Rio de Janeiro Holidays

The beaches

Much of the city’s recreation is centred around the beaches to the south of the city. Stretching for four kilometres, Copacabana is home to one of the most famous beaches in the world and also the location for many of the city’s hotels and restaurants. As well as being a great location for soaking up the sun, Copacabana beach is also a hub of activity with regular beach football and volleyball matches and vendors selling anything from sunglasses to coconuts.

Not far from Copacabana beach, Ipanema and Leblon are some of the city’s most affluent areas, with many designer shops, good cafes and restaurants, as well as the beaches where many of the beautiful people flock to see and be seen. The beaches near the centre of the city, such as Flamengo, used to be the focal point of Rio, but are now not so popular.

Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer

The 30-metre high statue of Jesus Christ that overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro is one of the most iconic images of Rio and Brazil.

Completed in 1931, the statue is on top of the 710-metre high Corcovado mountain, and offers breathtaking views. The mountain forms part of the Tijuca Forest National Park and is home to hundreds of species of plant and wildlife including many monkeys. A funicular train can be taken up the mountain.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Set in the mouth of the Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the world’s most famous natural landmarks.

The name comes from the mountain’s resemblance to a concentrated sugarloaf, so familiar in the city during its sugar cane hey-day. The summit of the Sugarloaf is 394 metres high, and can be reached by cable car, from where the views over the city and the bay are spectacular.

Rio de Janeiro History

Portuguese sailors first arrived at what is now Rio in January 1502. Thinking that the bay was the mouth of an enormous river, they named the place January River – Rio de Janeiro. However, the area was not populated until the 1550s, when the French established a garrison, and the city was not founded by the Portuguese until the following decade. The city grew rapidly, and with the discovery of gold in nearby Minas Gerais, Rio really started to prosper. Rio was the capital of the southern states of Brazil, with Salvador the capital of the northern states. Although Salvador briefly became the sole capital of the country, Rio grew to become the most important city in the country, and became the capital of the entire country in 1763.

In addition to gold, sugar cane cultivation became central to the city’s prosperity, and African slaves made up a large proportion of the city’s population, and much of the city remained poorly developed.

When Napoleon invaded Portugal, the Portuguese royal family fled to Rio in 1808, and a transformation of the city began, with street lighting and paving, and prosperous coffee barons built their mansions in the city.

Brazil declared independence in 1822, and was a monarchy until 1889, when it became a republic. Rio remained the capital, until 1960, when the capital was moved to the new city of Brasilia. Throughout this period, Rio grew rapidly as a commercial centre, with the tunnel linking the centre to Copacabana opened in 1892, as the city expanded. Many colonial buildings were torn down as the city was remodelled, with grand avenues, parks and buildings.

The city has undergone several changes since, and many of the buildings are now high-rise concrete structures, with very little left of its colonial past. Much interest now lies around the beaches to the south of the city, where many local cariocas (residents of Rio) go for recreation. Although no longer the capital, the city remains one of the most vibrant in all of the Americas with a fantastic nightlife and culture.

Rio de Janeiro Highlights

City Centre

Although the city centre is the now a modern financial district, it is also the oldest part of the city and has many interesting historical sites and museums. There is a market every Thursday and Friday in the Praça XV de Novembro. Another place of interest is the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Se, the city’s oldest cathedral. The striking modern cathedral, opened in 1976, is also worth visiting.

Maracana Stadium

Located in the north of Rio, the Maracana is one of the world’s largest football stadiums. 200,000 people saw the 1950 World Cup final here, when Uruguay beat Brazil. The 2014 World Cup final was also held here, although the all-seated capacity was 90,000.

Santa Teresa

One of the most charming areas of the city, Santa Teresa offers a glimpse into what Rio was like before it became a modern city, with many 19th century buildings still remaining. This area of the city is situated on a hill not far from the city centre, and there are many handicrafts and arts in this area, as well as good restaurants and bars. The area is accessible by tram.

Tijuca National Park

The hills of Rio were initially covered in lush tropical forest, but most of this was chopped down in the 17th century. When it was realised that this was causing severe problems for Rio’s water supply, as well as creating landslides, a reforestation project was begun, and over 100,000 trees were planted in the second half of the 19th century. Today, 120 square kilometres of replanted forest are a national park which is home to much wildlife and birdlife.

Ilha de Paqueta

It is possible to visit the Ilha de Paqueta, in the Guanabara Bay, from Rio. There are several beaches, although there is pollution in the sea. There are no cars on the island, and bicycles can be hired. The island is about 1 hour by boat from Rio, or considerably less by hydrofoil, and is very popular at weekends.