BRAZIL

The Perfect Brazil Trip – Rio de Janeiro & Lençóis 🥰

If you’re planning a trip to Brazil, here’s everything I loved about my journey to Rio de Janeiro and Lençóis!

Flights

I flew with Etihad Airways via Dubai. The airline was excellent, and the flights were comfortable throughout the journey.

Getting Around

I used Uber for all my transportation in Rio. It was affordable, convenient, and easy to use.

eSIM

I purchased a global eSIM through the Trip website for around 15$. It worked perfectly in every country I visited – Link

Navigation

Google Maps was all I needed to get around.

Where I Stayed in Rio

Mercure Rio Boutique Copacabana

A lovely boutique hotel located right on Copacabana Beach. The location couldn’t have been better, just steps from the famous beachfront promenade.

Tip: Compare prices across different booking websites, and always check in an incognito browser window to find the best deals.

Things to Do 👇🏻

Roxy – Dinner & Live Show

This was one of the highlights of the trip! 🤩

The performance featured incredible music, dancing, and comedy, creating an unforgettable evening. We chose the package that included dinner, but you can also attend the show without it.

Dinner starts about 1.5 hours before the show. It was a delicious chef-prepared meal with vegetarian options available. Throughout dinner, live singers performed, making the entire experience even more special.

The venue is located in Copacabana, only about a 10-minute walk from our hotel.

Link

Favela Tour

This was one of the most unique experiences I had in Rio.

Our guide, Lucas, was fantastic. The tour began with a ride on motorcycle taxis up to the first viewpoint. From there, we watched a short capoeira performance by incredibly talented dancers and funny hosts.

We then explored the narrow streets of the favela, stopping at beautiful rooftop viewpoints along the way. At one of the rooftops, we filmed an amazing drone video.

Tip: If you’d like a drone video, let your guide know in advance. It’s available for an additional fee, paid directly to the drone operator. There can be a wait, and you’ll usually spend the time at a nearby restaurant.

Afterward, we continued walking through the alleys of the favela with our guide.

Yes, I did see people carrying rifles, handguns, and wearing tactical vests along the way 😅. Despite that, I always felt safe because we were with a trusted local guide who knew the area well.

I highly recommend Lucas if you’re looking for an authentic and respectful favela experience.

Lucas WhatsApp

+55 21 98593-0081

Hang Gliding Over Rio 🪂

This was such an incredible experience! 😍 I absolutely loved it.

The adventure starts at a meeting point on the beach, which is also where you’ll land after the flight. From there, my instructor drove me up the mountain to the takeoff point.

There are many hang gliding operators, so be prepared to wait. I waited for about two hours before taking off. The timing depends entirely on the wind conditions, sometimes it’s quick, and sometimes it takes a while. Once the wind is just right, everyone takes off one after another.

Before the flight, you’ll be fitted with a safety harness that’s attached to the glider. The instructor explains everything, checks that all the equipment is securely connected, and makes sure you’re ready to go.

The flight itself lasts around 7 minutes, and the instructor records a video throughout the experience. My instructor was super friendly, and we even posed for the camera along the way! 😁

The views over Rio from the sky are absolutely breathtaking, and the feeling of soaring through the air is unforgettable. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip! 🤩

I booked my experience through this website:

https://www.renatojanssens.com

‪+55 21 97201‑2732‬

Doors-Off Helicopter Flight Over Christ the Redeemer 🚁

Without a doubt, one of the most unforgettable experiences of my trip! 🔥

Flying in a doors-off helicopter over Christ the Redeemer was absolutely incredible. The flight lasted about 30 minutes, and every second was worth it.

The views over Rio de Janeiro were breathtaking, and feeling the wind rushing past made the experience even more exciting. 😁

One of the coolest parts was being able to safely stretch my hands and legs outside the helicopter. At first, I only stuck one leg out to see how scary it would feel… but after a few moments, I relaxed and fully embraced the experience! 😅

If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Rio, I can’t recommend this enough.

Book your flight here:

Helicopterio 2 – novo modelo

+55 21 96952-2588

Beautiful Viewpoints in Rio 👇🏻

📍 Christ the Redeemer

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World and the sixth one I’ve visited! 🤩

The statue is absolutely massive, and the panoramic views from the top are breathtaking. 😍

We took an Uber to the train station that brings visitors up to the monument. We bought our tickets at the self-service machines on-site. Even though our tickets showed a later departure time, the staff told us not to worry about it, and we were able to board right away.

📍 Mirante Dona Marta

One of Rio’s most famous viewpoints, offering spectacular views of the mountains and the city.

We took an Uber there and asked the driver to wait for us, as it’s located high up in the mountains and there aren’t many people or taxis around.

Where to Eat 👇🏻

🥣 The Best Açaí

A popular açaí chain with several locations around Rio. The bowls were delicious! 🤤😋

We tried it both during our favela tour and in Copacabana.

☕ Confeitaria Colombo

One of Rio’s most iconic cafés, famous for its stunning European-style interior. 😍

The atmosphere is beautiful, and the food we ordered was excellent. 😋

🍣 Push Pop Sushi

A fun sushi restaurant serving sushi rolls in a tube-shaped presentation. 🤩😋

They also offer vegetarian options, and everything we tried was delicious. Located in Copacabana.

🍦 Bacio di Latte

Their Ipanema location serves amazing artisan ice cream bars with unique flavors and delicious toppings. 🤤😋

🧀 Pão de Queijo

Brazil’s famous cheese bread!

These warm, cheesy bites are sold almost everywhere and are an absolute must-try. 🤤

Experience Rio’s Samba Culture 💃

Pedra do Sal

Every Monday night, this historic square comes alive with an incredible street samba party.

A group of musicians plays live while hundreds of people dance around them. The atmosphere is unforgettable! 🔥

You’ll also find plenty of food stalls and bars serving Caipirinhas, Brazil’s iconic cocktail.

Casa de Maria

A lively restaurant and bar with live samba performances.

We happened to visit on the night of the World Cup Final, so the atmosphere was unbelievable! 🔥 The match was shown on a big screen while the samba band played at the same time.

The food was also excellent. 😋

It’s located just around the corner from the famous Brazilian flag staircase.

Shopping 🛍️

Havaianas Flagship Store – Ipanema

Since Havaianas originated in Brazil, I couldn’t leave without buying a pair!

The flagship store in Ipanema has a huge selection of colors and styles.

Iconic Staircases 📸

📍 Escada da Bandeira do Brasil

The famous staircase painted with the Brazilian flag.

The surrounding streets are full of restaurants and bars, we spent the evening at Casa de Maria nearby.

📍 Escadaria Selarón

Rio’s most famous staircase, covered in colorful mosaic tiles created by artist Jorge Selarón.

There’s usually a long line of people waiting for photos, so I was happy just taking pictures of the stairs themselves.

Fun fact: Snoop Dogg and Usher filmed part of their music video here in the early 2000s. 😎

Museums 👇🏻

📍 Real Gabinete Português de Leitura

An incredible historic library with towering bookshelves and breathtaking architecture.

It’s located just a short ride from Confeitaria Colombo.

📍 Museum of Tomorrow

An impressive futuristic museum designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava.

We arrived just before closing time and didn’t have enough time to visit the exhibitions, but the building itself is stunning and worth seeing even from the outside.

📍 Niterói Contemporary Art Museum

An iconic museum designed by legendary Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer.

Its unique architecture, seaside location, and incredible mountain views make it worth the trip.

Safety Tips

Rio often gets a reputation for safety concerns, so we made sure to stay alert throughout our trip.

Thankfully, we didn’t experience any problems.

A few tips that worked well for us:

Keep your phone inside your bag instead of walking around with it in your hand.
Order your Uber while you’re inside a hotel, restaurant, or shop.
Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
When riding in an Uber, keep your bag on the floor and close to you.

Using common sense and staying aware of your surroundings can go a long way.

Lençóis Maranhenses – One of the Most Beautiful Natural Wonders I’ve Ever Seen 🥰

From Rio, we flew to São Luís, then took a shuttle to Barreirinhas, which took about four hours.

I booked the shuttle with Transfer Barreirinhas, and their service was excellent. They were responsive, reliable, and I also booked one of my tours through them.

https://transferbarreirinhas.com

Where We Stayed

Pousada Vasto Horizonte

The rooms are simple, but the property is lovely.

It’s located right by the river and has swimming pools, gardens, and even animals roaming around the grounds.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Sunset Tour – Lagoa Bonita 🌅

This was one of my favorite experiences in Brazil.

We were picked up from the hotel in a 4×4 vehicle and drove for about an hour through sandy jungle tracks.

The ride was incredibly bumpy, I honestly felt like I was on a roller coaster! 😅 But the scenery along the way was beautiful. 😍

After arriving, we climbed a long staircase to the top of the dunes, where the breathtaking landscape of white sand dunes stretched endlessly before us.

We walked across the dunes, swam in the crystal-clear turquoise lagoons, and enjoyed every minute.

The tour ended at a viewpoint where everyone gathered to watch the sunset together.

As the sun disappeared below the horizon… everyone started clapping. 😁

It was such a magical moment.

Our guide didn’t speak English, but we managed just fine.

I booked this tour through Pass Tour.

Blue Lagoon Tour (Lagoa Azul) 💙

We were again picked up from the hotel by 4×4.

The off-road drive was shorter than the previous tour, but just as bumpy! 😅

We explored more dunes, stopped at several stunning blue lagoons, and had plenty of time to swim and relax.

Our guide also didn’t speak English, but other travelers helped translate, and we had a fantastic day.

I booked this tour through Transfer Barreirinhas. I actually discovered afterward that they also offer tours, and they were a little cheaper than the company I used for my first excursion.

https://transferbarreirinhas.com

Final Thoughts ❤️

This was truly a perfect trip.

I absolutely loved Rio de Janeiro, its colorful streets, beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, music, and incredible energy.

And Lençóis Maranhenses completely amazed me. The endless white sand dunes, crystal-clear lagoons, unforgettable sunsets, and unique landscapes made it one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever visited.

If you’d like to see more photos, videos, and tagged locations from my trip, feel free to follow my Instagram.

Have an amazing trip! 😁

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