Rio de Janiero, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Experience Rio de Janeiro

Just saying the name Rio de Janeiro brings South American culture and color to mind.  It is one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere and is known for its natural settings, carnival celebrations, the samba, the Bossa Nova and its balneario (seaside resort town) beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema. With pride brazilians refer to this marvelous city as “A Cidade Maravilhosa”.

 

Some of the other most famous landmarks include “Cristo Redentor” atop Corcovado Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain with its cable car and Maracana Stadium, one of the world’s largest football stadiums.  The two mountain landmarks play a significant part in creating a harbor that is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

 

The two largest annual internationally-renowned celebrations take place on New Year’s Eve and just before the 40 days of Lent.  These draw huge numbers of foreign tourists as well as the majority of locals.

 

This is a city where it is important to pay attention to which district you are in as there are some less than favorable areas.

  • Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil with a population of 6.3 million living just in the city proper.
  • It was founded by the Portuguese in 1565 and is home to the largest Portuguese population outside of Portugal. Portuguese, Spanish and English are spoken.
  • Their climate borders on a tropical monsoon classification. The average annual minimum temperature is 70 degrees while the maximum average is 81 degrees. The ocean temperature varies from mid to high 70’s depending on the season.
  • The city is divided into districts; Centro (the historic center), Zona Sul (the tourist-friendly wealthier South Zone), Zona Norte (the residential less wealthy North Zone) and peripheries in Zona Oeste (West Zone).
  • More than 50% of the population is Catholic.
  • It ranks 12th in the world for most expensive cities in which to live.
  • 2.8 million international tourists visit here each year.
  • The Metro Rio is the safest and cleanest mode of transportation in Rio. The bus is relatively safe during the day but not so at night. Driving is to be avoided in the city but there are 99 miles of bike trails.
  • This is a popular and important LGBT destination.
  • Rio will host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

There are a multitude of hotel options in the city. There is something to meet every financial, cultural and historical need. VoomaGo has worked with our network of Locals and partnered with a few vetted accommodations and options. When we’re building your trip with you, we can discuss the availability and right fit for your needs.

A day in Rio de Janeiro…

A stroll down Copacabana and Ipanema beach are an absolute must to appreciate the energy of the city and its beautiful people. Every New Year’s Eve, 2.5 million people gather at Copacabana Beach to celebrate in Rio de Janeiro.  The crowd, mostly dressed in white, celebrates all night at the hundreds of different shows and events along the beach.  It is the second largest celebration only next to Carnaval.

A visit to the Botanical Gardens too provides some phenomenal viewing of Rio’s “natural” beauty.

You cannot leave Rio de Janeiro unless you have climbed up the top to see the Cristo Redentor, the view of the city from here is simply breathtaking and the trip totally worth it!

Nothing can replace spending a day with one of VoomaGo’s Local who can show you their city with pride from their perspective while being safe at all times.

 

Experiences in Rio de Janeiro

Living like a “Carioca” in Rio view

Living like a “Carioca” in Rio

“Carioca” is the term used in Brazil to name the native inhabitants of the city of Rio de Janerio (someone…

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My Rio de Janeiro: A Real Local Experience view
The Brazilian Way: Connect with the Chatuba Community view