An atypical mix of subtropical climate and a bustling metropolis of over four million people, Rio has something to keep everyone entertained for their stay in the city.  If you are like me, strolling the wealthy white beaches in Copacobana, dodging the traffic in the hectic hustle in the central or treading lightly through the sad slums of the favelas will only feed your curiosity on how they city is put together from a bird’s eye view.  Luckily for people like us, the city offers two great summits to inspect the sprawl from up high while the wind whips and swirls around you; Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf) and Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer.)

Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf)

The lesser known of these two look outs, Sugar Loaf Mountain, gives great views of the city from the shore inward.  The peak, which is made of granite and quartz, earned the name Sugar Loaf from its shape that resembles how sugar was packaged tightly together from South American sugar producing countries until the 19^th Century.

The summit of the steep jutting rock is reached by utilizing two cable cars.  The first takes three minutes and travels approximately 500 meters into the air to the mountain Morro da Urca.  There people disembark and can wander the peak of the lesser mountain, survey the city at lookout points, grab some food or stop in at the information center before boarding the next cable car. 

The second cable car takes you to the peak of Sugar Loaf, 735 meters above the sea.  The ride takes about another three minutes in the cable car which departs every 20 minutes.  Here viewers can see far and wide across the city that weaves around other protruding land masses and check out some great views of Copacobana beach.  Depending on your camera’s zoom, pictures of Cristo Redentor in the distance are viable on a clear day.  The harbor beneath your feet presents views of sail ships raising and lowering their sails as they cycle in and out from the docks whilst the breeze brings the salts of the sea to your lips.

The Cable Cars Operate between 8 AM and 8 PM, ticket prices are a bit steep for some backpackers’ budgets at R$53 for adults. http://www.bondinho.com.br/   

Copacobana in the distance where the city does not stray away from the sand.

Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer)

The ever so popular Christ the Redeemer has been shown in movies worldwide as the symbol for Rio de Janeiro since its completion in 1931.  Standing on top of the Corcovado mountain and facing towards the Atlantic coast, the statue was voted in as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 by a global vote of over 100 million people.  The list excludes other great structures like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Acropolis of Athens in Greece and Ankor in Cambodia.

Christ the Redeemer can be reached one of two ways.  One way is to take a taxi to a train that steadily plods up the mountain every half hour.  The ride itself takes a little over 20 minutes and allows for views of the city below looking out to the sea.  The other way is to ask a taxi driver to take you to the base of the  Corcovado mountain where shuttle busses take people up and down.

Which ever way you take, once you reach the big guy his views are spectacular.  The multi teared platforms gives outlooks in all the directions of the city towards the sea in a wide arcing panorama.  Screeching cars and busses spewing smog in the distance are inaudible from on the tiers, giving the impression that the city is truly far off and away from the isolated peak.  Also viewable is Rio’s large centralized lake, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, with looming highrises casting the edges of the pool in long shadows.  Not to mention the nearly 40 meter tall, 700 ton big guy towering over you himself, as you huddle among other guests in the crisp mountain atmosphere.

The train operates between 8:30 AM and 7 PM Mon-Sun and costs R$36, park is entrance included http://www.corcovado.com.br/index.html

The busses are not as predictable.  You will need to get a taxi to the base and the bus drivers may charge differently depending on the day and time.  Also, entrance to the park is R$18 which they will not include in their transport fees.

Lagoa de Rodrigo de Freitas at night.

Which is Better?

The decision between seeing either is up to you.  Sugar Loaf offers views of the beaches and the city clashing together which are not as viewable from Christ the Redeemer but, it is a bit more expensive and large viewpoints of the city are marred by the natural landmasses.  Christ the Redeemer on the other hand gives you outlooks of the grand centralized Lagoa de Rodrigo de Freitas and a thoroughly unobstructed panorama of the entire city.   However, some city details like the beach and harbor are far away and underwhelming. 

If you are on a timely visit (which is sad to do to yourself in Rio) hostels and hotels can book you a city tour.  One part walking and another part riding a bus, these tours can take anywhere from 3-5 hours of the day and often visit both of these sites where the entrance fee is either waived or discounted.  If you do not mind being shuffled around for an afternoon with a group of other travelers check these out.  I have heard good things from other travelers who opted to take the risk and join a group.

If you are like me and too proud to be led around in a pack or just need to lose yourself in the city for either the good or the bad of it, throw budget to the wind and check out both on your own. Find some people to go with and split cab fares to lessen the budget burden.  Enjoy the views whichever you choose!

So you are on your way to Brazil and are wondering what you will be wining and dining on during your stay. Well, naturally a lot of rice and beans will be filling your belly, but that is not all this multicultural country has to offer in ways of good eats. Brazil is host to a diverse population of indigenous people and immigrants from all over Western Europe and across the Pacific Ocean to Asia. Utilizing Brazil’s arid deserts, muggy jungles, cool mountains and 4,578 miles of coastline, these nationalities have developed some tasty treats that not only fuel you up, but go easy on your wallet. Here is a rundown of some low-priced life savers for a resourceful, conscious traveler:

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There is no denying it; São Paulo, Brazil is a colossal city. Ranking in as the seventh largest city in the world by population, with just under 19 million residents, the city offers an assortment of diverse sights and things to see and do. Travelers beware; it is not hard to lose yourself in this immense metropolis of high-rise buildings and bustling streets.  For those of us who are on a budget and cannot sit still for more than a few days before the travel itch begins to creep up our spines, here are four cheap and fun things to do in downtown São Paulo:

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I have heard it said that wealth is the supreme source of all happiness. That one cannot be pleased with their life if they do not possess money in their bank account and cash in their wallet. As Rodrigo and I carefully walked towards the shoddy tents and the laughing children, playing with their torn kites in the afternoon breeze, I could not disagree more with that statement. These people we were approaching clearly had nothing yet the sound of thoughtless laughter filled the air. When we began to skirt the parameters of the camp, a few people, their hair in tangled messes with dirt smearing their faces, began to poke their heads out from under their tent’s frayed flaps to eye my translator and me. The children moved a little closer to us, revealing tattooed hands and wary expressions. I felt bad for Rodrigo; he had listened to all the horror stories of the gypsies as I had the days before and must have been as apprehensive as I was approaching these peculiar people. “Don’t have anything in your pockets.” “You have to be cleverer than them.” “Are you really taking your camera?”  Bet your ass I was taking my camera.

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