Day 1: Beaches and a Brazilian Barbecue
Accomodation:
I stayed at ibis budget RJ Copacabana. This is a no-frills type of hotel. You know what you get with ibis. It’s in a good location and the rooms were clean.
Once I arrived, I went straight to the famous Copacabana beach and relaxed with a few beers on the shoreline. In the evening, I experienced a famous Brazilian steakhouse, a churrascaria, called Fogo de Chão, which serves endless cuts of meat. I have never been to a place like this before. You use a green and red card to tell the servers you want to continue eating. It was essentially an eat-as-much-as-you-can affair, and after a considerable food coma, I’m sure I gained a few pounds!
Top tip: Keep your phone close to your person at all times. Rio is a notorious place for phone theft. It’s so common, locals often laugh when you ask them if they’ve had a phone stolen.
Day 2: Favelas and Famous Views
In the morning, we visited Vidigal favela. I was concerned about doing this trip, as I am not interested in ‘poverty porn’, nor do I want to exploit people. However, our guide assured me that this trip would be different. Fortunately, it was. We started at a herb garden where the locals had turned a wasteland used by drug addicts into a haven to grow food. Straight after, we went to a youth centre to hear stories from people trying to give opportunities to the young. Here, children can learn to make music, be creative, and learn English. This was inspiring. Our guide posed the question to all of us: “What is your purpose?”. I mentioned that I wanted to make a difference and to build on the legacy left to me by my amazing parents and family. I feel fortunate to have them in my life, and I’m proud of where I’ve come from and the sacrifices they have made for me.
A view of a Favela.
The next place we visited was a capoeira school where we learned some Brazilian martial arts. This was so much fun and triggered memories of playing as Eddy Gordo on Tekken. I was even able to mimic the dance. Afterwards, we went to a yoga studio. While this might seem strange, this place also provided a haven for many people. I saw pictures of Swami Vivekananda and Hanuman.
On this busy day, we went straight to a city tour. We started at Christ the Redeemer. The weather looked dire as we went through the Tijuca Forest, the biggest urban forest in the world, to the statue. Even when we got to the top, it was cloudy and we couldn’t see anything. Luckily, the clouds cleared for about ten minutes, so we could get some great pictures and views of the city.
After that, we headed to the Selarón Steps. Pharrell and Snoop created their music video for ‘Beautiful’ here. I don’t think I’m cool enough to be in an R&B and hip-hop video! We also stopped at the Santa Teresa neighbourhood. It felt like being back in Lisbon. This was a fun place, and I can imagine it being the place to be at night.
We ended the tour at Sugarloaf Mountain. I was unsure if we should go as it was getting dark, but I’m glad I decided to do it. I managed to take some unique photos of the city. My favourite was seeing Christ the Redeemer glowing in the background against the night sky.
Christ the Reedemer at night.
Day 3: Shopping, Sushi, and Samba
I went to Rio Sul, a huge shopping centre. It was interesting to see many shops we don’t have in the UK. The main highlight was finally having Japanese sushi. Yum!
In the evening, we headed to Pedro do Sal. This is where Samba was created. Let’s just say it was a wild night.
Top tip: if you’d prefer to go as part of a group, I suggest this GetYourGuide experience.
Day 4: Gardens, Galleries, and the Great Maracanã
On my second-to-last day, I went to the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. This is a truly impressive oasis in the heart of Rio, where you can find a wealth of plants from the Amazon.
After this, I went to the Museum of Tomorrow. I wasn’t blown away by this, but it highlights the challenges of the future. After that, I went to the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, the Brazilian museum of art. The collection here is vibrant and unique; I highly recommend it. Straight after, I visited the Royal Portuguese Reading Room. A small place, it still looks absolutely stunning.
I spent my final night in Rio at the legendary Maracanã Stadium. I bought a ticket via GetYourGuide.com. You meet the tour guide at a local bar, and they escort you to the stadium. Inside, it’s a cacophony of noise and colour. The atmosphere is epic, and the football isn’t too shabby either. Football is deeply infused in Brazilian culture, and it felt special to get a slice of that. Once the game is over, the guides help you get home. I recommend this as a way to safely experience Rio’s brilliant football culture.
Maracanã Stadium.
I want to give a special shout-out to Marito for looking after me and helping me plan my trip.
Thank you for reading!
