Brazil: Travel guide to Rio de Janeiro and surroundings (part 1)
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Let me transport you to a country that charms me and touches my heart—Brazil. For me, it is probably the most beautiful and certainly one of the most interesting.
Brazil’s reputation is sometimes a little scary. I can still hear my father (a great traveller) telling me how much he was looking forward to my return, even before I left!
Don’t be discouraged, if you follow certain safety guidelines, Brazil is a great place to travel.
In a previous article, Caroline wrote about Sao Paulo. In this guide, I will introduce you to the mountains, waterfalls, beaches, jungle and Rio de Janeiro.
There is something for everyone!
Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings
Brazil is huge, and the distances between cities are considerable, so if you don’t have much time in Brazil or don’t want to spend your vacation on domestic flights, I suggest you take advantage of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro
To see
This must-see metropolis, ideally located by the sea and surrounded by mountains, will dazzle you as much as it will stun you. The perfect city for:
- Lounging on the beach,
- Shopping,
- Tasting the local gastronomy,
- Hiking in nature,
- Visiting one of the 7 wonders of the world,
- Feasting in bars.
First of all, the famous beaches are a must: Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon.
My favorite is Ipanema for the view it offers of the Dois irmaos mountains. Sandy beaches, warm, seaweed-free seas, shopping streets and street vendors on the beach – that’s what you can expect in Rio de Janeiro.
You can even shop right there in the sand. The couple next to me had time to buy a rosary, an overcoat, a blanket, bracelets, a snack and a small cocktail for an afternoon at the beach.
The city boasts a wide range of restaurants that serve all cuisines. I must admit that, having travelled a lot in Latin America, I often find that their gastronomy is similar and sometimes redundant, but Brazil has its own colour, and you’ll find everything. For bars, the Santa Teresa district is the most popular.
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Activities
Rio’s major attractions are:
- Christ the Redeemer, ranked among the 7 wonders of the world. You can visit it on an organized tour or take public transport to the train that will take you to the summit. I found it easy to do it myself. I don’t recommend climbing the mountain yourself, as armed bandits have robbed tourists.
- The Sugar Loaf is also worth a visit. This seaside pinnacle offers a superb view. Again, you can take public transportation to get there, or go during an organized tour.
- Visits to favelas are also popular. The favelas visited are those controlled by the police. However, we warn you not to bring valuables, take photos or take out your cell phone. I understand that this is controversial, but visiting a slum is still a unique experience that I enjoyed.
- For nature lovers, there’s nearby Tijuca National Park, where you can stroll through a forest of tropical trees and lianas.
You can go on hikes near the city, including Pedra da Gavea, which is classified as difficult and which I did not try. I chose Pedra bonita. The short Dois Irmaos trail is my favourite for the view (it’s the best in Rio, in my opinion) and its proximity. For all hikes, you can take an Uber or a cab, but for the latter, you can also take a bus to Vidigal, and then a mototaxi will take you through the favela to the trail entrance. The drivers are used to tourists and know you want to get to the trail. To get back down, you must wait at the foot of the trail for a cab to take you back down. Forty-five minutes walk for the best view in town!
- Finally, don’t miss watching the sunset at least once on the Arpoador rock between Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, the most entertaining I’ve ever seen! Because in Rio de Janeiro, a sunset is accompanied by cheers and applause, as if your favourite sports team had scored.
The easiest way to get there is to take tourist transport from your hotel in Rio de Janeiro to your hotel on the island, including the boat. You can also take a combo bus to continue to Paraty. I had taken easytransferbrazil and had no problem with it.
Of course, we must be tolerant about punctuality in Brazil, which is affected by Rio traffic.
Paraty
A small colonial city on the seaside, Paraty is well worth a short stay. You’ll love wandering through the streets to observe the architecture of the houses with their colourful windows and doors. You can also visit a cachaça distillery to learn about Brazil’s national drink.
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