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Monograms provides travelers access to a Local Host, so you will have someone on hand to answer those vacation questions pertaining to Rio de Janeiro. No waiting in line at the concierge desk or trying to ask your waitress at breakfast directions to the shopping district. Simply ask your Local Host about Rio de Janeiro and you'll be on your way in no time. Plus, your Local Host will share local Rio de Janeiro insights and share suggestions for getting off the beaten path, leaving you more time to create lasting vacation memories that are yours alone.
Porcão
Visit this restaurant on Flamengo Beach for all-you-can-eat Brazilian barbecue as well as incredible views of the bay and Sugarloaf Mountain.
Forte do Leme
A 20 minute walk to the top of this fort on Leme Beach leads you to one of Rio’s best kept secrets. Take in the 360-degree views of Copacabana and Guanabara Bay as sagui monkeys dart around.
Rio Scenarium
Housed in a renovated warehouse that was once an antique store, this bar in the hip Lapa neighborhood is considered the most beautiful in Rio.
Aprazível
Chef Ana Castilho hosted a community event at her home in 1996 and never closed the door. Her Brazilian-fare restaurant takes up several rooms in her charming home and trickles out into the garden, where you can enjoy views of downtown Rio.
Rua da Carioca
The berimbau, a wooden string instrument, is one of the most popular Brazilian souvenirs. Rua da Carioca, dubbed “Music Row” due to its numerous music shops, is the perfect place to pick one up.
Tijuca National Park
For a break from the city, take a walk through this lush rainforest that features 30 waterfalls and more than 300 plant species.
São Conrado Beach
While other tourists flock to Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches, enjoy a little more space and beautiful mountain scenery at this secluded beach. It’s also fun to watch hang gliders descend to the landing strip here.
Old Rio
Admire the colonial architecture and baroque churches before hitting the Uruguaiana Shopping District for local treasures. Soft Brazilian cotton is extremely popular.
Santa Teresa
For a break from the glitzy, hedonistic side of Rio, take the streetcar to this charming village. Colonial houses have been converted to small inns and art studios, and the women are more likely to be dressed in peasant skirts than halter tops.
Misiones Province Jesuit ruins
Most people stop at breathtaking Iguassu Falls on their way from Rio to Buenos Aires, but don’t just visit the amazing waterfalls! The Misiones Province area has much to offer, including the 17th-century Jesuit ruins.
Colombo Tea House
For a taste of the past, don’t miss Colombo. This magnificent continental café has changed little since it opened in 1894, and it retains an air of restful elegance on its upstairs balcony.
Botanical Garden
Founded in 1808 and sprawling over an incredible 340 acres, this is a paradise of plants and trees from the four corners of the earth. Encounter more than 5,000 species of plants, including the impressive Imperial Palms planted in 1842.
Barra da Tijuca
Rio’s longest beach, Barra da Tijuca stretches over 18 km along Av. Sernambetiba. A hot spot on the beach is the area around the Barraca do Pepê.
Recreio dos Bandeirantes
This charming 2 km-long inlet at the end of Sernambetiba Ave is safe for swimming and is sheltered by the large rock, Recreio.
Prainha
This secluded, sandy, 700-meters-long strip is a surfer’s beach and an environmentally protected area.
Grumari
With reddish sand in an unspoiled setting, the sea is often rough here. It is also an environmentally protected area.
Burle Marx
Out beyond Barra the vegetation is almost virgin. If you have time, visit Prainha and Grumari Beaches—much loved among surfers. The vegetation is protected and no construction is permitted. Nearby is the estate where famous landscape artist Burle Marx lived. With plants from all over the world, it is open to visitors and is perfect for an ecological/photographic safari.
Open Fairs
To experience truly local flavor, check out the open fairs, including the Hippie Fair in Praça General Osório; in Ipanema, featuring handcrafts, art, and leather goods; and the Babilônia Feira Hype in the Jockey Club in Gávea. Another typical Brazilian event is the open street market that moves from borough to borough. The show of fruit, vegetables, and greens is spectacular—and the prices are reasonable.
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