Wild beaches and modern neighbourhoods of Rio

These two Kiosks are famous for their romantic scenic view on the neighbourhood Ipanema. A good place to start the visit and enjoy a coconut juice in the sunrise.

A nice small beach in front of the hotel Sheraton.

One of Rio's most famous "Favela" has a breathtaking view on the city and on the sea.
It is recommended to avoid visiting favelas without a guide, for safety reasons.

You'll come across many motels in Brazil, none of them will afford you the low-budget comfort room of their American namesakes. In Brazil, the term "motel" has only one meaning: a short-stay hotel which allows people privacy for sex.

As most young Brazilians live at home until they get married, motels first appeared in Brazil in the late 60s as an alternative for the unmarried couple when hotels used to require marriage certificates from couples before check-in.

Vip's Suites is the most famous motel in Rio, with its scenic view on the ocean...

The road along the seashore offers great scenic views.
If you are driving, keep in mind that alcohol influence is forbidden when driving and controls are frequent.

São Conrado is a neighbourhood in the South Zone (Zona Sul) of Rio de Janeiro.
São Conrado is famous for its hang gliding, its Fashion Mall which houses over 150 luxury stores, and its golf.
The neighborhood (bairro) is made up of up-scale residential buildings. Contrasting with this wealth is the sight of the Favela "a Rocinha", which is located on the Morro Dois Irmãos.
São Conrado is probably the richest neighbourhood in Rio with stunning mansions nested in the rainforest on the foot of the Pedra da Gávea mountain.

The Fashion Mall houses over 150 stores and is the highest standing shopping centre in Rio.
The Mall also houses excellent restaurants.

Rocinha has the fame to be the largest favela in Rio. It is located in Rio's South Zone on a steep hillside overlooking Sao Conrado.
Most of the favela is on a very steep hill surrounded by the rainforest. Nowadays a sub-part of the favela has well developed infrastructures such as electricity and water supply but the majority of still lack these basic supplies.
Favelas are dangerous for 2 main reasons:
1. urban wars: pitched battles between police and drug lords, or between drug lords may occur.
2. Natural danger: heavy rains often trigger giant mudslides.

Tours are organised to discover the Rocinha: although the visit is superficial, you will usually enjoy some of those stunning narrow streets that resembles a catacomb and could easily induce feelings of claustrophobia. The view from the top of the Rocinha is among the world's most beautiful urban panorama. Worth a visit, without any doubt.

The small neighbourhood Canoa is perhaps the place of the highest standing mansions in Rio. The contrast with the tiny favela das Canoas is striking.

Do not miss a jump from the Pedra Bonita. Fantastic view on Rio's seashore.
see: http://www.riohanggliding.com/

This modern neighbourhood in the Western Zone of Rio will host most of the 2016 Summer Olympics Games.
Barra is one of the richest places in Brazil. It is believed to be the safest of Rio's upper class neighbourhoods mainly due to its lack of favelas. With big mansions and luxury condominiums, Barra da Tijuca is the home of the Brazilian high society, celebrities and soccer stars.
It has a total of about 27 km of beaches, the largest being Praia da Barra with 18 km in length.

Inaugurated in 1989, the Academia da Cachaça shelter the collection of more than 2,000 bottles of cachaça telling the story of 130 years of sugar cane spirits.

The Academia da Cachaça has been confirmed as a reference in the gastronomy of Rio. Some of its products – caipirinha, feijoada, escondidinho – are considered in Brazil and abroad as the best in town.

Food: Arrumadinho (jerked beef with cowpeas). Escondinho (cassava and cream cheese) is the oldest creation of Academia da Cachaça. Kale is the final touch of Mineirinho, a kind of “risotto from Minas Gerais”. And more: curd cheese, black beans soup, meat balls, roasted heart of palm...

Cachaça: taste the batidas (fruits, cachaça and evaporated milk and), the fruity capirinhas.

A good place to enjoy some sushi.

Among the most famous "sucos" in Rio.

Located a few blocks down from the Pepê beach, this is a great place for a break. Menu options include breakfast and anytime foods, with several varieties of sandwiches and hamburgers, in addition to salads, pastas and fresh-squeezed juices.

The restaurant is one of the meeting point of Rio's celebrities.

One of the trendiest beach in Rio filled with the beautiful and sexy people particularly over the weekends.

This beach is popular with surfers as well as kite boarders.

Make a stop at the Cabana do Pepe sandwich shop. Pepe was a famous hang glider who won several competitions. He started a small restaurant that focused on healthy food and fruit smoothies but was killed in a hang gliding accident.

This condiminium host many brazilian celebrities including world famous soccer-players.

One of the few "sucos" located on the seashore, high quality sandwiches and fruits juice. The egg-white diet omelette with vegetables, turkey and brazilian cheese "queijo minas" is famous among cariocas girls for its delightful taste along with low calories content.

BarraShopping is Rio de Janeiro’s most popular mall and is one of the largest malls in Central and South America.
It contains nearly 700 facilities to shop, eat and play; ENORMOUS!!! Open everyday up to 10 pm, it is a perfect rainy day activity or dinner place.

Recommended restaurants: Gula Gula (Brazilian food, cheap, fast and delightful), Antiquarius Grill for Portuguese delights.

Famous Brazilian fashion stores: Bumbum (Brazilian bikini). Osklen (beach and relax clothes). Salinas (Brazilian bikini). Eclectic (fashion for women). Espaço fashion (fashion for women).

Other interesting stores: Imaginarium (design, interior deco).

With a natural lake and blessed with a view of the magnificent Pedra da Gávea, this 375-acre preservation area was created to protect the wildlife. It is a good place to walk around, bird watch and to see a Brazilian caiman or two, if you are lucky.

Recreio beach is a paradise for surfers and those who want the whole beach to them selves and is thus especially appreciated by local celebrities.

The beach is about 10km long with kiosks every 200 meters.

Recreio is a beach and neighbourhood in the West Side—Zona Oeste—of Rio. The neighbourhood is of recent development but did not have skyscrapers however. Recreio Beach is a good spot for surfing and the white sand beach is used by beach volleyball players. It is about one hour from the Rio city centre. Recreio means leisure.

The peninsula of the Pontal is the most beautiful part of Barra da Tijuca's beach which is 20 km long.

One of the most beautiful beach in Rio is frequented mainly by local residents because of its far distance from the city centre. As usual, you will find there delightful fresh coconut juice, great breaks to surf, white sand and crystal clear water...

On the road to Grumari and Prainha do not miss a brief stop to enjoy the scenic view.

THE paradise for surfers and breathtaking sexy girls, this small wild beach has two kiosk selling Brazilian food and beverages.
Enjoy!

2km of white sand and crystal clear water, with a few kiosks open only during the weekend, Grumari is the most famous wild beach in Rio.

A perfect place to enjoy a moqueca (staple dish from the Bahia region), pasteis de camarao (pastries with a wide variety of fillings, the most famous being shrimp) with great scenic view, wonderful sunset and live Bossa nova during the weekend.
(Be patient with the waiters however...)