Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Top 10 Viewpoints
!
Sugar Loaf Mountain
Visit in the morning for
golden sun-lit views over
Guanabara Bay and Corcovado
(see pp12-13).
@
Corcovado
Best visited in the late
afternoon when the Sugar
Loaf and Guanabara Bay are
a deep orange-yellow
(see pp8-9).
Hikers in Parque Nacional da Tijuca
£
Pedra da Gávea
As can be expected,
the views from the world's
highest coastal monolith
are lovely
(see p11).
&
Guanabara Bay Boat Tours
Though polluted, Guanabara
Bay is one of the world's most
beautiful natural harbors. Views
of Rio from the water are magi-
cal.
d
Adm • www.saveiros.com.br
*
Helicopter Tours
$
Museu Casa
Benjamin Constant
The garden of this museum
offers wonderful views of the
city center
(see p82).
A helicopter trip over Rio
takes in Corcovado, the Sugar
Loaf, the ocean beaches, and
Maracanã. Views are best in the
middle of the day as the shad-
ows are at their shortest
(see
p12)
.
d
Adm • www.helisight.com.br
(
Luxury Cruises Around
%
Niterói
This city across Guanabara
Bay offers fabulous views of
Rio
(see p36).
^
Parque Lage
The glimpses from
here through the forest
to Corcovado and Cristo
Redentor are breathtaking
(see p75).
Paraty and Ilha Grande
The coast between Rio and São
Paulo is studded with rain forest-
covered islands and mountain
spurs. Angatu offers luxury
cruises on yachts and motor
cruisers in the region, with the
option of homestays at private
beach houses.
d
Adm • www.
angatu.com
&
Praia de Ipanema
At sunset the beach is
drenched in rich golden light
and Os Dois Irmãos
mountains form beautiful
silhouettes
(see p36).
*
Rocinha Favela
This
favela
on the hills
boasts some of the finest
views of the city
(see p74).
)
Private Drive Tours to
(
Floresta da Tijuca
Petrópolis and Around
Hire a driver and private vehicle
to visit the mountains behind
Rio. Flecked with national parks
and colonial towns, the area
includes the Serra dos Órgãos
and the imperial summer capital,
Petrópolis, which has many pal-
aces and stately buildings.
d
Adm
Tijuca watches out over
almost all of central Rio and
offers great views.
d
Map D4
)
Flights into Rio
Planes coming into
Aeroporto Santos Dumont
(see p103)
spectacularly
swoop over the bay. d
Map J2
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