Rio de Janeiro for tourists: Get to know the city

Rio is the second largest city in Brazil and the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro is best known for its beaches, carnivals, football, music and its well protected forests. The population of Rio′s greater metropolitan area is estimated in 13 millions, which makes it one of the largest urban areas around the world, while the city of Rio counts with more than 6 million of inhabitants.

The legend sais, that the name Rio de Janeiro, "January River" was given by the mariners that first arrived to te city the 1st of January 1502, as they thought that the mouth of the bay was actually the mouth of a river -and river was the general word for any large body of water-. In 1763, the colonial capital was transferred from Salvador to Rio. And the city kept being the capital of Brazil after the independence until 1960, when Brasília was founded, nevertheless, Rio is still considerated a central place in Brazil′s economic, financial and cultural life.

Rio is divided by a mountain range into four main areas: the Downtown (Centro), Western zone (Zona Oeste), Northern Zone (Zona Norte ) and the Southern Zone (Zona Sul). The Southern Zone holds most of the city′s sights, including the Sugar Loaf and the famous beaches Copacabana and Ipanema; the Zona Norte holds the world famous "Maracanã" Stadium, while Centro is home of most cultural and historic places and Zona Oeste holds the most fancies and modern neighborhoods such as Barra da Tijuca and Recreio dos Bandeirantes with outstanding beaches, plenty of malls and a business district that strongly contrasts with the huge slums or favelas in Brazilian portugese.

Rio inhabitants are known as Cariocas, term coming from the tupi-guarani kari oca that means "house of the white man". The Cariocas are considered easygoing people, party lovers and the happiest people in the world, inspite of social problems they have to deal with everyday. Rio de Janeiro throbs to the infectious beat of Brazilian music, the choro, the samba and the bossa nova, the entires city vibrates with its annual carnival Carnaval, that draws together Cariocas and visitors in one huge party that becomes probably the only moment where social differences are forgotten and riches and poors alike are dancing at the streets all day long to create the world′s largest samba parade.

It is true that the city of Rio is not one of the safest places of the world. The favelas of Rio are between the most famous in South America due to theit size but also because they are strategically located creating a view that burst any social logic specially in the Southern Zone, where thousand of houses of informal settlements seems to be invading the mountain in contrast with the outrageous buildings and fancy houses of their neighbors, nevertheless, sightseeing the city could be as safe as any other large capital in the world, so besides of leaving valluable things at the hotel when going to the beach, being aware of pickpockets and always keep an eye to your personal belongings (is not just keeping an eye, is more about being alert!) the only thing you have to be afraid of is about being expose to have the best vacation of your life!

Rio is waiting for you! Have a look at our tours and activities in Rio de Janeiro. and get a safe fun experience sightseeing Rio with our guided tours! Book now!