'Garota de Ipanema' ('The Girl from Ipanema')
1) LOOK FROM THE HIGH
Mined by mountains that hinder its urban construction, Rio de Janeiro could perfectly be the place in the world with more spectacular viewpoints on the planet . Beyond the well-known Christ redeemer Y Bread of sugar , which are worth it and also more money, there are dozens of strategic points from where you can see the neighborhoods, beaches, lakes, jungles and favelas that the city offers you. climb the hill of Two Irmãos gives you a very rich view, with Rocinha - the largest favela in Latin America - on one side and the pompous and touristy South Zone on the other side.
Christ the redeemer , the lake, Ipanema, Copacabana and islets like shit They will be a great gift for your eyes after a walk that does not last more than an hour if you take a taxi or mototaxi to the top of Vidigal where the path begins. The best thing, however, is to ask at the Vidigalbergue hostel so they can show you how to get there. Other rocks like the Pretty Stone , the Pedra da Gavea or the top of Santa Marta they also offer unforgettable perspectives.
The well-known viewpoint of Christ the Redeemer
2) ENTER THE JUNGLE
In few cities can one walk from the supermarket to a dense tropical forest in less than half an hour. In River that is possible thanks to the Floresta da Tijuca, world's largest urban forest . It is well worth going into the part of the neighborhood of horto , from where a path of half an hour that goes into the forest ends up in a beautiful waterfall that is much more refreshing than any bath in the sea. Another way to get to know the tropical flora in a somewhat more orderly way is by visiting the Jardim Botánico. Nearby, to the side, is the majestic building of the Laje Park , today art school visuals that also offers an abundant and delicious buffet breakfast full of fruit, perfect to start the day with a bang.
The impressive palm grove of the Jardim Botânico.
3) GET TO KNOW THE FAVELAS
Until recently stigmatized by the nest of criminals image that had been wrought in the international press, the favelas are becoming more and more interesting places for the average tourist, who breaks prejudices based on the experiences of acquaintances. The occupation of the communities by the police has removed from the landscape the armed drug traffickers who dominated the nose and without them it is easier to understand that the majority of people in these humble neighborhoods are workers and not bandits as some still believe. Apart from how shocking it is to see how in an irregular way, without planning and in the middle of the mountain, life in the favelas works in a similar way to that of the towns, the views offered by being embedded in the mountains from Rio (which gives them even more merit) are spectacular.
Vidigal it is the most visited because it offers a more open landscape and hundreds of young artists and adventurers . Its night life is hectic. Santa Marta it continues to be an obligatory pilgrimage for fans of Michael Jackson, who recorded the video clip there You don't take care about us , which somehow served to put the favelas on the map. Rocinha is an overcrowded and fun chaos where you will find everything . Providencia is the oldest, full of stories and with a beautiful chapel on top.
Rocinha, the largest favela in Latin America
4)COPACABANA AND IPANEMA, THE MOST SOCIAL BEACHES
Anyone who expects beaches like those of the Caribbean when they arrive in Rio is completely wrong. Raging and cold waters, not always clean and a sand that is often full of filth and overcrowded in high season prevent it. It is precisely the hectic social life what makes the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema special places . the first more motley , the second a little most frequented by the upper class , in both there is a whole micro-society made up of their sellers of iced mate, athletes, foreigners... You'll see it while you drink your first coconut water or caipirinha . If you are looking for quieter beaches, better go to prana , a few kilometers from the center and already in direct contact with nature. It is also, surfer meeting point.
Ipanema, one of the most social beaches
5) RICE, FEIJAO AND FAROFA, THE ESSENTIALS OF YOUR GASTRONOMY
The gastronomy of Rio de Janeiro does not stand out for its exquisiteness, at least not in its cheapest and most accessible places. Sao Paulo or the Northeast of the country have a more varied and interesting offer, the former for more cosmopolitan and the second for more traditional . Halfway there, however, Rio de Janeiro offers some essentials of popular Brazilian food that you won't be able to avoid. The rice with feijao (beans) and if you want with farofa , they will put it on all your plates, but try to eat it too picanha , the quintessential brazilian meat , a coxinha (a kind of fried ball made of chicken wrapped in fried dough) and a açaí , a kind of tropical fruit ice cream very special and energetic. And the juices, of course, play to mix flavors.
The Garota de Ipanema restaurant , on Vinicius de Moraes street, is a not very expensive place where you can eat well without complicating your life and very close you will also find the Astor , which mixes the tradition of botaco (the Brazilian equivalent to tapas bar ) with a more modern and cool touch without the price getting out of hand.
Coxinha, a kind of fried ball made of chicken with fried dough
6) SHOPPING IN THE CENTER
Not that shopping in Rio de Janeiro is a great idea, as the prices of clothing and electronics, for example, are much higher than Europeans . But the downtown sales craze is well worth it. The thousands of people in ties who go to their offices try to avoid vendors of software, popcorn and bacon and many other unlikely items. in the square of Uruguayan , it is styled cheap clothing and used electronics , although it is possible to find almost everything. Right next to it is the sarah , streets with all kinds of products that trace their origin to the arab immigration.
Casas Pedro, food store specializing in arabic products , attest to it. In the center it is also impossible not to be surprised by the extravagance of one of the strangest cathedrals you have ever seen. The majestic Colombo confectionery, with a great history and best sweets , is another of the essentials of the center. And if you like Brazilian music, try to find the Tropicalia record store, tucked away in an office building.
The majestic Colombo confectionery
7)SPORT EVERYWHERE
It's not like there's a place the size of Central Park where to play sports in Rio de Janeiro, but the entire city is full of possibilities of do sports outdoors . The gym with stone weights in it is very curious. arpoador , rock that separates Copacabana from Ipanema . On its banks, there are people running on the sand and others on the road, games of footvolley Y altinha , which is what dozens of young people do at sunset trying to keep the ball from falling by passing it to each other without using their hands. You can climb several of its mountains, paraglide from others, ride a bike around the lake or play soccer or basketball in the Aterro de Flamengo fields.
In Rio de Janeiro you do sports outdoors, very healthy
8) SUNSET IN LAGOA
There are few things better than a couples picnic during a clear sunset around of the Lagoa In janeiro river. Go by bike, on foot or on a skateboard, but do it. There is little more to add.
9) A WALK THROUGH SANTA TERESA, THE MONT MATRE OF RIO
Despite having lost its emblematic tram, Santa Teresa It is still the most charming neighborhood in Rio. With paved floors from top to bottom, the old mansions alternate with modern studios. bau haus , all in direct contact with the jungle in which they sometimes get involved. It is not difficult to see monkeys wandering through the trees and wires and on Sundays the atmosphere of night bars and conversation is sensational. Especially recommendable to have lunch in the humble, cheap and delicious Cantina do Gaucho , restaurant with tremendous views , and from there go down to meet the Largo das Neves and the Largo das Guimaraes . Most of the bars in those areas are very good and not particularly expensive.
A beautiful sunset around Lagoa
10) THE SAMBA
Of course you cannot leave Rio de Janeiro without having contact with its most traditional music, the samba . During the world will be in charge of multiplying the concerts by a hundred, but with a bit of luck you will still be able to enjoy the Salt Stone and the concerts of bar beep-beep , in Copacabana.
11) IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE NIGHT OF LAPA
Rio night has a name: Limpet . Especially the Friday , prostitutes, posh, homeless, gay, alternative and tourists mingle in one of the night capitals of South America. Beyond the places like Leviano , with good concerts , or Lapa 40 graus or the mythical Democrático and Rio Scenario, it is worth having a beer (watered down, as Brazilian beers are, yes) on the street and chatting with the first person who comes across. In Lapa it is totally possible.
Immerse yourself in the limpet night at Rio Scenarium