Rio De Janeiro was at the top of my Bucket list once the Christ the Redeemer Statue was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. It’s a symbol of Christianity across the world as it faces the Atlantic Ocean to welcome all tourists to the city; sits at the highest mountain peak and Rio; and can be seen from any location in Rio. It’s truly a beautiful sight to see.
How to get there? There are red-eye direct flights from Miami (MIA) to Rio De Janeiro (GIG) with American Airlines. The commute is an easy 8 hours and gives you a full first day in Rio to explore the city.
Where to stay? Hilton Copacabana is in a prime location to the Beach and central to Sugarloaf Mountain. Any location in Copacabana is considered safe and the view of the beach is absolutely breathtaking.
Must Do’s? Do not leave without visiting Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Escadaria Selaron and get a tour of the Favela’s. I never leave a destination without immersing myself within the local culture and customs. We were fortunate enough to secure a tour with the absolute BEST guide, Obi, from @favelabrothers_tour to check every item off of our list in a single day AND a full day boat trip around the beaches of Rio.
Must Eat? No one comes to Rio without indulging in the Steakhouses. One of my favorite steakhouse was Marius Degustare. In addition to freshly grilled steak, this restaurant offers a wide variety of seafood, sushi and desserts. We left STUFFED and satisfied. If you eat red meat, PLEASE eat the sausage. That’s the dish I will miss the most.
How to get around? Getting around Rio is fairly easy. There are taxis and Uber’s on every corner
Fun Fact: Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish. That was a shocker for me because I was prepared to speak Spanish lol.
Nikki Witherspoon
Instagram: @Greedyglobetrotta
