domingo, 9 de junho de 2013

12 Best Places to Visit in Rio de Janeiro



It’s a rare visitor who doesn’t fall hard for the alluring beauty of Rio de Janeiro. Known as the cidade maravilhosa, the marvelous city stretches between rain-forest covered peaks and white-sand beaches, with a wild mix of architecture – from beaux-arts theatres to art-deco apartment buildings – scattered along its buzzing tree-lined streets.
Rio is famous for its breathtaking landscape, its laidback beach culture, its annual Carnival and its people, named carioca, unique joy and happiness.
The real fascination starts at Rio de Janeiro harbor, comprised of a rare entry from the ocean that makes it appear to be the mouth of a river. Additionally, the harbor is surrounded by spectacular geographic features including Sugar Loaf Mountain at 395 meters (1,296 feet), Corcovado Peak at 704 meters (2,310 feet), and the hills of Tijuca at 1,021 meters (3,350 feet). These features work together to collectively make the harbor one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Rio was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese as a fortification against French privateers who trafficked wood and goods from Brazil.
The South Zone holds most of Rio's landmarks and world-famous beaches, in an area of only 43.87 square km (17 square miles). Many of them are within walking distance of each other. Travel fantasies don’t always live up to the reality, but the marvelous city”, as citizens call their beloved hometown, can knock even the most jaded travelers off their seen-it-all perches. The marvels range from singular settings primo beaches surrounded by jungled slopes and granite monoliths to some of the best music on the planet, to a lifestyle that invites all to slow down and sample life at a beachside kiosk, sidewalk bar or juice stand.
Famed for girls from Ipanema and Carnival, the best of Rio is all that but a lot more. The party goes on year-round in the cultural heart of Brazil, from the samba renaissance in the Lapa District, where you can choose from an array of great clubs, music and restaurants, to Carnival rehearsals at local samba schools that redefine the word celebration.
As it prepares for the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016, the city has launched a massive security program that’s finally addressing long-standing safety concerns. The best of Rio beaches of the South Zone are heavily patrolled and many other areas especially those troubled by crime and drugs have been cleaned up.
Mostly Rio specializes in life celebrants who bring you into the fold. Whether it’s hanging out over caipirinhas (most famous Brazilian drink, a mix of lemon, sugar and cachaça, blended with a small pestle, then shaken and served with ice) at a neighborhood bar, hiking in the rainforest or dancing in a circle of samba at an old dancehall, Rio is a realm of the senses, beauties and wonders of the world.

Here are our top 12 places not to be missed while visiting the city.

Flamengo Park and Glória Marine
Sitting by the margins of Guanabara Bay, Flamengo Park holds the Flamengo Beach, Modern Art Museum, the Carmen Miranda Museum and the Monument to the World War II Dead Soldiers, besides Glória Marine. The Roberto Burle Marx-designed space offers a shady green refuge from downtown rush of the city. The park is almost 300 acres (30 thousands m²) of wonderfully green, urban parkland. It’s the biggest landfill in the world. The wealthy carioca Lota Macedo Soares [19101967] came up with the initial plan, destroying a hill and using the rubble to fill in the edge of the bay and create the new highway and park, re-drawing the city's geography in the process. Well tendered for by legions of council workers every morning, famous carioca landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx [1909–1994] dreamt up the undulating curves and banks, planting 11,600 trees throughout the area including rare species and a huge variety of palms. Running all the way from Botafogo beach up to Glória Marine and the Santos Dumont airport (also built on landfill), there are two public tennis courts, countless football and basketball pitches, an outdoor theatre and even a designated area for remote control airplane enthusiasts. Weekends become packed with families and the sporting masses, with beach volleyball, frescoball and futvolei (footvolley: game similar to volleyball in which, instead of hands, players use feet) the favourite ways to build up and appetite for the all-important barbecue. Best avoided at night, the early mornings are a hive of energy as runners and cyclists take advantage of the cool breeze to get their training on. The Park is the largest leisure area of Rio de Janeiro. The place has a strong sport tradition, the arrival point of marathons.

Sugar Loaf Mountain
This 395-meter summit offers sublime views over Rio and is a must on even a short visit to the city. Most visitors take the two-stage aerial cable car to the top, though others rely on ropes, reliable shoes and plenty of perspiration to reach the top. The Sugar Loaf [Pão de Açucar] Mountain is one of the most important natural, historical and touristic landmark of the city of Rio de Janeiro. With its unusual warhead shape, the Sugar Loaf Mountain is a monolithic mountain of granite and quartz that rises at the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar.
The glass-paneled cable car, capable of holding 65 passengers, offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding city. It goes from the base at Vermelha (Red) Beach to a height of 220m (720ft) above sea level and stops at the summit of Urca mountain. On this plateau lies an amphitheatre, restaurants, and shops. The second leg completes the journey to the 396-metre (1,299 ft) high Sugar Loaf over a distance of 750m (2460ft). Similar facilities exist at the final stop, which offers one of the most magnificent panoramic views of the ocean, beaches and mountains of the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói. The original cable car line was built in 1912 and rebuilt around 1972/1973 and in 2008.

Christ Redeemer
One of Rio’s icons, the impressive 40-meter-tall open-armed saviour sits atop his not-so-lonely Corcovado Mountain, where he enjoys unrivalled views (which surely explains the contented expression on his face). The best way up is by cog train as it makes the short steep ascent through well-preserved rain forest. Go early to beat the crowds. The Christ Redeemer statue [Cristo Redentor], a monument of Jesus Christ, is a symbol of Christianity that became one of the most internationally recognized icons of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It is the second biggest statue of Christ in the world with 38 meters high, and 710 meters of the Corcovado Hill, and 30 meters (98 ft) wide. It weighs 635 tonnes, and is located 709 meters above the sea level at the peak of the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. 
It was inaugurated in 1931, after nearly five years of work, and since 2003 it counts on three glass-sided panoramic elevators, each able to carry 13 people, and four escalators. Thus, there is no longer the need to climb 220 steps of stairs that lead to the statue’s feet. Elected one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the Christ Redeemer has a privileged panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro offered from its belvedere. The summit is reached by an electrified train that leaves every 30 minutes from the station on Cosme Velho Street. The 20-minute train ride provides a nice ride through the tropical forest, the world’s largest urban forest, along a steep and winding set of tracks.

Copacabana Beach
The Copacabana Beach, considered one of the most famous beaches in the world, is a mix of tradition, glamour and glory. Bounded by the Atlantic Avenue, it is home to large events such as world championships of beach soccer and volleyball, the stage of concerts that bring together millions of people and the planet’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations, with more than 3 million viewers in loco. The Copacabana promenade, a pavement landscape 4-kilometer long, is a famous place to walk in Rio de Janeiro, where you can see sand sculptures, the Copacabana Beach and statues that portray some renowned brazilian artists. One of them is the statue of Carlos Drummond de Andrade, a famous poet that is admiring Copacabana from a seat in the promenade. The geometric wave design of its black and white sidewalk is world famous and was inspired by the sidewalk from Lisbon. Hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and residential buildings dot the promenade. For seaside strolls, it’s hard to beat Copacabana, with its comely crescent-shaped beach that stretches for 4 km against a backdrop of dramatic forest-covered peaks. Eating and drinking kiosks dot the shore – with kitchens cleverly hidden below ground – and make fine places to rehydrate while admiring the view.

Ipanema and Leblon Beaches
Even though Ipanema is the most world known, they are considered to be twin for theirs high similarities. Both beaches have a common point of geographic limit: the Alah Garden, a water channel that links the Atlantic Ocean to Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. In all remaining aspects Ipanema and Leblon beaches are very similar to each other but Ipanema became widely known by the song The Girl from Ipanema, written by Antonio (Tom) Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, with English lyrics written later by Norman Gimbel. Vinicius and Tom penned their famous song in homage to the young beauty who passed by their bar stools each sunny day. Besides those magnificent beaches the tourist find himself around leafy streets dotted with enticing outdoor cafes and restaurants, pricey boutiques and lively bars. These famous beaches of Rio de Janeiro are urbans and have a broad band of soft sand, with relatively strong waves. In extension, Ipanema doubles Leblon. Symbol of music, art and bohemia, throughout its history, the beauty and charm of these beaches served as inspiration for poets, writers and composers. Mostly Ipanema beach, which is often a place of outdoor concerts. An extensive bike path and several kiosks flank the four kilometers sidewalk by the beaches, which stretches from the Arpoador to Alah Garden and, side by side, Leblon stretches from Alah Garden to the mountaintop viewpoint, the Leblon Viewpoint, from where you can have the finest view of both beaches. The beaches are used for practice of various sports, including the skiboard surfing, racquetball, volleyball, soccer and foot-volley. 
The sunset is so fantastic that it is common to see swimmers clapping to this scenario. Depending on the season of the year, the sun sets in the sea horizon or behind the two spectacular mountains called the Two Brothers, which rise at the western end of the beach. One interesting thing about Ipanema beach is that there is a gay-friendly area, situated near the position of Posto 9 (lifeguard tower 9), near Farme de Amoedo Street, where there is a rainbow flag flying in the air. At the end or beginning of the famous Leblon beach, there is a scenic mountaintop viewpoint, the Leblon Viewpoint, where you can contemplate a gorgeous bird’s-eye view of Ipanema and Leblon beaches together and listen to the waves hitting the rocks right below. It is a great spot for a romance or a date. Try climbing the viewpoint for the early morning to enjoy the sunrise. The belvedere is made of a huge deck with wooden planks supported on the rocks and garnished by a wooden fence. There are kiosks where you can drink coconut water or a cold beer.

Two Brothers Mountain Park
Even the carioca, the so-called native born in city, doesn’t know so much about this surprising multipoint of wonderful views. The Two Brothers [Dois Irmãos] Viewpoint was constructed in 1992 and is located at the bottom of Two Brothers Mountain. This an excellent walk uphill for high quality of life, starting at the end of Aperana Street, near Leblon Viewpoint. The park has leisure area with gardens, squares, playground, sports court, open-air theater, spot for a picnic, park for children and seven viewpoints from where you may see Christ Redeemer, Arpoador, Ipanema, Leblon and São Conrado beaches, the sinuous Niemeyer Avenue, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Botanical Garden, Corcovado Mountain, Jockey Club and Copacabana Beach. Woow! Is that enough?! What a place!

Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
Lying just close to Ipanema and Leblon, the Lake is actually a saltwater lagoon and a favoured destination for egrets as well as joggers and cyclists looping around the 7.5km-long shoreline path. In the evening, outdoor restaurants near the lake’s edge make a fine setting, great spot, for a sundowner, particularly Palaphita Kitch, an open-air, thatched-roof wonderland with rustic bamboo furniture, flickering tiki torches and a peaceful gardenlike setting on the edge of the lake. This is a popular spot with couples, who come for the creative, tasty and pricey cocktails and the fine views. You can run, walk, skate or cycle the 7.5km around this freshwater lake and then retire to your luxurious penthouse apartment, or just imagine it! Some have been known to swim in it although pollution levels are not so low. Around Lagoa you can rent cycles, swan-shaped pedalos and, on the western side near where the helicopters take off, electric cars for the kids. 
Mostly known as Lagoa, considered to be  The Heart of Rio de Janeiro, is a lagoon and district in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Its neighborhood is an upper middle-class and it has one of the largest human development indexes in the country. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing sea water to enter by a channel along the edge of a park locally known as Alah Garden. With 2.4 million square meters (0.93 square miles) of surface area, aquatic sports such as rowing or simply biking happen around its reflecting water. It is home to a rowing stadium, a paved biking path of 7.5 kilometers (more than 4.5 miles), diverse leisure equipment, and food kiosks that offer regional and international gastronomy items. Some of the most important sports clubs in the city are by the lagoon. It attracts quite a number of visitors during the Christmas holidays due to its famous and gigantic Christmas Tree, which is built over a floating platform that moves around the lagoon and during the night, lightning lamps installed from bottom to top, flash, blink and change multiple colors.

Botanical Garden
A few blocks west of Lagoa, the exotic Botanical Gardens occupy 137 hectares and blossomed thanks to Dom João VI himself, who by royal decree, ordered the garden’s creation in 1808. Over 5000 tropical species are on view, including a fine orchid collection and the stunningly large Vitoria Regia water lilies in the Amazonas section. This Botanical Garden is one of the greatest tropical botanical gardens and arboretums of the world and one of the most beautiful and best-preserved green areas in the city. The 137-hectare park lies at the foot of the Corcovado Mountain and is an example of the diversity of Brazilian and foreign flora with more than 6,000 different species of tropical and subtropical plants and trees, including 900 varieties of palm trees. Dom João VI, prince regent of the United Kingdom of Brazil and Portugal, for introduction and acclimatizing economic beneficial plants brought from the West Indies, the garden is an excellent place to visit in Rio de Janeiro for those who wish to contemplate nature. The park, designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1992, also houses monuments of historical, artistic and archaeological significance. A striking feature of the botanical garden is its spectacular Avenue of Royal Palms, a 750 m line of 134 palms that measure about 100 feet (30 meters) high, leading from the entrance into the gardens. The Central Fountain, located at the midpoint of the meeting of the alleys, is one of the most beautiful attractions of the Garden. Made in England, it consists of two basins, where four figures represent Music, Poetry, Science and Art. The orchid house, with three thousand specimens of 600 different species, is another rare beauty attraction in the garden.

Chinese Viewpoint
The Vista Chinesa is a monument located at 380 meters high in the Tijuca Forest, at the ascent of the Alto da Boa Vista. Famous for having an oriental style gazebo, with spectacular views of the city of Rio de Janeiro, it has won an award in China as the best Chinese portal outside this country. Its name dates from the reign of Dom João VI, when Chinese who came to cultivate tea in Brazil were installed there. From that point, at a glance, the visitors may admire Christ Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Botanical Garden, also Arpoador, Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana and São Conrado beaches, Corcovado, Pedra Bonita, Pedra da Gávea and Dois Irmãos Mountains. Surely fantastic!

Beautiful Rock and Gávea Rock
Pedra Bonita is a deforested mountain with an altitude of 696 meters, covered, in the past by Atlantic forest. From its top you can get a beautiful and closer view of  Pedra da Gávea, another seaside monolith, close by its side. Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide as a perfect place for hang gliding. Starting from Pedra Bonita bound to Cucumber [Pepino] Beach you can take a hang glider flight and enjoy the beauties of the city from another perspective. The view you get from the top of Pedra Bonita is incredible, one of the best visuals of the city, so is the view from top of  Pedra da Gávea, simply amazing, breathtaking and stunning. 
Almost simultaneously, the visitors may see Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Restinga da Marambaia, Barra da Tijuca, São Conrado, Christ Redeemer, Arpoador, Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Botanical Garden, Corcovado Mountain, Jockey Club, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Guanabara Bay, Niterói, Maracanã Soccer Stadium, Tom Jobim and Santos Dumont airports, Flamengo Park and Glória Marine. Give yourself a break! Close your eyes and breathe in deeply three times! Open your eyes. This is not the top of the world but… it seems to be!!

Barra da Tijuca Beach
The 18 km long beach is the largest one in Rio de Janeiro. Known simply as Barra, it starts at Morro do Joá and ends at the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, in Pontal de Sernambetiba. Most of its waters are clear and green, and have an uncommon wave formation. Barra da Tijuca is one of the most sought after beaches by surfers, fishing enthusiasts, bodyboarders, kitesurfers and windsurfers. There is also a cycling lane along the beach. The waves, depending on the month, are strong and quite big. Beachside kiosks and sidewalk bar stand all along the way. One of the most amazing regions inside Barra is the untouchable Reserva Beach where there are no buildings, only seaside kiosks to serve drinks and appetizers. Barra da Tijuca is a famous borough, located southwest of the city on the Atlantic Ocean. 
Barra is well known for its beaches, its uncountable lakes and rivers, and its highly Americanized lifestyle. The atmosphere in Barra da Tijuca is more like that of cities like Miami or Los Angeles. Although representing only 4.7% of the city population and 13% of the total area of Rio de Janeiro, Barra is responsible for 30% of all tax collected in the city. The neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca is the cultural, economic, and administrative center of the borough, and is believed to be the safest of Rio's upper-class neighborhoods due to its lack of favelas and plentiful private and public security. Barra da Tijuca neighborhood is well known for being the home of celebrities and soccer stars.

Sítio Burle Marx
Roberto Burle Marx [1909–1994] was a Brazilian landscape architect, as well as a painter, ecologist, naturalist, artist and musician, whose designs of parks and gardens made him world famous. He is accredited with having introduced modernist landscape architecture to Brazil. In 1932, Burle Marx started his lifetime collaboration with architects Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer whose building projects worldwild were enriched by Marx garden designs. In 1949 he acquired the 365,000 m² estate Barra de Guaratiba, just 40 minutes from Ipanema Beach, and began gathering Brazilian rain forest plant specimens. He established his garden, nursery and tropical plant collection at Guaratiba. This property was donated to the Brazilian government in 1985 and became a national monument. It houses over 3,500 species of plants. The house was rebuilt in a valley on the site of a garden house belonging to the original plantation estate. 
Much of his work has a sense of timelessness and perfection. His artwork can be found displayed throughout the city of Rio de Janeiro: it is an open-air museum of works displaying his unmistakable style, one wholly his own. Marx’s work can be exemplified by the Copacabana Beach promenade, where native sea breeze resistant trees and palms appear in groupings along Atlantica Avenue. These groupings punctuate Portuguese stone mosaics which form a giant abstract painting where no section along the promenade is the same. This painting is viewed from the balconies of hotels, and offers an ever changing view for those driving along the beach. The mosaics continue the entire two and a half mile distance of the beach. The water feature, in this case, is of course the ocean and beach, which is bordered by a 30 foot wide continuous scallop patterned mosaic walk.