Spectralight Travel
Unmissibles in Rio de Janeiro
Corcovado-Statue of the Christ - There is a little train that takes you up the side of the mountain, if it is a clear day, this is an incredible way to see the city. If the day is not so clear, take a taxi all the way to the top. There is also a back way you can ride up to Corcovado from Botafogo, if you jump in a taxi and tell the driver “Moehoe Novo Mundo para Corcovado” he will drive you up to Corcovado via back roads and there is a point half way up that is a view point that is incredible. Tell the driver “Sperdah ah-key” (stop here) when you see it. You can’t miss it, it looks down on Rio, Botafogo Bay, Sugarloaf, and Flamengo. It is breathtaking and one of the most beautiful points in Rio.
Pao de
Acucar-Sugarloaf - the big granite stone that is a landmark place. The ride
to the top on a cable car is worth it. Incredible view from here, try for a
clear day, in the morning or at sunset. Take your camera.There is a beach at the
foot of the mountain called Praia Velmelho or Red Beach - incredible place and
you can walk there after getting off the cable car, it will be to the right,
just walk toward sugarloaf.
Jardim
Botanico - The Botanical Garden - The first emperor of Brazil built his home
here, and the gardens are incredible, exotic plants and imperial palm trees
await! You can see the pau-brasil tree for which this magnificient country was
named. A great place to go any time of the year. Go to Caroline Cafe afterward for Drinks, see address below.
Ipanema/Copacabana/Leblon/Leme
These are all beaches and I prioritize them in that order. To drink a beer or
some coconut juice by the beach at one of these places is very nice. You will
see the locals playing soccer and volleyball until midnight. The beaches are
illuminated so day or night, they are a great place to hang out.
The Copacabana Palace Hotel is on Avenida Atlantica in Copacabana, an architectural marvel and icon of Rio de Janeiro. It is a historic landmark and cultural magnet. Even if you can't afford to stay there, it is worth a visit.
Lagoa - The lagoon that sits right between Ipanema/Leblon and Jardim Botanico. Great to drive around, day or night. This is the saltwater lagoon that you see from up on top of Corcovado. It is lined with luxury condos and trendy restaurants. If you jump in a taxi and tell the driver “Praia de Copacabana pelo Lagoa” He will take you to Copa by way of Lagoa, day or night it is a beautiful ride and you can see the beauty of the lagoon and the Christ statue in the near distance.
Downtown -
If
you go to the subway, buy a “duplo” it is a two way ticket and take the
subway to Carioca or Uriguana station you can get off and walk around downtown,
there you can see the Opera House which is antique and classic, Museu das
Bellas Artes, the main museum of Rio. From here jump in a taxi and tell the
driver, “Hester-anch Columbo” Restaurant Columbo Rua Gonçalves Dias, 32/36 Centro - Tel.: 232-2300 . This
restaurant is incredible, looks like it was taken from a page in the Godfather
Movie, beautiful, well worth the trip. You won’t believe it.
Barra da
Tijuca - This area is now the new Rio, with shopping malls and high rise
apartment buildings, it is the new Rio. Great beaches, that are cleaner and less
intimidating than the more popular, Barra Shopping is the largest mall in South
America.
Floresta da
Tijuca - Tijuca F
Paqueta
- An island inside the bay, you take a ferry from somewhere near downtown, this
would take a few hours and may be
something you would want to do early.
I wanted to write another list of things I would recommend if I only had a week in Rio. These are my second set of choices, but no less interesting and fun.
Plataforma-
Rua Adalberto Ferreira, 32 Leblon - Tel.: 274-4022 This
place has a carnival show with dancing mulattoes and samba music. It is a
classic place in Rio and will introduce you to Carnival. Very much worth the
ride. Just jump in a taxi and tell the driver “Pla-ta-forma en Leblon”
after the show you can have a late dinner at:
Barra
(say
“Baha”) the new neighborhood
of Rio, it’s where all the yuppies or new money live. The beaches are cleaner
and there is a Disney World of restaurants, shopping places, and stuff to do
here. It’s about 20-25 minutes by taxi, tell the driver “Baha pelo Avenida
Atlantica” This will take you there by the ocean where you will pass Pedra
de Gavea, and Dois Irmaos, beautiful rock formations that rise up by
the seaside. While in Barra, you can go to Hard Rock Café, Rock in Rio
Café, Barra Shopping (south America’s largest) There is too much to see
here. Barra is worth a whole day. The beaches here are beautiful and there are
many places to eat and shop. Barraca do Pepe in Barra This place is a
classic in Barra (Baha) You can get fried codfish cakes (bo-leen-yo gee bacalyow)
and other Brazilian food, plus great ambiance. You should all jump in a taxi and
ride out here. If you jump in a taxi after the mall, tell the driver “Bahahka
do Pepe” it is worth the trip.
Botanical
Gardens
– Just tell the taxi driver “Jarjeen Botanico” It is a straight shot from
where you are staying, about 8 minutes by taxi. This was where the first emperor
of Brazil lived, it is incredibly beautiful, with 200 ft. high imperial palm
trees and plants of all shapes and sizes. An afternoon spent here is worth it
and then you can go to Caroline
Café- Rua J.J. Seabra, 10 Jardim Botânico Tel: 540-0705,
This place is one of the top three trendiest restaurants in Rio, cool
atmosphere, great music, beautiful people, it has it all. You should check this
one out a few times while you are there, don’t wait till the last day to see
it.
Canecao
- Avenida Venceslau Brás, 215 tel 2543-1241
Located in Botafogo and usually features some great music artist, either
Brazilian or international. Very nice place to see a show and not too far from
the apartment or Rio Sul, the Shopping Center, you could spend the
afternoon at Rio Sul shopping and then walk out the front door and to the right
to see who is playing at Canecao.
Praia
Vermelho
at Sugarloaf– You can get a taxi and just say “Praia Vermelho” and the
driver will take you to the base of the rock that is Sugarloaf. There is a nice
little beach here and it is incredible for photos. There is also a walking trail
around it that is paved and pretty safe. My wife’s grandfather used to take
the bus here everyday and walk around it.
Mirante do Pasmado – A nice hill that is in Botafogo and on a clear day allows an incredible view of Sugarloaf and Corcovado. Jump in a taxi and tell the driver “Meer-anch do Pashmahdo” and he will take you there, Very near the apartment and a cheap, cool, place to take pictures and see how beautiful Rio really is.
Museu das Arte Modernas (Museum of Modern Art) - You can also walk to the beach from the apartment and walk to the left along a trail and it will take you about 20-25 minutes to walk here. A very nice noonday excursion, beautiful visual and you will end up at the museum.
There are many different foods and restaurants here, you want beef, go to a Churrascaria, (all you can eat meats) the food from Salvador, Bahia (comida Bahiana) in the north is great to try, definately try:
bolinhas de
bacalhau (codfish cakes)
guarana (the
local soft drink)
chopp (draft
beer)
brigadeiro
(chocolate treat)
suco de
maracuja (passion fruit juice)
caiprinha -
brazilian rum with lime (delicious)
I would suggest
going to a grocery store and looking at the local produce, the variety of fruits
is incredible. Try the local beers, the fried finger foods you see in the
sidewalk bars, pizza with ketchup and mustard?! They do it here!
Two of the trendiest restaurants in Rio,
really nice atmosphere, good music, great food. If you go to either, ask
if Marcelo do Rio is there and tell him who you are. They are listed here:
Melt - Rita Ludolf, 47 corner General San Martins in Leblon, very nice atmosphere, great for dinner or live music upstairs. Voted "best place in Rio to hang out!" by some buy from Europe
Tel: (21)
2511-2202
Caroline Café
Rua J.J. Seabra,10 - Jardim Botânico
Tel.: (21)
2540-0705
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