Located on the summit of the Corcovado (or “humpback”), at over 710 meters above sea level, the statue of the Redeeming Christ, is without a doubt one of the monuments the most admired in the world.
A stroll, beginning in the neighborhood of Cosme Velho, on board the little train (or by car), through surprising decors, mixes tropical smells and incredible views over the “cidade maravilhosa”. From the summit, of course, the stupefying view, but why say more? You have to be there!

Because of its imposing stature (el. 400 m.a.s.l.) and its surprising shape, the Sugarloaf is, like the Corcovado, an un-avoidable tourist site offering one of the most beautiful view over Rio. It is one of the symbols of Rio. We reach its summit in two stages thanks to a cable car, with a stop at Morro Da Urca. From the Sugarloaf, we can appreciate the view of the various beaches of Rio and of Niteroi, as well as the very dense vegetation of the Mata Atlantica and a few historical buildings such as the fort of Santa Cruz and the Fiscal Island.
Option trekkers: Climb the Sugarloaf by a seldom-used trail (2½-hour walk to the summit).

The trail skirting Botafogo Beach, across from the bay of the same name offers one of the views most appreciated by Cariocans, over the hillsides of Urca and the Sugarloaf, located at the entrance of Guanabara Bay.

It is un-conceivable for one visiting Rio to resist the call of its 80 km of beachfront. Copacabana and its Avenida Atlantica paved with a black and white mosaic in the shape of waves are most famous. Busy night and day, Copacabana Beach is a place of incessant activity, the weekend destination of the Cariocans. The Copacabana Palace, registered in the historical patrimony of the city is one of the most famous hotels in the world. It is a representative example of the European cultural influence of the 20th Century.

Probably even more irresistible than the inspirational muse of the famous song “the girl from Ipanema” that immortalized it, Ipanema is Rio’s fashionable meeting place. Sophisticated, with an intense nocturnal life, the neighborhood is a successful mix of beaches, cafes and shops. The beach is a permanent attraction. People stroll, exercise, and meet…
The soul of Carioca lives there and we immediately feel taken in.

Each one of the 141 acres of the Botanical Garden hosts specimens of the Brazilian flora as well as from the whole world. Imperial Palm trees, vitorias regia, orchids, bromeliaces, flamboyants or carnivorous plants, an exuberant tropical vegetation

The largest urban forest in the word shelters hundreds of species from the fauna and flora of the Mata Atlantica some of which in danger of extinction. Located in the heart of the city, a few minutes from most of the neighborhoods of Rio, it offers nice opportunity for walks.
It is also possible to drive there, to visit the Castatinha (small waterfall), the chapel of Mayrink, the Mirador Excelsior, the Baracão, the Cave of Paulo and Virginia, the lake of the fairies and the pond of Solitude...

The Arcs de Lapa are known in the history of the city as the most monumental piece undertaken in Rio during the colonial era. They are located in the Cour de Lapa, the new neighborhood of the nocturnal life of Rio. Ancient aqueduct, the Arcs serve today as viaduct for the charming tramway linking Lapa to the bucolic neighborhood of Santa Teresa, erected on the hillsides of the city and refuge to the contemporary artistes. This bohemian neighborhood nestled against the hills and the forest of Tijuca abounds in out of the ordinary buildings, colonial mansions of Victorian style and of quaint restaurants.
With its tortuous and narrow paved streets, and its spectacular views over the bay, it is certainly one of the most picturesque neighborhoods of Rio. And the excursion on board the tramway seems to be our favorite.

• Near the Municipal Library, the National Art Museum and Pedro Ernesto Palace, the Municipal Theater attracts the attention not just because of its architectural conception, but by its imposing facade and the beauty of its interior. The noble materials used for its construction, such as marble of Carrare with its colored veins, the bronzes and the onyx, the mirrors, the furniture, associated to paintings and sculptures make this theatre a temple of culture.
• The Confeitaria Colombo is the living portrait of the beautiful carioca epoch, and the gastronomic reference of the city. Its famous Belgium mirrors, its showcases in jacaranda wood, its balconies of Italian marble and its light fixtures, all stayed intact, contributed to write the country’s history
• The Modern Art museum is located in the middle of the gardens of Aterro (ballast), near Guanabara Bay. In 1978, a fire devastated the museum; the solidarity of hundreds of people all over the world contributed to the recovery of its location and salvage of its collection. About 1700 pieces are exhibited there, paintings, sculptures, etchings…
• Also see the beautiful church of Rio de Janeiro, the Church of Our Senora de Candelaria, the International museum of Naïve Art, the Plaza Quinze de Novembro, national History museum, etc...

The first Portuguese naval expedition entered in Guanabara Bay January 1st, 1502. Because the navigators thought they were in a river and that it was the month of January, the place was baptized Rio de Janeiro, January River. As far as the name of Guanabara, it comes from the Tupi Indian dialect, and means “breast of the sea”.

For an exhaustive visit of Rio, a guided visit of the favelas, neighborhood resulting from the chaotic expansion Rio experienced during the 20th Century, is mandatory.
No voyeurism; we are welcome in the favelas where the inhabitants are anxious to show us that their neighborhood is not limited to a few common beliefs (traffics, insecurity) giving an unrealistic feel for the place.
Here, people live, work and entertained themselves, like anywhere else.
The most extraordinary characteristic of the favelas is their proximity to the outrageously rich neighborhoods. While awaiting a more clement future, from the top of their hill, the inhabitants of Rocinha have a view over the 5-star hotels and the beaches of Rio…