Across Av. Rio Branco (toward the ocean) is an area full of galleries and cultural spaces. First, there’s the Casa França (Rua Visconde de Itaboraí 78, noon–6pm Tuesday–Sunday), which has temporary and permanent scultpure exhibitions in an 1820 neoclassic building. The building was designed as a fine arts school, but...
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The images that come to mind when one thinks of Rio de Janeiro are many and varied, but one that always seems to appear is of the famous Copacabana boardwalk and the Copacabana Palace Hotel with its luxurious interior and high-rolling clientele. In its heyday, Copacabana (and the hotel in particular) was the scenario of several...
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Many travelers come to Rio de Janeiro and never once set foot in the historical district. The beaches and attractions in the Zona Sul are so compelling that they overwhelm other agendas. That’s a shame, because the historical architecture, museums, churches, age-old bars, and coffee shops in the downtown area make up the city’s...
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On Sunday at 10am you can hear the Gregorian Chants at the Monastery of São Bento, one of the most impressive Baroque churches in the country. Built in 1663, the monastery contains detailing and sculptures with a mixture of dark Jacarandá wood and gold leaf. Most impressive is the front altar and large paintings along the side...
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The marina area in Rio de Janeiro is on the coast of the downtown area. It has a few different attractions to check out. First, inside the Espaço Cultural da Marinha (Av. Pres. Vargas, 9am–5pm daily) is a small Maritime Museum with a few artifacts showing the history of Brazilian sea navigation. Outside at the pier are two...
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Tirelessly watching over the craziness of Rio de Janeiro, the Cristo has stood since 1931 redeeming the city and its inhabitants from the top of Corcovado Mountain. The famous monument, called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) was designed to celbrate the 100 years of Brazil’s independence from Portugal from 1822–1922....
read moreGreat Lodging Between Downtown and Copacabana Hotel Florida is one of Rio de Janeiro’s best mid-range hotels. Located in the Flamengo neighborhood, it’s close to the city’s metro line (for getting to Copacabana and Ipanema) and Flamengo Beach (for the best view of the bay). The place is traditional, but not...
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View Larger Map The Road from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro The road between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo is one of Brazil’s most traveled tourist destinations. Called the Rio-Santos road, the trip is perfect for many visitors who want to see the big cities of Brazil, some excellent beaches and tropical islands (including...
read moreThe best views of Rio de Janeiro and the entire coastline around it, are from the two view platforms of Urca and Pão de Açúcar, both part of the famous gondola ride. It’s worth going up once during the day and again after dark to see both aspects of the city.
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RIO DE JANEIRO–Over 4,000 European travelers were taken into “Rocinha,” Rio de Janeiro’s oldest slum, so far this year. And that’s just by one of several agencies specializing in the favela tour. Now, it seems, the city’s official tourism office, Riotur, is including the favela in their list of...
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Take a visual vacation to Brazil with this photo e-book. See just how blue the water is along the extensive coastline of the Northeast Region. Get a glimpse of the people and the culture that is Brazil. This promotional e-book is free and we encourage you to copy and distribute it as much as you can. 
Heading to Rio de Janeiro? Take this handy 3-day itinerary with you to get the most out of your journey in the least amount of time. Download and take it with you on your laptop or on CD, or use the printable pages in your notebook or day planner. Available for FREE from this site.
