Rio de Janeiro

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Rio, Life's a beach.

A November 2001 trip to Rio de Janeiro by DT

Rio could be the most visually beautiful city in the world, and I am not talking about people. The mountains, beaches and vistas are unbelievable. Rio is also an economical place to go. The dollar goes a long way.

  • 7 reviews
  • 3 stories/tips

Rio, Life's a beach.Best of IgoUgo

Overview

It is difficult to beat the beaches. The people and the beauty of the area are overwhelming. The food is different and not to be missed. Try and go to many dance and music clubs; the atmosphere is great.

Quick Tips:

I personally would stay in Ipanema. The area is a lot nicer and safer to walk around. Many nice hotels are on the Copa, but the area is scarier at night. The number of prostitutes will surprise you.

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxis are a great a cheap way to get around. The subway is clean and cheap, although it doesn't go to certain areas. The buses are everywhere, be prepared to breathe in a ton of diesel exhaust.

Ipanema InnBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

The Impanema Inn is a small, adequate hotel. Although it isn’t the Four Seasons, it does occupy a great location. It sits next to the nicest of Rio hotels, the Caesar Park. The beach is half a block a way. The hotel provides towels and umbrellas. The buffet breakfast is pretty good. Heavy on the local fruits. The rooms are small and plain, but if you plan on spending little time in the room, it’s fine. A great local bar is a block down. It’s usually rocking until 5 A.M. A double room was 40 dollars a night. In summary, it isn’t the greatest in the city, but the location is perfect.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by DT on November 26, 2002

Ipanema Inn
RUA MARIA QUITERIA 27 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 22410-001
2125236092

Girl from IpanemaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Girl from Ipanema is the restaurant that the song was written in. Big deal. Tons of tourists, little local flavor. The local bars in the area are a lot more interesting.
  • Member Rating 1 out of 5 by DT on November 26, 2002

Girl from Ipanema
Ipanema Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ipanema Beach (General)Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Ipanema Beach"

Ipanema Beach is the nicest beach in the city. All the beaches in Rio have a different feel to them and are great in their own ways. Ipanema seemed to be the cleanest and a little more upscale than the other beaches. Unfortunately, there isn’t a shortage of beach vendors. They will drive you nuts. Stay away from the Globo. It is a cheese puff minus the cheese.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by DT on November 26, 2002

Ipanema Beach (General)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

CorcovadoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The Corcovado can’t be missed. You can take a bus or a taxi to the general area and at the bottom of the hill will be guides who will take you on a personal tour. I would recommend this, especially if there are a few of you. The whole ride, to go anywhere on the mountain, was $40 or $50 bucks. The train up the mountain is $12, as I recall. The train will only take you to one place. The taxi driver will drive you to two and you can stay as long as you like. It is also faster. The guide we had was a wealth of information and we had him drop us off in a different neighborhood after we were done. This saved us a little bit of money. Once on top of the Corcovado you will be dazzled with spectacular views. Of course, Christ the Redeemer is there also. Be warned, it gets cloudy up on top of the hill and it can obstruct the views. Pick a clear day to go up. If there are any clouds you will be disappointed.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by DT on November 26, 2002

Corcovado
Rua Cosme Velho 513 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 22241-090
+55 21 5581329

Maracana stadium - Soccer GameBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Soccer game at Maracana stadium"

A soccer game is a must. The tickets are cheap and you can walk up to get a ticket. I would suggest a 5 or 7 dollar ticket. The dollar seats were packed with drunk, rowdy, crazy people. Also, try to get a ticket in the shade. The sun can be brutal. As long as it isn’t the championship game or Flamengo game against a bitter rival, the game should be safe and fun. There is no alcohol in the stadium. People are pounding the beers outside.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by DT on November 26, 2002

Maracana stadium - Soccer Game
Rio De janiero Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sugarloaf MountainBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Sugarloaf (Pao de Acucar)"

Sugarloaf is another must see. You take a tram up the hill and the views are fantastic. Be sure it’s not a cloudy day. There are a few shops and food stands at the top. Be warned, there are a lot of tourists and tickets go fast.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by DT on November 26, 2002

Sugarloaf Mountain
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
55 21 2461-2700

Taxis at the airportBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

When you get off the plane go to a taxi booth where the prices are listed. There will be a flat fee to go to your hotel. Be wary of the taxi drivers who approach you. They will rip you off. The prices they quote are very high.

ATM at the airportBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

FYI, if you need cash, the ATM is on the second level of the airport terminal. So go up one level from the one you are on after you clear customs. There are no maps to guide you.

Brush up on you PortugueseBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

I would recommend to anybody to brush up on Portuguese or Spanish. Most Cariocas speak Spanish. It was rare to find somebody other than a hotel employee who spoke any English.

About the Writer

DT
DT
LOS ANGELES, California

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