Brazil Rio de Janeiro
Of the world’s great iconic cities, Rio is the most captivating. Romantic and laid back but oozing energy and optimism. Enjoy its vibrant street art, beach football and spontaneous musical events.
Overview
To wake up on a sparkling, sunny morning in Rio and take in your first views across iconic Copacabana beach is one of Brazil’s standout experiences. Indeed, Rio’s setting, among the most beautiful of any world city, is reason enough to visit. However, there’s much more to this quintessentially Brazilian oceanside metropolis. And whilst Rio seems to be changing all the time, the magnetic warmth of the Cariocas is a constant. Rio deserves a few days to explore as well as time to sit back and share the outdoor life of its welcoming inhabitants.
Sugarloaf Mountain and the statue of Christ on Corcovado overlook the sprawling city, where the legendary golden beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema bustle with prom-side bars. Venture into the busy colonial centre to see literary cafés spilling out onto car-free lanes, the National Theatre all a-glitter, and boutique hotels that nestle in arty Santa Teresa.
The lagoon behind Ipanema beach is circled by a pretty path and cycle route and the Botanical Gardens are luscious and serene. Vibrant street art, beach football, spontaneous musical events and lively bars all add to a joyous experience for visitors. Rio confounds, surprises and excites and should not be missed. Whatever impressions you may have before you go, it’s quite likely you’ll crave a return visit.
Holidays Rio de Janeiro
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Group - Discovery
/ Guyana / French Guiana / Suriname
Coq of the Rock: Trailblazing the Guianas
18 days from £3,962pp
Private Journeys
Argentina / Iguazu Falls / Brazil
Explore and Relax in Argentina and Brazil: Cityscapes and beach time
15 days from £3,410pp
Private Journeys
Peru / Brazil
Explore and Relax Peru and Brazil: Machu Picchu to Rio
16 days from £3,550pp
Private Journeys
Brazil
Family Brazil: Rio, Iguazu Falls and Bahia
15 days from £3,770pp
Things to do
Sugar Loaf mountain, Christ the Redeemer and the Maracana stadium are some of the iconic sights of Rio. To discover more speak to an expert now.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Rio is as cosmopolitan as the city itself. Choose from no-frills, mid-range and high end, luxury hotels in enviable locations.
Where to go when - our guide to Rio de Janeiro
The weather in Rio de Janeiro is wide and varied
Of the world’s great iconic cities, Rio is the most captivating. Enjoy its vibrant street art, beach football and spontaneous musical events. With a tropical climate, Rio is hot, humid and prone to some spectacularly heavy rain showers between November and March. This period includes the busy local holiday season, January and February. So if you revel in the heat, enjoy spectacular thunderstorms, and like the beaches and pavement bars to be brimming with animated people, choose those months to visit. April and September offer slightly cooler, quieter conditions both weather and visitor-wise. Winter (May - August) appeals to those who don’t like high temperatures, but it can be cool and drizzly at times.
View our Rio de Janeiro weather guidePapagaio
Your edit for Latin American inspiration
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
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Ben Line - Travel Expert
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.
Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert
After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.
Lina Fuller - Travel Expert
Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.
Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert
Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.
Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert
A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.
