Welcome to Rio de Janeiro

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known as the “Wonderful City”, Rio de Janeiro offers attractions that have rendered the city international fame. Who has never heard about carnival in Rio, the most amazing popular party in the world? Or who has never heard about Sugar Loaf Mountain and the statue of Christ Redeemer? Or about the beautiful beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, that have inspired musicians from all over the world? Or, also, who has never heard about the Tijuca National Park – the largest urban area natural preservation area in the Country? Rio is all that. And much more. The city was the Brazilian capital until 1960 – when Brasilia, the current capital, was inaugurated. Because it was the capital, concentrating much power, the city’s architectonic traces include luxurious and imposing constructions – that sheltered the nobility and other important personages of those times. Since the city’s weather is hot and pleasant all through the year, Rio does not depend on seasons to attract visitors. Its attractions can be appreciated any time     of the year.  
Whoever visits Rio soon finds out that his/her agenda is always full – that is the pride of the local population. There is always something to be done in the city, from exhibitions, theater plays, dance and music shows to sports events for all tastes – such as free flying, much appreciated by all those who enjoy strong sensations on board a hang glider floating above the most famous landscapes of Rio. But the Wonderful City has yet a wide range of other attractions to offer, such as cultural centers, numberless museums, churches, famous confectioners’, old streetcars and beaches – many beaches. Far from the beaches
Besides the millions of visitors that thrive for the landscapes and natural beauties and the wide range of culture and history offered by this especially Brazilian city, a different type of tourist has been increasingly attracted to Rio in the last few years: the business tourist. The capital of the State of Rio de Janeiro is also one of the greatest business centers in the Country, being constantly chosen to host important national and international conferences, congresses and meetings.    
City facts
State: Rio de Janeiro
Region: Southeastern
Population: 5,974,081 inhabitants (IBGE 2003)
Area Code: (21)

Distances:
Brasilia: 1160 km
Sao Paulo: 430 km
Belo Horizonte: 450 km

Accommodation / Restaurants

Rio offers an excellent infrastructure in terms of accommodations - one of three largest in the country. It offers great luxurious hotels, including some ran by international networks, and also small inns and hostels with more affordable prices. The majority of hotels are located close to the beaches along the southern and downtown areas of Rio.      

Among the peculiarities of local cuisine, visitors find the most amazing habit of christening dishes after the names of Ambassadors. Two among the most eloquent examples are “the Osvaldo Aranha filet” and the “Leão Veloso soap”. This is an adaptation of the bouillabaisse from Marseille, a soup with a strengthening effect, which was created by Ambassador Leão Veloso for the Rio Minho restaurant, one of the oldest in town – open since 1884.

Check at the city’s official website the contact information, with addresses and more detailed information on hotels, restaurants and remaining outlets available all around the old Brazilian capital: http://www.rio.rj.gov.br

The Flamengo Embankment (Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes Park)    
With 1,200,000 m² of green areas by the sea, the Flamengo Embankment is the result of one of the most beautiful and important landscape projects ever designed by Brazilian artist Roberto Burle Marx. Extending from the Santos Dumont Airport to the Botafogo Cove, the Park offers a wide range of attractions. It offers sports courts, bicycle tracks, cooper trails and aero-modeling courts. The track of Avenida Infante D. Henrique running from the South Zone to Downtown is closed to traffic on Sundays and holidays, from 7 am to 6 pm, considerably enlarging the space available for walks, games and leisure in general in the Park.        

Lapa’s Arches (the Carioca Aqueduct) 
Built in 1750, with huge double arches, it extends from 64 meters high with a length of 270 meters. It was built to supply Rio’s population with water from the Carioca river springs, coming up from Sta. Teresa hill. It has become a symbol of the bohemian neighborhood of Lapa. And since 1896 it has been used as a bridge for the Sta. Teresa Streetcar. It is located on Praça Cardeal Câmara.      

National Library      
The largest library in Latin America and the eighth largest in the world, with a collection of 15 million publications – a great part of which is available for consultations. Inaugurated in 1910, the building, of neoclassic style, with marble stairs and columns, comprises with the Municipal Theater, the National Museum of Beaux Arts and the Federal Justice Cultural Center a cultural block around the Cinelândia area. Guided visits last 30 minutes and are available from Monday to Friday at 11 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm – while during high tourism season guided visits are available every hour. It is located on Avenida Rio Branco, 219, Downtown;

Colombo Confectioners’   
Founded in 1894, this Confectioners’ is a landmark in ostentation typical of Rio’s high society life between the end of the 19th century and start of the 20th century. It still keeps the charm of those times in its Belgian crystal mirrors, in the “straw” chairs and in the rich engravings on wood panels. It serves a “5 o’clock” tea from Monday to Friday, from 5 to 7 pm. It is located on Rua Gonçalves Dias, 32/36, Downtown.

Copacabana Palace Hotel
Being under government trust as a Brazilian Historical Heritage (IPHAN), it was one of the first hotels to be built by the sea in the city. Inaugurated in 1923, Copacabana Palace Hotel faithfully reflects the European cultural influence on Brazil at that time, with a sophisticated style of lodging. It eventually became a symbol of Rio, as the favorite of artists, politicians, businessmen and international celebrities. It is located in Copacabana.         

Christ Redeemer    
More than a postal card, the Christ Redeemer statue was deservedly elected by the city’s population as the "The Wonder of Rio". From the height of its 38 meters – plus Corcovado Hill’s height of 710 meters - the Christ is an image of faith and sympathy characteristic of Rio’s and Brazilian people. The monument – which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2001 - was inaugurated on October 12th 1931, a day was in which Brazilians celebrate Our Lady of Aparecida (national patron). Elevators and escalators take visitors to the statue’s base. The statue weighs 1,145 tons. Going up by a small train takes around 20 minutes and goes along the Corcovado Railway – inaugurated by Brazilian Emperor D. Pedro II in 1884.      

Access by car has been allowed, but each vehicle passenger must pay a small fee to the local Ibama (Brazilian environmental agency) post, at Paineiras (at the Hill’s foot). Another option is to park the car in Paineiras, to avoid traffic jams, and go on a 3-km walk to get to the statue – or pay for a ride in of the accredited vans. Access is available on Rua Cosme Velho.

Tijuca National Park          
To go on a tour along sinuous roads and to visit the attractions may take a whole day. As the largest natural preservation area in an urban area in the country, the Park is 20 km away from downtown. It is divided into three nucleuses – the Tijuca Forest, the Carioca Hill and the Gávea Stone/Bonita Stone. Its flora was devastated at the end of the 19th century to give way to coffee plantations. Reforestation brought back plants species of the Atlantic Woods such as “ipês”, “jequitibás”, “jacarandas” and “sapucaias”. 

At the Carioca Hill nucleus, besides the famous Corcovado Hill, its attractions are the Dona Marta, Vista Chinesa and Mesa do Imperador belvederes. In the Tijuca Forest there are trails, the Taunay Small Waterfall, the Mayrink Chapel, the Açude Museum and the Solidão Sugar Mill. On two Sundays every month, the Park’s administration offers guided tours for free. In 2004, the Park incorporated new areas, including the Lage Park and a region known as Covanca-Pretos Forros, with 4.4 million square meters, although visits are not allowed in that area.

The Copacabana Fortress
Built in 1914, with the purpose of reinforcing Guanabara Bay’s defense, the Copacabana Fortress was the scenario for the “Lieutenants’ Movement” (an political upheaval in Brazilian history) in 1922. It offers visitors many historical curiosities and also a branch of the famous Colombo Confectioners’. Its collections of guns, varied military and historical objects and panels are part of the Brazilian Army’s Historical Museum. It is located on Praça Cel. Eugênio Franco, 1, Copacabana.        

The Botanical Garden        
A true ecological sanctuary. That’s the best way to define Rio de Janeiro’s Botanical Garden - one of the ten most important in its genre in the world. Not only does it host the rarest specimen of Brazilian flora and that of other countries, but it is also an excellent leisure option for children and adults, and a pleasure for all those who love contemplating nature.
Put under government trust by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage bureau (IPHAN) – due to its historical, cultural, scientific and landscaping importance – it has also been internationally acknowledged as a “Live Museum” in the Botanic area and defined by Unesco as one of the most important biosphere reserves. Its collection includes Imperial palm trees from the time of the Garden’s foundation – in 1808 -, greenhouses, orchid rooms, rosebush plantations and a lagoon with water lilies. It also hosts the Pilões House – an old gunpowder factory with archeological excavations – and a greenhouse with insect-eating plants, restored in 2004.    

Access for pedestrians is available on Rua Jardim Botânico, 920, and for vehicles on Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008, at Jardim Botânico.

The Rodrigo de Freitas Lake        
Surrounded by the most fancy neighborhoods in Rio – such as Lagoa, Ipanema, Leblon, Gávea and Jardim Botânico -, encircled by hills and embraced by the Christ Redeemer statue, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake has become a meeting point for the local population and visitors alike. Connected to the sea by the Jardim de Alá channel, its margins host parks, sports courts, skating rings, an heliport, trails for walks and jogging, a bicycle track, cycling boats and um gastronomical center spread among kiosks that offer from German to Japanese food – including live music at dusk. Near the Lake, visitors find the Catacumba Park, with an outdoor exhibition of 30 sculptures by Brazilian and foreign artists.     

The Maracanã Soccer Stadium   
Considered by many soccer fans as the “Temple of the Gods”, it is one of the largest soccer Stadium in the world. It was built in 1950 to host the World Cup, and it was designed to welcome 166,369 people. Today, after some restorations, it can receive a crowd of 114,145 soccer fans. Access is available on Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, gate 16. It is once more under renovation, this time to host the 2007 Pan-American Games.

Beaches

Ipanema
This is, no doubt, the most famous meeting point in Rio de Janeiro and one of the most celebrated beaches in the city – and the world! Its ten-block length includes “soccer-volley” courts, fitness exercise equipment and, at each lifesavers post, there are public toilettes and showers to wash sand and salty water off. It also hosts many events such as the Beach Volley World Championship.

Copacabana
With plenty drinking and snacks bars, it is much appreciated for a late-afternoon cold beer. The beach’s wide stretch of sand extends from Avenida Princesa Isabel to the Copacabana fortress. Copacabana hosts one of the most famous New Year’s Eve parties in the Country, with fireworks and free music shows.         

Leblon
This is a calm beach, with good infrastructure for sports and a bicycle track. It is 1,3-km long and is separated from the beach of Ipanema by Jardim de Alá – a channel connecting Rodrigo de Freitas Lake to the sea.

Prainha
It is a small beach with strong waves, one of the most favorite among surfers. Hills surrounding the beach still keep stretches of the original rich Atlantic forest.   

Grumari
Environmental conservation area with many cliff walls and very brave seawaters. Grumari’s left corner is also known as Abricó.    

Arpoador
Between the Copacabana Fortress and the corner of Rua Francisco Otaviano and Avenida Vieira Souto. It is famous for the huge stone that separates Copacabana and Diabo beaches from the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon. Up on the stone visitors enjoy one of the most beautiful views in Rio, with the Dois Irmãos Hill on the background. It is much appreciated by surfers.

Pepino
With string waves, Pepino beach used for hang-gliders’ landing, as they take flight from the neighboring Gávea Cliff.   

Barra da Guaratiba
An urbanized beach, it stretches from the near coastline to Restinga da Marambaia marsh. This beaches gives access to trails leading to desert beaches, such as Inferno, Perigoso and Meio beaches. It offers guided walks.

Barra da Tijuca       
Long and urbanized, with strong waves with some dangerous stretches not recommended to inexperienced swimmers. Much appreciated by surfers.

Pepe
It extends over a stretch of Barra da Tijuca beach just across Rua Noel Nutels, much appreciated by young boys and girls. This beach’s name celebrates a world free flying champion called Pedro Paulo Carneiro Lopes, “Pepê” – who died in a hang-gliding accident in 1991. 

Botafogo
An urban beach, it is quite polluted. It offers a beautiful view of Corcovado Hill and Sugar Loaf Mountain.        

Flamengo
With calm waters, this beach is also quite polluted. It offers visitors a view of fancy boats at Glória Marina.