Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide: Rio de Janeiro Attractions

This thriving metropolis, set against the tropical backdrop of Brazil’s beautiful and lush rainforest, hosts world-famous sight-seeing attractions that are sure to keep visitors fascinated. With vast and varied museums, gorgeous squares and parks, first-class beaches, and Brazilian icons such as the Christ Redeemer statue, travelers are advised to make their stay at Rio a long one so as to take in all of these marvelous attractions.

Recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the landmark Christ Redeemer statue stands 38 meters high and is located atop the Corcovado hill. It represents the Christian faith of the Cariocas (or residents of Rio) and Brazilians alike. In the past, people had to climb 220 steps to reach the immense religious figure, but in 2002, panoramic elevators and escalators were installed, providing easier access to this must-see attraction. Construction of the statue began in 1922 after the Catholic Circle of Rio petitioned for a large landmark statue on Corcovado Mountain. After nine years, the monument finally opened to the public in 1931. After the statue’s 75th anniversary, the Archbishop of Rio consecrated a chapel underneath the figure so that Catholics can hold baptisms and weddings there. The seemingly invincible statue survived a severe electrical storm in early 2008 because it is made of soapstone, a material that acts as an insulator.

The ride up to Sugarloaf Mountain in cable cars is also another iconic attraction in Rio de Janeiro. The peak is located on the mouth of Guanabana Bay and rises about 396 meters (1,299 ft) above sea-level. The cable car, system, invented by Brazilian engineer Augusto Ferreira Ramos and inaugurated in 1912, was the first installed in Brazil and third installed in the world. To date, some 31 million tourists from around the globe have taken a trip on one of its four cable cars that bypass three stations. International cable car standards believe it to be one of the safest cable car systems in the world, with daily trial runs occurring before the complex receives its first tourists. Travelers who make it to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain will be able to see a spectacular view of Rio, as well as the tropical vegetation that surrounds the hilltop, such as rare orchid species. This makes it not only an attractive site to tourists but also for ecologists.

Immortalized in the 1960s bossa nova song, “The Girl from Ipanema,” the sophisticated neighborhood of Ipanema, also boasts a gorgeous beach of the same name. Travelers to Rio can take a dip in the crystalline shores of the coast and then stick around after dark in this neighborhood to experience the liveliest nightlife in all of Rio. Local joggers and athletes take advantage of the special lighting used in this area to take a quick run or pedal up or down the system of bicycle paths.

Another town and beach coast deserving of acclamation is the famed Copacabana stretch that actually encompasses two beaches: the famous Copacabana beach, as well as “Leme”, that is about two kilometers shorter. The Copacabana Fort, as it was called in 1914 and used to defend Guanabara Bay, today hosts many modernized kiosks offering Brazilian drinks and delicacies, as well as open-air restaurants, bars, and the world-renowned Copacabana Palace – a luxurious hotel, inaugurated in 1923, that put the city on the map as a tropical and posh party destination.

The National Tijuca Forest Park is the world’s largest urban forest replanted by man and covers an immense 32 kilometers. Easily accessible from downtown, as well as North and South Zone Rio, the park was reforested in the middle 19th century after decades of intense deforestation and plantation construction, especially made for the coffee industry. Today the protected natural wonder is home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife, many of which are threatened by extinction and found only in the Atlantic Rainforest. Major Manuel Gomes Archers made the successful effort to replant the area as a way to protect Rio’s water supply. With a resting area, gorgeous bridges and fountains, and large lakes all within this tropical lush setting, the undertaking to transform this forest into the beautiful landscape and recreation center that it is today has ensured that Gomes Archer’s work will not be forgotten.