RIO DE JANEIRO - BRAZIL
Excursions and activities in Rio de Janeiro

CITY TOUR AND SUGAR LOAF
Approximate Duration: 4 hours
Tour After picking up the participants in the tour from their respective hotels, we set off for the centre of Rio de Janeiro. Passing the dream beaches of Ipanema and adjacent Copacabana, we arrive at the monument in honour of Estácio de Sá, who laid the foundations of the city in 1565. Affording us a lovely view of our final destination, i.e. the Sugar Loaf, we hop off the bus to capture the magnificent scenery in a photograph. We continue our bus-ride alongside Guanabara Bay, casting glances at the tall stone Memorial to the Dead of the Second World War, the Modern Art Museum, Rio's most important centre of contemporary art, and Glória Church, a precious gem of Luso-Brazilian Baroque perched on a hill.

Leaving Santos Dumont airport, that links Rio to São Paulo by shuttle flights, behind us, we head towards the Quinze de Novembro Square, where the history of Rio de Janeiro began. On the way there, a fine example of art nouveau will arouse our attention: Rio's ferry boat terminal. Besides, a little, enchanting castle floating in Guanabara Bay will catch our eyes and evoke childhood fantasies of fairyland: The lime green, neo-Gothic palace on Fiscal Island is primarily associated with the last ball hosted by Brazil's Empire, six days before the Brazilian Republic was proclaimed, on 15 November 1889. Thereafter, the Paço Imperial comes into sight. Built in 1743, it functioned as royal palace and seat of government. In 1888, the Freedom from Slavery Act was proclaimed from its steps. We pass Candelária Church, the largest and wealthiest church of Imperial Brazil and learn that São Bento Monastery, located atop a hill, is considered to be one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in Brazil.

Continuing past Praça Mauá, where Brazil's first skyscraper came up, we reach Rio's ultramodern Cathedral, dating from 1976. We take a look inside to see the four huge stained-glass windows. Our third stop (traffic conditions permitting) is in front of the Teatro Municipal, a tribute to Paris whose opera house inspired its design. Since its inception in 1909, it has been Brazil's Mecca for the erudite arts. Located in Cinelândia Square as well are the National Fine Arts Museum, the country's foremost repository of classic Brazilian artwork and the National Library displaying neo-classic and art nouveau paintings.

Leaving the city's vibrant area we take the Presidente Vargas Avenue, one of Rio's main traffic arteries, and bound for the Sambódromo. Completed in 1984, it is a kilometre-long tiered street custom-made for samba parades. We step onto this 'holy ground' where on 2 consecutive days year after year Rio's 14 top-flight samba schools have some 60 minutes each to present the results of one year of preparation. Proceeding further north, we get to Maracanã, where everything revolves around soccer. More than 11,000 people were involved in the construction of the world's largest football stadium. Being acquainted now also with the outside of Rio's temple of sport, it is time we are wending our way to the Sugar Loaf. The domed rock sentinel that guards the entrance of Guanabara Bay constitutes - along with Corcovado Mountain - one of Rio's most emblematic natural landmarks.

At Praia Vermelha, Rio's only beach with yellow instead of white sand, we check in for the Sugar Loaf. Two cable cars lift us 396 m above Rio: The first takes us to the top of Urca Hill. From here, we can enjoy a nice view of Guanabara Bay and the coastline. Urca Hill has its own restaurant, souvenir shops, a playground, a helipad and an amphitheatre. The second cable car goes up to the peak. And when Rio de Janeiro lies at our feet, we are offered the visual proof that the city deserves its nickname 'Cidade Maravilhosa' (Marvellous City). We feast our eyes on the beauty of Rio and drunk with awe, we return to our hotels.

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BASIC PROGRAM TO VISIT RIO DE JANEIRO

DAY 1 - Arrival to Rio de Janeiro Airport and transfer to Hotel. 03 nights of accommodation with breakfast

DAY 2 - City Tour to visit the city and Sugar Loaf

DAY 3 - Excursion to Corcovado and Tijuca Forest

DAY 4 - Transfer to airport

This is a basic program to visit Rio de Janeiro. Please visit our tour list to see more tours combining this area and others place in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile

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