What to do in Rio de Janeiro

Six Months in South America, Part 8

After visiting the wonder of nature Iguazú Falls, Kim and I headed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where we met up with her longtime friend Elise. I also reconnected with Cody, a friend from Couchsurfing, and I finally met my high school pen pal, José, after 12 years. 

Things to do in Rio de Janeiro

Surfing lessons at Arpoador Beach

I’ve attempted surfing four times in my life: once in Morocco, twice in Spain, and failed pretty miserably every time. But at Arpoador Beach in Rio, I was finally able to ride a few waves, standing up on the first try. Later, I met up with a Brazilian solo traveler who was in class with me, and we watched the sunset from the rocks next to where we had our lesson. You can find surf instructors and schools up and down Rio’s beaches, including Ipanema and Copacabana. Group lessons cost around $20-25 and usually include a surf board and Lycra shirt. I highly recommend my school: Surf Rio.

Swimming at Praia de Itacoatiara 

Several iconic beaches are in Rio including Ipanema and Copacabana. However, my favorite beach we visited was located about an hour outside the city: Praia Itacoatiara. It’s a great spot for surfing, rock pools, and headland hikes. While there, Elise and I shared seafood and caipirinhas, while Kim sunbathed on the sand. Later, I walked the length of the beach and explored some nearby rocks and cliffs with exceptional views of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Taking in the tiles of Escadaria Selarón

Escadaria Selarón or the Selarón Stairs, were a thank you gift from Chilean artist Jorge Selarón to the people of Rio. Selarón raised money for the art installation, and with the help of people from 60 countries who mailed him colorful tiles, he created the famous staircase in the heart of Rio. There are 215 steps, and the entire staircase is made of more than 2,000 tiles, 300 of which are hand painted. I recommend showing up early in the morning as it gets crowded around the stairs. 

Marveling at the Royal Portuguese Reading Room

I have a thing for visiting bookshops and libraries when traveling, and for years, one place was at the top of my dream list: The Royal Portuguese Reading Room. The 187-year-old cultural institution did not disappoint. Once listed as one of the top five most beautiful libraries in the world, it holds the largest collection of Portuguese literature outside of Portugal itself.

Visiting Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Parque Loge

One of the new seven wonders of the modern world, a visit to Rio is not complete without seeing the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue. Although it’s usually super packed with tourists, Kim and I got up early to take the first train and beat the massive crowds to take in the phenomenal views of the city, surrounding forests, and beaches.

Later, with Elise, we rode one of the oldest cable cars in Latin America up to Sugarloaf Mountain where we saw more incredible views and had açaí and coconut juice. The nearby Parque Loge was another highlight; the gorgeous public park has caves you can explore, massive trees, and beautiful water installations surrounding a historical mansion that now serves as a visual arts school.

Musing through museums

Elise and I had a museum day where we saw several exhibits on Brazilian art and folklore.

We visited:

1. Museu de Folclore Edison Carneiro: This small but brilliant museum highlights Brazilian folklore and popular culture.

2. Museu do Pontal: Similar to the Museu de Folclore, this museum offers a revitalized structure and has a nice view and picnic area in the back.

3. Rio Museum of Art: With eclectic architecture on the Porto Maravilha waterfront, this museum houses some of Brazil’s coolest contemporary art collections. It also gives you a great view of the port and Museum of Tomorrow.

Rendezvous and reunions with new and old friends

The highlight of my trip was meeting up with my Brazilian pen pal José after 12 years of correspondence. I’ve known José virtually since high school, and it felt amazing to chat with him at Explorer Bar as if no time had passed. I also reconnected with Cody, a friend from Couchsurfing and his wife Ingrid, and met Elise, Kim’s good friend from Sweden. People always make a particular place special, and I’m lucky I got to spend time with new and old friends while in Rio.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for Part 9 of the Six Months in South America series: a love letter to Brazilian cuisine.