Lodging
Most of the hotel options in Rio de Janeiro are located in the southern part of the city, most notably the neighborhoods of Copacabana, and Ipanema/Leblon.
We chose to stay at the Orla Hotel, which was located at the southern end of Copacabana beach. Our hotel room was very simply furnished and the lobby and restaurant were, in my terms, "passable boutique." On the top (10th) floor of the hotel, there was a rooftop deck and pool (postage stamp size), small gym, and phenomenal views of Copacabana Beach. The front desk staff spoke English and was very efficient. A buffet breakfast was served each morning and consisted of a variety of pastries, meats, cheeses, breads, and fruit. Located directly across the street from the beach, the hotel provided towels to it's guests upon request.
From what I could tell, the quality of hotels in the city varied widely, from opulent (Copacabana Palace Hotel) to downright rundown. You definitely need to do your research in advance. The area around Ipanema seemed quieter, cleaner, and perhaps safer than Copacabana. Compared to Copacabana, Ipanema appeared to have more restaurants and shops within walking distance of the hotel choices. (I probably would opt to stay in Ipanema on my next visit to Rio de Janeiro.)
Most of the hotel options in Rio de Janeiro are located in the southern part of the city, most notably the neighborhoods of Copacabana, and Ipanema/Leblon.
We chose to stay at the Orla Hotel, which was located at the southern end of Copacabana beach. Our hotel room was very simply furnished and the lobby and restaurant were, in my terms, "passable boutique." On the top (10th) floor of the hotel, there was a rooftop deck and pool (postage stamp size), small gym, and phenomenal views of Copacabana Beach. The front desk staff spoke English and was very efficient. A buffet breakfast was served each morning and consisted of a variety of pastries, meats, cheeses, breads, and fruit. Located directly across the street from the beach, the hotel provided towels to it's guests upon request.
From what I could tell, the quality of hotels in the city varied widely, from opulent (Copacabana Palace Hotel) to downright rundown. You definitely need to do your research in advance. The area around Ipanema seemed quieter, cleaner, and perhaps safer than Copacabana. Compared to Copacabana, Ipanema appeared to have more restaurants and shops within walking distance of the hotel choices. (I probably would opt to stay in Ipanema on my next visit to Rio de Janeiro.)
Favela Chickens for Sale
Dining
Please make sure you read my blog entry titled "Dinner at Restaurant Aprazível" for detailed information about one of Rio de Janeiro's most unique dining experiences.
One night we dined at the Brazilian steakhouse Porcão, one of the top-rated, most popular churrascaria's in the city. Porcão has multiple locations throughout Rio. We ate at their Ipanema location; their location in Flamengo with views of Sugar Loaf Mountain is probably ther best known outpost. This is definitely NOT the restaurant to come to if you are vegetarian. This all-you-can-eat feast will set you back about 70 Reals (US$40). While we certainly got our money's worth and enjoyed the food, we left somewhat dissatisfied as we found most of the meat to be too salty for our palate.
Please make sure you read my blog entry titled "Dinner at Restaurant Aprazível" for detailed information about one of Rio de Janeiro's most unique dining experiences.
One night we dined at the Brazilian steakhouse Porcão, one of the top-rated, most popular churrascaria's in the city. Porcão has multiple locations throughout Rio. We ate at their Ipanema location; their location in Flamengo with views of Sugar Loaf Mountain is probably ther best known outpost. This is definitely NOT the restaurant to come to if you are vegetarian. This all-you-can-eat feast will set you back about 70 Reals (US$40). While we certainly got our money's worth and enjoyed the food, we left somewhat dissatisfied as we found most of the meat to be too salty for our palate.
Upon leaving Porcão, we felt the need to cleanse our system and get some Brazilian ice cream. Luckily for us, one of Rio's best known ice cream shops was just a short walk away. Located in Ipanema on Rua Garcia D'Ávila (next door to Rio's only Louis Vuitton store), Mil Frutas serves tasty ice cream that showcases fruits from the Amazon and abroad. Jaca (jackfruit), lychee and açaí are among the several dozen varieties - all of which are best enjoyed on the tiny shade-covered patio out front.
For lunch, we found ourselves eating along the Avenida Atlantica in Copacabana. Many of these restaurants have menus that are interchangeable: pizza, fish, pasta, chicken, etc. We dined at two establishments: Rondinella and Restaurante Pigalle. Rondinella is located a few blocks away from the Copacabana Palace Hotel and has great views of the beach from the outdoor dining area. The food here was decent (we had sandwiches and pizza) but not particularly memorable. The other place we ate at, Restaurante Pigalle, was located a block away from our hotel, just across from the Forte Copacabana. The food here was (I think) better than Rondinella, perhaps because we started our lunch off with a caipirinha, the national cocktail of Brazil. I highly recommend trying one when you are here.
Soaking Up the Sun on Copacabana Beach
Things to Do
No visit to Rio is complete without going to one of their famed beaches, notably Copacabana or Ipanema. There are a couple of things to note about going to the beach in Rio de Janeiro. First of all, the sun is very strong here. Plus it is hot and humid. (Note: drink plenty of water!) These facts explain why most Cariocas (both men and women) wear very little to the beach, no matter their body type. At the beach, you will see vendors renting chairs and sun umbrellas. There are also changing stations located near the beach as well as outdoor showers to get the sand off of your body. While we did not encounter any theft while on our trip to Rio, we were told that robberies are quite common on the beach...you should only bring what you need and leave your valuables locked up in your hotel's safe.
Beach Shower
Besides the beach, there are enough sights around Rio de Janeiro to keep the average tourist busy for a good week or so. The two most popular attractions are Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado. Both are easily accessible and an organized tour is not necessary to appreciate the beauty of both attractions. What you do beyond these two sights will depend on your interests and how much time you have to spend. There are a number of museums, beaches, shopping, gardens, and activities to satisfy every one's taste. My recommendation to you would be to not plan to do too much in a day...pick one or two things to do each day and leisurely enjoy your visit.
Corcovado and Cristo Redentor
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