Planning Girls Weekend in Rio

[mdjolly]

I am planning a Girlfriends weekend to Rio in late August/early September. We don't plan to rent a car so we'd like to be in the center of everything, yet near/on the beach.

I have the following questions:
Which Beach is best Copa or Ipanema?
We are looking for something relatively clean that caters to 25-35 year olds. We love shopping and spas!

How far away is Sugar loaf Mountain and the Cristo Redentor Statue? Which beach is closer to these attractions?

We'd like to take a dance lesson at a Samba school - any suggestions?

Any 4 star hotel recommendations?

Any tour guide recommendations?

Any help that we can get will be appreciated!

mdj

[Marcos Wolff]

Hi! Believe me that it is better not to drive in Rio, quite messy traffic in the city... You can take taxis which are relatively cheap... Other option is Metro (Subway), have air conditioned and is the faster options during peak hours... To answer your questions... The best beach (specially for girls) is Ipanema, the water is cleaner than Copacabana, the area is safer, all shops are there and the atmosphere is cooler... Praia Ipanema Hotel is a good option for lodging... Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer Statue are about 30 minutes taxi ride from Ipanema, the Cristo has no beach close as it is placed in the middle of Tijuca National Park, the closes beaches to the Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf) are Flamengo or Botafogo, but there are no nice hotel options closer... Regarding Samba schools, I've never been to any, but I was recommended Casa de Danca Carlinhos de Jesus and Centro Cultural Carioca... If you have any questions, just let me know... How many days will you be staying in Rio? I can give good recommendations depending on the day you'll be staying here... Take care, M

[mdjolly]

AWESOME! Thanks so much! I will give Piria a try - is it very close to the beach? There were not very many hotel options near Ipandema, so I thought we had not other choice but to lodge by Copa (since we hope to have a Oceanside view from our hotel). We plan to stay 4 days and 3 nights - last week of August. Is Christ the Redemer and Sugarloaf Mt in the same area? I had plan to visit one on Thursday and one on Friday, but if they are in the same location we might just visit them both in one day. We will be there over the weekend - do the museums and tourist spots close early on any days. I want to make sure that if something is closed on the weekend - that we are sure to complete that activity on Thursday or Friday during the day.

I can't wait to try the Samba schools you have recommended - are they near Copa or Ipandema?

You are sucha great help!

mdj

[brazil_bc_inn]

why not try to go to the south of brazil? it's very beautiful but most people don't know it

[Marcos Wolff]

as far as i've experienced, brazilian southern beaches are not that warm during august / september... and i guess rio has no point of comparison to the south of brazil, praia rosa close to florianopolis is nice tough... to answer your questions mdj: Praia Ipanema Hotel is right in front of the sea, close to Posto 9, most famous part of Ipanema beach (read the story of Garota de Ipanema)... I don't usually recommend Copacabana for girls as during night is less safe than Ipanema and (sorry for this comment) full of women offering sex... The Christ and Sugar Loaf are about 30/40 minute cab ride from Ipanema (depending on the traffic), every travel agency offer tours to do both sites in the same day... During the weekends, most of the museums are opened, but if you visit Downtown area, Lapa and Santa Teresa, it is better to do it on a weekday where there are more people around... Do not miss Lapa on Friday night as it is one of the highlights of Rio if looking for going out, dunno your style but you'll probably like Rio Scenarium and Carioca da Gema (outside those places, people party on the street or other less (touristy) popular bars/discos)... both samba schools i mentioned are close (Botafogo and Downtown)... Any questions just let me know...

[brazil_bc_inn]

mdjolly, you should better the southern brazil, according to my experience it's the safest region of the whole country, has the highest standard of living which means that the quality of tourism is good there, praia rosa is only one of many beaches around :)
and no bullets in the air at the night time from favelas like in rio :))
you can contact me if you'd like to =)

[Richard Leon]

Ipanema is better than Copacabana. Safer and plenty of enternteinment options. Christ Reddemer and Sugar loaf are all a taxi away. I have stayed at that 3star hotel MArcos wolff suggests and it was great. The room was very basic, good breakfast and location was perfect.

Other places not to miss is Ilha grande or Salvador!


have fun

Richard