First travel to Rio de Janeiro? Our recommendations!

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Are you thinking of heading to Rio de Janeiro? Do you dream of visiting this wonderful city but hesitate due to its unfavorable reputation? ViernesPrimero presents its best recommendations! The first thing you need to be aware of is that Rio de Janeiro (RJC) is a significantly large city, comparable in size to New York City and Rome, being 12 times larger than Paris, six times larger than Buenos Aires, twice as large as Madrid, and ¼ larger than Berlin. In this post, we will analyse two options: going alone or with your significant other (perhaps even with children) or friends.

The optimal choice is to go with friends; this will be both enjoyable and cost-effective. My primary advice: refrain from taking cabs, as they are considerably more expensive than Uber. Without a doubt, opt for Uber, and if it's affordable when traveling alone, imagine the minimal cost when shared with friends! This is crucial, and I emphasise: avoid taxis; choose Uber! Going with friends (and using Uber) will ensure safety for all. Rio is a somewhat risky city, with many impoverished areas known as Favelas, housing numerous criminals. While they may not pose a lethal threat, they could certainly rob you without you noticing, akin to piranha-like thefts. By avoiding solitary walks on the streets and using Uber (or the Underground) with friends, you will encounter no issues.

Regarding places to visit, the Pão de Açúcar is a must-see. This breathtaking attraction in Rio offers one of the city's most outstanding views. Rio is an extraordinary city that will leave you in awe. Traveling by Uber during the day, you will witness incredible landscapes, a blend of beaches and summits. In the first post of tourism of ViernesPrimero, we already had spoken about Cristo Redentor, we compared it with the Statue of Liberty. We must say that there is nothing to do there, just watching the monument. It’s unworthy going there. It’s a tourist complex very similar to the Pão de Açúcar, but even smaller. This blog, with humility, doesn’t recommend going to the Cristo Redentor. It’s very boring, and even if you go on a cloudy day, you won’t be able to see the monument. Don’t lose your valuable time.

Now, let's discuss the city's different zones. As mentioned earlier, going with friends provides more options. Consider renting an affordable flat in Santa Teresa, a bohemian (non-expensive) neighborhood in the summits. For tourism, you can easily walk downhill (no more than 10 minutes to get to the Centre of Rio at the level of the sea), but exercise caution to avoid accidents (take care of falling down; you’d roll over many dangerous metros, so go slowly and with caution. The path down is extremely steep). At night, when returning, opt for Uber. This area is close to Lapa and downtown, both colonial neighborhoods. It can be a bit hazardous if you're alone due to the large crowds, so exercise caution. It’s very crowded, as the majority of the downtowns, so take care (it's just logic: massive crowds = more possibilities of meeting thieves). It’s essential to avoid that zone during the night if you vacation alone, and please go with serious care during the day. During the daytime, you could find a free downtown walking tour.

Lapa was historically the grand aqueduct of the city, built during the colonial period to bring water from the Carioca River to the city. Now, it has become one of the main tourist attractions. It is incredible at night, with no restrictions. Lapa during the night is incredible; there is no State (not literally; it’s just a metaphor. But very close to reality). You can drink, socialize, and even use substances (although we don't recommend this). It's a highly enjoyable place, bustling with people to meet.

Now, let's discuss traveling with your family. Attention: if you're going with friends, don't abandon this post. You can still do everything a family would, but we don't recommend bringing your family to downtown. It's not reciprocal. If you're traveling with family (perhaps a partner or even with your children), we strongly advise against renting downtown. Instead, consider renting in Ipanema Beach or Leblon Beach. These neighborhoods give the impression of a civilized country. You can stroll with tranquility, enjoying the wonderful landscapes of the avenues and beaches. Walking along the avenues of Ipanema and Leblon is amazing and very safe.

Be smart in Rio; for instance, if you go with your partner and you’ll be together, why bring both telephones? It’s nonsense; we don’t recommend taking pictures or Googling on the street because some thief could rob your phone and escape by running. They are like lynx; they are so quick to do evil deeds. Another option would be wearing on your travel not your main phone but another more economical recently bought, perhaps with a good camera. Of course, you could take a lot of incredible pictures in Rio, but you have to be careful and take them in safe places. In case you were robbed, if only one of you had one telephone, your couple’s telephone will stay safe in your rented flat (exactly like we said before for friends, renting a flat by Airbnb is an excellent idea for a marriage. If you're only two, you could get a very little flat (it will become your love nest). If you go with children, you could have a bigger flat. On Airbnb, you’ll find many different affordable options for you to choose). Oh, and a very important thing, if you go in the summer you should rent a flat with air conditioning. It's almost an obligation. You're going to regret it if you rent a flat without this.

What are the benefits of traveling to seaside cities? Undoubtedly, you're going to spend not so much money; I insist, you have to be smart. Spending the entire day on the beach, enjoying the sun and the water, is very cheap. You won’t spend much money there. And the other good thing is that the food in Rio is usually very cheap. The dishes there are usually very abundant, so perhaps you could eat just one dish with your partner. When you go on holiday to another country, you have to think about its geography and fauna, since Brazil has access to the ocean; its fishes are usually cheaper because there is a great supply. The same with chicken; chicken is very economical there (We cannot say the same about beef). It’s also very cheap there, so a dish with abundant rice and fish or chicken is going to pay a lot more economically.

On the other hand, pay attention to the mouth of your visit; if you go after November, you won't need a coat. You will be clad in shorts and short-sleeved T-shirts throughout the entire trip (ensure you pack some coat for the flight to Brazil). But if you go before December, don't think that you'll have just hit, although it's true that Rio is a hot city, it has got a few hours during the night when there is a little cold breeze. You're going to need at least a good and thick blanket (at least until 5 Am). Another thing you have to consider is the temperature of the water. It’s not the same to go to Rio in its summer than after June, as the water temperature can vary significantly. Rio de Janeiro experiences a seasonal change in its water temperatures. From June to November, influenced by the South Atlantic Central Water Upwelling, the waters may be much cooler. During this period, if you're a fan of warmer waters, it might be advisable to opt for activities other than swimming (We don’t even dare to get into the water). Conversely, from December to May, the prevailing ocean currents bring warmer waters from the North, making this period more suitable for those who enjoy bathing in relatively warmer sea temperatures. This aligns with the general shift in sea surface temperatures, providing a more comfortable experience for beachgoers. Let’s say this: water temperatures are awesome in this period of the year.

Another important detail to consider when planning your trip is Brazil’s peculiar time zone. Be prepared for the day to start very early—by 5 AM, it can already be fully daylight—and for nightfall to occur abruptly, often before 7:30 PM. This unusual schedule, in our view poorly managed (as with most state-controlled matters), warrants attention from tourists. If you leave your curtains slightly open, sunlight might flood your room as early as 5 AM, disturbing your sleep. Additionally, the early darkness necessitates extra caution due to safety concerns. You might find yourself needing to return swiftly to your accommodation by 6 PM to avoid potential risks.

Cons to have in mind and to be attend of
A great (and stupid) con in Rio is that the city doesn’t have any Aquatic Park as the first world has (like Volcano Bay, a park we emphatically recommend if you want to know Orlando, Florida, a very, very, very pretty city to know). We don’t understand this; it could be a great tourist attraction, but they haven’t got it. Latin America is a land where they hate capitalism; they love to be poor. An Aquatic Park would be a very profitable idea and would bring many jobs for the citizens; unusually, Rio has not got it.

Latin America, intellectually, hasn't got anything to envy of Africa. Citizens love to be poor and politicians love people to be poor. Rio has incredibly bad its time zones. At 5:30 AM it’s totally sunny (even almost nobody works at that hour) and at 7 PM it’s totally (and when I say “totally” I mean TOTALLY) dark night. In our point of view this is very counterproductive to Rio economy. And of course, to your holidays. When it’s not summer, It’s a pretty common thing watching people abandon the beaches unexpectedly at 4 PM. Some beaches become a ghost place in very few minutes at 5 PM.

One problem is that Latin American citizens, generally, are very gross. In general, they don’t speak English. If you don’t understand Portuguese, it’s going to complicate things. Perhaps they understand a little bit of Spanish, with difficulty. You’re going to lose a lot of money, you’re going to spend more money than is expected if you do not make yourself understood. Take this into account. For this reason it’s very important to use Uber, because this app has a fixed price, you will avoid being ripped off by taxi drivers.

Is RJC just RJ?

Luckily, it isn’t! Let’s explain this; pay attention. The amazing thing about RJC is that RJC is a very, very, very urban city. If you love beaches and also big urban cities (like NYC), Rio de Janeiro is the city for you. But, if you like tranquility and nature, you can travel to other places in Rio de Janeiro State (RJC is just the capital of the State). A rustic place (but very recommendable) is Ilha Grande near the city of Angra Dos Reis (in the south part of the State). First of all, you have to go to this city (remember, if you go with family, you must go by Uber; it’s also cheaper than paying tickets for the entire family) and there, taking a boat (or very little ship), because Ilha Grande is an island. Why do we say this is “rustic”? Well, Ilha Grande has not any cars (literally) and there’s only one main cobbled street. The rest of the streets are dirt road. This is a very, very, very little place. And due to Ilha Grande is an island, prices there are more expensive (more or less 20% than RJC), because there’s not so much competition between suppliers; there’re not many options to shop. Surely you, at this moment, are saying: “But then, this is rubbish!” Well, if you look for urban places, indeed it is. But… its beaches are… just amazing!!! Ilha Grande has got 365 beaches (yes, you read perfectly), one for each day of the year. They are like paradise; you’re going to get some of the best beaches in the world.

On the contrary, in the North part of RJ State, it’s placed Buzios. This is the contrary of Ilha Grande in terms of rusticity; Buzios is a very beautiful seaplace city, but its beaches are not as beautiful as Ilha Grande’s. Their prices are similar (perhaps 20% more expensive than RJC), but the city is very beautiful. It’s an urban place in every letter of the phrase.

The advantages of going to those places in the State of Rio are that both are much safer than RJC. It’s very unlikely to get criminals both in Ilha Grande (there it’s almost impossible because it’s an island) as in Buzios. Criminals and thieves don’t usually go to those places. If you travel totally alone, those are very good options to stay. Of course, if you’re looking for romance with your partner or tranquility for your children, going to Ilha Grande or Buzios is a great, great, great choice. (A clarification, many tourists also go to Cabo Frio, very near to Buzios. This is much cheaper than Buzios, but… you guess… why is it cheaper? Obviously, because it is a little bit ugly. It’s not a pretty city; it's like “the poor option”. But, the good thing is that the beaches are very nice. The only worth thing of the city is its beach. But we insist, it’s better not to take this option).

Conclusion: don’t hesitate to go to this amazing city. You’re gonna be totally stunned. You won’t believe its incredible landscapes (beaches with summit!). Rio is truly a cidade maravilhosa.


If you liked this post, don't miss our post about our recommendation for you first travel totally alone.

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