Your Guide to Rio De Janeiro
Due to its size, the climate can change considering between regions so you should take this into account when planning a multi-centred holiday. Winter in southern Brazil can be cold, so it's best to avoid this area between June and September unless you want to pack your jumpers! The north-east is simply too hot to have a winter, and the Amazon has a mixture of dry and wet seasons. It's worth remembering that the seasons in the southern hemisphere are the opposite of those in the US and Canada so, it is a perfect destination to escape the wild winters of the Northern Hemisphere.
When to go …
Rio de Janeiro has a reliably tropical climate with warm temperatures all year round. The city's high season is from December to March, with the world famous Carnival taking place in February.
What to do …
Rio is one of those cities that you simply have to see to believe. Photographs of the Sugarloaf, Carnival and Christ the Redeemer simply do not do this great city justice. By day, Rio is a rather laid back city. Take a stroll along the beach and wake yourself up with a glass of just-squeezed fruit juice before taking a cable car up the Sugarloaf to see one of the most iconic views in the world, a vista which takes in mountains, the sea, forests and of course, the 123-foot statement of Christ the Redeemer which stands on the top of Corcovado Hill overlooking the city below.
Relax on the beach or in the Botanical gardens. Jardim Botanico is home to 7000 different plant species, covers 140 hectares and is the perfect place to relax. Or you can take a trip to the Tijuca Rainforest, the world's largest urban rainforest.
Accommodation
When it comes to finding a place to stay, there are rooms to suit all budgets. If you're looking for a spot of luxury, Fasano on Ipanema Beach is the place for you. This designer hotel provides a sophisticated place to relax. If a quiet guesthouse is more your kind of thing, Casa Beleza has just two rooms, two suites, a small pool and shady gardens, with monkeys and a turtle.
Getting Around
In Rio, taxis are cheap and plentiful, and an online fee finder is available online. City buses offer travelers another cheap alternative to get around the city although it is advisable only to use buses during the day.
If you'd rather drive your way around the city, there are rental options. Cars are available from Tom Jobim International Airport and Santos Dumont National Airport through companies including Avis, Hertz and Brazilian companies Unidas and Localiza. Car rental in Brazil can be quite expensive, and parking in Rio can be difficult, but the choice is yours.