My favourite South American city, probably my favourite city in the world, Rio de Janeiro has something for everyone. From it's vibrant Carnival, or Carnaval as its known locally, to towering monuments, the natural beauty of an urban jungle and welcoming people, tropical climate and long sandy beaches. The question really is why haven't you been already? If you're heading to Rio, I have some tips for how you might like to fill a few days, or hopefully longer.
1. First up we need to talk about Big J. The immense statue of Cristo Redentor, or Christ the Redeemer, sits upon Rio's highest point on Corcovado mountain. The statue was completed in 1931, and at an impressive 30 metres tall, it towers over the city, arms outstretched. It's an iconic landmark of Brazil and well worth a visit. Book a place on the train and visit as early in the day as possible to beat the crowds and the heat. The statue is within the lush green, Tijuca National Park, which is worth a visit in itself.
2. For a sunset cocktail with a view, take the cable car to reach the peak of Pão de Açúcar, Sugarloaf mountain, 395metres above Rio. Take in the views of Guanabara Bay and the coastline of Rio. Some might opt for a helicopter ride over the bay, whilst others are content to sip a caipirinha and relax in this lovely spot high above the city. If you were into James Bond movies, you'll remember the scene with Jaws trying to chomp his way through the cables - that was here!
It's worth visiting before the crowds arrive too, so maybe first thing in the morning after breakfast would be a good idea! For those itching to get active, it is possible to climb Sugarloaf mountain.
3. A must do for any visit to Rio is wandering the lanes of Santa Teresa, an arty neighbourhood of Rio, set high above the city. This makes it a little cooler, with great views to enjoy. You'll also find gardens, artisan shops selling jewellery and crafts, cafes and restaurants.
Taking the tram, known as the bondinho, to Santa Teresa is by far the best way to reach it. The open air cars give you panoramic views of the city as you travel and its great to get a feel for the size layout of Rio.
You can catch the tram from downtown Rio, at Carioca station. Trams depart every 20 minutes or so during the day time. Check the website for timetables and prices https://www.rj.gov.br/bondesdesantateresa/
4. Learn to make a Caipirinha, whilst learning about Brazilian culture. One of my favourite experiences in Rio has been taking a cooking class with the lovely Chef Simone. What a laugh we've had together, mixing fresh limes or passion fruit, cachaça and sugar into our own delicious Caipirinhas and chatting about where we're all from and what happens in Rio during Carnival time.
During the class we learned to make local appetizers, queijo coalho (similar to halloumi), followed by moqueca, farofa and rice, this is a traditional fish stew, so us vegetarians made an alternative. It's all about human connection here, making friends, having fun and getting to know the real Rio,
You can arrange a cooking class with Chef Simone through her instagram page & if you do, please say hello! https://www.instagram.com/chefsimonealmeida/
5. Take a tour of the fruit market with a local guide. Another fabulous experience for me, was heading over to a local fruit market with our guide Jorge, who whisked us from stall to stall, getting us to taste a variety of Brazilian fruits. South America is home to some of the most delicious and varied fruit in the world and Brazil, with it's tropical climate includes too many too many to mention. You might find coconut, passion fruit, avocado, pineapple, cocoa, açaí, custard apple, star fruit, guava, cashew. Again this is all about spending time with others, having a chance to chat with your local guide and getting to know Rio and its food better!
If you're arriving early into Rio and have some time before check-in, this is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours. A great introduction to Rio and lots of delicious fruit to rehydrate after a long flight.
You can book this tour with Fruit Brazil: https://www.fruitbrazil.com/
6. East pastries at Confeiteria Columbo. This place was an absolute find and I give complete credit to our local guide on the Free Walker Tour of Downtown Rio. Since the original tour, I must say I've returned several times with different friends. You take a pastry away or choose to soak up the historic atmosphere in the grand cafe, which has been open for over 125 years, the place is stunning and provides a welcome cool escape from the hustle and bustle.
If you're in Rio and keen to sample some of the delights, check out the website for more details:
You can arrange a tour of Downtown Rio, amongst others, on the website: https://freewalkertours.com/
7. Explore Lapa and the Selaron Steps. I am a big fan of exploring cities on foot, and Rio is great for getting around with plenty of walking route signs to be found. There is also a brilliant metro system, simple enough for even me to feel confident using it!
A lovely walk takes you from the Cinelândia station, where you'll find the beautiful theatre and the imposing concrete Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião (go inside to really appreciate it) and onto the famous Lapa arches and the Seleron Steps. Usually I'd say go during the day time to appreciate the architecture and artistry. But, during Carnival times, it's definitely worth heading to the Lapa arches in the evening where you'll find the streets alive with Caipirinha kiosks and people socialising.
8. Find some green space! Before I went, I imagined Rio to be a busy city with millions of people and whilst that is true, there is also another side to Rio - one which is green, beautiful and quiet. The Tijuca National Park is the world's largest urban rainforest, home to waterfalls, capuchin monkeys and lush forest. It was declared a national park in 1967 and work has gone on for decades to restore the region, with reforestation and re-introduction of native species of flora and fauna, which were severely impacted by sugarcane and coffee plantations.
You can take a guided hike with Jungle Me, who offer small group treks ranging from easy to hard. https://jungleme.com.br/tijuca-forest-easy-hike/
Hopefully I've whet your appetite for visit the 'marvellous city' of Rio de Janeiro and given you a little taste of some of the activities you might like to do.
If you fancy a visit to Rio, please get in touch for a free consultation about a tailor-made tour.
Contact: helen.bateman@travelcounsellors.com
Have you been to Rio? What are your favourite things to do?
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