Rio de Janeiro
Incredible natural attractions, spontaneity that transforms everything into a party, world-famous iconic monuments: all of this and more makes the city of Río de Janeiro an unforgettable destination. Distinguished as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Río has a truly unique city vibe with its gorgeous geography – sea, mountains, forests – accented by the warm & friendly vibe of its people.
Highlights
Pão de Açúcar
The granite peak of Sugarloaf Mountain, Río de Janeiro’s best-known landmark, towers 396m above the harbour and is connected to the city by a low strip of land. From here, you can see the entire mountainous coast that encircles Guanabara Bay – the world’s largest, based on water volume – and its islands. Sugarloaf is the perfect spot to watch the sunset, capturing an unforgettable moment with an incredible panoramic view!
Cristo Redentor
At the top of Corcovado Mountain, the open-armed statue of Jesus Christ embraces and protects the marvelous city of Río. As the largest art deco-style sculpture on the planet and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, it’s a must-visit monument in Río de Janeiro. Christ the Redeemer looks out across the city from the 709m summit of Corcovado, standing 98ft tall, with its horizontally- outstretched arms spanning 92ft in width.
Carnival Capital of the World
The land of Carnival & Samba is home to the world’s biggest Carnival festival; a real celebration that permeates the city year-round with a special & catching vibe. The celebrations begin shortly after New Year but the splendor and extravagance reaches its dramatic culmination in the four days before Ash Wednesday, when hundreds of thousands of spectators are attracted in swarms to its street parades, samba parties and elaborate shows. Sneak a peek backstage of the biggest and most famous Samba schools, try on a glamorous costume, learn some samba steps and how to dance to the joyful and catchy local music!
Buzios
Less than 2 hours from Río de Janeiro, this picturesque village boasts over 20 beaches spread across the peninsula to choose from: calm and secluded beaches, those for surfing, or beaches best for snorkeling. Turquoise blue waters, cobblestone streets, colonial houses, boutiques, and restaurants, are some of the features that stand out in this town, making it worthwhile to visit even for the day in combination with a Río itinerary or enjoying a longer stay here.
Exhilarating Sport Lifestyle
Sports are an important part of the cariocas’ culture (those who are born in Río). Its 90kms of beaches are ideal for playing volleyball, soccer and footvolley. A must-see for football (soccer) fans is the Maracanã Stadium, one of the largest in the world, holding more than 78,000 people. Additionally, Río is a paradise for urban climbers, offering mountain climbing at all levels of difficulty, such as Pedra da Gávea and Bico do Papagaio.
Stunning Expansive Beaches
Few cities are blessed with a beautiful sand beach at its heart, let alone one that stretches 4kms along one entire side of its downtown. The stretches of sand comprising the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches capture the world’s attention like no other, but Leblon and Barra da Tijuca beaches are also dramatically captivating, with white sands flanked by mountains and swaying coconut palms. Most of these areas are also quite popular for vibrant cultural life, with their various art galleries, cinemas and restaurants.
Excursions
- Historic City Tour
- Sugarloaf Visit
- Corcovado Mountain with Tijuca Forest Journey
- Río de Janeiro’s Best Beaches
- Selarón Steps & Santa Teresa Neighbourhood Tour
- Full-Day Trip to Petrópolis District
- Jeep Tour in Tijuca Forest & Santa Teresa
- Boat Tour Through Guanabara Bay
- Río Scenarium Night Show
- Ginga Tropical Show
- Samba School Visit