Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Guide
June 14, 2024
about
Rio de Janeiro; a city with a big reputation. You’ll be hard pressed to find a city that has a more spectacular and breathtaking setting. Sky scrapers jet up in the valleys between the rockfaced mountains that seem to have been raised out of nowhere; the only reasonable answer is it was by God’s hands themselves. Fitting for a city where El Christo is watching over you every time you look into the sky. The locals, “Cariocas”, seem to enbody the eternal sunshine that shelters Rio. You don’t need to speak Portuguese for a Carioca to point with excitement sharing the wonders of their city. A trip to Rio isn’t complete without immersing yourself into their music. Samba lays the streets by day as Funk roams the night.
getting there
Flights from the US cost around $200-500 one way and $400-1000 roundtrip.
You can find award flights on American Airlines for around 30,000 points one way. If you’re looking to rack up some miles, one of the best deals is this American Airlines Barclay Card with NO minimum spend requirements. The second you make your first purchase, you’ll qualify for 60,000 American Airlines Miles. The one catch is after the first year, holding this card is $99, so if you want to avoid any fees make sure you downgrade before the year mark.
**This link is NOT an affiliate or referral link and we get nothing but the satisfaction of helping you take more trips
Rio’s major airport is Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport (GIG).
safety
I can only comment on the what I experienced in terms of safety. I spent 10 days in Rio and didn’t have any safety concerns. I used extra caution not to flash my phone, when taking photos I made sure to be aware of my surroundings and return it my purse when done. I would only carry a small nondescript purse to not draw attention. I did not walk alone at night. If I went out at night without a companion, I took an uber. I took over 20 ubers during my stay and always felt safe.
It did take a few days to adjust and feel comfortable, but by the end of my trip, I attended Madonna's free concert she held on Copacabana Beach to celebrate the end of The Celebration Tour. 2 million people flooded Copacabana Beach and I still left with my phone, wallet, and dignity.
