Flamengo´s Landfill

This 1.200.000 m2 landfill area is a green park at the edge of Guanabara Bay and is the result of one of the most important landscape projects of the well known artist landscaper Roberto Burle Marx. From Santos Dumont airport to Botafogo inlet this park offers the most diverse attractions, such as tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, soccer fields, running and bicycle tracks, etc.  On Sundays and hollidays one of its lane is closed to traffic, allowing people to use its area for leisure.

Arcs of Lapa (Carioca´s Aqueduct)

Built in 1750 with its huge double archs, it´s 64m high and 270m of length, it was built in order to bring the waters from the nearby Carioca river to supply the city. It has become the symbol of Lapa´s neighboring area. From 1896 on, it has served  as support for the tracks of a local trolley car that serves the on the hill neighborhood of Santa Teresa a place famous for its artists and intellectuals.

Christ the Redeemer

More than just a Rio de Janeiro´s post card, it has been voted recently one of the seven modern wonders of the world. It´s brazilians´ favorite landmark. With its 38m of height and set on top of the 710m hunchback mountain this soapstone statue of Christ is the symbol of faith of the brazilian people. The access to its top where you have a stunning view of the city below can be done by car or by a tram that goes up through the tropical forest that surrounds the area.

Botanic Garden

It´s without a doubt an ecological sanctuary and one among the ten most important in its kind in the world. Besides the rare species of brazilian and world flora, it offers a large area for leisure for adults and children and especially for nature lovers. It´s considered a live botanic museum for its wide variety of plants. It has Royal palm trees dated back to its opening in 1808. There are many green houses with varied orquids and roses and also peacefull ponds were you can admire the flowers symbol and  wonder of the Amazons, the “Victoria Regis” There is also some ruins of an ancient gunpowder factory and escavations of an arqueological site. It´s open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and for further informations you can call +55-021- 2279- 8426.

Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon

Surrounded by the famous boroughs of Lagoa, Ipanema, Gávea, Leblon and Jardim Botânico, framed by the green nearby mountains and under the permanent watch of Christ in the mountain, this beaultiful body of water has become a place of gathering not only for the local residents but for tourists as well.  It harbors in its area many diferent attractions such as an heliport, tracks for running and for biking, boats for rental, many different food stands featuring japanese and german food and for everybodys delight live music in the evenings. Nearby there is Catacumba´s Park where you can admire more than 30 esculptures done by brazilian and foreing artists.

The Maracanã Stadium

Considered by soccer fans “The Temple of the Gods”, is among the biggest in the world. It was built to host the 1950 World Soccer Championship and projected to hold more than 166.000 people. Today after some reburbishing its capacity has been reduced to about 114.000. It was  the stage for the opening ceremony and games of the 2007 Panamerican Games. For more informations call +55–(21)-2299-2941.

Museum of Modern Art

Dated from 1958 this privileged located museum has more than 4.000 works of art as a permanente exposition. It also shows on a rotative basis collections from art patrons and famous artists as well such as Gilberto Chateaubriand and works of Tarcila do Amaral, Anita Malfatti, Lasar Segall, Di Cavalcanti and Portinari. Its gardens are a project of Roberto Burle Marx and it has been redone in 2004. It also holds on its premises a cinema, a library and a bookstore. It is located on Avenida Don Henrique in Parque do Flamengo. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Week-days from  12:00 pm to 5:30 pm and on saturdays and sundays from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Informations: +55-(21)-2240-4944.

Sambodromo (Samba Parade)

Sambodromo is the nickname for this huge complex for the greatest show of samba in the world. It has 650 m of extension and has an audience capacity of 88.500 people. It is the result of an idea conceived by the famous brazilian arquitect Oscar Niemeyer. The samba-schools parading marks the highlight of Rio´s Carnival. The parading is done on two consecutive nights, sunday and monday and the champion is choosen by jury on ash wednesday. During the remaining of the year its facilities are used as elementary public schools and other international shows.

Ipanema

Is worldly known and has been eulogize in the famous song “ The Girl from Ipanema” composed by Vinicius de Moraes and Antonio Carlos Jobim and sang by Frank Sinatra.  It´s sunsets are breathtaking and is a local ritual to gather in order to assist it. Its sands are the stage for the volleyball world championship. On its lifeguard stations are bathrooms and showers for the public and the same applies for all urban beaches.

Copacabana

has been just recently considered the most beautiful beach in the world. The Cariocas call it “ The Ocean Princess” and on its already famous new years eve the display of fireworks gathers more than a million people on its sands and vicinity. The whole extension of Atlantic Avenue is marked by hundreds of restaurants, bars, night clubs and hotels. It is without any doubt the most cosmopolitan of our beaches.

Leblon

Is an extension of Ipanema separeted only by a canal that supplies water for Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and is called Allah´s Garden. It has 1.3 km of extension and is famous for an area where all mothers and nannies bring their babies to sunbathe and play.

Prainha

Is a small cozy beach a little distant from the urban area and it has strong and high waves and is surfers favorite hangout. It is surrounded by the rich green Atlantic Forest.

Grumari

Is already out of the urban area. It is located on a wild enviromental protected reserve and its waves are very strong and dangerous for the non warned swimmer. Part of it is called “Abricó Beach” and is reserved for naturalists or nudism practice swimmers.

Arpoador

is located between Ipanema and Copacabana and was an important point of reunion for the 60´s generation. It has a great rock that enters the sea where people sunbathe and has a fantastic view of Ipanema and Leblon beaches with the “Two Brothers and Gavea Mountains” at the background. Its also a favorite for surfing lovers.

Pepino

Is beside São Conrado and is famous for being the landing place of the paragliders and handgliders that take off from Gavea Mountain located just beside them. It is also a favorite for surfing.

Barra da Tijuca

The longest of the beaches. It has 18 km of extension and half of its area holds an protected enviromental reserve and the remaining area is famous for its modern buildings and expensive condos on the waterfront compared by many to those of Miami. The surf on this beach is very strong and its currents are  sometimes dangerous for non experienced swimmers.  The extension of Barra Beach, is called Recreio dos Bandeirantes Beach and it has the same caracteristics.