For this TRAVEL TUESDAY it’s all about heading South, way South, to check out the best of Rio de Janeiro. For this special TRAVEL THERAPY  feature I’ve enlisted the help of two fellow travelers who truly understand the TRAVEL THERAPY motto of, “change your attitude by changing your environment. Here’s  a fresh, fun, lively, unique  look at the the top 10 reasons to visit rio!

TOP 10 REASONS TO VISIT RIO!

By: Greta Peters & Dana Mathews

It is common for the people of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to say “Deus e Carioca,” which when translated means “God is a Rio-dweller.” After spending time in Rio, you realize this certainly is true. Rio is a city with a soul and a strong identity. Its culture winds through every street corner and ascends each of its lush mountains. The locale in Rio is stunning: sandy, white beaches and blossoming green peaks reaching for the sky near every beach.

The people are equally as striking. Early morning joggers move swiftly along the shoreline alongside a backdrop of crashing waves and palm trees. Ipanema Beach draws crowds thousands deep every day with each person sporting a golden tan and a tiny Brazilian swimsuit.

Here is a top ten list of Rio “musts”

1.) Christ the Redeemer
At the top of the Rio “must do” list, stands the 100-foot high Christ the Redeemer statue (known locally as the Cristo Redenter), at the peak of the Corcovado Mountain in the Tijunca Forest. Erected in 1931 by architect Heitor da Silva to bless the city of Rio, the statue stands at the highest point in the city and provides the best panoramic views of Rio. Take the tram to the top of the mountain, where you will stare in awe at one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Fun Facts: The statue was fully funded by donations from the Catholic Church and was sculpted in France.

 2.) Capoeira

Fascinating to watch and attempt to learn, Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, music and dance, and has a strong presence in Rio. Participants form a roda, or circle, and take turns playing instruments, singing, and dancing in pairs in the middle of the circle. The movements, marked by kicks and headbutts, involve acrobatic play that will leave your jaw dropped.

Tip: Take a lesson at a Capoeira school or, better yet, arrange a private lesson outside with Rio’s stunning locale as your backdrop. Your hotel/hostel can arrange this.

3.) Samba
Samba is a way of life in Rio and dance seems to run in everyone’s blood. Any night of the week you can find a samba club, school or dance hall packed with people. For those looking for a wild night out, head to Lapa, which is famous for its nightlife. There will be musicians playing in the street surrounded by dancers, as well as open-air bars, cafes and clubs which provide live music, where you can go to show off your moves.

Fun Fact: On Saturday nights, Samba School Salgueiro prepares for the competitive yearly Carnaval parade. Here you will find dancers in authentic Carnaval costumes, flags waving proudly and a large percussion band playing infectious body-pulsing rhythms. It’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement. 

4.) Caipirinhas

Make sure Brazil’s national cocktail, the caipirinha, is a staple drink in your vacation. Comprised of cachaça, sugercane alcohol, crushed ice, limes, and sugar, it can be described as a sister drink to a mojito, and is refreshing and delicious.  If you are out in Lapa  during the weekend, you can buy the best caipirinha of your life on the street. Also, if you are feeling crafty, go to a grocery store and buy cachaça (for 5-10 Reais!) and make it yourself. This cocktail is not to be missed.

5.) Estadio do Maracana
The largest soccer stadium in the South America (with seating for 88,992), the Estadio Maracana emanates with an infectious competitive spirit. The open-air stadium was built in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, but since it has been mainly used to host football matches between the major football clubs in Rio, including Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama.

Tip: Don’t wear a certain team’s clothing until you are in the stadium and have safely found the side for “your team.” You have been warned!

6.) Favela Tours

The slums of Rio, called “favelas” by the natives, weave up the mountainside overlooking the gorgeous Rio beaches. In Rio, there are 28 different favelas, each with its own unique atmosphere. One of the most worthwhile things to do in Rio is to see how the poor live. Take a favela tour in Rocinha, Brazil’s largest favela, which is home to over 127,000 inhabitants. While interaction between the rich and the poor is not common, there are a few of the wealthier people who travel into Rocinha because the closeness of the community is attractive to them.  Tours are safe, and your guide will be a respected resident of the favela. The local people are very friendly; you will enjoy speaking to them through the translation of your guide.

8.) Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pao de Acucar)
Made wildly popular by the 1979 James Bond movie “Moonraker,” Sugar Loaf mountain is one of Rio’s most famous landmarks and consists of two hills connected by cable cars. The mountain’s name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of a concentrated refined loaf of sugar. For 65 Reais (approximately $45), take a cable car to the first mountain, Morra da Urca, which boasts a restaurant, shops and an amphitheater for live shows. Then take another cable car to the actual Sugar Loaf mountain, which provides sweeping views of the city and Atlantic Ocean. It is here where you will realize the breathtaking beauty of a landscape that combines sea, city and mountain.

Tip: Head to Sugar Loaf right before sunset. At the Morro da Urca mountain, take in the dramatic lights cast from behind the Corcovado mountain. Then head to the actual Sugar Loaf mountain at dusk, to see the dark city alive in lights.

8.) Ipanema Beach
Yes, there are several beaches in Rio de Janeiro. Copacabana, Botafogo, Ipanema and Flamengo, to name a few. Everyone has their favorite beach, but the hip and upscale Ipanema Beach is arguably the best for sunsets.

Tip: Grab a caipirinha for 5 Reais (roughly $3) from one of the dozens of food huts that line the beach, Find your perfect spot to sit along the stretch of soft white sand, and behold the pastel pinks, blues and purple hues that are cast behind the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) mountains. The houses that sit upon the mountains sparkle as the day turns into night.

9.) Churrascarrias

After a long day sunning on Ipanema, hunger pains can be cured with a meal at a churrascaria, a traditional Brazilian steakhouse. Passadors (meat waiters) come to your table with meat on a skewer, may it be filet mignon, ostrich (my personal favorite), duck, ham, chicken, or frog legs. Vegetarians fear not, there is a buffet fit for any king or queen that offers delectable entrees, sushi, and oysters galore. There is no better one than Porcão, on 101 Barra da Tijuca. Make a reservation, it’s known as the best churrascarria in Rio. + 21 3389 89 89.

10.) Santa Teresa

Famous for its winding, narrow streets, Santa Teresa is a neighborhood in the city of Rio, located on the stop of the Santa Teresa hill, and a mecca for artists. It is home to several studios and galleries, as well as delicious restaurants, so leave time to explore. Take the Santa Teresa Tram, on of Rio’s best and cheapest attractions, to get up the hill. It’s a twenty-minute ride that offers stunning views of the city. Tip: Have a drink at the outdoor bar at the Hotel Santa Teresa (http://www.santateresahotel.com/). Better yet, stay a night at this romantic, lush hotel outside of the bustle of Rio’s city center.

This TRAVEL THERAPY feature was written & photographed by:

GRETA PETERS

Greta Peters graduated from Emerson College in 2005, in a self-created interdisciplinary program entitled “European Cultural Studies and the Arts.” She caught the travel bug when she studied abroad for a year in Rennes, France and two semesters in London, England. She has worked in television production at The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Dog Whisperer, but found her true calling in international travel public relations, working at Hawkins International PR. To learn more about Greta Peters, check her out on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/GretaPeters.

DANA MATHEWS:

Dana graduated from Fordham University with bachelors of arts in Women’s Studies. She got bit by the travel bug after studying abroad on Semester at Sea, and completing her thesis on women living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s garbage dump Stung Meanchy. She’s the Features Associate at Vanity Fair and she has worked for Vogue. In her free time, she likes to travel, enjoy all New York City has to offer, eat sushi, and is obsessed with the Arts.

Stay tuned! Greta Peters and Dana Mathew plan to create their own travel blog, to get others as excited in travel as they are.

For more unique TRAVEL THERAPY finds pick up a copy of the new book TRAVEL THERAPY: Where Do You Need to Go? featuring more than 100  unique destinations based on what you’re going through in life!