaça (a Brazilian liquor made of sugarcane juice), lime, sugar and ice cubes.
*Fresh Fruit juices
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Where
Botequims (pronounced 'boo-chi-KEEN'), also well known as botecos are quite unpretentious bars with simple appetizers and lots of ice-cold chope (draft beer). They can be foung everywhere and are almost inseparable from the carioca lifestyle. Try Bracarense (85, José Linhares street, Leblon), one of the most traditional.
* Juice bars can also be found on nearly every corner for refreshing juices in the often hot and muggy city. Choose from dozens of freshly squeezed fruit juices - mix two or three fruits together or simply try the freshly squeezed orange juice. For a delicious Brazilian special try the açaí, a smoothie made from a deep purple fruit from the Amazon.
*Kiosks along the boardwalk at Copacabana and Ipanema beach stay open all night.
*Devassa offers well-crafted microbrews, a tropical take of English style ales. Besides their São Paulo branch, they have nine locations in Rio, including Leblon (Rua General San Martin 1241, 021-2540-6087) and Jardim Botânico (Av. Lineu de Paula Machado 696, 021-2294-2915).
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Samba clubs
Samba clubs are live music bars with great atmosphere where locals go for dancing and meeting people. When in Rio, don't miss visiting one. Most of these bars work with a kind of consumption card, which is handed to you when you enter. Everything you consume is marked on this card, and losing it means you'll have to pay a high fee (sometimes more than R$200,00!) - so take good care of it.
There are countless samba clubs in the town, a couple in the [wiki=a2601344b6f1ba614ed2818c282d37dd#Samba clubs]Zona Sul[/wiki], but most in Rios the nightlife district, [wiki=563ea18c885153a9794d84ce97337a33#Samba clubs]Lapa[/wiki].
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Street party
Thursday to Saturday nights see the party from the bars and clubs in [wiki=563ea18c885153a9794d84ce97337a33]Lapa[/wiki] extend into the street. People play and dance to Samba, Choro (soft rhythm with flutes and mandolin), Reggae and Hip Hop, as well as ballroom music (gafieira), but not to Pop or Rock (except for some underground, which doesn't happen often or in the same place, but usually in some less known places of Lapa). While drinks are sold in the bars and clubs, vendors roam the streets wearing coolers full of beer for cheaper prices. Be sure not to bring valuables, as there are a lot of pick-pockets operating in the area.
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Spectator Sports
Watching a football (soccer) match at Maracanã can be very exciting, but also very dangerous. Atmosphere gets hottest, when two of the local Rio teams are playing (Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, and Vasco). If it looks like the team for which the fans around you are cheering is losing, it is wise to leave the stadium before the match ends. You don't want to be in the middle of a very angry bunch of football fans when they all cram out of the stadium.
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In the [wiki=a2601344b6f1ba614ed2818c282d37dd#Sleep]Zona Sul[/wiki], you will find Rio's fanciest and most popular hotels along the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, but there are lots of small, cheap, clean hotels around Flamengo and Catete. The street in front of the strip of tourist hotels in Copacabana can be seedy, due to both garishly-dressed tourists, and a few opportunistic locals ready to take advantage of them. The apart-hotels in Ipanema are a much more pleasant alternative, being both better appointed and in a nicer neighborhood with fewer tourists.
Accommodation in the lower [wiki=563ea18c885153a9794d84ce97337a33#Sleep]Centro[/wiki] can be convenient for business travellers. The surrounding areas, however, are far from pleasant at night, being nearly deserted and lacking decent restaurants and leisure options. The central Santa Teresa neighbourhood, however, is quite departed from the city centre life and has plenty of pleasant bed and breakfasts and a significant nightlife.
Given Rio's rise as a fashionable destination with creative and fashion people, some hotels that cater to the design-conscious crowd have also been popping up at the most upscale neighborhoods. The city also has a large selection of apart-hotels, which provide apartment-style accommodations with kitchen facilities. Private condominium apartments can also be rented short-term at reasonable rates, and can be found on the internet. This is probably a preferable means of finding one of these than the notes that will be passed to you by anonymous persons on the street. These apartments generally have a one-week minumum, or two weeks during Carnaval or New Years holidays.
Accommodation in Rio is probably Brazil's most expensive. There is a relative shortage of hotel rooms on the cheaper range and booking in advance is recommended. Moreover, prices for most accommodation can more than triple during New Year's and Carnival. Those are very busy periods and booking well in advance is recommended. Note that most hotels in tourist areas will only sell 4-day packages and charge in advance - even if you want to stay only for a couple of days during those events. Other than those, the busiest month is January - summer holidays in Brazil.
Motels, that you will see mainly on the outskirts of the city, are not motels in the North American sense. Rather, they are places you go with your lover for a few hours. One famous motel, overlooking the Sheraton in Leblon, was taken over by the US Secret Service when George Bush Sr stayed at the Sheraton. It is not recorded whether heart-shaped beds, mirrors on the ceiling and on-tap porno movies affected their work!
If hostel life is more your style, they are easy to find in Rio. The more expensive ones boast locations that are short walking distance to either Ipanema or Copacabana beach. However if you prefer to stay in Lapa, Glória, Catete, Flamengo and Botafogo, there are many other choices available. Hostelling has become increasingly popular in Brazil, and many of them are located at walking distance from hot spots. Beware, however, not to be taken to any fraudulent scheme - you might end up being robbed. Look for accredited places with Youth Hostelling International and similar franchises.
*[url=http://oasiscollections.com/rio]Oasis Collections[/url] Tel: +55 11 3042 9086; ask_us@oasiscollections.com; A portfolio of 70+ handpicked homes and apartments that include concierge service and full guest support. Recently awarded Top Villa Provider by Condé Nast Traveler.
*[url=http://rio-ac.com/Rio-Copacabana-Apartment]Rio Copacabana Apartments[/url] Rua Xavier da Silveira 15 Rio de Janeiro CEP 22061-010; Tel: +55 21 4042-6268; info@rio-ac.com; Prices from 120 - 200 USD for a 4 people apartment. 10 modern apartments in the same building, just by Copacabana beach. The apartments are for 2 - 8 people each and perfectly equipped. If you prefer a cheaper option for a prime location, you can try to stay at an apartment with all the comfort and space as a 3 or 4 stars hotel.
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Rio is vulnerable to epidemics of [wiki=1a0cbe412103e0ad03edb4a14cc3fe12]dengue fever[/wiki], particularly during the late summer months of February and March. Dengue can result in a serious illness. It is spread by a specific type of mosquito that often bites unprotected ankles, hand and parts of the face during the evening hours. If an epidemic occurs, be sure to take the appropriate precautions by using insect repellant and, if you happen to be staying at a place with a balcony, make sure there is no standing water around.
Here is a list of medical clinics and hospitals in Rio de Janeiro that accept international traveler´s health insurance:
* The Tourist Doctor [url=http://www.thetouristdoctor.com],]Av. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana 605/406, Copacabana, tel: 3596-1222.
* Galdino Campos Clinic [http://www.galdinocampos.com.br[/url], Av. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana 492, Copacabana, tel: 2548-9966. 24 hours, 7 days a week. All specialties. Accepts most traveler's insurance or health plans. Home-care visit at hotels and hostels also available. They want to get paid 400 R$ up-front before even an initial checkup happens.
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It is important to note that while the following information may panic you and also make you question whether to go or not to Rio, most visitors to the city have a great time with no incidents.
As a traveler, even if you don't leave the "Zona Sul" (which include Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Gávea, Jardim Botânico, Flamengo, Laranjeiras, Botafogo, Urca) or Western Suburbs (Barra, Recreio), you may experience a palpable tension over security.
Generally, tourists (gringos) and teenagers are considered "easy" targets for criminals. Day-to-day living has also been affected by this. For example, regular banks all have fortress style security doors and armed security men. Rio can be a dangerous city and it is wise to follow these rules even if they seem over exaggerated.
In order to fully enjoy your trip the traveler should pay attention to simple things. Avoid the downtown area, especially Saara, after dark. Although downtown is a relatively safe place during the day, after-dark all the people who work there have already gone home. If you are going to a theater or a show, it's all right; but do not wander in those dark streets by night. Go to Ipanema beach, all lighted and policed during the night, though even there is not entirely safe for tourists who look obviously like tourists.
Sunday is a particular day since most shops are closed and their security guards are absent so the neighbourhood Centro is not safe in the daytime. Also, even the bigger streets in Copacabana are less safe after dark so the beach walk is probably the best option.
Should you find yourself being mugged, the normal advice applies:
Don't resist or do anything to aggravate the muggers. Try not to stare in their faces as they might think you are memorizing their appearance. Eyes to the ground is probably your best bet. Let them take anything they want (keep your arms limp). Do not panic. Even if they are armed, if you comply and allow them to take what they want, they will not harm you. Afterwards, leave the scene quickly but calmly (don't run in panic screaming for the police).
In the morning, especially before the police arrive, if you are walking or jogging on, Copacabana should be considered unsafe. Even with people around, joggers are popular targets for mugging. If you plan on jogging make sure not to wear anything that may tempt a mugger (watch, ipod etc) and if you can, wait until after 10:00 AM.
When in downtown during the rush hour, be aware of pickpockets as in any other big city centre. The difference in Rio is that the pickpocket can often be a bit violent: one of them pushing you forward in the bus or to the ground in the street while another one takes your wallet and runs away. It's not that usual or as bad as it sounds, but try to avoid being in real danger by reacting strongly as these guys often operate in armed groups (2-5 people), some unnoticed by you.
In the area around Copacabana beach (and maybe in the city centre), the tourist should be aware of a shoe shining scam. The tourist will be approached by a shoeshiner and to his astonishment discover a large, dirty blot on his shoes (which is actually shoe polish or mustard but looks like quite something else). The tourist is typically shown to a chair and has his shoes or sandals cleaned in the best manner. Only after this service is rendered, the outrageous price of somewhere around R$1000 or more is revealed. At this point, muscular friends of the shoeshiner typically appear to "oversee" the completion of the transaction.
The subway is fairly safe, so it is recommended to use it if you want to go from one place to another. Although you may be used to taking the handy and good trains in Europe or even in North America to go across many places, you won't need to take a train in Rio. If you do, it can be a fairly nice trip to the suburbs or a chaotic journey to a bad neighborhood in a train where people sell all kinds of weird stuff, where everyone will look at you in a way you will feel you are a alien, about to be mugged.
Buses on the South Zone are fairly safe as well, but, in the city centre, they can be quite crowded. Inside a bus, being mugged is always a threat: less so but stil possible in the South and tourist zones. Always remember that Bus 174 movie. It happens so often that they don't even go to the news (only homicides or big cases where the police got involved such as this Bus 174 go to the news). In the subway, it is quite unlikely though, which is one extra point to the subway!
Don't walk around with lots of money in your pocket. ATM's are everywhere (prefer the ones inside shopping centres) and credit/debit cards are widely accepted. But don't walk around without any money: you may need something to give to the bad guys in case you are mugged. Not having money to give a mugger can be dangerous as they may get angry and resort to violence. An excellent idea is to buy a "capanga" (literally meaning bodyguard), that is, a small frontal unisex pouch, normally used to carry your wallet, checks, money and car keys.
Avoid wearing jewelry or other signs of wealth (iPods, fancy cell phones/mobiles, digital cameras, etc.) if possible, at any time of the day, as these attract attention. Thieves have been known to run past targets and tear off necklaces, rings, and earrings without stopping. Earrings are particularly dangerous as tearing them off often harms the owner.
There are around 700 favelas in the city and most of them can potentially be unsafe in Rio: and there is always one near you (by a couple of miles or just a few yards). These are easily recognized by their expansive brick walls, and are often on a hillside. The slums grew from being impoverished neighborhoods but are now large areas ruled by drug lords. If you want to keep your nice vision of Rio, you don't need to go there. However, some favelas are amazingly huge, and a new experience for some -- there are some travel agencies who take people on tours there. If you want to go, pay one of those agencies. NEVER go to a favela by yourself, or with an unknown guide. The tour operators have "safe-conduct pacts" with the local drug dealers. If you don't have one, you'll be in BIG trouble. You'll most likely be approached by the drug baron's guards and asked what you are doing there (and these guys typically don't speak English). If you don't have a good reason (and you probably don't), the consequences could be dire. Don't count on the police to help you, as they don't like to enter the favela either, except in special circumstances, though most likely they will check if you are carrying any drugs upon leaving the favela.
In Brazil, every state has two police forces: the Civil (Polícia Civil) and Military (Polícia Militar). Only the latter wear uniform (in Rio, it is navy blue). The city of Rio also has an unarmed Civil Guard, dressed in khaki. Policemen can usually be trusted, but corruption in Brazil is still rampant and a few officers may try to extort you or demanding a little bribe. When this happens, it is usually very subtle, and the officer may typically say something about "some for the beer" (cervejinha). If you are not willing, refuse and ask for another officer. Don't ever try to bribe a policeman on your own--most of them are honest and you might end up in jail.
The local emergency dial number is 190.
At night, especially after traffic has died down, you may hear what sounds like fireworks and explosions. This is not as menacing as it sounds, though it is still indicative of somebody up to no good. These are often firecrackers set-off as signals in the favelas. It might mean that a drug shipment has arrived and is in-transit or that the police are making a raid into the favela. It is a signal to gang operatives who act as lookouts and surrogate police to be extra-vigilant. However, real shoot-outs may occur, especially on weekends. If you are on the street and you hear a shooting, find shelter in the nearest shop or restaurant.
For your safety, cross at the crosswalks, not closer to the corner, and watch for cars regardless of traffic lights.
Carjacking can be a threat too, especially if you are outside the tourist areas and after dark. It is perfectly acceptable (even if not exactly legal) not to stop in the traffic lights if there is nobody else on the street and you feel it's okay to go (if there are no other cars). You will see even police doing this. Some major motorways such as Linha Amarela (Yellow Line: connects the west zone (Barra da Tijuca) to the north zone - may be your way to Norte Shopping for example) and Linha Vermelha (Red Line - the main connection from the International Airport) are strongly avoided late at night. Both motorways are surrounded by favelas so carjacking is usual and shoot-outs may occur between rival drug lords or between drug lords and the police. If you rent a car, be aware of all these issues. As a tourist, it may be better not to rent one anyway, as if you get lost and go to a bad neighbourhood (and again, there will always be one near you), you will most likely be in trouble.
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The Rio Times is the only English language news publication dedicated to the English speaking foreign community living and traveling in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They have been publishing weekly online since March 2009, covering Rio Politics, Business, Real Estate, Sports, Entertainment, Travel, as well as offer Classifieds and a daily Rio Nightlife Guide.
* Lavamaq's, Praia do Flamengo, 118 - Flamengo (two blocks south of Metro Catete), 21 2557-5965. Self-service laundry, $R25 wash and dry.
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[wiki=da861b1dc5072b943c772aba5029af37]Angra dos Reis[/wiki] and [wiki=97fb0dc3cf2ba83b6592625c42d36079]Ilha Grande[/wiki]. Angra is surrounded by 365 islands, the largest being Ilha Grande, a pretty island and former penal colony with beautiful beaches and good hiking. Angra is 2-3 hours from Rio by car and it is a one-hour boat ride from there to Ilha Grande.
*[wiki=4a2eaf96d60033364edcd55874a83f1c]Arraial do Cabo[/wiki] is a small town near Búzios. Its beaches have the most beautiful turquoise waters of Rio de Janeiro state. Beaches like Forno and Prainhas do Atalaia are surrounded by virgin lush green coastal vegetation and have clear blue waters similar to the Caribbean ones.
*[wiki=19994743162a21a7448946ce7ce210a6]Búzios[/wiki] is a small peninsula about three hours east of Rio. It has several beaches, lots of places to stay and an abundance of night clubs.
*[wiki=7d76d2cdecafb29fff075549be17f502]Niteroi[/wiki] - The ferry between Rio and Niteroi, a city across the bay, is a pleasant and cheap trip (as of October 2010, R$ 2.80). There are a couple of kinds of boats, ranging from very cheap and slow (called barca) to fairly cheap and fast (called catamarã, catamaran). Niteroi does not have many tourist attractions, but it does have a wonderful unique view of Rio, an intriguing contemporary art museum [url=http://www.macniteroi.com.br/],]which looks like a flying saucer jutting out over the sea, and the Niemeyer way - a park with several buildings including a theater - (All designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer). Many of the state's most beautiful beaches can be reached from this side of the bay: Itacoatiara bus number 38 or 770D, Camboinhas and Pratinininga 39.
*[[Paraty[/url]] - One hour south of Angra, this is a fully-conserved 18th-century colonial town by the ocean, hidden by tall jungle-covered mountains which used to be a hideout for pirates after the Portuguese ships; a must-see for people interested in History and Culture; also good for Rainforest hiking and kayaking.
*[wiki=c973b8b70dd8d2e2b029f9e015e57380]Paquetá[/wiki] -- Though not exactly outside of Rio, because it is an island and can only be reached by a 70 minutes ferry ride, this district of Rio makes an excellent (and inexpensive) day trip. The island is an car-free zone, so travel is limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages. There's not a lot to do on this island, but the ferry ride is worth it.
*[wiki=e20d579aa8789e7998a10d9846251775]Petrópolis[/wiki] - In the mountains outside Rio. A good place to cool down when Rio becomes too hot.
*Praia do Abricó [url=http://www.anabrico.com/i_abertura.htm]]The best public naturist beach around Rio, located in Grumari, right after Prainha. Facilities and telephone service are quite limited, so plan ahead.
*[[Teresópolis[/url]] - Another mountain town, near [wiki=e20d579aa8789e7998a10d9846251775]Petrópolis[/wiki].
*[wiki=563329a6dcbe1cbd6dc4a7521f6f4244]Serra dos Órgãos[/wiki] - National park in the mountains west of Rio. [http://www4.icmbio.gov.br/parnaso]
[wiki=cd1a4a442fd5981a67090fa2ec3d6c8b]ca:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=3c36e28bdd6e522c2b7badd81200875b]de:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=6d8793ce3b968873bca5c4aa43842e76]eo:Rio-de-Ĵanejro[/wiki]
[wiki=27eb73e5b43669dcdd31f65fbea7e405]es:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=c321b41f98471bf28ffc2c2ddef94ffe]fi:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=340b5a410591d0d43265dc7f9f2500c3]fr:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=7bd57c96db0c16f2ed34553bc5b12286]it:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=385bdd484b614cf956d6c075c33a7b3f]ja:リオデジャネイロ市[/wiki]
[wiki=d9ffd7b44d4e545ffa0de8bd6ac82cb8]nl:Rio de Janeiro (stad)[/wiki]
[wiki=5feb8a62cbad4a7ce45b840ac7294be7]pl:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=8b48aad5ef9e23fdd76583c7f7a1ef31]pt:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=2809d3226c0b2acc9ad6f1c6402843a4]ro:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=a5543b3fb74d40134aeffd5b3db587d0]ru:Рио-де-Жанейро[/wiki]
[wiki=1d27237a11732061c11da89cf260b2ac]sv:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=d19d32e33761de00a6430b4d1691f24b]wts:Category:Rio de Janeiro[/wiki]
[wiki=c936e8a2a3064447490a7387acb37073]zh:里约热内卢[/wiki]
[[WikiPedia:Rio de Janeiro]]
[wiki=311eeae72f2ede25a3a8f27022edfc18]World66:southamerica/brazil/riodejaneiro[/wiki]
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