Top 5 Reasons to Visit Rio de Janeiro

There’s more to this vibrant Brazilian city than its colourful carnival and dazzling white-sand beaches, but they’re not bad places to start...

1. Rio Carnival

The Rio Carnival is a thrilling, world-famous showcase of dance, music and glittering costumes. You could join the two million-plus people who take to the streets to mark this amazing event, and watch the Winners’ Parade as the victorious samba schools strut their stuff down the Sambodromo – the biggest stage in the world! This spectacle is the culmination of a year’s hard work and dedication, and it’s a truly emotional experience for all involved.

2. Famous beaches

You can’t really think about Rio without its gorgeous beaches springing to mind – with two in particular, Copacabana and Ipanema, at the top of the list. Copacabana curves in a crescent for four kilometres and its golden sands are peppered with volleyball nets, football courts and training equipment – a testimony to the locals’ desire to stay in tip-top shape. Ipanema prides itself not only on its sun-kissed shores but also its glitzy location in one of the city’s most expensive places. It’s also earned the tag of ‘best urban beach in the world’, whose lively waters lure surfers and body-boarders alike.

3. Christ the Redeemer

Located at the summit of Mount Corcovado, the incredible Christ the Redeemer statue is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Built in 1931, and taking nine years to complete, this symbol of peace is made from reinforced concrete and stands at 38 metres high. Take the rack railway up the mountain, and finish the journey to the base of the statue by elevator or escalator. However, if you’re feeling energetic you could climb up instead, there are only 220 steps!

4. Sugar Loaf Mountain

More than one million tourists take the cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain each year for 360-degree views of Rio. If you join them expect to see a unique scenic combination of the bustling city, Guanabara Bay, which is made up of more than 130 islands, and the sparkling waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

5. Delicious dishes

The cuisine of Brazil is a combination of ingredients taken to the country by settlers, starting with the colonisation by the Portuguese in the 16^th Feijoada is undoubtedly the national dish, which was invented by the slaves who were taken from Africa to work on the plantations. This thick stew of black beans and pork traditionally used every part of the animal, from ears to tail, but nowadays uses more palatable cuts and is served with sliced oranges, shredded greens and rice.

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