People visiting Rio de Janeiro for the first time are often unsure about what to expect from a city that is best known for its appearance in a Barry Manilow song.
But one thing is for certain – once they find themselves in this city blessed with such extremes of natural beauty, they will start to believe the stories about Rio helping the most cynical person in the world to fall in love. From flatlands to mountains, rainforest to beach and ocean bay to islands, Rio has it all.
And there is no better place to start exploring the true beauty of this awesome city than the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue, perched on top of the Corcovado mountain.
The views from the statue are sensational, stretching from the Tijuca rainforest to the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, taking in the massive Rio-Niteroi bridge across the Botafogo Bay, and the Maracana, the world’s largest football stadium.
The easiest way to reach the summit is to take the miniature train from the Cosme Velho district and take in the sights and sounds of the Tijuca rainforest as the train makes its way to the peak of the mountain.
I f you want a different view of Rio, hop on the cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain.
The journey to the peak of the mountain is done in two stages with the cable car stopping at the top of Urca Hill, then proceeding on to Sugar Loaf mountain for more breath-taking views of Guanabara Bay.
Those wanting to get their feet back on terra firma should head for the city’s famous botanical garden. It has 5,000 species of plants and is a great place to get shade when the day-time temperature hits 41C.
There are plenty of sights to see but the real appeal of Rio can be found in its miles of golden beaches. For the 11m cariocas – residents of Rio – life revolves around the beach. People jog, talk, walk and work out on the sand.
And at any time of the day or night, you will always find people playing football onÊthe same beaches that inspired the nifty footwork of the city’s famous footballing son, Ronaldo.
Copacabana is the most famous beach but it is also the most commercial and many of the buildings on the seafront are in desperate need of some tender, loving care.
For a more cosmopolitan, upmarket feel, take off to the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon.
Here you will find the rich and famous taking it easy sipping caipirinha – a heady Brazilian cocktail of sugar cane alcohol, limes and ice.
Ipanema and Leblon are also great for evening entertainment with lots of bars and restaurants including the Caesar Park Hotel where, for ú18, you can enjoy the best feijoada – traditional stew of pork and black beans – in town.
In Copacabana, the evening entertainment is geared more towards sex tourism. The beachfront parade is a thriving red light district which has a vast array of strip shows.
For a more authentic insight into what the locals get up to in the evening, you can catch a tram to Santa Teresa for just 20p.
This is the colonial part of town where the Portuguese settlers built their mansions and has a much more Bohemian feel than the beachfront neighbourhoods.
Rio is renowned for its carnival, which takes place in February, but visitors can sample the electric atmosphere of carnival all year round.
A visit to a practice session at one of the neighbourhood samba schools makes an unforgettable night out.
As the bands, dancers and singers beat out the samba rhythm, you will soon find yourself swinging your hips along with the rest of the crowd.