Rio de Janeiro

Meet Brazil’s legendary seaside party town, riotous Rio de Janeiro, where beachside bliss blends with a thrilling cityscape facing a tropical backdrop of rainforests and mountains. There’s always something to celebrate in the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City), from the world’s most flamboyant festival to weekends spent on its famous shores. Reach a summit dominated by an iconic spiritual monument, follow fiery samba rhythms to lively venues, and let Rio’s festive spirit sway you.

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Visit Rio de Janeiro: get started

Ready for Rio? Start with the top attractions: the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain, the cable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain, and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Visit the gardens of Jardim Botânico, the trails of the Tijuca National Park and the upscale Leblon district. Pencil in the incomparable Rio Carnival, usually taking place right before Lent. It all begins with our flight and hotel packages to Brazil!

Rio de Janeiro travel guide

Destination facts

Language

Portuguese

What to bring back

Iconic Havaianas flip-flops, Brazilian arts and crafts or handmade jewellery from the Feira de Arte de Ipanema (also known as the Ipanema Hippie Fair), goiabada (guava) paste, pé-de-moleque (peanut candy) and instruments associated with Capoeira like the caxixi, the berimbau or the cuíca.

What to eat

Feijoada (a hearty beef, pork and black bean stew), bacalhau (cod) fritters, pão de queijo (cheese bread), anything with açaí (a superfood berry from the Amazon), picadinho (diced meat with rice and beans) and brigadeiro (chocolate truffles).

Fun fact

There are two iconic things about Rio: its larger-than-life Carnival and its larger-than-life Christ the Redeemer statue. Here are facts about both! The Carnival began in 1723 and is the biggest of its kind in the world, attracting about two million people per day to its street parties. Meanwhile, Christ the Redeemer was built in 1922, is often struck by lightning (its thumb was chipped once!) and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Important info

For more information on all necessary travel documents and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page and the Government of Canada’s Travel and Tourism website.