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Rio de Janeiro is well known as being the place to go party and has some of the beach beaches to be found anywhere in the world. Rio still lives up to its claims of fame but there is so much more to do here than tan and party. Whether you enjoy historic buildings found throughout the downtown area, explore the boutiques and fantastic restaurants located by the beaches in the south or watch Brazils superstars in a mega soccer stadium in the north end, Rio is packed full of things for you to explore.

One of Rios most famous sites is the Po d'Aucar, Sugarloaf Mountain. This beautiful place is actually made up of two mountains joined together by cable cars that take you from one to the other. The smaller one, Morro da Urca is the first stop and has a great restaurant and amphitheater where live music shows are performed. Sugarloaf is the last stop and offers you a spectacular view of the sea and mountain range. For a great experience enjoy either a sunrise or sunset at its top.

Sitting high on top of Corcovado Mountain stands the impressive Christ Redeemer statue. Standing at 100 feet with outstretched arms the statue can be seen from miles around. Its a fascinating site to see it at night as well. When you make your way to the top of the mountain youll also enjoy a fantastic view of the city. Make sure you bring your camera to capture it all.

Although Rio is filled with beautiful scenery, a great place to see a great collection of it all at once is at the Botanical Garden. Spreading across 340-acres with more than 6,000 types of tropical and subtropical plants and trees. And with all that prime tree real estate, youll also see more than 140 species of birds.

Oh the wonderful beach of Copacabana. What more can be said about this fantastic stretch of beach? Its a favorite place for both locals and tourists, so get to the beach early to find that perfect spot. Dont be too surprised by the lack of beachwear that exists. Both the men and women who call Brazil home tend to feel that bathers block out the rays. Do as the locals or bring along what you feel comfortable with. But whatever you wear, youll absolutely love the sea and sand. Take a break from the beach and walk along the sidewalks that will take you to a great place to get refueled. Following this is the other famous beach in Rio, Ipanema. In fact, this beach is well known the world over and people travel from afar just to soak up some of the rays on its sand. Theres more to this stretch of beauty than the sand and surf. Stroll through the streets close by and to the boutiques, restaurants and trendy cafs. Enjoy the hippie market on Sundays where handmade crafts and clothes are available for you to buy.

There are many beautiful buildings located around the city. One of the churches worth visiting is the Catedral Metropolitana. Its beautiful cone-shaped design took more than ten years to build and the result was worth waiting for. Enjoy the murals, sculptures and art pieces as well as the stunning stained-glass windows. For another spectacular site, make your way to the Maracan Soccer Stadium. Its near impossible to go a few steps in Rio and not hear or see something about soccer, or Futebol as its passionately known as. Home to four teams, its no wonder why. And for those that want to see where legends were made and where the games known around the globe were played, enter the sacred ground at the Maracan. This fantastic place is located in the North Zone of Rio and is open on non-game days. Theres a great museum that showcases some of Brazils biggest goals. On game days, see Brazils superstars strut their stuff and join the 200,000 fans that cheer, no scream, for their players. Although it can get a little rowdy with the drums and chants, its an experience you wont soon forget just make sure youre cheering for the right team.

When you hear about Rio de Janeiro, one of the things that come to mind will be carnival. And rightly so. The entire city shuts down for this celebration. Parades, music, costumes and dancers fill the streets creating a spectacular buffet for the senses. But dont worry about missing the party if you dont come during carnival. This city still knows how to put on a party long before carnival makes its way through the streets.

Whether you enjoy the fantastic meals or sip on a cup of intense java, your evening wouldnt be complete unless you see how the locals dance to the samba, bossa or the pagode. The streets are filled with cafs where you can watch the locals enjoy a cold beer as they talk about the latest game. One of the most beautiful streets in Rio is the Avenida Atlntica. With the beach and sea on one side and fantastic hotels and restaurants on the other, youll love exploring the beautiful sites.