Rio de Janeiro

Attractions Rio de Janeiro - Attractions region Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is an inspiring city of contrasts. Impossibly steep granite mountains jut out of the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand, impeccable colonial buildings nestle in between modern glass skyscrapers and green forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas.

It is a city high on life, a city of beach worship, football, Samba and Carnival. And high above all this fun and frivolity stands Rio's ever-present, iconic landmark, the statue of Christ the Redeemer.

The continuing strength of foreign currencies against the Brazilian Real and the national football team's success in the World Cup have both helped to make Brazil and Rio in particular, an increasingly popular and affordable year-round destination. As well as the city's well-known landmarks of Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains, Rio boasts a wealth of attractions and activities, plus great food, music and entertainment.

Situated in southeast Brazil, on the natural port of the Baía de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay), Rio is a city of over 10 million people squeezed between the ocean and the mountains. The cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city) is a melting pot of cultures and people in varying degrees of wealth or poverty. In Rio, the rich and poor live together and the exclusive areas stand in contrast and close proximity to the slum areas or favelas. Rocinha is the oldest and the largest favela in Rio. It began with just a few houses in the 1950s and now has a population of 160,000. Today it is more like a city within a city!

But no matter what their background or economic standing, the Cariocas, as the citizens of Rio are known, are characterized by passion and enthusiasm for life, which is very clear to see during Rio's famous annual Carnival.

It has taken 500 years for Rio to transform itself into one of the world's greatest cities. On 1 January 1502, Portuguese explorers sailed into Guanabara Bay and named it Rio de Janeiro (River of January), under the mistaken impression that it was an enormous river mouth. The French attempted to gain control of the bay in 1555, but were finally evicted by the Portuguese in 1567.

Rio's best season is undoubtedly the summer months, between December and February, culminating with Carnival. Temperatures can rise to around 40°C or more, which is ideal weather if tourists do as the Brazilians do and visit the beaches rather than rush around.