Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It’s the country’s second largest city, after Sao Paulo. At the time of my trip, 1 Brazilian Real was equivalent to 0.20 USD. Although Brazil is amongst the top 5 most expensive Latin American countries, the conversion does make it more affordable for Americans.
The country is full of great food, inspiring culture, and beautiful beaches and rainforests. Definitely a trip for the books, and a must visit if you haven’t had the chance yet!
What You’ll Find:
Language - Portuguese is the main language in Brazil. Other than restaurant waiters and those working in the tourism industry, not many people speak English, so make it a priority to learn some key words.
Money - The local currency is the Brazilian Real. I had converted the equivalent of 100 USD, but everywhere we went took contactless payment.
Electronics - Plugs are the same as the Euro outlets. This convertor is compatible with any country you visit.
Weather - I visited at the beginning of March, which is toward the end of the summer and the temperature was humid and about 90° F. The best time to visit Rio is between November and April, as it’s located just south of the equator.
Caipirinha - Brazil’s national cocktail! The drink is made with cachaça ( a liquor made from fermented sugarcane juice), sugar, and lime. Note: They have a heavy pour on the sugar in Brazil!!!
Often, Brazil is perceived as an unsafe, dangerous country. While it's true that Brazil, like any country, has its areas to avoid, I was able to experience the country without any issues. As a group, we were aware of our surroundings and followed safety recommendations we had read up on prior to travel.
Jewelry - Avoid wearing anything flashy! Simple silver jewelry or beaded items are ok, but anything gold is highly targeted (even if it's fake).
Valuables - Try to keep your phone in a bag, or on your person, and be cautious of your surroundings when taking it out for use on the street. I purchased this phone attachment to make sure my phone was secure on my wrist at all times. I found it to be super helpful. Try to avoid carrying all your valuables and cash with you, no need to put yourself at risk of losing everything at once.
Favelas - Favelas are the slums of Rio. They’re located on the outskirts of the city, and you can recognize them if you look for the houses on the sides of the steep hills. Some people tour these, and if you feel the need to, never go to the favelas without a local guide.
Transportation - Ubers are safe and reliable. It’s recommended to avoid walking around late at night.
Clothing:
Hiking - If you plan on hiking any of the parks/forest make sure you bring appropriate attire- sneakers and activewear.
Beaches - swimsuits, hat, sunblock (this is my fav brand- Hailey Bieber recommended), and sunglasses.
Daily Attire - If you’re headed to Rio in the summer, lightweight/linen clothing is a must. The weather and humidity are very high.
Waterfalls - If you plan on going inside a waterfall during your hike, bring water shoes and a waterproof sleeve for your phone.
Shoes - Brazilians are known to wear flip flops on the daily. Sneakers and sandals are also good to have.
If you’re looking to purchase merchandise from Brazilian brands, here are some of my recommendations:
PatBO - Founded by Patricia Bonaldi, PatBO is a women’s clothing company that brings together colors, crochet, and prints - creating elegant and chic pieces. It’s definitely a pricier brand, but depending on when you visit, you'll find discounted pieces
Havaianas - As i mentioned earlier, everyone in Brazil is walking around in flip flops, specifically Havaianas. You can buy these in the US, but they’re probably double the price of what you’d get them for directly in Rio. Definitely high quality, and so many different styles.
Farm - You may have seen a brand called FarmRio in stores like Nordstrom or Saks. It’s a Brazilian contemporary brand with a huge emphasis on color and patterns. You’ll find the prices to be a bit lower than in the USA.
Isabela Capeto - Graduating from fashion school in Florence, Italy, Isabela Capeto is a Brazilian designer that creates pieces that reflect the vibrancy of Brazilian culture.
Animale - One of the largest fashion brands in Brazil, Animale is a luxury fashion brand known for its elegant and sophisticated style.
Lenny Niemeyer - If you're looking for a high quality, unique swimsuit, look no further than Lenny Niemeyer!
There's also a ton of malls that have so many options as well. From boutiques to high end shopping, you’re certain to find something that speaks to you. Some options are Village Mall, Barra Shopping Mall, Botafogo Praia Shopping Mall, Fashion Mall, and Shopping Leblon.
Our group stayed at the Hilton in Copacabana. The hotel was clean, safe, reasonably priced for the location, and offered a delicious breakfast buffet. The only complaint I would have is the hotel is located at the very end of the Copacabana strip, where there wasn’t as much action.
If I were to travel to Rio again, I’d probably stay in Ipanema or Leblon. The prices are slightly more in Ipanema, and go up a bit more in Leblon. Uber’s are cheap regardless, so no matter where you stay, it's easy to get around.
Carnival is known to be one of the biggest festivals in the world. It usually falls in the month of February, right before the start of Lent. Hundreds of thousands of tourists will head over to Rio to celebrate. Think of it as a week full of parties, crowded streets, samba dancing, and costumes!
There's a deep history on the origins of Carnival, I honestly got lost in all that I read. The words carnival/carnivale are thought to come from the Latin words 'carnem levare' or 'carnelevarium' which mean to take away or remove meat, which makes sense as the event falls right before Lent, when those fasting are meant to give up meat on Ash Wednesday, and all Fridays.
Our group arrived in Rio a week after Carnival, but it's something to keep in mind when you book. Accommodations may be limited, so reserve flights and hotels in advance.
Beaches - The beaches in Rio were the highlight for me. You’ll see numbered sections on the sand, each a separate business. They provide chairs, umbrellas, food, and drink. Once you’re situated, you’ll have a bunch of beach vendors approaching you with items including food, clothing, and souvenirs. The snacks and food were some of the best I had in Rio - open fire grilled cheese sticks, shrimp kebabs, corn on the cob, empanadas, etc. As for the ocean, the waves are a bit aggressive, so it was hard to just float without getting tumbuled from the waves. However, it was super refreshing to jump in for a cool-down from the heat.
Christ the Redeemer - One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Christ the Redeemer statue is one of Rio’s most notable attractions. Because of its location and size, skies need to be clear, or the statue will be hidden in the clouds. Make sure to check the weather before you decide to go. Entry to the attraction is about 16 USD. If you’d prefer a guided tour, this one will take care of your tickets to the statue, and provide transportation up the mountain.
Boat Rentals - Being that Rio is right on the water, yacht and boat rentals can be made at a fraction of the price you’d get in the USA. Definitely something that should be planned closer to the date, depending on weather.
Sugarloaf Mountain - Known for its cable car transportation and panoramic views, Sugarloaf Mountain is a must visit. The cable car will take you up the mountain, where you will see stunning views of the city, and Christ the Redeemer. Entry is approximately 38 USD and is worth the overall experience.
Junta Local - A colorful outdoor market with food made by local chefs, drinks, and live music.
Hike Tijuca Park- Roam into the Amazonian region of Brazil to see nature, wildlife, and learn the history of the park. The linked tour is private, and led by a guide, and can take up to 12 people!
Escadaria Selarón - The famous colorful steps in Rio! Try to arrive early to avoid the crowds of tourists.
Helicopter Rides - Get the best views of Rio and Christ the Redeemer from a helicopter! A super popular excursion, and an unforgettable experience.
Brazil is known for its meat, so be prepared to see a TON of steakhouses. I’ve never really been a huge steak lover, so I pivoted to a few other cuisines here and there. All in all, you won't have a bad meal in Brazil.
Churrasica Palace - This is a super famous churrasco restaurant opened in 1951. This is more so a ‘for the experience’ type of place, I wouldn't say I was blown out of the water with the food. Churrasco refers to a barbecue of meats. The meat is served on skewers and cut table-side in an all-you-can-eat fashion.
Giuseppe Grill Leblon - Giuseppe is an upscale steakhouse located in Leblon, Rio. It’s on the Michelin guide and has over 2,000 reviews.
Zazá Bistrô Tropical - Located in Ipanema, Zazá’s cuisine serves Mediterranean/Asian fusion cuisine. The star items were the fresh tuna & salmon tartare and the labneh with truffled honey.
CT Boucherie - Another Michelin Guide restaurant, CT is a steakhouse located in Leblon with over 4,000 reviews
Sushi Leblon - Sushi Leblon was my favorite restaurant in Rio. It's a Japanese fusion restaurant on the Michelin guide, and a celebrity hot spot. The notable items here (although everything was incredible) were the salmon burrata roll and the seared tuna.
Oakberry - The most famous acai shop in Brazil, serving high quality acai with no artificial flavors.
Janeiro Hotel Omakase - If you’re traveling with a group, the Janiero hotel rooftop omakase bar allows for bar rental with a Japanese tasting menu chosen by the chef.
San Leblon - Similar vibes to Sushi Leblon. We didn’t make our reservation here but the restaurant was packed and the food looked incredible!
Boteco Belmonte - Lively bar located in Leblon. There’s a mix of tourists and locals. Waiters walk around with different types of food and shots, and you can flag them down for purchase. Fun vibes, definitely a must visit on the weekend!
Lapa - If you’re looking for a neighborhood in Rio full of bars and nightclubs, don’t miss out on Lapa. Friday night is the key night, but there’s sure to be crowds there every day of the week.
Botafogo - Thursday night is when the restaurants and bars in the streets of Botafogo will be filled with customers. Voluntários da Pátria is the main street you’ll want to hit.
Ipanema Beach - There’s a strip of beach bars right off Ipanema beach. We didn’t check it out but it looked lively and fun!