How To Travel to Rio De Janeiro

Tips and tricks to enjoy your trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Brasil)

Step 1  

From the international airport (GIG), you can take a bus to downtown and then a subway or taxi to your destination. If affordable, a taxi is faster. Also, learn the name of your hotel as it is pronounced in Brazilian Portuguese. You could spend ten minutes trying different variations of the word "Everest" until you stumble upon "Ever ESS Chi".

Step 2  

Three places are a must see: Corcovado, Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf), and the beach of Copacabana. The Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theatre) and National Museum of Fine Arts (located just near the Theater) are well-worth the walk.

Step 3  

MAC museum by Oscar Niemeyer in Nitéroi worth a visit, plus a view to Rio bay, Museum looks like a flying saucer, and a bird, depending on the side.

Step 4  

Eat at the buffet-style places if you're budgeting, the choices are vast and cheap. It is very easy to find an excellent meal in Rio, just look for the crowds. One good bet is the Bar Lagoa near Ipanema's lagoon.

Step 5  

Learn basic Poruguese phrases; they are very useful. In general, Brazil is not like Mexico, the Carribean or Central American resort destinations. English is not readily used and American tourism isn't their biggest business, Europeans are. They tend to learn the language to some extent, so learn some basic phrases on the eight-hour flight from NYC, for example.

Step 6  

Surf the Internet to learn about things to do in Rio; Go to the Maracana stadium, visit the Museum of Modern Art, Jardim Botanico (Botanical Gardens), sample the wild nightlife, etc. There are many things to do in Rio or you can just lay out on the beach all day. Remember, Rio as a city is as populous as NYC with just as much variety. If you can't find something to do in Rio then you're not really trying.

Step 7  

Nice beaches to surf: Arpoador, near Ipanema rocks, Prainha a bit away from the center. And Itacoatiara in Nitéroi suburb, if you're into serious wave, and a nice non tourist place(safe beach). See wave conditions in rio beaches

Step 8  

If you plan a trip by car on your own, carefully select your trip, a wrong exit on the road and you could end up in a favela.

Tips

• It's easy to find people to talk in Rio de Janeiro who speak English, but it is helpful to know some basic Portuguese words and phrases.
• In the summer, you can enjoy daylight on the beach until 08:00 PM.
• If you want some peace with beach and some night life you can choose a hotel in "Barra da Tijuca". If you want crowded places and nightlife, choose some hotel in "Zona Sul" (Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema e Leblon). In general, Ipanema and Leblon are the safest areas to stay and visit.
• You can try "Motels", with your gf, wife... Quite kinky but also quitch/funny. You can get a bed, with mirrors, sauna, swimming pool with cascades, jacuzzi... Worth a try
• If your looking for "sex wax" paraffins for your surfboard, ask for "Parafina". It should avoid problems, specially if store clerk is a woman.
• Condoms are called camisinha (like camisiña, in Spanish), other items like tooth paste are easier to explain/get

Warnings

• Sexual tourism isn't promoted and child exploitation is extremely illegal.
• Keep your personal belongings with you at all time; Rio is a big city so be smart.
• Always be careful when you cross a street. At night, traffic lights are quite ignored.
• Don't hesitate to use a taxi at night even if it is a short trip, like a couple of blocks.
• Be aware of your surroundings, most Rio crime victims are unaware of danger until "it" happens.
• Avoid "Centro" at night.
• If someone tries to steal your belongings, don't resist, event if it's a little kid. Your life worth more than this expensive camera of yours!
• To blend in, dress simply and leave touristy clothes at home. Don´t wear socks with sandals.
• Ask the hotel how much your taxi ride should be as drivers may "Take you for a ride" like in any city.
• Don't bring valuables to the beach, just a few reais for beer/soda/ice cream and watch it always.
• Don't drink water from the tap or from your shower, use a straw when you drink a soda.
• Don't go topless on beaches, police arrest people doing it quite often.
• If hotel clerk tells you about private taxis for your security, most of the time, it will cost you 2 times the price for no good reasons. Private taxis are most of the time clerk relatives looking for easy money
• Friendly girls of Copacabana are most of the time prostitutes, so be wise.
• Avoid homeless childs in the streets, they will see that you are a tourist and will robber you!
• Never, I repeat, NEVER be close to a "favela"(slum)!

Things You'll Need

• Real (plural: reais) (local currency) Bills less than R$50 are recommended (nobody likes to make change for big notes);
• Sunblock;
• sun glasses;
• Digital camera with batteries and big memory cards; also, do yourself a favor and upload your pictures at an Internet cafe if possible, cheap insurance if the camera gets stolen.