Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful state, full of diversity, color and culture; perfect for tourists who want a new and exciting vacation experience. More commonly known as Rio, it is the second largest city of Brazil as well as the third biggest metropolitan area in South America. It has beautiful natural settings, carnivals, long beaches and the famous Christ the Redeemer landmark, making it one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere.
There are many things for tourists to visit, such as the theatre, the carnivals the international film festival and of course, the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. The city has been awarded the best travel destination in the South American category, by the World Travel Awards, thanks to its music, literature, festivals and many tourist resorts. Visitors have the choice to stay near the beach in a hotel, or if you have had good experiences staying in hostels in London or Paris during previous holidays, then there is also this type of accommodation available if you want to save some money. The Panorama of Leme Beach and prime district are popular tourist resorts, providing a stunning view of the city landmarks from across the water.
Rio is also home to stunning, bright and colorful cultural events, especially seen during their new year celebrations. Each December, more than 31 million people – normally dressed in white – congregate at Copacabana Beach. Celebrations continue through the night, hosting events and shows along the beach. The people share chilled champagne which they spray amongst themselves as the clock strikes midnight, which is considered to be good luck.
However, the carnival is by far the biggest event of the year, attracting millions of people to see costumed performers, floats and hear traditional Brazilian music. The celebration allows the people to have fun, make merry and eat loads of red meat, before they begin their lent fast.
This huge pyramid shaped cathedral in Rio was consecrated in 1976 after 12 years of construction. In addition to the cone shaped building you find sculptures and artwork. The four colorful stained glass windows that extend 60 meters into the ceiling. The cathedral can accommodate up to 20,000 people.
From 20th Century Fox and the makers of “ICE age” films there is a new 3-D animation movie called Rio. The story is about the macaw parrot Blu, who never learned to fly. Blu is convinced he is the last bird of its kind, until he learn that another macaw of the same species – Jewel – is located in Rio de Janeiro.
App Stores – Angry birds
The creator of Angry Bird, Rovio, has worked with the American film company 20th Century Fox. Together they release Angry Bird’s Rio, which is a game version of the film Rio film company released to theaters in April 2011.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7gIpfrQdAI
Many want to leave Rio for a few days and northeast of Rio is a peninsula Búzios. It is an exclusive resort that extends out into the ocean with 23 beaches and is known as “Rio’s Saint-Tropez”. It iss one of the hottest beaches throughout Brazil - Búzios was originally settled by European pirates and slave traders and elected as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Outside the peninsula you have swimming turtles and humpback whales and it was not so long ago a humpback whale stranded on Praia de Geribá.
Cariocas (people from Rio) love their beaches. Sun, romance, swimming, picnicking for the family, surfing, football,sunset, no shame party…Rio has beaches for all!
If you want to see guys in a speedo this is the right place.
- Ricky Gervais, Episode when Karl Pilkington went to Rio
The two largest and most famous beaches in Rio de Janeiro are Copacabana and Ipanema, both are crowded with little space between people, and have different postos or sections with fine sand.
Cobacabana
35.2 km (21.9 miles)
Cobacabana with the well-recognized pavement is one of the longest and most famous of all beaches. Walk a bit up and down the first few days and discover that families with children, transvestites, prostitutes, football teams, bikini girls, bodybuilder s…The people play soccer and volleyball and a lots of other activities going on an butts everywhere of course. Lots of bobbing silicone breasts and you will probably notice why Brazil is No 1 country in plastic surgery.
The over 60 kilometers beaches are not the place where you can read a book half asleep and there are even outdoor gym for people who want to flex their muscles. Along the Copa Cabanas white beach and classic and famous wavy pavement there are many hotels and restaurants Copa Cabana stretches across 3 km and looks the Guanabara Bay and gives a fantastic view of the Sugarloaf Mountain. You have Copacabana’s Posto 6, furthest towards Ipanema with the cool beach people. The red light district is located on the Copacabana boardwalk.
Ipanema in Rio
32,3 Km (20.1 miles)
Maybe you have heard about the tall, young, beautiful and brown girl from Ipanema?
Ipanema is more residential, saferand counted as more fashionable and trending than Copacabana. People go rollerblading while they tighten the muscles and often more than 30% of the women wear thongs. Posto 9 is hip. Posto 10 you find skaters and girls with right T-shirts.
Rio has it’s famous gay beach section with the rainbow flag after Posto 8 and directly outside the Armeodo Rua Farm is the largest gaybeach throughout Brazil. Rio was chosen as the sexiest gay destination in 2010 by TripOut Gay Travel Awards. At the gay beach you will find good-looking men playing volleyball and several who have gone through plastic surgery just to get nicer breasts.
Beaches for surfistas
Arpoador (near posto 7) is the most talked surfing beach in town and meeting place for all young surfistas and at the beaches of Barra, Recreio, Joatinga (Praia do Joa) a 220 meter long beach, and the red beach Grumari, and Macumba with large waves wich is the Mecca for surfers – you’ll certainly find some surfers here. ASP World Master Championship was held at Arpoador in 2011.
29.4 km (18.3 miles) You probably want to spot beautiful people at the beach and then you should go to exclusive Leblon, directly below the district Leblon, where you will find the wealthy and rich people.
São Conrado Beach – Hang Gliding over Rio
26.0 km (16.1 miles)
São Conrado is famous for its hang gliding and fashion mall with over 150 stores and it is close to the largest favela Rocinha. Pedro Bonita is launching pad for the delta wing flight. Landing is at the São Conrado beach.
Family beaches
Praia do Leme
Praia do Flamingo
Wide park with skateboarding, jogging, soccer museums and large marina.
Praia da Barra da Tijuca
15.7 km (9.7 miles)
Three times as long as Copacabana, filled with the drive-middle class, plus a large part of the sportiest clientele.
Pontal
3.1 km (1.9 miles)
Diabo
33.9 km (21.1miles)
Itacoatiara
49.8 km (31 miles)
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New year celebration in Rio
The beaches in Rio are also known for their New Year celebrations also called Reveillon. New Year’s Eve is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most important celebrations, second only to Carnival in popularity. The event attracts over 2.5 million of people to Copacabana every year!
One great place is Forte de Copacabana (Copacabana Fortress). The second most visited place in RiodeJaneiro, the Copacabana Fortress, is located between the two most famous beaches.
Many want to leave Rio for a few days?
If you have time and a car, you should go to Prainha.
Northeast of Rio you also find one of the hottest beaches throughout Brazil – Búzios.
Búzios is a peninsula that extends out into the ocean with 23 beaches and is known as “Rio’s Saint-Tropez”.
Rio de Janeiro (January river) Cidade Maravilhosa ( “The great city”) is one of the most beautiful cities in Brazil and it is also the capital of the state of the same name. The city has 6 094 000 inhabitants (2005) live on an area of 1 182 km ² and 11 352 003 (2005) live in the entire metropolitan area on a surface of 4 658 km ². It is noteworthy that the three municipalities previously included in the definition of the metropolitan area has recently been excluded, so that data from different sources may vary depending on whether they still expect these municipalities. Now the Brazilian government is proposing that UNESCO name the city of Rio de Janeiro a World Heritage site according to Huffington Post. The proposal was made by Iphan the agency in charge of artistic and historic apatrimony.
Rio de Janeiro is located on Brazil’s southeastern coast. The city is perhaps best known for its carnival. Some believe that Rio is one of the world’s most beautiful cities where high mountain wrapped in rainforest throw themselves straight into the ocean. In 2016, the Summer Olympics to be held in Rio.
Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful state, full of diversity, color and culture; perfect for tourists who want a new and exciting vacation experience. More commonly known as Rio, it is the second largest city of Brazil as well as the third biggest metropolitan area in South America. It has beautiful natural settings, carnivals, long beaches and the famous Christ the Redeemer landmark, making it one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere.
