Pao de Acucar – with the cable car to the Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao do Acucar)

They say that you’ve not really been to Rio unless you’ve stood on the Sugarloaf Mountain  and admired the view over the Cidade Maravilhosa. After a 10 minute gondola ride by cable, you reach the amazing 395 meter high peak. From the Sugarloaf Mountain, which juts out from the peninsula into the bay, you have a view along the coast, the Niteroi Bridge and inland to the opposite Corcovado with its statue of Christ.  Maybe you’ll even be able to spot  your own apartment at Copacabana?

At the top there are souvenir stands and small snacks and if you’re lucky you’ll see small monkeys, leguanas or hummingbirds.  If you’re interested in experiencing nature, then take a walk along the Rampa joven: a hidden path through lush vegetation offers breathtaking views over Guanabara Bay.
You can enjoy the view twice as much if you come in the evening before sunset. Then you can see the city in daylight, settled between sea and mountains, and also see Rio by night, glittering with color, a world-famous queen of the night. Sugarloaf Mountain is mainly open until midnight.

Corcovado – The Symbol of Rio

You should only visit the statue of Christ - 1145 tons heavy and 30 meters tall – located on Corcovado (meaning the bent or crooked mountain) when there are no clouds around, which is often unfortunately the case. Located 704 meter over Rio in the middle of the tropical Tijuca jungle, there is often cloud build-up around the mountain. Don’t plan a fixed date to visit Corcovado, but use the next chance you see to visit when there are no clouds around. You can get a ride up by taxi, or start by foot where the bus stops. At the end of the 19th century, a steam locomotive was built to take day trippers up to the top. For the last 30 years there has been a Swiss cog rail that runs every 17 minutes to provide wonderful views of the landscape and city.

You’ll be carried over tropical vegetation, jaca trees, coffee shrubs and citrus fruit groves. Then you’ll be able to enjoy the view of Rio’s south quarter and the Atlantic coast. Then continue up the 220 steps by foot to the breathtaking view over Guanabara Bay and the Sugarloaf Mountain. Recently, an escalator has been built to make everything more easily accessible. From Corcovado you can get a view of the entire city of Rio. Try to spot your favorite place on the beach, your apartment in Copacabana or Ipanema or other famous sights.

Copacabana and Leme  – Rio’s Boardwalks

In former days considered more off the beaten track, today Copacabana is a synonym for Rio de Janeiro’s beach life. The Praia de Copacabana is the motto for a free-spirited cult of the body. In addition to tight buns and other feminine curves, men are also on display here. Maybe you’ll be able to spot tomorrow’s next soccer star playing a game on the sand? The 4 kilometer long beach – together with the small Leme Beach – is the target spot for all tourists in Rio. From here you’ll get a fantastic view of Rio’s landmark: the Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao do Acucar). The postos on the beach are numbered in series. In the new postos there are toilets, showers and drink vending machines. Along the promenade you’ll find chilled green coconuts, cans of beer and small snacks. Remembering to wear sunscreen and leave your valuables at home, you can watch both tourists and locals, young and old, rich and poor. When in the water watch out for strong undercurrents. But beyond the world-famous beach, Copacabana has a lot more to offer visitors. It is a lively and multi-faceted quarter that is considered relatively safe and pedestrian-friendly. There is also great shopping in Copacabana. 
Here you’ll also find some of the best hotels in Rio, often with impressive panorama restaurants and spectacular views of the bay – for example, Copacabana Palace.

Many of our apartments are also located in the popular Copacabana quarter of Rio. You can choose between a luxurious penthouse on several floors with a swimming pool and view of some of the loveliest beaches in the world. Or you may want a more simple apartment, located in the center between the beach, shopping options and the lively Rio nightlife spots. Especially if you are here over New Year’s Eve, our apartments in Copacabana offer spectacular views, allowing you to experience the fascinating fireworks over the skies of Rio. 

Ipanema and Leblon – Fabulous living in Rio

Ipanema is a high class district of Rio – for both locals and visitors – and it is even more stylish in adjacent Leblon, which shares the finest beaches with Ipanema. Here you will find only residential streets. In some of our most beautiful apartments and penthouses you can enjoy the cultivated ambience of Ipanema and Leblon. In this beautiful district you can find peace and quiet at our apartments, yet also find all kinds of entertainment and cultural offerings. There are two universities located here, many theaters, cafes and art galleries. And the shopping is also great, ranging from huge malls to the finest and original boutiques – simply everything luxurious your heart desires. The beach at  Ipanema and Leblon features the second most famous boardwalk in Rio following Copacabana. The Ipanema beach has more visitors than Copacabana, but here you’ll find fewer tourists and more locals – the cariocas.

We offer a great selection of apartments and penthouses in this fascinating district. Often you’ll be able to observe the beach life of Rio and the famous “two brothers” rock formation from the large balconies and terraces. Many visitors, who have been to Rio several times, prefer to live in Ipanema, because the district is higher class and still offers a lot for tourists to see and do. It is also a relatively safe area, has better restaurants and more classy clubs. Naturally, Ipanema is also somewhat more expensive, in terms of apartment cost and restaurants and shopping.

Arpoador – Between Ipanema and Copacabana

For those who can’t decide between living in the high class ambience of Ipanema or the burning nightlife of Copacabana, can take heart. Both districts (the names Ipanema and Copacabana refer to both a beach and a city district) are divided by a 300 meter wide quarter called Arpoador where we also offer many apartments. Now you won’t have to decide between two areas, but will have everything you are looking for within walking distance.

The top of Rio for adventurers and sportspeople

You definitely have to go up to Pao de Acucar, or you have not really seen Rio. But for the sportspeople among us, there are many alternatives to the cable car. There are over 30 various routes to get to the top of the mountain, from simple hiking to sophisticated mountain climbing on the cliffs with cables and hooks. If this type of adventure is too difficult for you, but you still are looking for something thrilling, then you can make a tandem flight on a handglider over Rio without any prior experience. The handglider starts on the 550 meter high Pedro Bonita in the Tijuca National Park and lands on the beach at Sao Conrado. Just drive to the beach if interested and you will immediately see many handgliders in flight. Here you will be told how to proceed by very experienced pilots.  You’ll be driven to the top and land back at the beach. 

The bonde to Santa Teresa – Streetcar ride to Santa Teresa

For the first few hundred years, passengers were transported by donkey, but then in the late 1800s, streetcars were installed following electrification. The museum-worthy cars chug over the aquaduct from colonial times. There are no doors, so if the wagons are full you can stand outside on a sideboard. This is in fact not a tourist attraction, but a means of transport for the inhabitants of the Santa Teresa district. Recently, round trips with a guide are being offered.
Santa Teresa is a pretty area with narrow streets, colonial villas and attractive small restaurants. In earlier days, the upper class lived here, but today it’s an alternative area home to young academics, hippies, artists and creative spirits. It’s worthwhile to get off and explore the streets of this artists quarter.

Praia da Barra – Rio’s home beach away from tourism

People call Barra the Miami of Rio, with large fairly new shopping centers and arcades. Yet the most beautiful aspect of Barra is its beach. The 15 kilometer long beach is the largest one in Rio and is very popular among locals, the cariocas. For the first few kilometers of the beach, you’ll find many bars and seafood restaurants, but further west these disappear and you can see up and coming sportspeople at play. Please be careful when visiting this end of the beach, because  Vista Chinesa has a reputation for thieves.

Jardim Botanico – Rio’s small Noah’s Arch

Over 7000 types of plants can be found here, for example the pau brasil, a small tree that gave Brazil its name.  This tree produces a dye which was the country’s first export product during colonial times. The Vitoria Regia sea rose grows so big, that children up to age 10 can ride on them. 

Floresta da Tijuca with Vista Chinesa – From the asphalt jungle to city rainforest

As a national park within the city limits, Rio’s 3300 hectares of rainforest are unique in the world. A farsighted ruler had this area replanted over 100 years ago. Here you’ll find walking paths, bridges, waterfalls and other lookout points. In the city jungle you will also find the famous Corcovado with the Jesus statue. The highest mountain in the national park is the  Pico da Tijuca, towering over 1000 meters above the roofs of Rio. 

Maracana Stadium – The Olympus of Soccer Fans

This is one of the world’s largest soccer stadiums. It was built in record time – in only two years in 1950 for the World Cup Soccer championships and was supposed to be rewarded with a World Cup champion title.  In the final, the small neighbor Uruguay was the opponent. The Brazilians believed that they would easily be beaten, but in the end the opponents grabbed the trophy away from them. In the final, the smaller neighbor Uruguay was on the menu. The Brazilians thought they could make a quick meal of them, but the guests proved to be ungrateful and snatched the trophy away from them
No one is really sure about the capacity of the stadium or how many record number of spectators it has held. Some say that matches with over 200,000 people have been held. Now a lot will be changing, because in 2014 it will host many of the World Cup Soccer games and will be rebuilt for almost 200 million dollars. Watching a soccer game in Rio is an unforgettable experience. Often there is a haze of smoke and candle light above the stadium. The Brazilians know how to party and loud samba beats can be heard playing on countless drums throughout the stadium.

Igreja de Sao Bento

For friends of culture, it is worthwhile visiting the beautiful 17th century Benedictine monk complex. The Baroque monastery is located on a hill at the edge of the bay with a gorgeous view of the city. On the inside you’ll find sumptuous Baroque details decorated with gold and wonderful wood carvings. Sao Bento is one of the most beautiful examples of colonial architecture in Brazil.

Confeitaria Colombo

Here in the beautiful Art Nouveau atmosphere of this tea room, you can enjoy tea, coffee and cake in downtown Rio and take a refreshing break during a shopping trip. Small, hearty snacks are also offered, while you soak in the golden ambience of the belle epoque, and maybe even spot one or another famous person there.

Paço Imperial

The 18th century palace has been lived in by many rulers, it was even an emperor’s residence for some time. The sprawling grounds is today used as a cultural center and an attractive coffee restaurant and book shop are located on the premises.  The living quarters of the residence may be visited, as well as the former coin mint.

Museu Casa do Pontal

At the city’s edge between the Prainha Beach and the coastal mountains lies an idyllic country estate with a very special collection for interested visitors: the largest museum of Brazilian folk art with over 5000 objects.