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Time your visit well and you have a multitude of football competitions to choose from in Rio de Janeiro and throughout Brazil.
The national championship (Brasileirao) takes place from May until December.
The Rio State Championship (Campeonato Carioca) starts in middle of January until May and in the last few years the Flamengo-Vasco da Gama fixture has apparently replaced Flamengo-Fluminense ( known locally as Fla-Flu) as the most anticipated football fixture in Rio calendar. In 2006 and 2007, Flamengo and Botafogo both made the final of Rio State Championship.
Squeezed into this already busy fixture list are two continental 'Champions League' competitions in the Libertodores and Sulamericana; the Copa do Brasil which is the Brazilian ‘FA Cup’ and international friendlies and qualifiers.
As with every other country on planet football, television dictates match schedules and kick-off times in Brazil. Saturday matches normally kick-off at 4pm, 6.10pm or sometimes 8.30pm local time. Sunday is 4.00pm or 18.10pm. Weekday matches normally start at 7.30pm , 8.30pm or 9.50pm.
You will be guaranteed the opportunity of attending a couple of State Championship fixtures during Carnival Week, if you fancy seeing Rio's other main tourist attraction.
For more details:
futebolnomaracana.blogspot.com/
www.budgetairlinefootball.co.uk/273456.html
We met friends who had arrived in Rio the day before us. They went to the yellow taxi kiosk at the airport and got a ticket with a price for their ride to Copacabana. But, after being escorted to their waiting taxi the price was crossed out and a new price written on the ticket. The man who had escorted them to the taxi then handed the ticket to the driver who crossed that price out and added his own price! Essentially they ended up paying 95 Brazilian Reals,(US50) for a journey that should have cost a lot less. Of course, like us, they don't speak any Portuguese which makes it very difficult to argue in these situations.
We had read about these sorts of problems on a few different travel sites and my husband booked our transfers to Copacabana with Rio Airport Transfer, who he had seen comments about on this site, and paid 50 US for a smooth journey to our hotel in a very nice car.
I'm sure everyone has different experiences and there's always a few people who get conned by opportunists, but for the sake of convenience we prefer to book in advance and know what we're getting for our money. We would recommend Rio Airport Transfer for those like us who prefer less stress.
Happy Travels!
Jan
Take a one-hour Jangada Trip. A jangada is a typical sailboat from Norther Brazil's fishermen Village. It's an amazing trip that will take you to the beautiful reefs and swim among colourful fishes. Relaxing trip in Porto de Galinhas
http:www.portodegalinhas.wiki.br
Porto de Galinhas Jangadas depart from main beach, check low tide time day before to organize your trip
Looking for an English speaking Church in Brazil? Try Christ Church Anglican Church. The people are friendly, the worship and teaching good, it's well served by public transport and there's plenty of on site parking. Services at 8am and 10.30 am and children are welcome.
Rua Real Grandeza 99, Botafogo in Zona Sul. Tel 21 2539 9488 It's website is christchurch.no-ip.org/
I reccomend a nice and cheap hostel called Arpoador Beach House between Ipanema beach and Copacabana Beach. The best spot in Rio is called Arpoador area: there's a great sunset from there!
Rua bulhoes de Carvalho 470
www.arpoadorbeachhouse.com
I ordered the regular cheeseburger steak with fries and salad. Generous portions, loved it! One of the best meals I've had in Rio, particularly the grilled delicacies. Do recommend it. The place attracts the trendy hipsters that cruise around Ipanema, so be ready to see and be seen. Beware of the chimichurri sauce! Not chimichurri!
Av. Garcia de Ávila, 125 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22421-010, Brazil - (0xx)21 2512-8100
Carneiros is not the most popular beach in Brazil, but that's a plus. It feels far more remote than it is because it is so unspoilt.
Long palm tree lined beaches, tropically warm shallow waters, natural reefs with pools full of tropical fish, river bank mud baths and rustic bars in the mangrove.
This paradise is a short distance from several other fantastic beaches, from Recife and from the World Heritage city Olinda with its charming colonial architecture that dates from the early 1500s.
If you want a tropical holiday at a fraction of the cost of more popular destinations, then this is your solution.
Recife is the capital on the northeast coast of Brazil and enjoys a tropical climate and 12 month summer. Being just 8° 06′south of the equator topical means hot, but the humidity is not too high and Recife benefits from onshore trade winds that make things more comfortable.
These great weather conditions can be enjoyed along the 190 km coastline of the state, and beyond in neighbouring states. Many beaches are protected from the Atlantic ocean by reefs that create natural swimming pools at several points during low tide. It is these reefs that gave the city of Recife its name.
Sea temperatures make you feel you are in a tropical aquarium. Often a mask and snorkel are all you need to enjoy the abundant ocean life. The region also offers good deep sea diving experiences for the more adventurous.
Recife and nearby Olinda are amongst the oldest cities in Brazil and its Portuguese, Dutch and colonial past are still much in evidence. Olinda is a hill top town established by the Portuguese in 1534 and Recife is the nearby port that was developed by the Dutch. Sugar made Recife the richest city in Brazil and its position was maintained for several years with the addition of the cotton industry. These industries were largely dependent upon the slave trade giving Brazil its African influence. There is also a significant Jewish influence. They controlled fifty percent of the sugar industry, and Recife is home to the first synagogue in the Americas dating from 1641. It was from here that the first jews in New York originate.
Nearby is Porto de Galinhas, voted number one beach in Brazil by Brazilians. It is a perfect area that offers a mix of safe bathing, water sports and some of the best surf conditions in the country. The waters are an aquatic paradise teaming with ocean life. You can literally feed the fish here by hand.
All these influences make for a lively and diverse culture, most in evidence during carnival. Carnival here is the most authentic. Unlike carnival in Rio and Salvador, you don't spectate, you take part, and it is free.
The region is popular with Brazilian tourists from the south who come here in their winter months. There is no winter here in the northeast. Temperatues rarely fall below 26C. It is growing in popularity with foreign tourists but guides and information in English are hard to find. The most comprehensive guide in English is Recife Guide, a website with all you need to know. Recife Guide also offers Guided Tours and other services.
Almost certainly you will arrive by plane either on an international or national flight. There are direct scheduled flights from Europe (from Lisbon on TIP, or from Paris on TAM). Charter flights operate during high season, but usually as package holidays rather than flight only. I would strongly advise against a package holiday to Brazil. There are far better ways to experience the country.
Recifes international airport is the largest and most modern airport in the northeast. It serves the main tourist destinations in the region, Recife (10mins by car), Olinda (30mins) and Porto de Galinhas (1 1/2hrs).
Almost every type of accommodation is available, from hostel to five star hotel. A nice and very affordable option are beach guest houses called Pousadas. They vary in price and quality but most offer good clean accomodation with breakfast. At the moment the price range of accommodation is from R$26 (8 Euro) per night in a hostel, from R$100 (28 Euro) in a 3 star like hotel, and from R$300 (85Euro) in a luxury hotel. Prices may be higher in high season (Oct - Mar), or less in low season (Apr-Sep).
The Fortress is like an open air museum.
It started to be built on January 6th 1598 (Day of the Wise Kings), as a means of defense against foreign invaders. It was refurbished many times but still preserves most of the original structure, including thick walls, rooms for soldiers and the captain, a central chapel, etc.
Today it is one of the oldest constructed sites in Brazil which is open for visitation (a small fee is charged).
Besides a travel in time, the fortress affords excellent views such as Ponta Negra beach and the new Redinha bridge.
I went with some friends to Zero Zero lounge next to Rio’s planetarium. I thought it was a bit expensive when compared to other clubs I had been to, but the ambience was pretty hipster and sophisticated. They have a huge open-air lounge area with many couches, Indian wooden benches and the ambiance is candlelit, the décor surely adds a sexy, romantic feel to the place. The gorgeous trendy locals cruise around in fashion clothes and fancy drinks. This place is definitely worth a check.
We frequently go to Japanese restaurants anywhere, we hunt them down on our various trips. We followed the tip of our hotel concierge and decided to check out Benkei in Ipanema. I liked it. They have splendid food preparation and arrangement. Benkei is just how I like a Japanese restaurant to be: small, quiet and cozy. The sushi was actually really good, but I did not dig the waiting line. Get reservations if you plan on giving it a checkout, which I do recommend.
Rua Henrique Dumont, 71 Lj A
Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Brazil
Cute little hostel, run by the nicest staff. Very conveniently located within walking distance from Santa Tereza’s hottest spots, while very near to downtown Rio. Excellent advice on local day tours, nightlife, and other things to do while in Rio. Just sorry the weather was too chilly to enjoy the terrace, pool and the patios!
Casa Mango Mango, Rua Joaquim Murtinho 587 - Santa Tereza, Rio de Janeiro
If you need an English speaking dentist in Rio de Janeiro, I recommend Dr. Priscila Barreto. She is friendly, speaks fluent English and Portuguese, and most importantly, is gentle! She is a root canal specialist and can accommodate emergency dental visits too.
Av. Ataulfo de Paiva 135, Sala 817
Leblon, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22440-032
Office Tel: (21) 2259-6369
English Tel: (21) 8104-2280
www.drpriscila.com
I really liked this place. Fresh sea delicacies at a great price and generous portions. Too bad they didn’t accept my traveller’s checks. It was a little too much to ask though. They serve good beer and there’s a tasty dish called tidbits or bits or something that is a mix of crab meat, shrimp, octopus and all. So, so good. Check it out. Don’t go by car, you’ll miss the fun of the trolley.
Rua Almirante Alexandrino, 432 - Santa Tereza (mainstreet)
I know some people think that pre-booked transfers can be a waste of money, but I guess it depends how adventurous, or exhausted, you feel when you arrive at the airport.
We'd previously seen Rio Airport Transfer 'tipped' on this site and thought we'd give them a go as we'd never been to Rio and didn't know what to expect.
Although getting a yellow taxi from the airport doesn't look like it's too stressful, we're still happy that we booked our own private transfer as it meant we were whisked away to a nice car, with air-con, and didn't have to worry about speaking the language or being ripped off - which I'd heard happens often to tourists arriving at the airport.
We only got a one-way transfer to our hotel, and the hotel then organised a yellow taxi to collect us and take us back to the airport. The yellow cab was ok, but the car Rio Airport Transfer used was certainly nicer, and cooler, although of course we did pay a little more for the pleasure.
We were very happy with the service they provided.
I went to Fellini only once on a quick business lunch while in Rio. I was impressed with the sophisticated dishes they offered at such reasonable prices. I was surprised with the discount policy for people who are over 65 years old. I never heard of this before. The pay per pound system also suits me well. Overall a nice place. I am just astonished because usually I spend a lot of money on these business lunches. I recommend this place for anyone that wishes to have a nice and tasty meal for a really good price.
R. General Urquiza, 104.
Leblon
In case you want to make new friends or you’re travelling all by yourself, this is the place to go! The cool thing is that Clandestino is open until late hours. The crowd is young and friendly and each night has a different feel to it. I loved the nachos I ordered and they have a bunch of beer brands for you to pick and choose. The dancefloor was packed and I had such a wild night with the Brazilian guys I met and the Italian friend who was staying in my hostel.
Rua Barata Ribeiro 111, Copacabana
My favorite sport is beer tasting! I’ve been to many places and one of my fondest rituals is trying out beers and keeping the labels. I’ve been to Brazil before, but this was the first time that I tried prime quality draft beer. A local newly-met friend took me to this bar called Devassa in Flamengo. They have a homemade brand of beer! It’s so tasty and rich! Plus the fact that they are really careful with their logo and design. I loved it. If you get the chance try all three of them! I loved the Indian one.
Rua Senador Vergueiro, 2 - ljs B e C - Flamengo. (21) 2556-0618 / (21) 2556-0538
Club 69 is a breakthrough nightclub. The sound system and the lights there are a reference and ispiration for every other (good) nightclub in Brazil. Once you get in there you feel like you're not on earth. It’s, basically, a black box with lights on the walls and ceiling - red, green, yellow, purple, orange, blue. It’s surely a designer club! Plus the fact the the place is packed with b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l Brazilians. My recommendation is: swallow down a couple of shots, get a real fancy drink and cruise. The place is great for meeting locals!
Rua Prudente de Morais, 416 - Ipanema
When we moved from Canada to Rio due to my husband’s new job, I was very concerned with my youngster’s orthodontics treatment. They were absolutely sure they were going to get to remove their braces, but I was determined to discover a good dental clinic so they could continue their treatment. Some weeks later, a teacher at the American School told me about Multi-Oral dental clinic, and I promptly scheduled for my two kids. I am very satisfied with the treatment. Plus the fact that their dentist speaks English and makes it all much easier for us all.
Rua Visconde de Pirajá n° 433, 6th floor - Ipanema.
Rio de Janeiro
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