It’s worth noting that the weather in Rio de Janeiro in August is when the temperature really starts to rise again.

1) Spend a day wandering the streets of Santa Teresa. Take a motorbike taxi up to Santa Teresa from outside Glória metro stop – this is a lot of fun, just make sure you hold on tight! Fantastic graffiti litters the cobbled streets, crumbling colonial mansions are now home to bohemian art cafes and galleries, and the ever pulsing beat of Brazilian samba floats in the air around the plentiful bars and restaurants. Whilst there, make sure you visit the Museu da Chácara do Céu – an old colonial house with .....a small collection of modern art and fantastic views of the city. This part of town is not to be missed! Show less

Festivals like Reveillon- a New Year’s Eve celebration with food, fun, and fireworks on Copacabana Beach.

Not to be confused with Pao de Azucar (“Sugarloaf”) mountain, Corcovado (“Hunchback”) mountain is the hill that acts as pedestal for the world famous Cristo Redentor statue. I don’t think I need to say too much about this massively popular tourist attraction, but safe to say it’s well worth the trouble of taking the train up to the viewing platform that spreads out directly below Christ’s outstretched arms. You need to take the metro to Largo do Machado, then a connecting bus to Corcovado’s own little train station at the .....foot of the mountain. Tickets are 50 reias return. More visitor info on the official site. You can also hike it, or so I heard, but apparently it’s a fairly tough three hour hike, with some dicey moments, so you may prefer to take the lazy tourist option… works for me every time. Show less

If you like beaches, Ipanema Beach will memorize you with its waves and golden sands. It’s similar to Copacabana beach, but less overcrowded and seems more secure for a traveler in my opinion.

One of the most exclusive neighbourhoods to rest your head is the Ipanema area. It is smaller than thriving Copacabana but just as vivacious, with country clubs, a sophisticated shopping strip and some of Rio’s best hotels, including the oceanfront Sol Ipanema, as well as Caesar Park Ipanema. The main street to explore in the area is the Rua Visconde De Piraja. 

The Selarón Steps are the work of Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón, who lived near the steps and decided to rehabilitate them with colorful tiles.

For those of you who love the nightlife, this is an awesome district to head out to on a Friday night! Bars, clubs, and food stalls dominate the area and street parties run from the famous arches up Avenida Mem de Sá. For live music, go to Circo Voador. If you want to experience the club scene, check out the three-story Rio Scenarium. If you’re not into partying at all, admire the photogenic Arcos de Lapa. These arches date back to the mid 18th century and were once used as aqueducts.

See the Tijuca Forest, Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer Statue, Sugarloaf Mountain, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, and Guanabara Bay. Or visit the nearby town of Petropolis. There you will find, Parati, Búzios, or Ilha Grande, all just a few hours away from Rio de Janeiro.

Not far from the Botanical Gardens lies Parque Lage, a beautiful mansion at the foot of Corcovado. The mansion was once the residence of industrialist Enrique Lage and his wife, singer Gabriela Bezanzoni, until the land eventually became a public park in the 1960s. The setting is really stunning and Parque Lage is particularly popular with tourists because it was featured in the music video for Snoop Dogg’s 2003 single “Beautiful”. Sadly the inside was covered in scaffolding when we visited (wedding!) be we sat down and had a really nice lunch in the restaurant.

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This lounge is open 0700 – 2300 every day and can be found at the South Pier, International Departures, Terminal 2 of Rio de Janeiro RIOgaleão Tom Jobim International Airport. Access this lounge by taking the escalator right after the duty-free shops to Level 3. This is the other Priority Pass lounge for International travellers and both lounges are accessed from the same International lounge area in departures. This lounge can also be accessed by those with a premium credit card from American Express, such as the Platinum Card® from .....American Express, which gives you and 2 guests complimentary access. Show less

1) One of the best restaurants is Nova Capela, on Avenida Mem de Sá, 96. This restaurant has been going since 1903, and the greatest thing is it doesn’t close till 5am. So head on in after a night out in Lapa for a taste of their famous roast goat with garlic and broccoli rice.

When I agreed to attend this event I had no idea that the sea turtles were from this beach. I thought maybe they were turtles from a conservation. Instead, these were 2 mommas who came up to the beach to nest the night before. Their shells were shined up and they were released the next day with trackers at the event. You will be able to track their migration after laying eggs and returning to the ocean. I think I am on team Cruz. What about you?

Distance from CBD20kmTaxiAround R173.92 to CBDPublic TransportPublic buses connect the airport with the downtown area.Car HireCar hire desks are located inside Terminal 2. Companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, Locaralfa, Car Rental Brazil and Transnet. You can book your car online to guarantee availability.