Rio de Janeiro , Manaus ,
Tabatinga
Traveling in Brazil is easy and best by plane because of its huge size.
Cash money or TC from foreign counties can only be changed at Banco do Brasil or exchange booths.
Some ATM`s excepting EC-cards from European countries for cashing 700R maximum.
Rio de Janeiro Bus company Real takes you from the international airport to the city center,
airport S.Dumont or one of many hotels in town for 5R only. So ask for a place
to stay at the helpful information desk at the ground floor of arrival (next
to coffee-bar) before you enter the bus. They might drop you just in front of
your hotel :-)) Hotel Atlantis Copacabana*** at Rue Bulhoes de Carvalho 61, tel.: 021-25211142
has rates for single, double, triple for 235, 280, 370R and with "promocion"
150, 180R including breakfast for single, double. The respectable rooms are
clean, have own bathroom, air-condition, TV, minibar, deposit box on request
and the English speaking staff is helpful. Beaches: Surf shops are on Rue Francisco Otaviano 64 (connection between Copa and Ipa).
A middle class bodyboard is 90R and flippers 70R. At surfshop Spirit on Galeria
River (same building) are rental surfboards available for 30R per day or less
if you rent for longer. Map
Disco Bunker 94 at Paul Pompeia 94 at Copacabana charges 13R with flyer before
and 16R after midnight and 20R without flyer. They have a very small techno
area, a 70th music room and on with very mixed music but all are quite small
and no chill-out area. To visit Corcovado take bus No 583 or 584 to bus stop Station Corcovado which
is around 1/2 hour from Copa. The train to the top is 25R per person and is
another 1/2 hour ride with nice views if no clouds are there. To go up the Sugar Loaf the cable car to the mid-station is 12R to the top
its 24R return.
The Favela Tour with English, French and Italian speaking guide Marcelo Armstrong
is very interesting and gives you a impression of parts of Rio where you never
would go on your own. The tour takes 3 hours with a visit of two different favelas
where you even can take your camera equipment with you. If you make reservation
directly under tel.: 021-33222727 its 45R per person and Marcelo will pick you
at your hotel. A tandem flight on a hang-glider across Sao Conrado west of Leblon offers impressive
views. The German Konrad Heilmann speaks English too and will pick you at the
hotel only when the weather is nice. So count some days delay and make reservation
as early as possible at tel.: 021-98439006. Its 80€ for 15 to 20 minutes
flight and 10€ for a film shooting from the edge of the wing. Restaurant Porcao on Av. Nossa Senhore de Copacabana 1.144 at Copa has very
nice buffet and grilled meat too. All you can eat for 17R without dessert.
Coffee bar Academia da Cachaca at Rua Conde de Bernadote 26 at Leblon has a
extreme wide choice of local alcoholic drinks most between 3 and 5R. Attention: Rio is good party at Carnival and New year but completely deserted
at Christmas where shops, restaurants, tourist attractions are closed too.
Buses inside the city generally costs 1.30 ordinary and 1.50R with air-condition.
The buses leaves at the right end outside the arrival building at the sign "Spezial
bus". Tickets will be sold on the bus.
Don`t believe the taxi drivers telling you others :-!
A sunroof, a sauna and a 3x4 meter pool are on the top of the building overlooking
Ipanema which is only 200 meter away and 500 meters to Copa. A gasoline station
around the corner sells drinks on weekend too till late and coming from the
airport with the "Spezial bus" Real they drop you just in front if
you ask for.
Highly recommendable. Map
Copa has beach with fine sand, little surf, lots of kiosks at the promenade
open till late serving food and drinks and here is best nightlife too with its
discos and restaurants.
Ipa has fine sand too and much better surf than Copa but no nightlife and the
kiosk at the promenade closing at 10PM. The only restaurant near the waterfront
is bistro Barril 1800 at Av. Vieira Souto 1800.
The main road on both beaches is closed on Sunday for all traffic.
For more details: www.bunker94.com.br
For more details: www.corcovado.com.br
For more details:
www.favelatour.com.br
For more details:
www.airadventures.net
For more details:
www.academiadacachaca.com.br
Up
Manaus Hotel Brasil at Av. Getulio Vargas 657, tel.: 092-2336575 has respectable single, double, triple for 95, 115, 140R or 5 persons for 150R including breakfast buffet if you ask for "promocion". The rooms are a little tiny and the own bathroom is even more small but they are clean, have good mattress, air-condition, TV, fridge and a pool and sun chairs at the rooftop with nice view towards the theater. The staff can speak English and is very helpful. Recommendable. Hospedaria de Turismo 10 de Julho at Av. 10 de Juhlo 679 has tiny, crummy and
dark rooms with strong smell in the basement. On the first floor the rooms are
more bright but same smell. Room rates for single, double, triple are 30, 35,
45R including breakfast. Feel jailed here.
The laundry service LN Lavander at Rua 24 de Maio 54, tel.: 092-2335336 is
next road right-hand side of the hotel Brasil, 4 blocks down that road and open
from 8AM till 6PM with 2 hour service and charge 0.5R per piece mostly. Hammocks
cost extra.
Another laundry service called Jania Costa is at Rua Leonardo Malcher 734,
tel.: 092-2341477.
At the botanical garden draw a deep breath from the cities smog. The staff
is very informative if there are not to many visitors. Admission fee is 2R.
Take bus No 519 from the city center and leave after 25 minutes. Its 1.5R and
ask the conductor when to leave. From the bus stop its clearly marked and around
10 minutes to walk to the entrance.
On weekend the promenade at Porta Negra is good choice for night life. Lots
of people, beer garden and discotheques are here. The Orange-Bar is one of the
largest and most popular with free dance show or life music.
For the bus stop from the airport to the city center turn right in front of the
main exit and walk around 200 meters down the road till you see the sign "Bus
stop" at your left. Its 1.5R to the center.
The airport offers sleeping possibilities on wooden benches while early arrival
or late departure when its not too crowded. Coffee and burger are available 24
hour.
For more details:
www.hotelbrasil.tur.br
Disco Forro do Bagaca has canned music if no band is playing on the stage. The
architecture is astonishing with its large but covered balconies with sea view
It can get very crowded here on weekend. Ladies 2R, man 5R, can of beer is 2R,
soft drink 1.5R. Its at the far end of the promenade just at the terminus. Don`t
miss it.
To get to Ponta Negra take bus No 120 from the city center and get of after
approximately 30 minutes ride at the terminus (end of bus route) or take a taxi
for around 25R.
Up
Tabatinga Hotel Rio Mar at Rua Marechal Rondon 1714, Tel.: 412-3061, e-mail:
fdikco@yahoo.com has smelly and crummy rooms with fan
and bathroom for single, double, triple for 20, 25, 30R or a single with air-condition
for 30R. They speak English and change money. Restaurant Canto do Peixado has great tasty lunch menu for 5 to 6R. Expect half
hour preparation. Its at Av. da Amizade 1613 across street of Municipal de Tabatinga.
Restaurant Fazenda has delicious BBC and grilled fish with buffet of salad and sauces
starting at 8R. Its on Av. da Amizade 1962.
Flights to Manaus are run by Varig and Rico for around 555R. Varig office is
at Av. da Amizade 1947, Rico one block down towards the border. To the airport a taxi is 10R and worth the money because its far out town.
Be there two hours before departure because they have no x-ray machine and check
the luggage by hand very accurate.
A ride in town with mototaxi is 1R, a taxi to Leticia (Columbia) is 5R.
Its just 200 meters up the left road form the harbor when you arrive by speedboat
from Iquitos or Santa Rosa.
More details from Rico at:
www.voerico.com.br
Up