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Famed for its iconic granite peaks intertwined with modern buildings and fabulous beaches, Rio de Janeiro has a magnificent setting with a huge lagoon and coastal forest, offering a trendy cosmopolitan lifestyle and a unique heritage

Few cities embody the personality of their country better than Rio does for Brazil. The Marvellous City has come to be synonymous with laid-back Brazilian beach culture, its contagious and irrepressible spirit, breathtaking scenery and social complexities. Rio is a city of icons; Christ the Redeemer, the cable cars of Sugarloaf Mountain, the world famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema and the Maracanã stadium. It also enjoys the most envious setting of any metropolis the world over, with a beautiful huge lagoon, flanked to the east by the Guanabara Bay and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, and extending between enormous granite peaks and wide sandy beaches.

From 1808 to 1821 the Portuguese Royal Family moved to Rio, fleeing the Napoleanic Wars in Europe and making it the capital of the Empire. This move paved the way for a number of royal palaces to be built, both within Rio and the summer residences at Petropolis, and the establishment of the Royal Library, the academy of Fine Arts, the Botanical Gardens and the Bank of Brazil, as well as holding a Royal Wedding and a Coronation. This importance led to Rio remaining the capital of Brazil through its independence, until 1960. This legacy can still be seen today, away from the famous beaches. The 'cariocas', residents of Rio, are a lively, friendly people and the city is constantly buzzing with life.

Andresa

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Rio De Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Special tour of Rio de Janeiro

Visit Corcovado, the historic centre and lesser-visited areas, for a more in-depth perspective on modern day Rio and its fascinating history.

8413 Corcovado Mountain

Rio de Janeiro

Corcovado Mountain

Combine a visit to the famous Christ statue on Corcovado with Sugar Loaf Mountain, historic Santa Teresa or the Tijuca forest.

8409 Sugar Loaf Hiking

Rio de Janeiro

Sugar Loaf Hiking

Avoid the crowds and reach the summit on a challenging hike up Sugar Loaf, in the company of expert guides.

8415 Botanical Gardens

Rio de Janeiro

Botanical Gardens & Sugar Loaf Mountain

Discover thousands of plant species from across Brazil and an array of exotic birds at the excellent Botanical Gardens. Continue to take the cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, overlooking the bay and with a magnificent view of the city.

8429 Rios Three Ecosystems

Rio de Janeiro

Rio's Three Ecosystems

Rio's exotic climate and remarkable setting have created three unique ecosystems, which can be enjoyed on our special tour, perfect for nature lovers.

Ipanema Crafts Market

Rio de Janeiro

Ipanema Hippie Market

Ipanema is known the world over for its famous beach, but its Hippie Market is a wonderful place to people-watch and shop for local products and artwork.

8418 Rio De Janeiro History Tour

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro History tour

Relive Rio's rich colonial history on this special tour through the older parts of the city, often overlooked by visitors.

8410 Art & Culture Of Rio De Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Art and Culture of Rio de Janeiro

Explore Rio's thriving art scene at excellent galleries and museums

8412 Classical Music & Shopping

Rio de Janeiro

Classical Music & Shopping

Visit the beautiful theatre, listen to some live Brazilian or classical music and spend the afternoon shopping at the city's best centre.

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Rio de Janeiro

Tujica Forest

Discover virgin rainforest, isolated waterfalls and lush 'Mata Altantica' vegetation in the huge Tijuca Forest, set in the urban heart of the city.

8428 Pedra Da Gavea Trek

Rio de Janeiro

Pedra Da Gavea trek

Take on perhaps the city's best hike through dense forest to magnificent viewpoints, reached by relatively few visitors to Rio de Janeiro.

Terrace restaurant with Bossa Nova music and view

Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha Favela

Urban dilemmas, population growth and migration, freedom to invade land, honest people doing a hard days work for little money, and delinquency issues. Pressures on humans.

8426 Rio By Night

Rio de Janeiro

Rio by night

Venture out into the lively Lapa district to discover Rio's famed nightlife and live music scene.

Maracana Stadium

Rio de Janeiro

Maracana Stadium

Enjoy a match at the world-famous Maracanã stadium, host of two World Cup finals.

8416 Burle Marx & Folk Art Museum

Rio de Janeiro

Burle Marx & Folk Art Museum

Get off the beaten track with a tour of the estate of the world famous landscape designer and the charming Folk Art museum.

Ilha Grande

Rio de Janeiro

Ilha Grande hiking

Journey along the coast to the forest-covered 'Big Island' to enjoy wonderful hiking opportunities and idyllic jungle-fringed beaches.

8420 Sepetiba Bay

Rio de Janeiro

Sepetiba Bay

Board a schooner boat to sail to the tropical islands of Sepetiba Bay, around 50 miles from Rio.

Old Rio De Janeiro 5

Rio de Janeiro

Petropolis

Located up on the hills outside Rio de Janeiro, Petropolis has a cooler climate and was used by the Brasilian Royal Family as their residence. We visit the Imperial Palace recounting the unique history of how the Portuguese Royal Family came to live in Rio de Janeiro making Brasil the capital of the Portuguese Empire.

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1776 Arena Copacabana

Arena Copacabana

Rio de Janeiro

First Hotel

1764 Copacabana Palace

Copacabana Palace

Rio de Janeiro

Deluxe Hotel

Pool

Fairmont Copacabana

Rio de Janeiro

Luxury Hotel

1765 Fasano Hotel, Ipanema

Fasano Hotel, Ipanema

Rio de Janeiro

Deluxe Hotel

Spacious swimming pools

Grand Hyatt Barra da Tijuca

Rio de Janeiro

First Hotel

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Hotel Arpoador

Rio de Janeiro

Tourist Hotel

1775 Ipanema Inn Hotel

Ipanema Inn Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Tourist Hotel

1774 La Suite Hotel

La Suite Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

First Boutique

1771 Mar Ipanema Hotel

Mar Ipanema Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Tourist Hotel

1772 Mar Palace Hotel

Mar Palace Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Tourist Hotel

1773 Mercure Rio De Janeiro

Mercure Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Tourist Hotel

1768 Porto Bay Rio Hotel

Porto Bay Rio Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

First Hotel

The beautiful beach

Portobello Resort

Rio de Janeiro

First Resort

4542 Ritz Copacabana

Ritz Copacabana

Rio de Janeiro

First Boutique

1767 Santa Teresa Hotel

Santa Teresa Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Deluxe Boutique

1769 Sol Ipanema Hotel

Sol Ipanema Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Tourist Hotel

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Vila Teresa

Rio de Janeiro

Luxury Boutique

1770 Windsor Excelsior Hotel

Windsor Excelsior Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

First Hotel

The rooftop pool

Windsor Martinique Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Tourist Hotel

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READY - 25 March 2024

CHILE: Mountain Landscapes, Lakes, Glaciers & Desert

LANDMARK TOURS: Multi-Country & Cross Continent. New Cosmopolitan Tour: Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Rio

COSTA RICA: New Origins Deluxe Tour, Top Lodges

CHINAINDIA: Local Life, People & Unique Cultures

GUIDES by Veloso Tours, are the best Local Hosts

PRIVATE VILLAS: Quality Time in exclusive settings

TRAVEL INSURANCE with extensive COVID-19 cover