Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Rio de Janeiro
The citizens of the fourteen-million-strong city of Rio de Janeiro call it the
Cidade Marvilhosa - and there can't be much argument about that. Although
riven by inequality, Rio has style. Its international renown is bolstered by
some of the greatest landmarks in the world: the Corcovado mountain
supporting the great statue of Christ the Redeemer; the rounded incline of
Sugar Loaf mountain, standing at the entrance to the bay; and the famous
sweeps of Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, probably the most notable
lengths of sand on the planet. It's a setting enhanced annually by the frenetic
sensuality of Carnaval, an explosive celebration that - for many people - sums
up Rio and its citizens, the cariocas. The major downside in a city given over to
conspicuous consumption is the rapacious development that has engulfed
Rio. As the rural poor, escaping drought and poverty in other regions of Brazil,
swell Rio's population, the city has been squeezed between mountains and
sea, pushing its human contents ever further out along the coast.
he
state of Rio de Janeiro
, surrounding the city, is a fairly recent phenomenon,
established in 1975 by amalgamating Guanabara state with Rio city, formerly the
federal capital. Fairly small by Brazilian standards, the state is both beautiful and
accessible, with easy trips either northeast along the
Costa do Sol
or southwest along
the
Costa Verde
, taking in unspoilt beaches. Inland routes make an interesting contrast,
especially the trip to
Petrópolis
, a mountain retreat for Rio's rich. If you plan on
renting a car
in Rio (see p.91), this is as good a state as any to brave the tra
c: the
coasts are an easy drive from the city and stopping off at more remote beaches is
simple, while having your own wheels lets you get to grips with the extraordinary
scenery up in the mountains too.
he
best time to visit
, so far as the climate goes, is between May and August, when
the region is cooled by trade winds - the temperature remains at around 22-32°C and
the sky tends to be clear. Between December and March (the rainy season) it's more
humid, with the temperature hovering around 40°C; even then it's rarely as oppressive
as in northern Brazil, and there's a chance of blue sky for at least part of the day.
Staying safe
p.57
Toffs and toughs
p.61
Getting to the Corcovado
p.72
On the beach
p.80
Rio's favelas
p.84
Tours in Parque Nacional da Tijuca
p.85
Hang-gliding above Rio
p.86
Olympic Rio
p.87
Getting to the Maracanã and seeing
a game
p.89
Rio's useful bus routes
p.91
Bed and breakfast in Santa Teresa
p.94
Top 5 seafood restaurants
p.97
Top 5 restaurants for
regional cuisine
p.99
Gay Rio
p.102
From samba to symphonies
p.103
The history of Carnaval
p.105
The samba schools
p.106
Carnaval rehearsals
p.107
Historic buildings in Petrópolis
p.120
Coffee country
p.121
Parque Nacional da Serra
dos Órgãos
p.122
Boat trips from Angra dos Reis
p.125
The “Green” Coast?
p.126
Academy of Cooking and
Other Pleasures
p.131
Festivals in Paraty
p.132
