Rio de Janeiro

INTRO
River of January, or The Marvellous City
These are the other ways you can hear people refer to the truly wondrous city of Rio de Janeiro. Famous as being the symbol of Brazil with its enormous statue of Jesus that looks like embracing the city from above, Rio de Janeiro offers a dreamlike experience on golden sand beaches, profuse carnivals and astounding natural surroundings.

City Profile
City: Rio de Janeiro
Country: Brazil
Area: 1260 km2
Population: 6,136,652
Districts: 21
Mayor: César Maia
Language: Portuguese

LOCATION
Rio de Janeiro is located at the south-eastern coast of Brazil, right on the Atlantic Ocean. With the coastal mountains at its back and fronted by the waters of the ocean, adorned with marvellous forests and astonishing landscapes, Rio is a domestic and an international destination, luring people with its world-famous landmarks and one-of-a-kind nature.

TIME TO VISIT
Whenever you decide to visit Rio de Janeiro, the city always awaits for you with perfect weather conditions. As the climate here is tropical, the temperatures vary between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius throughout the whole year. The months from November till March are considered the local summer and during this time of the year the air is dry and the temperatures are the highest. The period from July till September is when most of the regional rainfall occurs but the weather is still pleasant enough for a nice vacation. The best time to come to this never-sleeping city is probably during the winter time, around Christmas and New Year's Eve, when it is warm here and various spectacular celebrations took place within the city.

POPULATION
Rio de Janeiro is a stunning place in terms of its population. Over 11 million people reside in its Metropolitan area. The majority of the citizens have Portuguese origin while the rest are mainly of African or mulattos of mixed Portuguese and African decent. The larger percentage of people in the city are white but other races can also be recognised, including Pardo, Black people and Asians. Several ethnic groups are distinguished, among which are Italians, Spaniards, Germans, Arabs and Jews. The official language in the city is Portuguese but English and Spanish are equally used in the university education. Most of the locals, however, might find it difficult to speak or understand English and Portuguese is the main language of use for them.

DISTRICTS
Rio de Janeiro is mainly divided into five districts. These are the Centre, the South Zone, the North Zone and the West Zone. Each of these zone include many neighbourhoods and special districts that attract visitors from all over the world.

Downtownis the historical part of the city as well as its present commercial centre. Many important buildings are situated here, including many churches, the National Historical Museum, The museum of Fine Arts, a 18th century historical garden and many others
South Zone is the most tourist-friendly district in Rio de Janeiro, where the majority of the attractions are situated. Here are the two world-famous beaches, Copacabana and Ipanema, as well as the second most important hill, Sugar Loaf mountain that offers one of the most stunning views of the city.
North Zone is the home of one of the largest football stadiums in the world as well as of the International airport of the city. Here are the old historical Imperial Palace and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
West Zone comprises mainly of residential areas that can be distinguished from the rest of the neighbourhoods in the city with their American style layout and atmosphere.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Even though most people come to Rio de Janeiro because of its gorgeous sand beaches, Copacabana and Ipanema, a trip to this Brazilian city would not be complete without a visit to the following landmarks:

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer that embraces the city with its hands is the symbol not only of Rio de Janeiro but of Brazil itself. Situated on top of the Corcovado Hill, the statue stands 30 metres high while the mountain is 710 metres. The view over the city is breathtaking, allowing you to appreciate the natural splendour around Rio de Janeiro with its mountains, beaches and sea. http://www.corcovado.com.br/
The Sugar Loaf is the other major tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro that reveals another spectacular view over the city. It is a landmark complex comprised of two hills, reached by a cable car, the first of which is 220 metres high, while the Sugar Loaf itself is almost 400 metres above the ground. The place is truly marvellous at sunset when the sun hides behind the horizon and leaves you speechless before the view.
The Botanical Gardens in Rio de Janeiro were first opened in 1808 by the prince regent at that time and were initially purposed for the acclimatization of various plants imported from the Western Indies. Today, the gardens exhibit many tropical and subtropical plants, the major attraction of which are the Royal Palm trees that were preserved only for the royal family. Among the other gardens of interest are the Japanese gardens, an orchid house, as well as many natural ponds that display the typical Brazilian flora and fauna.
Tijuca Forest is a part of the Tajuca National Park and is presumably the world's only forest located within a city. It is a pleasant place to escape from the vibrant city atmosphere and indulge in a jungle of wildlife, waterfalls and exotic birds. Monkeys live there freely and will welcome you as you wander around the lakes and unique plants.
Maracana Soccer Stadium is a holy place for all football lovers. If you happen to be in Rio de Janeiro while there is a football match coming, make sure not to miss the occasion. This is the world's largest football stadium that has become legendary in the world of sports by hosting several memorable games, including Pele's last game at the World Cup Championship in 1950.

AIRPORT
Rio de Janeiro has five airports, two of which are military ones, one is international airport and the remaining two are predominantly regional airports. Two of these five, however, are considered the main ones and are most frequently used by the travellers.

Galeao - Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport is located some 35 minutes drive from the downtown area. Even though the airport is connected to the city via public buses, it is not recommended to ride them. The better option is to take a taxi that will cost you around $30 or arrange for a car to pick you up. Still, in case you prefer to stick to the cheaper transportation, the bus travels from the international airport, passes through the regional one and goes to the centre for only R$ 6. Be prepared to wait at the immigration desks as the passport check is very precise. All major airlines from both the US and Europe fly to Rio de Janeiro.
Santos Dumont Regional Airport used to be the international airport of the city while today it mainly serves domestic flights. It is conveniently situated within the city limits and getting to your accommodation is easy. You can either take a bus or hire a cab. More info at: http://www.varig.com/

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Mass transportation in Rio de Janeiro is very well arranged and gives you the opportunity to choose from a few options.

Buses are the main means of transportation for the local people. Most are air-conditioned and cheap, R$ 1.30 per ticket. A sign at the front window tells you where the bus goes to.
Metro in Rio de Janeiro has two lines. It is convenient and faster than the bus. One-way ticket costs R$ 1.87.
Taxis in Rio de Janeiro are required to have taximeters and use them accordingly. The initial price once you get in the taxi is R$ 2.50 regardless of the hour. During the day the prices charge R$ 0.80 per kilometre while at night, the cost is R$ 0.96. If you want the driver to wait for you, it costs R$ 10.50 per hour. Luggage is also charged- R$ 0.80 per piece.

HISTORY
Rio de Janeiro was first discovered by Portuguese explorers during their expedition in the region in 1502. They named the city "January River" as it was in January when their discovery was found. Shortly before the city was officially founded by a Portuguese knight in 1956, the region was a luring place for French smugglers of Brazilian wood and for the pirates. The Portuguese managed to expel the French from their settlement but this didn't stop the outside attacks of various foreign enemies, including the Netherlands, France and pirates. Despite the invasions, Rio de Janeiro remained the colonial capital until the beginning of the 18th century when the Portuguese royal family moved here from Europe in order to escape from Napoleon's influence. Thus, the capital of Portugal was transferred to Rio de Janeiro, which was the only European capital outside the European continent. However, the glorious history of Rio doesn't stop here. In 1822 the city was chosen to continue to be a capital but this time of the independent empire of Brazil. Rio served its political duty until recently when in 1960 the capital of Brazil was moved to the especially-built new city of Brasilia. Despite that fact, Rio became world famous for its gorgeous beaches and stunning nature and has turned into one of the most prominent summer resorts in the world.

CITY LINKS

Rio de Janeiro News: A Daily Newspaper in Mexican: http://www.riodejaneironews.com/
Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide: http://www.riodejaneiro.com/
Useful Tips: http://wikitravel.org/en/Rio_de_Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro Official Website: http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/

UNIVERSITY LINKS

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro: http://www.ufrj.br
Rio de Janeiro State University: http://www.uerj.br
American School of Rio de Janeiro: http://www.earj.com.br/
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, a private, non-profit university: www.puc-rio.br