Discover Rio de Janeiro on an all-inclusive tour

The “Marvelous City”, a Brazilian jewel steeped in history 

Despite its immensity, Rio de Janeiro, the greenest megalopolis in the world, makes the visitor forget its gigantic size, thanks to the small, tranquil islands of greenery dotted throughout the city.

With its sandy beaches, steep mountains and tropical forests, Cidade Maravilhosa or the Marvelous City as the Cariocas call it, is situated in a unique and majestic setting.

From the sixteenth century on, Rio was occupied by Tamoyo Amerindians, the French and the Portuguese in turn. At a crucial time for the kingdom of Portugal, then in exile, it served as a refuge for the king fleeing from Napoleon. Rio was the capital of a young Brazilian republic for a long time, until the construction of Brasilia in the center of the country. Rio de Janeiro is a city full of mystery and charm that enchants visitors.

In the 19th century, some said that even the Phoenicians had occupied this city and sculpted one of the surrounding mountains into the shape of a bearded human face, making them the first Westerners to have set foot in the Americas. Today, doubt remains, but there are both ardent supporters and critics of the theory.

The city has adapted its urban planning to its environment and is today one of the greenest metropolises on our planet! Proof of this is the forest of Tijuca, at the foot of the famous Corcovado, which is the largest urban forest in the world at 3,972 hectares. A true green lung in the heart of the city that offers hundreds of walks and treks, much to the enjoyment of inhabitants and visitors. The magnificent botanical garden is also a haven of tranquility and greenery on 144 hectares, grouping more than 235,000 plants and 5,000 species of trees.

Rio de Janeiro Carnival, the experience of a lifetime

The beautiful city of Rio never really sleeps. The true home of Samba, the city lives to the rhythm of the carnival, waiting for it all year round.

The Cariocas take this celebration so seriously that they have built more than 600m of permanent stands creating the Sambodrome Marques de Sapucai. This really shows how much collective enthusiasm there is for this special event. Streets full of partying people in coloured costumes dancing to the sound of the Bateria de Samba until morning is an experience not to be missed. Participating in the carnival while visiting Rio de Janeiro is a must!

Note :  To experience this great Brazilian celebration, you have to start booking 6 months in advance and plan a budget slightly higher than if you visit any other time of the year.

A good way to avoid these pitfalls is to travel in the weeks before the carnival. You can see the preparation parades or the ensaios, and avoid the disadvantages of Carnival week. Another tactic that works well is to come only for the winning schools parade that takes place on the Saturday following the main carnival, so you will see only the best. Do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about how to organize your stay in Rio de Janeiro at Carnival time. There are many tips and tricks if the hectic main show isn’t for you!

Classic sites on a Rio De Janeiro Tour

The “must see” sites in Rio de Janeiro are mostly quite easy to identify because they are all world famous! Start with Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado from where you can see the whole town and its bay.

The beaches of Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, (where the bikini first appeared), are all symbols of Brazilian sensuality. If you want to spend time by the sea and take relaxed walks along the city’s avenues, these beaches are perfect! Be careful however at the weekends, some beaches will get crowded.

Rio, is also where samba was born. Specifically, in the first favelas at the beginning of the 19th century, then deprived neighborhoods for the disinherited black population recently freed from slavery. Today you can find samba music everywhere from the small botecos, to the humble bars where the folk play music and sing while drinking an ice cold beer. There are also the practice parades of Baterias de Samba, big percussion orchestras dedicated to the famous carnival, its feverish preparations and its final explosion of fun and joy !

Finally, for football enthusiasts, there’s a visit of the mythical Maracanã stadium and its museum. Maracanã literally means the green bird in Tupi, the first indigenous language in Brazil. Each year thousands of visitors come to see this true temple of  “futebol.” It was completely renovated for the World Cup in 2014 and on a guided tour, you can relive some of the greatest moments in football history.