Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left A beach at night Center One-way road sign Right A favela
Things to Avoid
! Walking Around
safe but are occasionally
used by unscrupulous or
even unlicensed drivers.
Take cabs from desig-
nated stands, hotels, or
airport booths.
On Sunday, some of the
streets are closed
altogether. As signage is
very poor, heed the
traffic or ask a local.
* Prostitution
After Dark
Rio's city center is
bustling and crowded
during the day but
surprisingly empty after
8pm. Be sure to take a
taxi even for a journey
of a few hundred yards.
If you are stuck in an
area with no apparent
taxi stand, walk to the
nearest hotel, bar, or
restaurant and ask them
to call a taxi. Cariocas are
usually very obliging.
% Insect Bites
Prostitution is rife
along Avenida Atlântica
and in the various clubs
and cafés that run along
its length. Many
transvestite prostitutes
double up as muggers
and the female
prostitutes are famous
for plying patrons with
“Boa Noite Cinderelas”
or “Good night
Cinderellas” - drinks that
have been drugged - and
leave their clients with a
hotel room empty of all
their belongings.
In urban Rio,
dangerous insects and
arachnids are few and far
between. However,
mosquitoes are found in
the city, and during
particularly hot and wet
periods, they commonly
carry and transmit
dengue fever - a viral
infection with severe flu-
like symptoms. Although
there is no vaccine for it,
visitors can protect
themselves by using a
good mosquito repellent
(containing DEET) and
choosing accommodation
that is air-conditioned.
^ Sunburn
@ Beaches at Night
Rio's beaches are
broad, long, and tend to
be poorly lit at night.
Thieves can approach
quickly and leave rapidly,
undetected. Stick to the
well-lit streets that lie
opposite the sand.
( Running Low
on Change
Small shops and services
rarely have change for
notes larger than R$20.
Be sure to keep a healthy
wad of smaller notes
in your pockets and
keep the larger denomi-
nations stored under
your clothing.
£ Dangerous Areas
Favelas should always
be avoided except on
organized tours with
groups who contribute
part of their income to
the community. Never
accept an invitation into a
favela from someone you
met on the beach. The
city center, beaches, and
quiet streets should be
avoided after dark. Be
cautious near Avenida
Atlântica at night,
especially in the streets
around the Help Disco-
theque.d Map H5, G6
$ Unauthorised
The tropical sun is
strong. Use sunscreen of
at least SPF 30. Children
or those with sensitive
skin should not use any-
thing below SPF 50. Try
to avoid being in direct
sunlight between 11am
and 1pm. Sunscreen is
readily available in
Brazilian pharmacies
and supermarkets.
& One-Way
) Speed Bumps
Speed bumps are
called lombadas, or
quebra-moles, and are
common along the city's
highways. They are twice
the height and size of
their European or US
counterparts. The bumps
are invariably signposted
much earlier than they
appear, either with
their name or a
silhouetted picture.
Road Systems
The beachfront streets in
Ipanema, Leblon, and
Copacabana are almost
all one way. In an attempt
to manage traffic, they
change direction in the
mornings and afternoons.
Taxi Cabs
Taxi cabs that cruise the
streets looking for
customers are generally
109
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