Copacabana, Brazil: The World's Most Famous Beach

Copacabana, often referred to as the world's most famous beach, runs for 3 miles in front the densely populated residential area of Rio de Janeiro. From the beach, you can view the granite slabs that surround the entrance to the bay. A short walk will take you to one of the best shopping centers in Rio, as well as to many movie and play theatres, fashion and jewelry shops, and restaurants and nightclubs. Getting There Nearest major international airport: Rio has two airports, the International Airport of Rio de Janeiro and Santos Dumont. The international airport handles all international flights. Santos Dumont takes only domestic flights to a small number of cities. The Rio airport is 9 mi/15 km north of the Centro (about a 20-minute drive under normal traffic conditions). Santos Dumont, in the heart of Rio, is half a mile/1 km east of the Centro, about a 5-minute drive, depending on traffic conditions. Ground transportation Yellow cabs are plentiful and economical, although the drivers rarely speak English. Radio taxis have stands at many major hotels and at both airports. Timing Although the climate is basically tropical, the summer season is the warmest and lasts from December to February. This is the Brazilian holiday season and temperatures range from about 77 F (25 C) to 95 F (35 C). June, July and August are the winter months and the temperatures range between 55 F (13 C) and 64 F (18 C).
Lodging Rio offers a variety of hotels for everyone's taste and budget. Check our booking engine for an extensive listing of hotel rates in the Rio de Janeiro area. Ipanema offers a free online reservation service, discounts through same, and a comprehensive list of accommodations that include address, phone number, rates, reviews and pictures. Cuisine Feijoada is a dish made of black beans and pork, traditionally served with rice, kale and manioc meal, and always accompanied by a "caipirinha." Or enjoy a variety of savory, superbly seasoned hot-off-the-grill meats at the churrascarias, which are all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurants. Travel Tips The official language in Brazil is Portuguese, although anyone dealing directly with tourists understands and tries (hard) to speak English, Spanish, and maybe even a little Italian or French. Renting a car, even a compact, is quite expensive. Parking is not easy, and sometimes not even safe. Enjoy a draft or have a pizza standing in the street or at a table outdoors. Talk to people around you and make new acquaintances. Don't be shy! You do not need a formal introduction. Brazilians are usually very easy to talk to, and they are comfortable with having a conversation with a perfect stranger (that is a perfectly friendly one.) People will gladly talk about almost anything, give you tips, and be very warm. While you are there A short walk will take you to one of the best shopping centers in Rio, as well as to many movie and play theatres, fashion and jewelry shops, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. Enjoy a performance at the fabulous Municipal Theater, which was built downtown when Rio was still the capital of Brazil. It features an excellent classical program and very impressive architecture. The clubber's circuit is the place to be as Rio heats up after midnight. With a choice of samba, bossa nova and other local beats, as well as international music, disco, techno, house, acid and other dancy beats, there is no reason not to dance the night away. Favorite neighborhoods for steppin out are Ipanema, Leblon, Lagoa, Botafogo and even downtown. To fake that you've been there Talk about attending the yearly theater festivals in Rio. In particular, mention the French theatre group that performed live on the beaches, including Copacabana, and in the squares. Mention one performance in which a man - painted all white - took a bath in a tub filled with some kind of blue Styrofoam slime, and it all happened inside some sort of a giant plastic bubble. Linking for a better vacation The Copacabana website is an excellent resource, that offers, among other things, a comprehensive dining list that is organized by cuisine and cost, and an accommodation list that includes ratings and rates. The site also has a marvelous search engine. All About Rio says it all. This award-winning site is available in English, Portuguese and German. Start with Rio for Beginners and then dig deeper to "enjoy a host of prime travel services including free hotel reservations with discount rates, tours and trips off-Rio!" Portuguese for Travelers will give you some phrases to see you through. The Copacabana in New York wants to make sure you make it to paradise even if you can't make it to its namesake this year.

Ipanema Toure

Ipanema Toure

Ipanema is a neighborhood with a tradition of freedom and innovation. Ipanema Beach is where the summer happens in Rio. News in Ipanema make big headlines in all major newspapers in the country. A trend-setter, Ipanema Beach was the first in Brazil to see a pregnant woman proudly wearing a bikini. It was quintessential Ipanema icon, actress Leila Diniz. Rose de Primo, a fashion model with a perfect body, perfect tan, perfect hair and a lot of attitude, set new grounds in the 70's with her tangas. They were tiny bikinis that soon became the object of desire of a whole nation (legend goes they were custom-made by her own mother). Topless became quick fad in the 80's when a local soap opera showed that some women in Ipanema chose not to keep a tan line. The scene was played by actress Tonia Carreiro, who was a muse of Ipanema in the 50's herself. The fad didn't last long as Brazilians find a tan line a big plus. Men all over the country started wearing horrible crochet g-strings after a famous personality (Fernando Gabeira) was seen in one at Posto 9. Legend goes it was a bikini bottom borrowed from his friend, reporter Leda Nagle. Somehow even Homer Simpson ended up in one of those in that episode when the Simpsons came to Rio... Oh, and the dental floss (or wedgy) bikini had its world debut here, too. And there's all the funny stories. In the summer of 96, when our website first went online, Ipanema made headline news when police started arresting bathers who blew whistles! They were actually protesting against what they felt was unfair police persecution against the potheads that traditionally used to hang out at Posto 9

There's quite a few characters you may run into. At Rua Garcia D'Ávila, for instance, there's Pelé - a successful beach entrepreneur. He started as an ordinary beach vendor, and today runs a beach volleyball school, rents beach chairs, umbrellas, the works! And there's that beach vendor that sells fresh pineapple slices. He loves to startle people in the sand by yelling on the top of his lungs "AAAAAbacaxi" (pineapple) when they least expect. Nobody complains, because he offers free samples to everyone.

Ipanema Beach has several favorite spots. We have even prepared a map of the whole neighborhood to help with your orientation! Each block of the beach attracts a different crowd. Posto 9 , Garcia , Country , Teixeira , Farme Gay, and Cap Ferrat are all reference points used by locals to identify their turf. Tourists and first-timers tend to gather in front of Caesar Park Hotel.

Practice sports like beach volleyball , soccer and surf, find true romance , have a refreshing drink of coconut water , or just relax and soak up some rays. And bring along your sunglasses, so you can watch the good-looking Cariocas without giving yourself in!!

Ipanema is a public beach, with free access like all beaches in Brazil. If you're coming from a country where everything's regulated, expect to be spoiled. To start off, you don't even have get off your toosh to have your wish granted. Feeling hungry? Beach vendors offer ice-cream, cookies (don't miss the traditional Biscoitos Globo), corn-on-the-cob, melted cheese on a stick, shrimp on a stick, assorted homemade sandwiches, fresh-sliced pineapple... Thirsty? Mineral water, iced tea, diet and regular sodas, frozen fruit juice, chilled coconut milk, and yes, ice-cold beer, and delicious fresh-squeezed caipirinhas. You can rent your beach chairs and umbrellas. Need to accessorize? Hats, colorful beach throws, sunglasses, jewelry, even bikinis are for sale. As there are a lot of misconceptions, here are some suggestions if you want to mingle. The first is that people do not walk around the city in their bikinis and Speedos, let alone in a thong! OK, it's a free world, you can do whatever you want, but the idea here is to let you in on how locals do it... Girls on their way to or back from the beach usually wear shorts, a mini-skirt or a beach throw wrapped around the waist, most times a T-shirt or tank top, and flip-flops (Havaianas or other). They always carry a tote bag or backpack. In it you will find everything from sunglasses to hair sunscreen for, pocket mirror, lipsaver... They tend to set up camp with their friends, so they don't really need to travel light. Don't worry about the kind of bikini you will be bringing back from home. Doing a bikini boutique (or many) is a must for any self-respecting female visitor to Rio. You will find an assortment of styles, from almost naked to conservative, including one-pieces. Boys go a little different. The T-shirt is only needed if you're coming to the beach by bus, otherwise shirts-off is the rule. To meet all your friends and flirt with the girls you have to cover a lot of ground. The idea is to travel as light as possible, so no tote-bag here. Boys are more likely to bring along a set of frescobol rackets, a volley or soccer ball, a bodyboard or surfboard. Break the backpack rule as you will bring along your camera, and you want to keep it away from the sand. On the way to and back from the beach, Ipanema boys wear surfers' trunks. In the pocket there's just enough money for a soda ortwo, and maybe a bottle of sunscreen (they could always borrow from the girls, you know). Whenever they stop it's time to peel off thosetrunks, and stand in their Speedos. Brazilian girls and boys love a tan line, and you have to please the crowds. If you really want to belong, your Speedos should be as wide as regular CK briefs, at least 4 inches or so. Buy some at the local shops, like Blue Man. You may ask a group of girls to watch your shorts or backpack while you go for a swim, if you're looking for an ice-breaker. Now three things you won't do if you're beach-smart. The first one is taking more sun that you're able to. Condition your skin by going to a tanning salon, wear a potent sunscreen, keep track of how long you stay at the beach, rent a beach umbrella, wear a sun hat. The red lobster look is not attractive, and it could actually spoil your vacation. The second is that taking off your watch to avoid a tan line, and leaving it laying on the sand together with your money while you doze off is a very stupid thing to do. The least that could happen is their accidentally being buried in the sand. The third is that wearing long sleeves, street clothes and dress shoes at the beach make you look really funny. Now you're ready to see all the images!

Bahia: Brazil's coolest coast

 

They say it's the most glamorous state in Brazil, but really Bahia is still just a strip of sleepy fishing villages on a shoreline so stretched out that many beaches aren't even on the map. Here's where to find the best of them - and the greatest places to stay all along this colourful coast. By Laura Fowler.

From high on a hilltop, the coast of Bahia shines with the colours of the Brazilian flag. The sea, the sky, blue on blue; the lush green of the Atlantic rainforest; long beaches that run like a fissure of gold between the two.

Bahia has 1,000km of coastline, and most of it looks like this. There are wild, empty bays and desert islands; and though not private - no beach in Brazil is private - its beaches may as well be, because you can walk along them for hours and not see another soul. All along the coast you can find bright-eyed marmosets in the jungle, turtles on the sand, whales in the sea.

And if other souls are what you seek, it has surf villages, candy-coloured colonial towns, chic resorts and beach bars where Hollywood stars and Brazilian models sip from coconuts. Bahia is where Brazilians go on holiday, and it is easy to see why. But for the rest of us, much of it is uncharted territory, its best beaches and places to stay still well-kept secrets, hidden gems amid tropical greenery. You just have to know where to look.

Aram Yami Boutique Hotel, Bahia

Description: Aram Yami Boutique Hotel

Set in the San Antonio Quarter, at the centre of the Salvador de Bahia old town, the Aram Yami Boutique Hotel offers exclusive luxury accommodation with stunning views over Todo Os Santos Bay. The Arami Yami Boutique Hotel is ideally located for visiting some of Brazil's best beaches and is just a short walk from the Unesco World Heritage Site of Pelourinho and many other places of interest. 

Recently refurbished the Arami Yami Boutique Hotel, which is housed in a 19th-century Boroque-style building, offers comfort and charm in contemporary styles. There is a large terrace with a swimming pool, which offers fantastic panoramic views over the bay, while some of the hotel's rooms have their own private pools. 

Breakfast is served in a dining area with great ocean views. Drinks and snacks are also served from the hotel bar. There are restaurants galore just a short walk from the hotel in the San Antonio Quarter.

Type of rooms: Aram Yami Boutique Hotel

 

All rooms feature air conditioning, hairdryer, ceiling fan, telephone, electric safe, and a minibar.
Bahía Suite: 30 m2 double room with double or twin beds for a maximum occupancy of 2 people. 
Centro Histórico Suite: 40 m2 double room with a double bed for 2 people. One extra bed could be added and charged daily rate +25%. 
Gran Suite: 45 m2 double room with a double bed for 2 people. One extra bed could be added and charged daily rate +25%. 
Panoramic Suite: 40 m2 double room with double or twin beds for a maximum occupancy of 2 people. Spectacular views and a 30 m2 private terrace. 
Top Suite: on the ground floor with its own small pool with a view of the bay. 60 m2 master suite with two bedrooms, one with a double bed for 2 people and one with two single beds. It has a 30 m2 private terrace with a 14 m2 private pool. The second bedroom is charged daily rate +25%. One extra bed for a 5th person could be added and charged daily rate +25%.

Additional information: Aram Yami Boutique Hotel

Whirlpool/Jacuzzi: There is an infinity pool on the second floor with a view of the bay.

Beach: 15 minutes away by taxi.

Children: One child under four years stays free when using existing beds.

Extra Bed: One older child or adult is charged 25% of the room stay per night in an extra bed. The maximum number of extra beds in a room is one.Any type of extra bed or cot needs to be confirmed by management.

Airport transfers carry an extra charge.

General Booking Conditions:
If cancelled more than 30 days prior to check-in date, no cancellation fee.
If cancelled 30 - 15 days prior to check-in date, 50% of the booking is charged.
If cancelled 15 ? 0 days prior to check-in date, 100% of the booking is charged.
Early departure prior to scheduled check-out date: 100% of the original booking is charged.

All-Inclusive Resorts in Brazil

Brazil has fully entered the all-inclusive scene, with few but outstanding all-inclusive resorts in some of the country's most attractive locations. However, travelers must be aware that the all-inclusive market in Brazil is subject to changes - while a resort may be adopting the system, another may be opting out. Check for updates with your travel agent, the resorts themselves or a Brazilian travel company specialized in resorts such as Turnet Turismo - Resorts Online.

1. Vila Galé Cumbuco

The winds of Ceará beaches and water sports are the theme at < a href="http://www.vilagale.pt/pages/hoteis/?hotel=26">Vila Galé Cumbuco, opened in late 2010 and by now established as a top all-inclusive beach resort in Brazil.

With 465 guest rooms, the resort is a fantastic choice both for family travel and romance in Brazil. Bungalows allow for privacy; on the other hand, some bungalows can be booked together to accommodate larger groups.

What Makes it Special:

• The location on paradisiacal Cumbuco Beach
• The Satsanga Spa
• Nep Kids' Club and facilities for families with babies
• Five restaurants, four bars and a disco
• Scenic, large pool surrounded by coconut trees
• Tours of nearby sand dunes

2. Ponta dos Ganchos Exclusive Resort - Governador Celso Ramos, SC

Brazil's southernmost all-inclusive resort, Ponta dos Ganchos also defines itself as exclusive: a luxury haven for guests 18 and over, who enjoy a paradisiac chunk of the Santa Catarina coast while staying in one of 20 comfortable bungalows. One of the most romantic getaways in Brazil, the resort has won several awards, including two consecutive Condé Nast Johansen (2007-2008).

What Makes it Special:

• Luxury bungalows with an ocean view and harmoniously integrated with nature 
• Fine cuisine by chef Andre Tavares, with chef Laurent Suaudeau as a consultant until 2012
• An island with a gazebo for private candlelit dinners (extra)
• Massage tents and Christian Dior spa treatments (also extra).

3. Costão do Santinho - Florianópolis, SC

Located on a pristine beach at the northernmost tip of Santa Catarina Island, about 22 miles from the center of Florianópolis, Costão do Santinho has been locally awarded Best Beach Resort in Brazil six times in a row.

Their all-inclusive packages are grouped under the name VIP Inclusive and comprise specific upgrades and services depending on the apartment.

What Makes it Special:

• Commitment to the preservation of a private natural heritage reservation and archaeological sites
• Fantastic trekking
• Scuba diving
• The Costão Spa, with a wealth of therapies (day spa available)
• Shows and dances
• A golf course (www.costaogolfclub.com.br) less than three miles away
• State-of-the-art sports infrastructure
• Monitored activities and entertainment for kids

4. Breezes Resort & Spa - Búzios, RJ

Opened in 2010, Breezes Búzios has added SuperClubs size, diversity and services to the world of Búzios hotels.

Located on Tucuns, an attractive beach with clear waters, the resort has 329 guest rooms.

What Makes it Special:

• Breezes' Super-Inclusive system, covering entertainment and gratuities
• Great bungalows for couples, with direct access to pool
• Five restaurants and bars
• Amenities for kids of all ages, including skateboarding bowl with design by Sandro Dias (aka Mineirinho), a Brazilian skateboarding champion

Review of Breezes Resort & Spa - Búzios

5. Vila Galé Eco Resort de Angra - Angra dos Reis, RJ

Located about 94 miles from Rio on the exuberant Green Coast of Rio de Janeiro State, the Vila Galé Eco Resort de Angra (formerly the )Blue Tree Park Eco Resort is surrounded by forest, bays and islands - Angra dos Reis is known for having an island for each day of the year.

What Makes it Special:

• Kid-friendly environment with monitors for children 4 years and older (or younger ones if accompanied by an adult
• Four restaurants (including one for kids) and four bars
• The Satsanga Spa
• Landscaping includes 77 royal palm trees
• Nautical sports
• Canopy walking
• Angra dos Reis is one of the top diving destinations in Brazil.

6. Club Med Rio das Pedras - Mangaratiba, RJ

Less than 80 miles away from Rio de Janeiro, Club Med in Mangaratiba has everything that has made the brand a favorite with families: a wonderful beach, upbeat monitors who keep kids busy while the parents relax, great activities for all ages, special programs for teens, a welcome care package for babies.

What Makes it Special:

• Archery classes
• Lush Brazilian coastal range vegetation
• Great optional excursions

7. Club Med Itaparica - Itaparica Island, BA

The first Club Med location in Brazil has stepped into the all-inclusive system with the confidence of a classic. Three restaurants, two swimming pools, and 330 apartments are some of the facilities tucked amidst one of the most beautiful coconut groves in Brazil.

What Makes it Special:

• Privileged location on Itaparica Island, less than 10 miles away from Salvador, Bahia
• Softly-lit gardens at night
• A golf course.

8. Club Med Trancoso - Trancoso, BA

Club Med offers 250 rooms - all in bungalows - at its Trancoso Village in Bahia.

What Makes it Special:

• Location atop a cliff with a spectacular ocean view
• Yoga and Tai Chi lessons
• Cooking lessons
• Golf (optional extra)
• Day trips to nearby attractions (paid extra) include nearby Praia do Espelho, or Mirror Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil.
• Trancoso, a charming village with a population under 6,000, has an array of handicraft shops and great live music, especially in the summer, when Elba Ramalho, a famous Brazilian singer who lives in the area, organizes shows in the village center - the Quadrado, or Square, which is closed to cars.

 

9. Costa do Sauipe - Bahia

Costa do Sauipe, on Bahia's Coconut Tree Coast north of Salvador, is home to this group of resorts with a village, a kids' park, several pools and sports clubs.

What Makes it Special:

• Scenic location
• Perks shared by all the resorts, such as the village, sports centers and kids' club 
• A golf course
• Some rooms are interconnected to better accommodate families and groups

10. Iberostar - Praia do Forte, BA

With 630 apartments and five swimming pools, Spanish Iberostar has a steady flow of travelers coming back to Bahia every year. Located 55 miles from Salvador, the resort is a favorite with Spanish families.

What Makes it Special:

• Sustainable tourism initiatives
• Drinks are really all-inclusive
• P. B. Dye-designed golf course
• Praia do Forte - Miles of coconut groves with their tops gently rustling in the breeze, warm waters, one of the Projeto Tamar sea turtle conservation units and a sweeping view of the surroundings from the ruins of the fort that give the beach its name make Praia do Forte a tropical dream.

 

11. Vila Galé Marés - Guarajuba, BA

Located just 26 miles from the Salvador airport, the resort in beautiful and calm Guarajuba offers 447 rooms spread out in bungalows that mix Brazilian and Asian styles.

Vila Galé Marés is a great option for travelers who want to enjoy an amazing Bahia beach and yet be relatively close to the busier Salvador beaches and big city buzz.

What Makes it Special:

• An immense swimming pool
• Spa
• Kids' Club

 

12. Enotel - Porto de Galinhas, PE

Porto de Galinhas, in Pernambuco, northeast Brazil, is known for its excellent resorts and hotels. Enotel is the first resort in the area to operate in the all-inclusive system. Part of the Portuguese Estevão Neves Group, Enotel Porto de Galinhas features 348 airy apartments, two large swimming pools and activities for children.

What Makes it Special:

• Spa
• Baby Club and Kids Club
• Just 35 miles from Recife airport
• Natural pools that form in the low tide along the Porto de Galinhas coast - Coral is vulnerable to excessive stepping on and ecologically-minded travelers should ask which pools are easier to reach.
• Jangadas - Typical Brazilian sail rafts take visitors to mangue areas, a rich wetland ecosystem where you can view seahorses.

13. Miramar Maragogi Resort - Maragogi, AL

Tourists from Maceió, the capital of Alagoas, have a favorite day trip in Maragogi (pronouncedma-ra-go-GEE, with GEE like the second g in garage). Located at 87 miles from the capital, Maragogi is famous for its beaches and natural sea pools, known as Galés.

Guests at Miramar Maragogi Resort can choose from 12 suites, 96 rooms in 24 bungalows and 80 apartments for their stay right in front of the natural pools.

What Makes it Special:

• A tropical pool surrounded by coconut trees
• 24-hour heliport
• Diving classes at the natural pools (extra)

14. Starfish Santa Luzia - Aracaju, SE

Superclubs has helped Aracaju rise to a fair position as a delightful destination in Brazil. Years after opening its Breezes resort in Costa do Sauípe (see above), Superclubs chose the capital of Sergipe, the smallest state in Brazil, for its first Starfish brand location.

Access to the continent area closest to Santa Luzia Island, where Starfish Aracaju is located, became easier after the construction of a bridge over the Sergipe River in 2006. In a similar process to what happened in Natal, another northeastern state capital, the new bridge opened up new horizons for quality investments in local tourism.

What Makes it Special:

• Island location just 30 minutes away from the airport
• Great water sports
• Clean, white sands
• Activities for children

 

Amazon Rainforest Hotel - The Ariau Amazon Towers - Largest Treetop Hotel in the World

Escape to the natural beauty and wild majesty of the Amazon Rainforest - one of the most exhilarating destinations on the planet. Nestled in a canopy of trees above the Amazon River, Ariau Amazon Towers jewel of the Amazonian Rainforest and the only hotel resort built completely at tree top level in the Jungle.

Experience the ultimate in eco-tourism - from navigating the Amazon River to swimming with rare pink dolphins, to trekking through the rainforest to relaxing in a luxury tree house surrounded by the wonders of nature.

Welcome to Brazil’s largest eco-friendly treetop hotel and discover rejuvenation and adventure in the heart of the Amazon. Ariau Amazon Towers was chosen as one of the 1000 place to see before you die by the Travel Channel.

Amazon’s Eco-Friendly Treetop Resort. Our eco-friendly hotel was built in 1987 by Dr. Francisco Ritta Bernardino under the inspiration of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. Enlightened by Cousteau’s quest to protect the Amazon Jungle, Dr. Ritta built an eco-aware resort that would preserve the fragility of this magical forest. Cousteau's declarations sounded like a premonition: “The war of the future will be between those who defend nature and those who destroy it. The Amazon will be in the eye of the hurricane. Scientists, politicians, and artists will land here to see what is being done to the forest". Taking these words to heart, Dr. Ritta started building Ariau Amazon Towers in 1986 on the banks of the Rio Negro. Utilizing the techniques of native Amazonians, the hotel was built on stilts in the treetops. Originally an intimate jungle hotel with one tower and four suites, Ariau Towers has become the largest treetop hotel in world!

• Idyllic Amazon Rainforest & Manaus, Brazil Hotel. Located 35 miles northwest of the Manaus, Brazil - the capital of Amazonas, Ariau Amazon Towers, sits peacefully in the treetops of the Amazon Rainforest. Rising on the right bank of the Rio Negro at the origin of the Anavilhanas Archipelago, this spectacular Amazon resort is surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, wildlife and pristine landscapes in the Amazon rainforest. Ariau Towers is just 40 miles from Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport.

• A Hotel Oasis in the Amazon Rainforest. Relax and rejuvenate in rustic treetop rooms, suites and tree houses with private balconies elevated high above the rainforest floor. Our distinctive treetop accommodations are connected by over 5 miles of wooden catwalks that meander through the Amazon’s thick canopy of trees and forest - making it the largest tree top hotel in the world! Enjoy authentic Brazilian décor, modern vacation amenities and panoramic views of the Amazon River and Rio Negro from your private oasis in the jungle.

• A Magical Treetop Hotel in the Amazon. One of the top hotel destinations in the world, and a retreat for celebrities and film and TV productions like the TV show Survivor: The Amazon, Ariau Amazon Towers will inspire your sense of adventure and free your spirit. Carved out of the Amazon Jungle, the hotel is an awe-inspiring escape with beautiful wooden towers linked by catwalks through the Brazilian Amazon. Surrounded by the tropical landscape and playful macaws and monkeys, Ariau Towers houses a myriad of facilities, including observation towers, panoramic auditorium, amphitheaters, a cyber café, a gift shop, treetop swimming pools, restaurants, bars, activity/tour desk, heliport, airport transportation and a business center.

• Amazon Jungle Adventures. Experience exhilarating Amazon adventures at the Ariua Amazon Towers, including canoe trips, jungle treks, piranha fishing, visiting Amazonian dwellings, swimming with pink dolphins, archipelago tours, helicopter rides, and the observation of nightlife animals. Observe the natural phenomenon of Meeting of the Waters.

• Brazilian Style Dining & Wining. Indulge your appetite on delicious Brazilian cuisine at our two casual treetop restaurants with enchanting views of the Amazon River and lush landscape. Feast on authentic Brazilian and regional cuisine, including fresh regional fish, meat, chicken, pasta, vegetables, beans, rice, soups, salads, homemade bread, natural juices, exotic Amazon fruits and sweet desserts. Enjoy refreshing tropical drinks in our four treetop bars - relaxing retreats above the rainforest.

• Meetings & Events in the Amazon. Host your business, social or cultural events, conventions, banquets, trade shows, festivals, corporate retreats, weddings, and special gatherings in the most inspiring destination in the world. Catering to life’s important events, our Amazon Rainforest hotel features two open-air amphitheaters, a treetop auditorium, connected by jungle catwalks, audio/visual equipment, telecommunications, and catering in the wild beauty of the jungle.

Ipanema Beach, Brazil: The Home of World-Famous Bikinis

Trendsetting Ipanema, the place made famous by the '60s song to bear its name, has a long tradition of dictating beach chic to the rest of the world. The beach was, after all, a launching pad for the skimpy tanga bikini, the once-popular crocheted G-string for men, and the unforgettable (if only we could forget) dental-floss bikini.

As expected, the two kilometers of white sand -- and the bodies strewn along them -- are the star attractions here. Yet the name Ipanema also refers to the surrounding neighborhood -- a compact, easily navigated mixture of upscale shops, frenetic nighttime hot spots and hip restaurants. First-time visitors will want to stroll down Rua Vincius de Morais -- a strip lined with bars, shops and restaurants, including the famous Garota de Ipanema Bar (originally called the Velloso Bar). It was here that Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Morais penned the lyrics to "The Girl from Ipanema." On Sundays the Hippie Fair offers wares from area craftsmen and artists. And at night, the young and young-at-heart head to Rio's Baixo Farme and Baixo Quiteria, southside streets jammed with bars and cafes.

Getting There
Nearest domestic airport: The International Antonio Carlos Jobim Airport is about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from Ipanema, about a 30-minute drive.

Nearest major international airport: Santos Dumont Domestic Airport, located in the heart of the city, is about 10 minutes by car from Ipanema.

Airport transportation
Several taxi services are available to shuttle visitors from both airports. An executive airport bus links the International Airport with the Santos Dumont Airport, or visitors can take a similar bus that serves the main oceanfront hotels in Ipanema.

Timing
Rio de Janeiro's climate is tropical. The summer season (December to March) is the warmest, with temperatures ranging from 77 to 95 F (25 to 35 C) and higher. In the winter (June through August), temperatures range from 55 to 64 F (13 to 18 C). New Year's Eve and Carnival (held four days before Ash Wednesday, usually mid- to late-February) are the two busiest times, so book well in advance.

Lodging
Rio has more than 250 hotels and motels, including 13 five-star, 41 four-star and 60 three-star hotels. The areas best known for budget accommodations are Gloria, Catete and Flamengo. TheRio Visitors and Convention Bureau has a limited list of hotels. For more accommodations, tryIpanema.

Cuisine
The city offers a wide selection of cuisine, but it would be a shame to miss out on Rio's distinct regional cooking and signature dishes. One especially worth trying is Feijoada, a spicy bean-and-pork stew usually served with sides including sliced oranges, stir-fried eggs and manioc flour, thinly sliced kale and white rice. On the sidewalks near the beach, kiosks offer coconut water, corn on the cob, grilled shrimp, baked cheese rolls and other snacks. To wash it down, try "caipirinha" -- a traditional cocktail made with Brazilian sugarcane rum, lemon and sugar.

Travel Tips
Unlike the rest of South America, Brazil's language is Portuguese. However, most people in highly trafficked tourist areas understand English. In addition, Rio has established a Tourist Police branch where officers usually speak English and are trained to provide help to visitors.

While you are there
Take the cable car 887 feet up Pao de Acucar, Sugar Loaf, for a spectacular panoramic view of the city.

To fake that you've been there
Talk about hanging out at lifeguard post No. 9 with the neo-hippies.

Linking for a better vacation
The Rio Visitors and Convention Bureau has general and practical information about visiting the city. For hordes of information in a fun and relaxed package, try Ipanema.