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Rio de Janeiro Hotels

Rio de Janeiro Hotel Reservation

Rio de Janeiro, was discovered on January (Janeiro) 1, 1502 by Portuguese navigators who mistook the entrance of Guanabara Bay for the mouth of a river (Rio). Sixty years later French traders established the city of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro but they were expelled after two years of bloody conflict. In the beginning of the 18th century it became the main shipping port for gold and diamonds coming from Minas Gerais and as a result the city's importance and population increased dramatically.

With a population of 7 million "Cariocas" (Rio's inhabitants), this is the second largest city in Brazil and an important cultural capital. It is called 'The Wonderful City' (Cidade Maravilhosa) because it is bordered on one side by a superb bay, and on the other side by a towering mountain range and tropical rain forest.

Rio de Janeiro is a service industry center, a significant financial center, and a producer of foodstuffs, building materials, electrical equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, beverages and textiles. Beaches and beautiful bodies, samba and beer, football and cachaca (the local gin) are some of the good things of life that people of Rio enjoy from. Rio's most famous beaches are Copacabana, which runs for 4.5km (3mi); Ipanema, the richest and most fashionable beach; as well as Pepino, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo and Arpoador.

Rio's most renowned feature is Pao de Asucar (Sugar Loaf), the mountain with the statue of Jesus spreading out his arms. There are two cable cars climbing 396m (1300ft) above Rio and the Baia de Guanabara, allowing visitors to enjoy from the most spectacular view. The 120 sq km (47 sq mi) Parque Nacional de Tijuca, 15 minutes from Copacabana, has an exuberant green forest, with beautiful trees and waterfalls.

Brazil is also Carnaval. Although Rio's famous Carnaval is an extraordinary spectacle, visitors should be careful since taxi fares quadruple, accommodation triples and there are masses of tourists.

Unfortunately, a third of the people in Rio live in the favelas (shanty towns) located on many of the hillsides, where drug abuse and violence as well as police corruption and brutality are commonplace. Rio's reputation as a violent city has caused the creation of a special police unit which patrols areas frequented by tourists in an effort to keep them safe.

Rio de Janeiro Hotels