Marcela & Charles
What to Do in Rio
Relax on Ipanema Beach
Weekends are wonderful for hanging out and relaxing. Weekdays host sports and activities on the beach! The beach is full activities: footvolly (a combination of vollyball and soccer), paddletenis, beach workouts, longboarding, running, or biking down the iconic sidewalk of Ipanema beach. On the weekends the beach is the social scene, and fantastic for people watching.
Morro Dois Irmãos
Hike to the top of the iconic Dois Irmaos (Two Brothers) mountain. Its only an hour hike and one of the most spectacular views of Rio
Christ the Redeemer
Rio's most iconic landmark is the 60 foot christ statue that looks over the city. There is a quick trolly that takes you to the top of the mountain, and a great lookout point across the entire city. The trolly station is located in Laranjeiras neighborhood, about a 15 min drive from Ipanema beach. Highly recommend. Costs $10 per person
Paddleboat in Lagoa
Lagoa is a neighborhood surrounding a lake in the middle of the city. Theres a bike path around it which is a wonderful place to walk around sunset. They have paddleboat rentals if you'd like to see the views of the city from the water!
Sugarloaf Mountain
Rio is full of incredible views. One of the most magical is from Sugar Loaf (Pão de Azucar) at Sunset. Take the cable car to the top where there is a restaurant / bar and postcard views of the city at twilight. This is an unmissable activity while you're in Rio.
Escadaria Selarón
A beautiful landmark and creative endeavor, these colorful tile stairs lead from Lapa neighborhood into SantaTeresa. They feature a collection of artists from around the world, and a vibrant representation of Rios local flavor
Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa (where we will have our wedding ceremony), is a trip through history to Rio's days as a Portugese colony (oh yea, btw they speak Portugese here not Spanish). Santa Teresa is our favorite neighborhood due to its great architecture, cobblestone streets, and fantastic views of Rio. A yellow trolly, which has been operating since 1877, takes you through the winding hills of Santa Teresa and Lapa's downtown neighborhood. A wonderful way to see this area, we highly recommend!
Listen to Samba Music in Lapa
Live Samba music is part of the Brazilian experience, it's history, and the energy of Rio de Janeiro. Carioca da Gema in Lapa neighborhood is a wonderful place to listen to Samba music, and get a flavor of the classic Brazilian music. Ever heard of the song "Girl From Ipanema"?
Jardim Botânico
King Pedro II, the ruling monarch in Brazil's early days, was a big fan of nature. During his rule, he imported trees, plants, and animals from all over the world, and developed an outdoor forest playground. Today, Jardim Botanico is a public botanical garden, the size of several football fields, and an incredible exploration of Brazil's lush greenery.
Spend a Weekend on Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande or Big Island is a postcard perfect island just 2 hours by car. White sand beaches, palm trees, fantastic snorkling, the whole 9 yards. We've been here several times, and it's truly magical. Wifi can be spotty so don't bank on video calls if you're working remotely.
Paraty
Paraty is a small town 5hours driving from Rio de Janeiro. It's full of colonial charm and fantastic Brazilian history. If you have time to make the drive, we highly recommend a visit. Try the local Cachaça sugarcane liquor and walk the streets at sunset