Rio de Janeiro is considered one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating cities. It has around 7 million inhabitants, and is squeezed between the green mountains of the coastal rainforest and the tropical beaches on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The city is a showcase of the lifestyle of a South American metropolis, with a strong touch of tropical laissez-faire. A wide range of scenic, cultural and architectural highlights make it clear that the city is more than just samba and carnival. A visit to the Sugar Loaf, and to the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado mountain, as well as a swim at the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, are obviously essential. However, visitors should also make sure they take a stroll through the historical parts of the city.
Colourful, loud and brash, the city displays a combination of colonial architecture and modern office buildings, banks and business centres. There are also many quiet corners and hidden gems, where one can relax and meditate, surrounded by the exuberant tropical nature that makes Rio de Janeiro so attractive to visitors and locals alike.
We pick you up at either of the two airports in Rio de Janeiro and transfer you to our charming guesthouse “Casa Beleza”, located in the green hills of the Santa Teresa neighbourhood. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Depending on your arrival time, your guide will be pleased to suggest interesting activities for the rest of the day.
Our sightseeing tour begins in the historic Cinelândia square in front of the Teatro Municipal, built in 1909 in the style of the Paris opera house. Nearby is the Catedral Metropolitana / Petrobrás / BNDES, a fine ensemble of modern Brazilian architecture with gardens by Roberto Burle Marx Visit the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura, a noteworthy library dating from 1888, and the Confeitaria Colombo, Rio's finest coffee house, founded in 1894.
Next, we visit the São Bento abbey, one of the finest 17th century examples of colonial religious art in Rio de Janeiro and, indeed, in the whole of Brazil. In sharp contrast is the futuristic Museum do Amanhã and the biggest mural on the planet, by Graffiti-Artist Eduardo Kobra.
We will also take a stroll through the Santa Teresa neighbourhood, with its cobble stone alleys and villas, which are testimony to its rich past, and its nostalgic and bohemian atmosphere. Our walk includes a visit to the colourfully tiled Selaron staircase, and the cultural centre at Parque das Ruinas.
In the afternoon we take you for a cable car ride to the top of the 396 m high Sugar Loaf, world famous symbol of Rio de Janeiro, featuring views of the ocean, the bay, the surrounding mountains and the city itself, not to speak of the exuberant tropical vegetation on this island mountain.
On return to your hotel, feel free to ask for suggestions for your dinner and evening programme.
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up for an excursion to the Corcovado Mountain (710m), from which a staircase leads to the world famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. From here you will enjoy breathtaking views over the city, mountains, beaches and ocean.
A short drive then takes us to the Tijuca National Park. Extending for 32 sq km, this is the world’s biggest urban forest and may well be the oldest protected natural environment in existence. In 1862, following decades of exploitation by the owners of coffee plantations, the Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II declared the area to be a Protected Forest. Major Manuel Gomes Archer, a British descendant, was given the order to reforest the area, which he successfully achieved over the course of 13 years by planting 100,000 trees, using species from the Brazilian Coastal Rainforest. A gentle walk of about an hour takes us to one of the park’s enchanting waterfalls, where we may enjoy a refreshing shower.
You will be taken back to the hotel, and have the rest of the day at leisure. Our guide will be pleased to recommend activities for the afternoon and evening.
Depending on the time of your flight departure, you may just want to spend any remaining time at leisure. If you wish to do some more sightseeing, please ask your guide for options. You will be provided with a transfer to the airport.
Our itineraries are subject to changes and may be altered in accordance with conditions during the stay and the ride. The decisions taken by the local team must be adhered to.
| US$ (American Dollars) |
| For 4 days / 3 nights | |
| 1 person , SGL room | 1650 (breakfast included) |
| 2-4 persons, DBL room | 1380 p.person (breakfast included) |
Note: For your information, this itinerary focuses on the cultural aspects and some of the natural highlights of Rio de Janeiro. If you have more time, there are many more activities available, such as hiking in the mountains and rain forests that frame the city, sailing in the bay and along the coast line for several hours or even days, a scenic ocean kayak ride around the sugar loaf, and hang gliding above the southern slopes of the Tijuca massif. We will be pleased to assist you in deciding on the most interesting options.
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