Rio De Janeiro - Post Report Question and Answers
What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Beach volleyball with the Consulate gringos was one of my favorite activities, as well as swimming at Flamengo clube, and dating locals. - Apr 2019
There is a lot of hiking in the city, some charming not-yet-quite-revitalized historic neighborhoods, and no end of places to explore outside of town (if you can get out). - Jun 2017
climbing the Dois irmaos mountain and pedra da Gavea. Parque das ruinas at santa teresa. ferry from the Centro to the Paquetta island, where no car is allowed. - May 2016
Buzios, Paraty and Ilha Grande are all a day trip and all are phenomenal and beautiful. Off season prices are affordable. The main problem is traffic trying to get there. - Aug 2013
Wow. If you can imagine it, you can do it in Rio. Except maybe skiing. Well, there is water skiing. There is every option of nightlife, from smooth jazz bars to heavy metal clubs. You can learn to samba or skydive or surf all on the same day. You can even take a class on existential thinkers from the Casa de Saber in Lagoa and then go clubbing two blocks down in Ipanema. You can be existentialist and hedonistic in the space of three hours. - Jun 2011
Lapa antique fair on the first Saturday of the month. Hippie Fair every Saturday, drinking coconut water at the beach. - Jul 2010
Lazy days outside with the kids on the beach, bicycling around Lagoa (the lagoon), walking along the beach on weekends/holidays when the main roads are closed off for travel, parks (favorite is Ibirapuera park in Sao Paulo), visits to historical places, the Amazon, Salvador, Petropolis, spectacularly lavish kid birthday parties. Haven't yet been to the Pantanal, Ouro Preto/Tiradentes, the gazillion beautiful waterfalls/swimming holes, Foz Iguacu, Fortaleza, or many of the beach areas. And, oh, yeah, all the Rio tourist spots people who live here forget about - Big Jesus (Corcovado), Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf), Santa Teresa cable car ride, Copacabana fort museum, Lapa for dancing (between of hold-ups there so don't flash your valuables and give them up if you're asked for them), football games, umm Carnival. - Jun 2010
Beach, parks, forests, concerts. Rio's very outdoorsy but also has a very respectable cultural life. - Nov 2009
Live music, carnaval parade and the rehersals leading up to it, going to the beach, going sailing, going to nearby beach towns, theatre. There is always something going on and just hanging around at sidewalk cafes and watching the locals walk by is fun in and of itself. - Jan 2009
