Brazil - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 244

monumental arena is actually Estadio
Mario Filho ; Maracanã is a nickname
derived from the Brazilian word for
a macaw and given to a nearby river.
But it's not just football that earns the
stadium its place in the record books.
In 1991 former Beatle Paul McCartney
played to a crowd of 180,000 people
here, the highest ever concert attendance.
It's certainly worth coming to a game
(see p.232), but if your visit doesn't
coincide with a match, you can tour the
stadium and the one-room Museu dos
Esportes (daily 9am-5pm; R$30), which
gives the lowdown on Brazilian football.

human history of Latin America; in the
Brazilian room, exhibits of Tupi-Guarani
and Marajó ceramics lead on to the
indigenous ethnographical section,
uniting pieces collected from the
numerous tribes that once populated
Brazil and with displays on Brazilian
folklore and Afro-Brazilian cults. The
surprisingly spacious Rio Zoo (daily
9am-4.30pm; R$6) is located next door.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane Tom Jobim International Airport, known as Galeão
( T 21 3398 5050), is located 15km north of the centre and
also handles many domestic flights. Santos Dumont Airport
( T 21 3814 7070), southeast of (and walking distance from)
Centro, handles domestic services only. Frequent executive
buses (every 20min 5am-midnight; R$15) link the airports
with the rodoviária (bus terminal), city centre and the
Zona Sul beaches, passing through Flamengo, Botafogo,
Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Unless you're arriving
at night there's no need to take an overpriced taxi (up
to R$100 Galeão to/from the Zona Sul; R$30-40 Santos
Dumont to Copacabana/Ipanema).
Destinations São Paulo (every 30-60min; 1hr); Belo
Horizonte (every 30-60min; 1hr 30min); Foz de Iguaçu (6-8
daily; 3hr); Salvador (6-8 daily; 3hr); Recife (6-8 daily; 4hr).
By bus Buses arrive at the vast Rodoviária Novo Rio
( T 21 3213 1800), 3km northwest of the centre at
Av Francisco Bicalho. Late at night take a taxi (from R$35
to Copacabana/Ipanema), otherwise take either the
executive (airport) service (see above) or the (longer)
Metrô Integração bus to the Largo do Machado metrô

3

Quinta da Boa Vista
he area covered by the Quinta da Boa
Vista (daily 9am-6pm; Metrô São
Cristóvão) was once incorporated in
a sesmaria (a colonial land grant) held
by Jesuits in the seventeenth century,
before it became the country seat of the
Portuguese royal family in 1808. The
park, with its wide expanses of greenery,
tree-lined avenues, lakes and games areas,
is an excellent place for a stroll, though it
can get crowded at weekends. Looking
out from a hilltop in the centre of the
park is the imposing Neoclassical
Museu Nacional (Tues-Sun 10am-4pm;
R$3; W www.museunacional.ufrj.br).
Its archeological section deals with the

RIO DE JANEIRO TOURS
You can get around most of Rio's sights independently, but for off-the-beaten-track exploring
such as to favelas and football matches, or for outdoor activities, experienced guides are on
hand to help. All operators listed below speak English. Book tours personally rather than
through commission-hungry hostels/hotels.
TOUR OPERATORS
Architectur T 21 8115 3703, W favelaarchitectour
.com. Astute walking tours through Rocinha run by
favela residents for R$85.
Cruz the Coast T 21 8076 5743, W cruzthecoast
brazil.com. Operates an excellent guided minibus service
north to Bahia with a 10-day suggested itinerary inclu-
ding accommodation and numerous excursions (from
R$1,450).
Favela Tour T 21 3322 2727, W favelatour.com.br.
Responsible, community-approved trips to Rocinha
by minibus for R$80.
Heli Rio T 21 2437 9064, W helirio.com.br. Arranges

helicopter trips over the city.
Rio Hiking T 21 9721 0594, W riohiking.com.br. Offers
a variety of trips around the city and state, as well as
nightlife tours and adventure sports.
Rio's Surf Bus T 21 2539 7555, W surfbus.com.br.
4 daily buses connect Largo do Machado, Botafogo,
Copacabana and Ipanema with the top surf spots
and gorgeous beaches of Prainha and Grumari west
of the city - an ideal day excursion for surfers and
non-surfers alike.
Rob Shaw E [e-mail]. For organized
trips to football matches, all stadiums and clubs, plus
World Cup information.