Rio de Janeiro & Buzios, Brazil

The sexiest city in the world and it’s beach resort neighbor will have you learning to samba in no time.

MIke’s Snapshot Review

POSITIVES

Cost- Food and drinks very affordable.
Outdoors– Beach, beach , beach. Rio’s famed beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are beautiful and great for people watching. Buzios is a pleasant little beach town about a 3-hour bus ride from Rio. It’s a nice place to chill for a few days and escape the city.
Weather– good climate year-round, although it can get pretty hot during their summer months (Nov-Apr).
People– Cariocas (Rio residents) are friendly, and most of all beautiful. Add the fact they don’t like to wear many clothes, and they’re even better!
Sports– if you are a soccer fan, this place obsessed. World Cup is coming to Rio in 2014, and the Olympics in 2016.
Nightlife– excellent live music and top nightclubs in Rio.

NEGATIVES

Crime– unfortunately RIO has been sinonymous with crime for many years. It’s true poverty and crime are a major problem, especially in the hillside slums (favelas). Stay only in select neighborhoods and use your street smarts. Take taxis at night and don’t wander around looking lost.
Language– Portuguese is the native tongue, and I was clueless. While many of the upper classes learn English in school, most Brazilians don’t. I have rudimentary Spanish skills which helped a bit, but outside of the hotels English can be tougher to come by.
Food– Great for meat lovers- tough for vegetarians. Brazilians eat a lot of meat, and finding a variety of good, fresh vegetables can be hard to come by.
Prices– Rio used to be cheap, but a burgeoning economy and events like the upcoming World Cup, have seen prices rise in the last few years, especially for hotels. Speaking of which…
Hotels– more demand than ever in RIO, and there is a lack of mid-range options between 5-star and sketchy. Carnaval and around Xmas/New Years are the two most expensive times.
Vice– sex tourism is big business in Brazil and prostitution is legal. If you are a man traveling alone, prepare to be propositioned often. If open attitudes about sex make you uncomfortable, take heed.

MUST DO:

Christ the Redeemer statue
Sugar Loaf Mountain
Copacabana and Ipanema beaches
Leblon neighborhood
There is some good surfing not too far outside of Rio.
Carnaval (if you can take the crowds and the prices).
Visit a Samba school and learn the dance.
See live music whenever possible.
If you have more time, visit small towns in the countryside. I didn’t have the time, but want to go back!

RECOMMENDED?

Absolutely!

…