11 Reasons Why Rio de Janeiro Should Be On Your Bucket List

It’s no secret, I’m addicted to travel. I want to go everywhere, I want to see every thing. Even though most of my travels have taken me to dreamy destinations, I’ve never been anywhere as I loved so much that I actually didn’t want to leave (I do live on Maui, it’s hard to trump my tropical island) until I visited Rio de Janeiro. I could have stay in Rio forever. Trust me friends, Rio de Janeiro should be on your travel bucket list.

As my plane was landing I was overwhelmed with excitement. I couldn’t wait to explore the city but I was skeptical. I didn’t think it could possibly live up to the hype. Boy was I wrong. Not only did Rio surpass my expectations on every front, it had me begging for more. The whole city was a sensory overload. I couldn’t see, taste, or feel enough (I definitely did get my fair share of smells – urine stalls in the middle of public sidewalks are, without a doubt, the worst idea ever.)

If you don’t believe me just take a look at this list of 10 reasons why Rio de Janeiro should be on your bucket list.

Why Rio de Janeiro Should Be On Your Bucket List

1. The Beaches

There’s nothing like them. Chances are you’ve heard of them, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Leme. They are as lively as they are lovely. Imagine rows of brightly striped umbrellas shading scantily clad men & women in lawn chairs sipping on caipirinhas & coconut water. There is a constant flow of salesman (not the pushy kind-they were all rather considerate & mild mannered) offering everything from selfie-sticks, to swim suits, to cheese sticks all at affordable prices. Once you settle in you won’t have any reason to leave your beach chair.

2. The Nightlife

You can’t think of Rio de Janeiro without conjuring thoughts of loud music, neon lights, and samba. The parties here are unlike anywhere else. Rio at night can be scary but as long as you stay in centro and out of the favelas and you will have nothing to worry about.

3. The Views

Some spots like Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf are known around the world for their spectacular views, but to be honest, Rio is overflowing with eye candy. Every turn, every hill, every hotel seemed to offer another incredible view of this stunning city & its magnificent landscapes.

4. The Churrascos

The best meals of my life were the nights we spent hours feasting at the local churrascos. They offer endless amounts incredibly fresh & flavorful grilled meats, hot cheese bread, cheese straight off the wheel, fresh cured & dried meats, along with rows & rows of every type of pasta & fresh salad imaginable. All of this for about $35 US, amazing.

5. The Acai

At nights we feasted on the churrascos, during the day we ate our weight in acai. And it’s not hard to do. Acai is every where in Rio. It’s nothing like what we eat in the US. Brazilians don’t dilute their acai with other fruits, instead they blend the frozen acai berry with just a little sweetener. There is no better way to fight the humid Rio heat & at about $3 US for a quart it’s hard to find a reason not to buy a bowl at every street corner.

6. The Soccer

Soccer is everywhere in Rio. It’s their way of life. And it is pretty thrilling to join in the futball fun. We were able to attend both a national match & a local club match. Both were equally exciting. I’ve been to my fair share of professional sporting events in the US but nothing compares to the passion, vigor, devotion of these Rio fans.

7. The People

The people in Rio are incredibly friendly. They are quick to start conversations & overlook the language barriers. They are also quick to offer assistance, waive fees, & extend a little bit of friendship. We met so many wonderful people who helped make our stay in Rio memorable.

8. The Wildlife

Rio is home to monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, sloths, & various species of bright & beautiful birds. It was amazing to spot & interact with some of these animals in their natural habitat. Guys, I got to feed wild monkeys. It was unreal.

9. The Views

Some spots like Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf are known around the world for their spectacular views, but to be honest, Rio is overflowing with eye candy. Every turn, every hill, every hotel seemed to offer another incredible view of this stunning city & its magnificent landscapes.

10. The Shopping

Rio de Janeiro is full of shops ranging from moderate department stores, to international chains, to locally based boutiques, to swap meets. You can find anything your heart desires in Rio, and at a steal, too. I bought 40 pairs of Havaianas and spent an average of $3.40/per pair!

11. The Excursions

If you like to get out & adventure, than Rio is the place for you. They have endless amounts of trails, mountains, beaches, rivers, & water activities. As avid adventurers we had a tough time narrowing down what to invest our time into. There were so many options, & just not enough time. We were loved every trail we trekked & every site we saw but there is so much we still want to do. I guess that just means we will have to go back.

Rio de Janeiro may seem a world a way but it is actually relatively easy to travel to. Personally, I’m a fan of red-eyes. Red eyes allow you to get the most out of your travel & they are financially freindly. I love being able to sleep through the bulk of my travel & wake up ready to go as soon as the plane lands. There’s no wasted travel time. And by sleeping on the plane that is one less night you need to pay for a hotel. When you are traveling horizontally you can only hope to score a red-eye on you east bound flight. But when you fly vertically it is possible to fly red-eyes both ways. Double-win!

Are you convinced? Have you added Rio to your bucket list? I’d love to hear what other dreamy destinations you have your eye on. Leave a comment & let me know where you dream to go.

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