Ipanema

Ipanema and Leblon

Ipanema and Copacabana are maybe the most famous beaches in the world, following Rio´s own fame, both honored in many brazillian and international songs. 

Leblon didn´t get the same fame, so it is a bit less touristic, but the most handsome and beautifull cariocas can be seen there. Staying in Leblon is also fantastic, the only disadvantage is metro doesn´t arrive there so far, but construction is beeing made to. I don´t put a schedule, because I don´t believe in construction´s schedules in Brazil. 

Ipanema was the ispiration for the song The Girl from Ipanema (A garota de Ipanema), composed by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. They composed the song at Veloso Bar, now known as the Bar Garota de Ipanema. This bar is located in the corner of Prudente de Moraes street with Vinicius de Moraes street, just one block away from the beach, close to Posto 9.   

Ipanema is the syster of Leblon, both sharing almost the same lane of sands, but divided by the Jardim de Alá (Garden of Alá), a small park with a small channel linking the sea to the Rodrigos de Freitas lagoon. The beaches in Rio gave also the name of these two neighbourhoods.

Ipanema, besides the beach, has its own bars, restaurants, hotels and is one of the best places to be in Rio. Metro ends at General Osório station there, so it´s very convenient to going downtown, for historic rides. Even for a business stay, if it happens you are in Rio for work, staying in Ipanema would be nice for taking a beach during summertime. 

Arpoador Stone: a magic sunset

Ipanema is divided from Copacabana by the military fort of Copacabana and by the Arpoador Stone. Every sunset, the Arpoador stands as bleachers for people to watch the sunset behind the Dois Irmãos Mountain (Two-Brothers mountain), in the end of Leblon. So, during summertime, you should be at the Arpoador around 7/8pm, and during winter/fall, around 5/6 pm. 

The sunset by the Arpoador Stone. In the right, the two peaks formig the Morro Dois Irmãos; further behind, the Gavea Stone

Ipanema and Leblon

(above: the Pão de Açúcuar or sugarloaf seem from Arpoador stone)

Gay Ipanema, Gay Rio

Ipanema is the most gay-friendly beach and neighbourhood in Rio. The Farme de Amoedo street is where many gay bars and restaurants are located. This street ends at the beach in the direction of Posto 9, i.e., the lifeguards post number 9, which is the gayiest part of the beach. 

The Felice Cafe, at 30, Gomes de Carneiro street, is one of the best restaurants in Rio, with a mostly gay clientele. Very good option for dinner, after a delicious day enjoying the beach. Very good ice-creams and drinks. 

Gay Rio isn´t just about Ipanema: the city has of course other nightclubs and bars around the city, but doubtlessly it is the biggest concentration of gays in town.   

Pão de Açúcar - The Sugarloaf Mountain

Pão de Açúcar - The Sugarloaf Mountain 

This immense rock at the entrance of the Guanabara Bay, was called Pão de Açúcar by the first portuguese discoverers, as it seemed a sugarloaf in their imagination.

The only safe way to get at at the top is by taking the cable car. The basis station is located at Praia Vermelha (the Red beach, a very small beach under the Pão de Açúcar), where you can buy the tickets. Unfortunatelly, you can´t buy in advance the tickets, so whether you´ll have to face a line or not, it will depend on how lucky you are, speacially in hollidays and weekends. 

Normally the line advances fast, as the cable cars are quite big and fast. 

The closest metro station is Botafogo, from where it departs a regular bus to Praia Vermelha. You can also walk (not so close) or take a taxi, which will be a very quick ride. 

The cable car first stops at the smaller mountain, where there are some bars and restaurants, as well an exposition of the cable car´s history. The second stop is at the peak. Views change more due to the high. 

Inside the Guanabara Bay you´ll see the Santos Dumont Airport, Rio´s domestic airport, and the Rio-Niterói Bridge, linking Rio to Niterói, Rio´s syster city in the other side of the bay. 

Downhill there´s the Urca neighbourhood, the Marina da Glória and Botafogo and Flamengo neighbourhoods. 

Looking west, it´s possible to see Copacabana and Ipanema and Leblon more distant. And, of course, the Christ and the Corcovado in the horizon. 

(above: some brazillian stone artwork, on sale at Pão de Açúcar)

I remark it is possible to climb the Pão de Açúcar, but in this case you´ll need a guide and special safe equipment for climbing. It is not a simple hike and it is very dangerous to try to climb this mountain alone. Look for guides or enterprises which provides this kind of equipment. For sure it is a very beautifull experience, but dangerous if caution is not taken. 

Corcovado

Corcovado mountain (Rio de Janeiro)

The most iconic monument in Brazil is doubtless The Christ The Redeemer, atop The famous Corcovado mountain.

Hugging The Guanabara Bay, and thus downtown Rio, The Christ is a symbol of Brazil itself. From its top you can see , if you look to where He looks, the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf) mountain, the Marina da Glória, the Flamengo and Botafogo neighbourhoods, the city of Niterói in the other side of The Bay.

A bit to The North, you can see downtown, The Sambadrome and The Maracanã stadium.

Looking to The direction of his right arm, you´ll see Ipanema and Leblon districts, The Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon and The Gávea Rock in the horizon, further West.

Getting up the Corcovado!

You can either hire a shuttle service to the top, a taxi or take the Corcovado train. Personally, I think the arrival by shuttles and taxis are a bit messy. And unless you´ve previously scheduled your return, you´ll have some difficulties to get down the mountain. 

For adventurers and well prepared people, hiking is also possible. In fact, the Corcovado is part of the Tijuca Park, the largest urban forest in the world. The city of Rio embraces this forest, with some notorious peaks and stones, as the Pedra da Gávea (Gávea Rock). Some parts of the Park can be reached by bike, but not Corcovado, because it is very high and inclined. 

So, the best option to get up is by the Corcovado Train, at least for regular tourists and without much time to loose. If that´s your case, I strongly recommend buying the tickets in advance, at this site: www.corcovado.com.br. The site has english and spanish versions. You can arrive at the basis Station located in Laranjeiras district at working hours and buy the ticket directly there, but speacially during weekends and hollidays, it can result in a very long time waiting in line. So, very simply, if you have the ticket bought in advance, you´ll just climb the train at the scheduled time. 

Also, the train is historic and goes up among the forest, with some nice views of the city and, eventually, with samba players singing some of the most known sambas. It is quite an experience. Besides, when arriving, there are some elevators and mecanic escalators to take to the top, what is very convenient for disabled or old people. However, as there´s no scheduled time to get down, you may have to wait in line for the train, but the good thing is you don´t have to mind about the time while appreciating the landscape.  

At the top there´s a snack bar, but it is advisable to take your own food and drinks, because it is always full of people and a bit expensive. Don´t forget taking a sunblock in sunny days, because the only shadow you got there is from Christ´s arms. 

Then, it is all about enjoying the view!