Rio

Rio de Janeiro, stylized as Rio, is without any hint of doubt, is on the top of everyone’s bucket list and why wouldn’t it be? The panoramic views, eternal beauty, beaches, nightlife, and the most amazing food is sure to keep you entangled and coming back, always. Being the most visited city in the southern hemisphere, Rio boasts its vibrant vibes, bursting with culture and pulsating with a deep sense of history and heritage. Check out few of the most visited and famous sites of Rio to get a clear image of what you’re going to step into.

1. Pedra da Gávea: hike all the way on top of the rock through Tijuca Forest, covering 842 meters and enjoy an aerial view of the city with the beaches around. The hike might get tiring and exhausting but after reaching your destiny, you’ll find it all worth.
2. Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon: reach Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, one of the most relaxed and picturesque places of Rio and use your opportunity to shed all the stress behind and dive deep into the surreal beauty of this place. Stroll around the lagoon on the smooth pavements or you can try jogging, skateboarding, rowing, or cycling as well. To get the most of the lagoon, rent a swan pedalo and ride it to your heart’s content.
3. Prainha Beach: although there are many famous beaches in Rio, including Ipanema beach and Copacabana beach if you want your own time with the sandy shores, warm breezes and the view, head to the Prainha Beach. It stays almost deserted on most of the days, with just a few surfers minding their own business, which gives you a lot of time for yourself and a way to find peace. The area around Prainha Beach is a protected nature reserve and you can surely explore beautiful places in there.
4. Sugarloaf Mountain: a mountain that looks like a hard packed bunch of sugar in a shape of the cone is sure a must visit. Named after its appearance, Sugarloaf Mountain is 396 m above the Rio Harbour and gives a spectacular view of city’s skyline. Most of the people that gather here are sunrise or sunset lovers and without disappointing, the mountain gives a perfect view of the entire process. If not only the view from the mountain excites you, then you can ride one of the cable cars that ride over the gap between two mountains, giving you a perfect dose of nature and thrill.
5. Mirante Dona Marta: If the most famous Sugarloaf mountain isn’t helping you out and you want to avoid the crowds and noises to enjoy Rio’s amazing sunrise/sunset, then head over to the Mirante Dona Marta. This might not be an easy place to get, given all the rocky and rough surface would give you a bumpy ride but at the end, it’d be all worth it. If you’re there for the sunset, wait for a while more and look at the glory of the place when the whole Rio lights up.
6. Botanical garden: Rio’s Botanical Garden is one of the masterpieces that you’ve ever seen in your life and for the nature lovers, it’s nothing more than a paradise. With over 6,500 species of plants, you’ll a few friendly local animals that’d greet you with all the warmth. Spend some time in the peaceful garden, sipping all the busy lanes and noisy atmosphere.
7. Museum of Tomorrow: The Museum of Tomorrow is located on the waterfront of downtown Rio. Being operational since December 2015, it is one of the world's most extraordinary architectural designs. The infrastructure and architecture are sure to leave you stunned and you must be really shocked/amazed after knowing that the museum is designed in ways to avoid climate disaster, environmental degradation, and social collapse.
8. Gavea Hotel: once a construction site of one of the biggest hotels coming up in Rio, Gavea Hotel now lays unfinished in the middle of the rainforest. Due to financial crisis and bankruptcy, the construction company had to stop working on the hotel but it still lays there, determining the hard work and brilliant idea of the constructors. The Gavea Hotel (locals call it Skeleton Hotel), right in the middle of Tijuca Forest, can still be reached by the public to read the ruins of this abandoned shell. Pass through the Estrada Vista Chinesa, to reach the Gavea Hotel and climb up to the top of the staircase to admire the nature around and much beyond.
9. Christ de Redeemer: a trip to Rio is incomplete without gasping at the Christ de Redeemer. The iconic statue of Jesus Christ with stretched stands 125 feet tall, registering itself as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The status is a symbol of warm welcome by the Brazilians. Reach the monument by climbing on top of the Corcovado Mountain, passing through the Tijuca National Park and be one of the 2 million people who visit this iconic place each year. Visiting the statue of Christ is no matter of spirituality, as it welcome people from every walk of life with the same open arms.