Rio is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and with so many things to see and do there is no way to not have a great time. So while you are traveling to this marvelous city make sure to stop by these sites. Tijuca National Park The 8,000 acre rain forest, the largest such in the world, has 30 waterfalls, hundreds of different plants and trees, and 100 different species of animals. The forest also keeps the temperature of the city nine degrees cooler. The famous Statue of Christ is located on the peak …More

The citizens of Rio de Janeiro are renowned worldwide for knowing how to celebrate special occasions. Whatever the season, there’s certain to be a street party commemorating a historic or cultural event. Enjoy the joyous, uninhibited, samba style that only the Rio locals know how to conjure. New Year’s Eve is celebrated in Rio with a massive beach party that is unrivaled anywhere. Up to five million people line the city’s sands, particularly the stretch of Copacabana Beach fronting the …More

Shopping is among the many pleasures pursued with passion by Rio locals and the city is famed particularly for its fine selection of stylish swimwear boutiques and chic custom jewelers. Purveyors of fine leather goods are plentiful, as are fantastic music stores offering everything from eccentric Bossa Nova CDs to the unique percussion instruments used to create that seductive samba sound. The berimbau, caxixi and baqueta make fun gifts for family and friends back home. Open air handicraft markets like the …More

  Rio locals are famed fitness fanatics and the city’s extensive outdoor attractions provide a wide variety of pursuits ready to challenge even the most committed athlete.  From swimming, hiking, biking and surfing to extreme adventures like hang gliding and rock climbing, sports buffs will find countless endeavors to keep them occupied and in tip-top shape. Get active on Rio’s beaches where the facilities are free and the recreational pastimes are unending.  Beyond the sea for …More

As the world’s greatest street festival, Rio de Janeiro’s pre-Lenten “Carnaval” absolutely must be personally experienced by every dedicated traveler at least once in a lifetime. This late February party has been elevated to the pinnacle of sybaritic pleasure by Rio residents creating a spectacle of pageantry and celebration unmatched anywhere on the planet. From roving bands and costumed revelers throughout the streets inviting you to samba along behind them to the breathtaking Samba …More

First among the splendors that earned Rio de Janeiro the nickname “Cidade Maravilhosa” or marvelous city are her world famous beaches. More than mere picturesque stretches of white sand, they are the city’s heart and soul where the Cariocas, as the locals call themselves, gather not only for recreation but for dining, dancing, people watching and living out loud. Their familiar names alone conjure images of paradise set to a samba beat. Spending the day soaking up local color at beaches like …More

From fresh caught seafood to succulent grilled meats to traditional home style stews, dining in Rio de Janeiro presents an exciting mosaic of tastes, textures and flavors. Churrascarias or grill houses where tuxedoed waiters circle the dining room with unending skewers of beef, pork, lamb and chicken are a favorite as is sushi from local waters popular with the ever thin and beautiful Cariocas as the locals are known. Be sure to take part in the tradition of dining on feijoada, a stew of pork and beans …More

Even though it’s a major metropolis Rio is first and foremost a beach town and the large hotels favored by tourists along the sands of Copacabana are more like tropical resorts where you’ll enjoy ocean view rooms, sparkling pools and spas, elaborate fitness centers and seaside cabanas. Befitting its status as a destination for creative types there are chic designer hotels that cater to the fashion and technology crowd as well as more intimate and discreet hideaways that are the haunts of celebrities …More

Hitting the beaches, gazing down on the stunning panoramas from the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain and from the base of the enormous statue of Christ atop Mount Corcovado or experiencing the street party that is Carnaval is still only scratching the surface of Rio’s considerable attractions. Visit unique museums, explore distinctive neighborhoods, stroll through lush parks and gardens filled with exotic birds overhead, even learn how the other half lives by touring a favela or slum area poor in resources but …More

With only about thirty thousand Jews out of a population of more than six million, kosher dining options in Rio de Janeiro are limited although certainly not non-existent. Several rabbi supervised and sanctioned restaurants serve quality meals that people following dietary laws can trust and rely upon. Deleite Kosher Restaurant is your best bet for a sit-down dairy meal nearby the main tourist area of Copacabana Beach. Enjoy an Italian inspired menu of pizzas and pasta dishes as well as an extensive dessert …More

Established in 1942 by a small group of German Jewish immigrants that fled Nazi persecution, the Associação Religiosa Israelita (ARI) is today Rio de Janeiro’s largest Jewish congregation with a membership of more than 900 families.  A progressive Reform community, it is one of the most important centers of Jewish life in the city catering not only to spiritual needs but to cultural and intellectual pursuits as well.   Since 1962 services have been held in a landmark Modernist temple …More

If you only had one day to explore Rio by night, your best choice of venue would be Rio Scenarum. This converted warehouse, which is the size of about four buildings, is located in the rough and trendy part of the Lapa district. It is a bar, club and concert venue all wrapped into one towering package. Bicycles, theatrical props, antiques and any number of sundry items hang from the walls above large tables that line the balconies of this diverse venue. Each floor encircles a hollow center and this layout allows …More