Rio Like a Carioca

The apartment is 5 mins away from the beach. However, I prefer to walk another 5 minutes to the left and settle in front of Hotel Fasano or Hotel Arpoador Inn. Usually it’s a bit less crowded there. Specially during summer, it’s important to keep your eyes on your belongings at all times. Tourists are easy prays for pick-pocketers and fake merchants. No reason to panic, just pay attention. If you’re all going to the water at the same time, it’s customary to pack your belongings on your tote bag, handing it to your “neighbour” and asking him to keep it until you return.

Feel free to use our umbrella and beach chairs. They are in the service bathroom. It’ll save you +- 50 bucks / day. Once returning, please enter through the garage and take the service elevator. And pleeeeease clean the sand from your feet and legs carefully before going up. There’s a faucet in the garage where you can wash it. Don’t bring the beach home with you :P

If you stay between Zona Sul and Centro (you probably will), things are pretty close by. Best ways to move around are Uber and Subway. Subway station is 2 minutes from the apartment (General Osório station). In order to buy your tickets, it’s better to enter through the Visconde de Pirajá entrance.

Supermarkets:
 Can’t be any easier: there’s a Zona Sul supermarket beneath the apartment. If you don’t fancy this one, there are 6 other alternative within an 1 km radius. Drugstores: Almost as easy. Walk 5 mins left or right from the apartment and you will pass at least three drugstores.

Rio is the largest urban climbing center in the world, with more than 500 different routes to choose from. That means you can on an easy route (easy as anyone from 6 to 60 can do it) and have a spectacular and exclusive view of the city. I highly recommend trying. Call or text my instructor Raoni (+55 21 988-415-510) or Companhia da Escalada (+55 21 993-935-060) and schedule a session. They will provide all gear needed. And, yes, it’s very very safe :D

Christ Statue You can either go by tram leaving from the bottom of the mountain in Cosme Velho (this way is more charming) or take a van leaving from Lido Square at Copacabana. Be sure to also check the view from Mirante Dona Marta once you’re up there. Sugar Loaf You can walk up the first mountain through a trail beginning at Pista Claudio Coutinho. It’s an easy trail, children often do it. You can go down by the cable car even if you went up hiking. Ooooor you can climb up there! More than 50 routes lead you to the top of Pão de Açúcar, including a few easy ones.