Aterro do Flamengo
(Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes Park)

With 1,200,000 m² of green area by the sea, the Aterro do Flamengo is one of the most beautiful and important landscaping projects of the Brazilian artist Roberto Burle Marx. Extending from the Santos Dumont Airport to the Botafogo Inlet, the Park has various attractions including sports courts, bike lane, trail for jogging and a field for flying model airplanes. The lanes of Av. Infante D. Henrique in the direction of Downtown is closed to traffic on Sundays and Holidays, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., considerably increasing the Park’s leisure area.

Lapa Arches
(The Carioca Aqueduct)

Built in 1750, the Carioca Aqueduct has huge double arches. It is 64 meters high and 270 meters long. It was built to supply water to the population that lived along the Carioca River that started at Sta. Teresa. It has become the symbol of the Lapa district. Since 1896 it has served as a bridge for the Santa Teresa Streetcar. It is located on Praça Cardeal Câmara.

Christ the Redeemer

More than a postcard, the statue Christ the Redeemer was voted “The Wonder of Rio” by the city locals and was most recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The statue stands 105 feet tall and is located at the peak of the 2296-foot Corcovado Mountain. The statue of Christ is the icon of faith and charm of the Carioca and Brazilian people. The monument was opened on October 12, 1931, The Day of Our Lady. In October 2006 the monument celebrated its 75th anniversary. Elevators and escalators take the visitors to the base of the statue, which weighs 1145 tons. The ride up to the top by train takes about 20 minutes as it goes along the railroad Estrada de Ferro do Corcovado – inaugurated by Brazilian Emperor D. Pedro II in 1884.

Botanical Garden
(Jardim Botânico)

Rio de Janeiro’s Botanical Garden is best defined as a true ecological sanctuary. It is one of the ten most important of its kind in the world. Besides featuring some of the most rare species of Brazilian flora as well as from other countries, it is a great leisure option for children and adults and for those who like to enjoy nature. It received a declaration of landmark status from The National Historical and Artistic Bureau (IPHAN) - for its historical, cultural, scientific and landscaping importance. It also received worldwide recognition as a “Live Museum” in the Botanic field and defined by Unesco as a biosphere reserve.

Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
(Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas)

Surrounded by the most famous neighborhoods of Rio - Lagoa, Ipanema, Leblon, Gávea and Jardim Botânico - bordered by mountains and embraced by Christ the Redeemer, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon has become a meeting point for cariocas and visitors alike. Connected to the ocean by the Jardim de Alá canal, on its perimeter you will find parks, sports courts, skating rings, a heliport, trails for walking and jogging, a bike lane, paddleboats, and a gastronomic center comprised of several kiosks that offer a variety of food ranging from German to Japanese. It also features daily live music starting at sunset. Nearby is the Parque da Catacumba, which features an outdoor exhibition of 30 sculptures from Brazilian and international artists.

Maracanã Stadium

Considered by soccer fans as the “Temple of the Gods”, it is one of the biggest stadiums in the world. It was built in 1950 to host the World Cup, and it was designed to seat 166,369 people.

Nowadays, after a couple of renovations, the stadium currently seats 114,145 spectators. It is located on Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, gate 16. It is currently undergoing renovations to host the 2007 Pan-American Games.

For more information: +55 (21) 2299-2941.

Museum of Modern Art

Inaugurated in 1958, the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) it is located in a privileged area. With lots of history to tell, it holds a collection of four thousand pieces. It exhibits the Gilberto Chateaubriand collection - with paintings from Anita Malfatti, Tarsila do Amaral, Lasar Segall, Di Cavalcanti and Portinari. Its gardens were designed by the Brazilian landscape designer, Burle Marx, and were renovated in 2004. It also features an art cinema, a library and a bookstore. It is located on Avenida D. Henrique in Parque do Flamengo. Exhibit Hours: Tuesdays through Fridays, from noon to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 7:00 p.m. For more information: +55 (21) 2240-4944.

Sugarloaf Cable Car

The Sugarloaf cable car is one the most important icons of tourism in Rio and is a trademark of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian engineer Augusto Ferreira Ramos created it in 1908, and it was inaugurated on October 27, 1912. It was the first cable car in Brazil and the third in the world. In 2007, the cable car celebrated its 95th anniversary. Since its inauguration, the cable car has transported more than 31 million tourists. During the high season months, the daily attendance can be up to three thousand people. It is located on Avenida Pasteur, 520, Urca. Ride Hours: Sunday through Thursdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information: +55 (21) 2546-8400.

Sambódromo

Sambódromo is the nickname for “Passarela do Samba” of Rio de Janeiro. It was inaugurated in 1984. It is 650 meters long and it can hold 88,500 people. Oscar Niemeyer designed the Sambódromo of Rio de Janeiro in 1982. Niemeyer also designed the Cieps (Integrated Centers for Public Education) during the government of Leonel Brizola. With the Sambódromo’s inauguration in 1984 it was the beginning of the samba parades for two nights of Carnival. The samba schools Mangueira and Portela delighted the spectators during the inauguration and won the titles of super-champion and champion respectively. It is located on Rua Marquês de Sapucaí, s/n º - Praça Onze - Cidade Nova

Ipanema

There is no question that this is one of the most famous meeting points in the city of Rio de Janeiro and one of the most popular beaches in the city. It features courts for soccer-volley (futevôlei), fitness equipment, and lifeguard stations equipped with public bathrooms and showers for those who want to wash off from the saltwater. It holds many events such as the Beach Volleyball World Championships.

Copacabana

With lots of bars, it is very popular for happy hours with “chope” at the end of the day. The large stretch of sand extends from Avenida Princesa Isabel to the Copacabana Fortress. It is at Copacabana beach that the famous New Year’s Eve celebration is held, with spectacular fireworks and free musical performances.

Leblon

This calm beach has a good infrastructure for sports and a bike lane. It is 1.3 kilometers long and is separated from Ipanema by the Jardim de Alá – a canal that connects the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon to the ocean.

Prainha

It is a small beach with rough waves and one of the favorites among the surfers. The original Mata Atlântica forest covers the surrounding mountains.

Grumari

It is an area of environmental protection with lots of cliffs and very rough ocean. Grumari’s left corner is known as Abricó.

Arpoador

Located between the fortress Forte de Copacabana and the corner of Rua Francisco Otaviano and Avenida Vieira Souto. It is famous for the rock that separates the Praia de Copacabana and Diabo beaches from the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon. It offers of the most beautiful views of the city of Rio de Janeiro, with the mountain Dois Irmãos in the background. It is very popular among the surfers.

Pepino

With strong waves, the Praia do Pepino, in São Conrado, is the place where the hang gliders land once they take off from the Pedra da Gávea Cliff.

Barra da Tijuca

This beach is long and urbanized. It has rough waves with some dangerous sections that are not suitable for swimming. It is very popular for surfing.

Praia do Pepe

A section of the Barra da Tijuca beach in front of Rua Noel Nutels, it is very popular among young adults. The beach is named after the famous hang-gliding champion Pedro Paulo Carneiro Lopes, “Pepê” – who died in a hang gliding accident in 1991.