The Magic of Rio De Janeiro – 5 Unique Attractions in This Amazing City
World travelers regard Rio De Janeiro as one of the greatest cities in South America if not the world. From its famous iconic landmarks to tremendous natural beauty to its rich cultural history, this city is truly one of a kind.
Read on to ensure that you don’t miss these five “must see” attractions during your Rio De Janeiro vacation.
- Christ the Redeemer
One of the most famous large-scale statues in the world, Christ the Redeemer is all the more impressive due to the majestic setting that surrounds it. Mounted at the top of Rio De Janeiro’s Corcovado Peak, this figure seems to embrace the entire city in its massive outstretched arms. Although there are many bigger statues in existence, Christ the Redeemer is the biggest to be constructed out of concrete and soapstone. Visitors can ride a vertical cog train to the base of the statue and then take a series of elevators, escalators, and/or stairsteps to its very top.
- Copacabana Beach
Tourists mingle freely with locals on bustling Copacabana Beach. People play soccer and volleyball in the sand as fisherman offer their morning catch for sale and venders enthusiastically hawk snacks and beverages from a line of kiosks. Visitors love to stroll along the beautiful historical promenade that stretches a mile and a half along the beach. It is also worthwhile to check out the Copacabana Fort Museum, an active military base with a series of wartime exhibits that are open to the public.
- Sugar Loaf Mountain
Located remarkably close to Copacabana Beach, Sugar Loaf Mountain is a particularly great destination at sunset. In fact, visitors can even take in the sunset while they ascend to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain in glass-walled cable cars called “bondinhos” or “teleféricos.” At the end of the trip, they find themselves roughly 1,300 feet above the inlet of Guanabara Bay. The peak is also home to a broad spectrum of wildlife that includes giant anteaters and marmoset monkeys.
- Jardim Botanico
The crown jewel of Rio de Janeiro’s Lagoa neighborhood, the Jardim Botanico (or Botanical Garden) is home to more than 8,000 plant species. The biggest draws at the Jardim Botanico include its avenues of towering palm trees, its roughly 600 species of orchids, and its Japanese garden complete with manicured pond and water lilies. It is also home to numerous impressive artistic monuments as well as the environmental exhibitions of the new Museu do Meio Ambiente.
- The Carioca Aqueduct
A defining landmark of the Lapa neighborhood, the Carioca Aqueduct is also known as the Lapa Arches. This is because the Carioca Aqueduct, which supplied fresh drinking water to the city in the 18th century, is no longer operational, but the arches that once supported it are still there. The most prominent feature of the Carioca Aqueduct is a segment that consists of two stories of massive white arches.