Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio, the land of sun and samba!

 

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

I have studied Portuguese for five years, so visiting Brazil was inevitable. Walking the streets really brought to life the social, political, and economic problems faced by the Latin American people. The standard of living between the rich and the poor was unlike anywhere else I have visited, and I am so incredibly grateful to have seen both sides.

 

*Safety: Brazil has an elevated risk of danger, so travellers must be extra wary. That said, I didn’t have a single problem with theft or violence, even when straying from the “safer” areas. That said, we advise never to use airport ATMs, to only carry cash, to avoid flaunting iPhones and expensive electronics, and to always lock up valuables in the hotel safe or your own suitcase.

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

Neighbourhoods:

• Centro

  • ​Downtown, this is the financial heart of Rio de Janeiro, also home to an assortment of museums, cultural and historic centers.

• Santa Teresa

  • ​A charming neighborhood for families of the middle and upper middle class, though it has suffered from decay and neglect. 

• Botafogo

  • ​A large neighbourhood in the hills, slowly increasing in popularity. 

• Copacabana

  • ​2.5 miles of beach filled with bars and nightclubs. 

• Ipanema

  • ​A diverse beachfront stretch where you can find some great restaurants.

• Leblon

  • ​One of the most upscale neighborhoods, sitting on a mile of beachfront property. This area is more sophisticated than the other beaches. 

​

Accommodation:

• We stayed at the glamorous Copacabana Palace for several nights. One of my favourite luxury hospitality brands, Belmond, runs the hotel. The building is steps away from the beach, protected by gates and security guards. The pool area is serene, filled with the sounds of bossa nova throughout the day. Each morning, the hotel restaurant presents a divine breakfast buffet that can be eaten inside or at a poolside table. The cuisine includes traditional Brazilian options such as fresh pão de queijo, as well as standard international foods such as made to order omelets. The Palace’s breakfast was hands down the best meal we ate in the country.

• Rio is a sprawling city, so we wanted to spend time staying in a more remote area. We found a family run B&B called The Villa in the hills of Santa Teresa. While the hotel did not feel luxurious coming from the comforts of the five star Copacabana Palace, the warm hospitality and priceless views more than made up for it. From the private terrace of our standard hotel room, we had 180-degree views of Cristo Redentor, Pão de Açúcar, and Copacabana Beach. A complimentary breakfast is served at the outdoor bar each morning.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

Activities:

• What better time of year to visit Rio than during the week of Carnival? Carnival is a festival held every year before Lent and the parties and parades in Rio are considered the biggest carnival celebrations in the world. We observed the local version of Carnival – dressing up in outlandish costumes and getting drunk at blocos (street parties) and under the Lapa arches. We also attended the parades at the Sambadrome, reserved for wealthy Brazilians and tourists. I would suggest doing both as they’re equally festive and memorable, though very, very different!

• As Brazil is located in the southern hemisphere, February and March brings beautiful weather to the Copacabana beach. Though crowded, you have to go, but keep an eye on your bags. Do not leave anything unattended. If you want to blend in, avoid sunbathing like the tourists. Play football, swim, surf or pull up a circle of chairs and have a caipirinha or cerveja with friends.

• The highlight of the trip, however, was a tour of Rocinha, one of Rio's poorest favelas. Just three months before our visit, the streets were an open war-zone. Our local guides, Luis and Zeinho, gave us great context about the causes of violence. We chose Favela Adventures because the profits from tours go directly into programs taht enrich the neighbourhood. Be vigilant, but don't be scared to do this.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

Food:

• Feijoada is indisputably Brazil's national dish. The recipe is an invention of plantation slaves - a thick black bean stew served with rice and a variety of pork meats. 

• At breakfast it is common to eat tropical fruits, like papaya, and local cakes, Pão de queijo, bread and butter or jam, coffee, juices or tea. The poolside breakfast buffet at The Copacabana Palace was one of the best I have tasted in my life.

​

Nightlife:

• Brazilians know how to have a good time. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

​

Tourist Attractions:

• I really enjoyed taking a cable car up to Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) at sunset. There is a bar at the top serving food and drink at reasonable prices. The area wasn’t too busy at all when we visited, so we didn’t have to wait in a queue for transportation. The views are serene and undeniably memorable.

• The other attraction everyone must see is Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). The statue is a notorious symbol of Rio. We chose to hike the Corcovado starting from Parque Lage. The trail-head was difficult to find, but once we saw the security post, we signed our names and it was easy from there. The path is quite steep and involves a bit of rock climbing, but we ascended in about an hour and a half – much faster than anticipated. I waited to Google what insects and animals lived in the forest… The statue itself is HUGE. Learning about the engineering was fascinating and gave me a better appreciation for the landmark. We chose to take the train down. For those of you who don’t want to hike, you could also take the train up.

​