Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide

Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, on the South Atlantic coast.

Rio is famous for its breathtaking landscape, its laidback beach culture and its annual carnival.

The harbour of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of a unique entry from the ocean that makes it appear as the mouth of a river. Additionally, the harbor is surrounded by spectacular geographic features including Sugar Loaf mountain at 395 m, Corcovado Peak at 704 m, and the hills of Tijuca at 1,021 m. These features work together to collectively make the harbor one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World )

Rio de Janeiro will host many of the 2014 FIFA World Cup games, including the final, and the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, becoming the first South American city to hold either the Summer or Winter Olympics.

It is a common mistake to think of Rio as Brazil's capital,... (more)

It is a common mistake to think of Rio as Brazil's capital, a distinction it lost on April 21st 1960 when Brasilia became the capital. Beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema, the Christ The Redeemer statue, the stadium of Maracanã and Sugar Loaf Mountain are all well-known sights of what the inhabitants call the "marvelous city", and are also among the first images to pop up in travelers´ minds, along with the Carnaval celebration.

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