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.