From the year 1763 up to the year 1822, Rio de Janeiro stood as Brazil’s capital city while under the Portuguese colony. It became an independent nation from the year 1822 up to the year 1960. Hence, from 1808 up to 1821 it was considered as the Portuguese Empire’s capital. It is also known as “A Cidade Maravilhosa” or “The Marvelous City” as its nickname.

Here are some useful travel tips to Rio de Janeiro:

Money Exchange
You can bring cash, traveler’s checks or credit cards. When bringing some cash, it is wise to put it inside a money belt and keep it there until you reach the hotel. Of course, it is also safer to book in a hotel that provides a safety deposit box inside your room.

The exchange rate is always a problem for traveller’s check. However, it is good to bring some for emergency purposes. Carrying debit or credit cards is also very convenient in Rio. The most widely accepted are Visa, AmEx, Diner’s and MasterCard. This is best when going on shopping sprees, dining outside and paying your hotel bills.

If you are a visa card holder, you can withdraw frombanks such as Banco Itau, Banco do Brasil and Brandesco. Thus, if ever you plan to withdraw at any of the ATM machines in Rio, it is in Portuguese so make sure you ask for help from bank personnel only. This means that if you will be exchanging your money, you will lose money because of the exchange rate. This makes the ATM’s Cirrus system as your best option since they use the same rate as the one you use back home.

In Rio, currencies apart from Euros or US dollars are not that good. It is best to just bring either of the two, particularly the US$ which consecutively gets the best rate.

The Portuguese Language
When going to Brazil, it is best to brush up on some Portuguese language. A quick course would do about basic conversation. It is also advisable to buy translations book. It might be handy in your trip.

Brazilian Currency
The currency in Brazil is called Real. They have the R$50, R$100, R$20, R$5, R$10, R$1 and R$2 bills. The exchange rate at current is R$3=US$1. There are also 2 varieties for every coin except for the coin R$1. The real can be divided in 100 centavos. These coins are handy for coffee, bus rides and gums.

Having a Visa
For Europeans, only a valid passport and return ticket is needed in order to enter Brazil. Upon entry, you also need to fill up an entry card, allowing you to stay for about 90 days. This will be attached to your passport. The other half is kept by immigration officials. Losing this will entail a delay in your departure.

For Canadians, Australians, US and New Zealand citizens, a visa is required. You can get this from your home country’s Brazilian embassy. Thus, make sure you also contact them prior to going to Brazil so that you are aware of the full entry requirements.

When you already have a tourist visa, you have the option of extending it for another 90 days. You only need to apply this at least 15 days prior to the expiration of the 1st one. However, you can only do this once. Afterwards, you need to leave the country and just reenter at another time.

Thus, for those who are from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay as well as other neighboring countries, you only need a photo ID to enter Rio. For countries that require a visa, the requirements for a visa include a copy of your round trip ticket, your passport that should be valid for another 6 months, 1 colored or black and white passport size photo, show money, vaccination certificates and the visa application form from the Brazilian embassy or consulate

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Place on the earth where hill and heaven exist together side by side. An option to reach Rio de Janeiro is by cruising. With cruisers you can fill Rio de Janeiro even before you step on Brazilian soil. If there was a lottery from the Lord while he created the world than wins Rio!
It’s the city of opposites, wealth and poverty in one place side by side. Traveling guide agencies recommend being careful on the Rio’s streets, not wearing jewel outside and not walking on the sandy beaches during the night. But who cares? When you walk in Rio none of this will not care. You will not feel like a tourist. That is the magic of Rio.

Rio de Janeiro with his more than 6 million habitants and 59 km long beach’s the most visited city in the southern hemisphere.
Rio de Janeiro literally means River of January. So that when the Portuguese entered for the first time in the gulf between the volcanic rocks were thinking that it is a river, and give the name Rio de Janeiro (River of January). It was in January 1562. At that time Salvador was the capital but because of Rio’s good geographical position on the Atlantic ocean Rio takes the primacy as capital since 1763 till 1960.

The most suitable time for holiday travel in Rio would be summer. Naturally to being mentioned, most known beach in the world Copacabana, it’s 6 km long from one side and above it’s the first cable car in the world of 1912 still connects the volcanic rocks, best known among them Sugarloaf mountain. From the other side Corcovado Mountain with the Christ the Redeemer statue one of the seven wonders. While Christ the Redeemer seems to embrace every one of the travelers who come to, bellow is city in the middle of the jungle, or much better jungle surrounded by the city. Beaches and oceans are everywhere between.

Rio’s visit is not complete without mentioning the carnival. The carnival itself has rich history with the roots even from 18th century. In that time immigrants from Portugal brought festival known as Entrudo, and it was enough to start the legend. Also worth noting when it comes to Rio Carnival history is the emergence of the city’s samba schools. Carnival and samba are one of the biggest tourist attractions. Today’s legend is trinity of Rio, carnival and the samba. None of them can live without each other.

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Rio de Janeiro is a state located in the south east region of Brazil. It occupies a total area of 43,653 km² and its capital is a city of the same name. Excluding its shore of the Atlantic Ocean, Rio de Janeiro borders the states of Minas Gerais to the north and north west, Espirito Santo to the north east and São Paulo to the South West.

The prominent regions of Rio are Rio de Janeiro City, Nova Iguaçu, Niterói, Duque de Caxias, São Gonçalo, São João de Meriti, Campos dos Goytacazes, Petrópolis and Volta Redonda. The principal rivers of the state are the Guandu River, the Piraí, the Paraíba do Sul, the Macaé and the Muriaé.

Established in 1565, the states development only began in the 17th century with the export of sugar cane, cattle and gold to surrounding areas. In 1763, the state became the headquarters of colonial Brazil which was shortly followed by the first bank of the country (Banco de Brasil), the basis of a media industry, educational establishments, transportation routes and several other infrastructural developments. In 1834, the city was named the capital until this was changed to Brasília in 1960.

Over 50 percent of the state’s economy lies in industry, closely followed by tertiary services and agriculture today. Much global attention has come to the region when the discovery of the Tupi in 2006 and Jupiter in 2008 oil fields were formally announced. As a result, Rio de Janeiro state is now the largest producer of petroleum and gas in Brazil. As well as petroleum, primary exports include other fuels (such as ethanol) as well as chemicals, textiles, metals (mainly steel, iron and tin), glass, processed fish, glass, dairy products, coffee, cachaça (Brazilian rum), livestock, cement and vehicles.

Overflowing with history, architecture and culture, the state offers very attractive features to both the tourist and investor. There are many universities throughout the state, with hundreds of campuses in the various municipalities, offering courses in everything from agricultural studies to computer science and high technology.

The larger and more prosperous cities such as Rio de Janeiro attract citizens from all over the state and country, many seeking well-paid employment or a better life than in their rural towns and villages, but not holding the relevant experience or qualifications. Because of this, favelas (slums) have formed especially in the city of Rio de Janeiro which, while decreasing as the wealth of the country ameliorates, should be carefully observed when investing in land and real estate.

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