5 Beautiful Reasons to Visit Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is an enormous city. And who can blame anyone for wanting to live here--it's absolutely beautiful. The beaches are famous, it has the largest Carnival festival, and you can get your adventurous itch scratched by surfing Arpoador or paragliding from Pedra Bonita.
1. The historic city center is replete with gorgeous religious and government architecture and excellent museums. Escadaria Selarón, also known as the 'Selaron Steps', is a set of steps covered in blue, green and yellow tile fragments. This super-colorful stairway runs from Joaquim Silva street to Pinto Martins street. It's a lot of walking, but so beautiful.
2. Tijuca National Park has everything from rainforest-covered mountains to waterfalls, where you can hike to waterfalls and see colorful toucans. It is the world's largest urban forest.
Christ the Redeemer, the enormous statue of Jesus Christ, is located at the peak of the 2,300 ft Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. The statue has become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil; construction started in 1922 and opened to the public in 1931. Considered one of the wonders of the world, it is a feat of engineering and sculpture.
3. Sugarloaf Mountain is a granite and quartz monolith at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Towering 1,299 ft above the harbor, its name refers to its likeness to the traditional shape of refined loaf sugar. A glass-walled cable car runs from a ground station, at the base of Morro da Babilônia, to Morro da Urca and thence to Sugarloaf's summit. It is known worldwide for its panoramic views of the city, so don't forget your camera.
4. Don't miss out on Ipanema while you're here. Of course this place is known for its iconic beach, where you can join an international crowd for sunbathing and socializing. If adventure is what you're in the mood for, the Pedra do Arpoador peninsula is a popular surfing spot. When you get tired of the sand, you can shop for high-fashion or listen to bossa nova at a neighborhood bar or fine-dining restaurant.
5. Copacabana is famous for its crescent-shaped beach, lively neighborhoods, and the Copacabana Palace Hotel. Locals and visitors alike are drawn to the mosaic-tiled promenade and beautiful surf and sand. Inland you'll find tranquil streets with laid-back sidewalk cafes and casual bars.
If you'd like to stay at the Belmond Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, you'll be steps from Avenida Atlantica and Copacabana Beach. This 5-star hotel is 2.1 mi from Ipanema Beach and 2.3 mi from Sugar Loaf Mountain. Read more at 5startravelguru.trvl.com/hotel/belmond-copacabana-palace
We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro which, of course, comes with all of the luxuries we expect from Grand Hyatt. A preferred 2019 5 Star Travel Guru Hotel located next to the sand in Barra da Tijuca, Grand Hyatt is a safe and clean part of the city. With a sparkling pool, exclusive beach access and amenities, sprawling executive lounge, lavish room, full service spa, and multiple culinary options at their top rated restaurants, you'll find it hard to pull yourself away to see the sites. 5startravelguru.trvl.com/hotel/grand-hyatt-rio-de-janeiro
Check out my highlights of the resort:
And here's a room tour:
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