Port of Call: Five Great Excursions in Rio
March 31, 2010
3 min readStylish and hedonistic Rio is as chic as Paris and as cutting-edge as Johannesburg. Many ships stay overnight, giving passengers time to explore a cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city), a rich stew of European, African, and Latin American cultures and site of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Here’s what to do when you get off the ship.
Sugar Loaf Ascent
Skip the Tram
The iconic Sugar Loaf, the cone-shaped mountain that rises above Rio, offers panoramic views that most people see after taking a two-stage tram ride to the 1,299-foot summit. But if you’re fit, skip the ride and hike up with a guide from Rio Hiking ($101, www.riohiking.com.br).
Art in the Favela
Legos and Bricks
The favelas, or slums, of Rio are best known for poverty and crime. In the midst of Favela do Pereirão is the Morrinho Project, begun in 1998 by a then-14-year-old who built a miniature favela using shattered bricks and Lego pieces. Visit this outsider art safely with a guide from Matuete ($220, including a contribution www.matuete.com). Marcelo Armstrong’s Favela Tours offers a three-hour group excursion in Vila Canoas and Rocinha ($35, www.favelatour.com.br).
Modernist Art, Belle
Carioca Culture
The Chacara do Céu (Rua Murtinho 93) displays the Brazilian, European, and Asian art collection of a noted industrialist. For lunch, head to Confeitaria Colombo (Rua Gonçalves Dias 32), a riot of art nouveau mirrors and stained glass from 1894.
Bossa Nova Nights
“The Girl from Ipanema”
The infectious bossa nova anthem is best celebrated with a cold chopp
(draft beer) at Garota de Ipanema (Rua Vinicius de Moraes 49), the restaurant where Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes penned the song in 1962. Across the street is Vinicius Piano Bar, where live acts keep the flame alive. A block away is Toca do Vinicius, with impromptu free evening performances by singers such as Claudia Telles.
Rio by Bike
Two-wheel ramble
Rio has miles of bike lanes and Banani Eco Tours ($92, www.banani.com.br)
offers a four-hour trip on 18-speed bikes with a bilingual guide through neighborhoods such as Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon.
–Everett Potter, from the April 2010 issue of Traveler
Photo: My Shot user durelli sebastien
Related Topics
Go Further
Animals
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
History & Culture
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
- The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
- Heard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followersHeard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followers
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?
Travel
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico
- Follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood ForestFollow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest
- This chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new directionThis chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new direction
- On the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migrationOn the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migration
- Everything you need to know about Everglades National ParkEverything you need to know about Everglades National Park
