Big place!!! Very easy to get lost cause a lot of it looks the same. Monkeys are seen throughout…read more Look at all the colorful birds as well. Its 80 reais (about $16 USD). Worth every dollar as i would be okay with getting charged more. If you get lost just open your phones map and you can find your way to the exit.

I loved this huge botanical garden, which was like a beautiful tropical paradise. It was my first…read morestop after checking my luggage at the hotel. The cost was around $15 for US residents (less for locals) and only cash is accepted. Upon entering, I noticed black monkeys walking around the rainforest-esque environment, as well as climbing trees. There were palm trees, bright and colorful flowers, bodies of water, lovely little bridges, gorgeous fountain, yellow and green state house, greenhouses with rare and award winning orchids, a wonderful cafe serving fancy coffee & beverages, playground, and more. There were plenty of breathtaking views of the many natural wonders. I really enjoyed my time exploring the vast expanse of the garden. The place was sprawling and easy to get lost in. It tops the list as one of my favorite botanical gardens that I have visited.

Pão de Açúcar is one of the main sightseeing sites in Rio, As an attraction itself, it is very cool…read moreto see. In order to reach the top u take two trams, these are an experience on their own as the views going up/down are amazing. Once u reach the top it's like a small park area, u can get food, drinks do a little shopping. Nice walk through that looks like a mini forest, past the good luck tree as they say. There's a small museum u can see some of the history. The mountain has an observation deck that offers amazing views of the whole city. The views from the top are just incredible, really makes u think & helps u appreciate all the beauty that is around you, this was an amazing excursions & for sure worth taking the time to explore.

Sugarloaf Mountain is a must-see if you are in Rio. We were able to tour it and Christian's the…read moreRedeemer (another location) in one day. There are two sets of cable cars. The first takes you up to a different mountain. From there, one catches another sky tram to the viewing deck of Sugar Loaf Mount. There are numerous vantage points to view the surrounding areas. Go when the skies are clear, or your vision will be of the clouds!

Taking a helicopter Tour of Christ the redeemer is the best experience I had in Rio. It avoids the…read morecrowd and line. Get up close to the statue from up above and overlooking the whole city and the coast. I only booked the helicopter two hour prior because it was a nice day so it would be the best to do that. No need to book in advance, I recommend just wait for the good day and call/WhatsApp then on the same day. I was able to pick a short route that loop he Christ of the redeemer twice and flew over Ipanema beach and Copacabana beach, also get to see the sugarloaf from above. The best would be three person that's the minimum they can fly; or just two person you can pay the third seat to have the tour for your own.

Awesome. Great Company Very professional. I recommend if you…read morewant see the beautiful city of Rio in a different angles. It's not a waste money.

If you're traveling to Rio, Copacabana Palace is the place to stay. The service, amenities, and…read moresmall touches all add up to a restful and restorative stay. The resort has something for families, singles, events, conferences, couples and more. Located directly on the beach there is no where better to stay. We booked with Chase Sapphire Reserve and had quite a good amount of specials. A resort credit, an upgrade, late checkout, and free breakfast. The suite had beautiful high ceilings, spacious bathroom and living room, and we were met with a bottle of champagne upon our arrival. Concierge and hotel staff took care of everything for us from restaurant bookings to attractions to attraction and spa bookings. I can't say enough about the friendly and helpful nature of everyone we encountered. We enjoyed breakfast each morning with a beautiful buffet of fruits, pastries, meats, cheeses, fresh fruit juices, eggs, sausage, and more. We also could order off the menu for specific items. Coffee, sparkling wine, and juices included. The pool was the perfect temperature(its temperature controlled), and well attended with bathrooms right there. Outside on the beach the hotel has its own tent, chairs, and towels. Complimentary beach bag and flip flops upon your arrival. Turndown included fresh water and treats, and I loved the scents of all their products. Great restaurants on site as well as nearby.

This is what you call an EXPERIENCE. My stay at the copacabana palace changed my life and I will…read morenever again settle for anything else. The vibe is pretty old school, but the staff are all pretty young, so they really make the place feel more alive! Breakfast is pretty good and they have lots of options, 24hr pool, and tennis courts! What I really liked was that they had a section reserved right on the beach, where you can sit, leave your stuff, and even get a massage! Will definitely be back! They have my heart!!

Want the second cheapest (the cheapest is via hiking) way to get to Christ the Redeemer? Than this…read moreis your company! The train is cool but it cost more. So for my budget friendly folks this is it. I highly recommend doing the early morning bus, or late afternoon to beat the crowd. Finding the Ipanema beach location one was a little hard and many of the local vendors were no help. Finally, I found a driver with the businesses logo that assisted me. I had paid online but once there I came across people that hadn't paid. So if you want to do walk up, that can be an option. It didn't feel like there was a real time slot option. In fact it was more first come first served. Luckily I was there early and was on the first van to Cristo. Leaving was simple as well. Although, it was a little confusing finding the right van but the workers were helpful. No tour group needed so I saved money from skipping over the middle man. It was fast and easy.

We had an amazing experience with Manu. It was a two-day tour (on non-consecutive days), and we saw…read morealmost everything Rio has to offer: Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, Santa Teresa, the favelas, the Selarón Steps, the old town, Tijuca National Park, Ipanema and Leblon, and much more. Each tour lasted nearly nine hours, yet the time flew by. Manu arranged a private car and was fully at our disposal throughout the tours.

Manu is a an amazing guide!! We had a wonderful experience in Rio seeing sights on and off the…read morebeaten path. He is entertaining, knowledgeable and fun and knows where to get the best food!

This was a very nice, small, functional hotel in Niteroi, a 20 minute ferry ride across the bay…read morefrom Rio de Janeiro. Our room was clean and neat. A complimentary buffet breakfast is included in price of the room (the restaurant only serves breakfast). Hotel Village Icarai is centrally located in Niteroi, close to stores, bars, and restaurants. It is not a "fancy" hotel; but, it is a very nice hotel at an affordable price. It was the perfect location for our visit, during the Rio 2016 Olympics. We would gladly stay there again. Ours was a family of three Americans, traveling from the United States. What we liked most about this hotel was the staff. The personal touch provided by the hotel staff was "A+"! It was top notch! Specifically, I'd like to note the excellent service of Carlos, Diana, and Leon! They were very good at providing us with information about Niteroi, which casual first-time visitors might not know: where to find taxis, good restaurants in the neighborhood, convenient shopping, etc. We had the sense that they were concerned about our overall welfare while in the Rio area. Example: we arrived at the hotel well ahead of the normal check-in time, early in the morning, and we were very tired. "Nao ha problema!" ("No problem!") We were allowed to check-in early, at no additional charge, and go up into our room. That set the tone for our entire stay. My one small critique: by late morning, most mornings, the hot water in the shower was gone (until later in the day). That's it. Having lived elsewhere (in Africa and the Middle East) that's not such a big deal for me, personally. Some Americans might consider that a problem, in some cases. For my wife and I, that minor criticism with hot water was more than offset by a staff that had superior hospitality skills. Diana was the one person on staff who had advanced English skills; but, using Google Translate at the front desk computer facilitated translating all basic questions and answers. For those from the US seeking a small, well-run, friendly hotel, in a very convenient location (across the bay from the actual city of Rio de Janeiro), I would recommend Hotel Village Icarai very highly.

I had a great time. It was my first time hang gliding and it went very smoothly with the staff. I…read morewould do it again!

I made the mistake of reading the following snippet from a life insurance company website before…read morehang gliding: 1. Hang Gliding Deaths: 7 (2011) Causes of Deaths: Pilot error, equipment malfunction Hang gliding is actually one of the most dangerous in-air sports possible. According to HSE, a U.K.-based watchdog group, the risk of death in a hang-gliding accident is 1 out of every 116,000 flights. In 2010, according to the National Transportation Safety Bureau, there were 32 accidents, resulting in seven fatalities. There have already been seven deaths this year, with another three months to go. Regular hang gliders seeking life insurance can see their premiums rise substantially, or be declined for coverage altogether. But out of all the stupid insane stuff I do on a regular basis, this was the safest things I have actually done. Most of it was due to the fact that Rio Hang Gliding runs a efficient, safe program with excellent pilots. Let me explain how the process works: 1-Sign up on line for your party in advance for a lesson, and include people's height and weight. If you sign up on line ahead of time, you can pay by credit card. If you make last minute arrangements (within 48 hours) please be aware you have to book by phone and pay in cash. Also be aware prices are increased during Carnival, World Cup and New Years, and all operators do this so it's hard to shop around for a bargain. 2-I am not gonna start a controversy by posting the weight limit, but be aware there is one, and this is not the time to lie about your weight. Paragliding is open to those who are over the weight limit. 3-After you book your appointment, you can either have a driver pick you up or meet the owner, Konrad Heilmann (a great guy) at a location by the beach in Sao Conrado. 4-You will be directed to sign up for insurance at this small building on the beach. You pay 30 R$ and get this awesome hang gliding license.This is a separate charge from the fee you pay for the lesson, so have cash on you. 5-You drive up with your pilot to the Pedra Bonita launch. This is actually the scariest part of the day. Basically in Brasil drivers go at two speeds: traffic slow crawl and warp speed. Warp speed up a one lane road mountain road with no seatbelt is kinda terrifying. 6-You get harnessed up and you practice running about 8 or 10 steps with your left hand on their shoulders and your right hand at their waist. They keep emphasizing not to stop running, I don't know who would actually stop running, and I would run as far as you tell me to if my life depends on it. 7-In all actuality you run about three easy steps, and then you're just floating. 8-Enjoy the ride for about 15 minutes with a great view. The landing is a breeze too. Being in the safe hands of Rio Hang Gliding, I feel like the only dangers now are: 1) Sunburn 2) Potentially Empty Wallet