Rio de Janeiro: Beyond Beaches and Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I’ve been to Rio de Janeiro many times, however most of the time I only visit its famous beaches, Christ Redeemer, Sugar Loaf and downtown. But the city is so dynamic and diverse, with so many options especially for nature lovers, that I committed myself to strive for new experiences in the “Cidade Maravilhosa” (Wonderful City as locals call Rio de Janeiro) in my next visit.

Despite being a huge city, the second biggest city in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro offers some beautiful beaches such as: Copacabana, Ipanema, Barra da Tijuca, Grumari, and Prainha. Since I am a committed beach lover, the first day I decided to spend time with some friends at Copacabana and then for a long walk on its famous sidewalk all the way to Ipanema (around 7Km). Those two beaches are in the middle of the city and great places to enjoy the sun; although during weekends and holidays it is hard to find a single pocket of white sand, especially in the summer… However, once you rent your chair and umbrella, you will get “five star” service with dozens of vendors passing by selling caipirinhas, açai, ice cream, snacks, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and even bikinis.

At the end of the afternoon everyone gathers at Pedra do Arpoardor, the most famous hotspot to watch the sunset. It was a perfect night for socializing so I joined in with my friends. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).