Rio de Janeiro 2023

In considering a trip to Brazil / Argentina, we decided to take a guided tour with the Travel Department, with three different guides on-hand whilst visiting each of the three main holiday locations of (1) Rio de Janeiro (2) Iguazu Falls and (3) Buenos Aires.

 

The tour comprised twelve nights staying in four/five star hotels on a half-board basis. All of our daily coach trips began and ended at our hotels.

 

During our tour free days, there were optional tours available at extra costs.

After our five nights at the Windsor Plaza Hotel in Rio we flew onto Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian/Argentinian border. (See our 5 night itinerary below).

 

 

(1) A guided tour, visiting the highlights that Rio de Janeiro has to offer.

 

Rio de Janeiro is a huge seaside city in Brazil, famed for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, 38m high Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado and for Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite peak with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its sprawling favelas (shanty towns) which are home to circa 20% of the population. Its raucous Carnaval festival, featuring parade floats, flamboyant costumes and samba dancers, is considered the world’s largest.

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Places to visit downtown:

- Square XV, a historic square developed in the 18th - 19th century, with many important buildings including the Imperial Palace, the Mint;

- The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian - The cathedral was designed by Edgar de Oliveira da Fonseca in a modern style based on Mayan architectural style of pyramids. The current cathedral was built between 1964 and 1979;

- Cinelandia Square - developed in the 20th century - Opera House, National Library, Governor’s White Palace, Rio Grande Movie Theatre.

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Points of interest:

- 51% of the population of Rio is of African descent;

- Chopp is a favourite local beer and Caipirinha (Portuguese pronunciation: [kajpiˈɾĩɲɐ]) is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça (sugarcane hard liquor), sugar, and lime. The drink is prepared by mixing the fruit and the sugar together, then adding the liquor.

 

Our observations from our visit, we found Rio De Janeiro has :-

 

A diversity of architecture;

 

A diversity of race;

 

Soccer football mania everywhere;

 

Good quality of food, allied to great variety;

 

Brazilian residents that have a very relaxed pace of life;

 

Transaction payment methods of Cash (Brazilian Real) or Credit Card. Revolut virtual credit cards are accepted everywhere.

 

Succeeded in building well run accessible tourist attractions around their naturally occurring and man made must-see phenomena;

 

A lot of ad-hoc recycling taking place due to social deprivation;

 

A system of ticket sales that if you buy either a cable car or cog train ticket, be sure to hold onto it as you will have to produce it several times for stiles and authentication. You will also need your ticket for the same purpose on the return journey;

 

Extensive social economic deprivation;

 

Only single decker buses as bridges too low for any tall transportation;

 

Many poor footpaths that are quite often prone to trip hazard;

 

A homelessness problem that is ubiquitous;

 

Many beautiful beaches, however, Brazilians themselves are prone to littering;

 

Self sufficiency in petroleum;

 

12 hour days of light and 12 hours of darkness;

 

Numbers of hawkers on its beaches, that triple its European beach equivalents;

 

Hotels with small bedrooms by European standards as space is at a premium;

 

2 airports, 1 international and 1 domestic;

 

Transportation systems around the city that are easy to access. It has good public transport and cheap taxis and Ubers available in plentiful supply;

 

General safety standards that are less than that found in Europe;

 

2 tier systems in education and health based on wealth. This system continues to polarise its residents into very rich and very poor.

 

No more than any big city in the world, it has a pick pocket problem. A visitor is advised to wear their back packs on their front, particularly in high density tourist locations.

 

Rio de Janeiro Travel Tips

 

Transportation  Taxis are the most popular way to get around Rio de Janeiro.

 

Need a Visa  If you are American, you will need to apply for a visa.

 

Currency Brazil uses the Real (R$).  1 Euro = about 5 Real.  Most every place takes credit cards, and the debit cards are more difficult to use.  Carry enough R$ currency just to cover small purchases, in case your Credit Card fails. We used our Revolut credit card throughout.

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Language Brazilians speak Portuguese.  if you know a bit of Spanish, you should be able to read some signs and menus.  A lot of the big tourist areas have English speaking employees.  At the mom-and-pop shops you just do the best you can, however, even broken Spanish should see you through.  Brazilians are about the nicest and friendliest people you will ever meet.

 

Climate  Being in the southern hemisphere means that winter is in June & July and summer is in December & January (rainy season).  Whatever time of year you visit, come prepared for temperatures between low 20C and mid 30C.

 

Electricity in Rio is 110 volts.  If you can find one bring a Brazilian type N adapter with you.

 

 

 

Our recommendation of the order of importance by which you should visit the sights:-

 

Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)

It is Brazil’s most recognised landmark and can be seen from almost every part of Rio. Commemorated in 1931 to celebrate a century of Brazil’s independence, this 706m (ASL) statue sits in the middle of the sub-tropical jungle of Parque Nacional de Tijuca.  Because it is so popular, it is advised to buy your tickets at least a day in advance.  When to visit, is very weather dependent.  You don’t want to get to the top and not be able to see anything but clouds.

The most popular way to reach the Christ is by red cog train.  It leaves the station every thirty minutes and takes about twenty minutes to reach the top. You can also ride a Parque da Tijuca-authorised van.  It gets very crowded, up at the statue. If you are trying to get a selfie with just the statue, it is very difficult to find an un-crowded spot. Despite the crowds of tourists, the views of Rio from this iconic landmark are stunning.

 

London has Big Ben, Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Rio has Christ the Redeemer. 

 

If you ask anyone travelling to Rio de Janeiro, what is top of their list of things to do, nine times out of ten, they’re going to say Christ the Redeemer. 

As iconic as it is imposing, the Christ the Redeemer statue is the most recognisable Rio de Janeiro landmark. The 30-metre-high statue built between 1922 and 1931 symbolises Brazilian Christianity.

Located on the top of Mount Corcovado, built in concrete blocks covered in  soapstone, the statue stands on an eight-metre pedestal so that it is visible from nearly everywhere in Rio.

 

 

Sugar Loaf Mountain

Going to see the Sugar Loaf actually involves riding a cable car to two different mountains, first to Morro do Urca and then finally to Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf).  The Sugar Loaf is a granite monolith and rises 395m above sea level, in what early explorers thought was the mouth of a great river.  This Rio de Janeiro tourist attraction’s name originates from Brazil’s 16th and 17th-century sugarcane rush – the mountain’s shape resembles that of a cone-shaped sugar loaf.

The mountain has become a tourist favourite since the cableway installation in 1912. Some of the best sunset views can come from the top of the Sugar Loaf.  The mountains can be scaled during organised weekend climbs, however, most get to the top via the cable cars.  Just like the Cristo, this attraction can become very crowded, so avoid the weekends.  

Tickets can be bought online, or at the ticket booth.  Once at the top, you can buy souvenirs or snacks and soak in one of the best city views in the world.

Adult/child approx R$60/R$30-  Hold onto your ticket.  You’ll need it for the ride back down.

 

 

Rio’s Beaches

With 31 miles (50 km) of shoreline, part of Rio’s beauty lies in its combination of mountains and beaches.  People in Rio love the beach.  There is a beach within walking distance of most major hotels, and you can find people enjoying the beach from dawn, when the surfers find the best waves, until way after dark.  The major beaches Copacabana and Ipanema shine bright lights for those who enjoy late night swims.  On weekends, the prominent beaches get very crowded.

 

Bring plenty of sunscreen, a tiny swimsuit, and beach towel.  Almost everything else can be bought/rented at the beach.  Take only what cash you need for the day.  Leave all valuables (jewellery particularly)  at the hotel unless you plan on taking turns staying with your things.  The water temperature and currents can change daily, so “test the waters” and take note of warning flags before getting out of your depth.

 

Copacabana Beach

The 4 km long Copacabana Beach sits along a crescent-shaped bay. It boasts golden sand and palm trees, perfect for playing volleyball or sun-basking.

The beach attracts tourists with its picturesque views, beach bars, and boulevard shopping. Spend your day paddle boarding, swimming, or exploring the bay by boat. The beach gains worldwide exposure from the 80’s Barry Manilow song of the same name.

 

Ipanema Beach

Though it only occupies a relatively small 3.2 km of shoreline, Ipanema Beach still manages to be one of the most famous beaches in Rio de Janeiro – in no small thanks to its starring role in the Bossa Nova song, “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Many beachgoers often go to segmented areas of the beach, known as posts. 

Post #9, also known as Cementerio dos Elefantes, is where you’ll find the artists, hippies, and surfers. At post #8, you’ll find skaters and kids from neighbourhoods around Ipanema.

Ipanema Beach is also a well-known spot for the LGBTQ+ community, especially Farme de Amoedo Street. 

Aside from surfing and skateboarding, the beach also has many great beach bars and restaurants. 

 

 

 

Jardim Botanico (Botanical Gardens)

Rio’s botanical gardens were established in 1808 by the Prince Regent, Dom Joao VI to acclimatise plants coming from Asia.  Later the grounds were turned into the royal gardens then opened to the public in 1822.  

The garden is home to a variety of plant species.  Walk around and enjoy the orchid greenhouse and the 200 imperial palm trees that line the many broad walkways. 

R$15 (cash only)

 

Eat Traditional Feijoada

Feijoada (bean stew) is a Brazilian delicacy made with black beans and salted or smoked beef and pork. This traditional dish comes with white rice, cabbage, and farofa (toasted cassava flour).

 

 

Party at Carnival

Known as “The Greatest Show On Earth,” the Rio Carnival dates back to 1723 – and many consider it to be the biggest Carnival globally. It takes place in late February.  Samba is an integral part of Carnival – it displays the Afro-European fusion that defines the eccentric Brazilian culture.

The show features exotic costumes, elaborate floats, and well-choreographed samba dance routines. 

Every year the top samba schools get to perform at the Sambadromo. A 40-judge panel assesses the choreography, costume design, song choices, and overall performance. A few days later, they reveal the winning school.

 

However, samba schools aren’t the only ones that have fun. Carnival spectators are welcome to participate by wearing costumes embroidered with jewels, feathers, beads, and sequins, based on the annual theme. 

 

 

 

 

A sense of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2023

Rio is located on the Atlantic Ocean, in the southeastern part of the sub-tropical zone of South America, and is widely recognised as one of the world’s most beautiful and interesting urban centres. Although Rio de Janeiro continues to be the pre-eminent city of Brazil in the eyes of many in the world, in reality its location, architecture, inhabitants, and lifestyle make it highly unique when compared with other Brazilian cities

 

The name was given to the city’s original site by Portuguese navigators who arrived on January 1, 1502, and mistook the entrance of the bay for the mouth of a river (rio is the Portuguese word for “river” and janeiro the word for “January”). 

 

Rio de Janeiro became the colonial capital in 1763 and was the capital of independent Brazil from 1822 until 1960, when the national capital was moved to the new city of Brasília; 

 

Rio de Janeiro not only survived but thrived as a commercial and financial centre, as well as a tourist magnet. 

 

Rio de Janeiro is well known for the beauty of its beaches and of its peaks, ridges, and hills—all partly covered by sub-tropical forests. The city is a centre of leisure for Brazilian and foreign tourists.

The general topology is hilly and mountain passes, flattening down to lagoons and sandy beach fronts.

 

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Our must see recommendations for a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2023:-

(1) Take a trip up to see, either or both, ‘Christ the Redeemer’ or ‘Sugar Loaf mountain’;

(2) Take a bay cruise, to get a great perspective of the city from the bay

(3) Stroll along any of its beaches or stroll during the day around the narrow city streets just soaking up the very Brazilian atmosphere.

 

As always, the people we met on the tour and our Travel Department guide, Laura and the various bus drivers, enriched the whole experience.

 

“You should travel away from home, to really appreciate the value of what you have at home, on your return.”

 

“Happiness is found in the journey and rarely in the destination, alone.”