Rio de Janeiro City
Why go?
Rio de Janeiro: the name says it all. Surely no other destination
sounds as exotic; none other is. Set beneath breathtaking mountains
clad in tropical forest, along a dazzling island-studded coastline
and lake area, Rio is spectacularly beautiful.
Rio is home to the legendary beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema (you
know the song about “the Girl”), the Sugarloaf
Mountain, and the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer. It's one
hell of a place that draws its real magic from the buzzing and
vibrant residents known as Cariocas. Rio is the ultimate city to
party - and not just during Carnaval, when the persistent
samba rhythms, glittering costumes, sensuality and crazy Brazilian
psyche reach fever pitch. Even the way the locals speak adds to the
ambiance, with their lively sing-song accents and expressive
intonation. Cariocas make beach life an art form, whether surfing,
playing volleyball and football, sunbathing or just socialising. So
much activity and theatre takes place on the beach that
you’ll never need a book.