Day 3. Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast at the hotel, you will head to the legendary Sugarloaf Mountain, which looks like an asteroid that has just fallen from the sky. A magnificent cable car will take you first to Urca Hill, a mid-point between the ground and Sugarloaf. Here, you can enjoy a cocktail or try some of Brazil’s many delicious dishes. Upon reaching the summit of Sugarloaf, you’ll see Rio’s breathtaking beauty from a completely new perspective. To your left stretches Copacabana Beach, extending all the way to the horizon, where the faint outlines of the Two Brothers and Gávea mountains can be seen. Below lies the picturesque and cozy Red Beach (Praia Vermelha), and to your right, you’ll spot Guanabara Bay, the Niterói Bridge, and closer to the center, the Botafogo district and downtown Rio — all crowned by the magnificent silhouette of Christ the Redeemer, watching over the city forever. This trip is essential to truly see Rio from another angle and appreciate its unparalleled beauty. Lunch at a local restaurant. Next, you will visit one of the favelas in the city’s southern zone. Once, soldiers fought the royal troops on a hill where the favela tree grew. After the war, the survivors came to Rio de Janeiro to demand payment and settled on Providência Hill, where they eventually stayed. In memory of their battle, they named it “Favela Hill.” Favelas — or urban slums — are a unique world with their own rules. They have become an integral part of Rio. There are about 700 favelas in the city. Not only thieves or drug dealers live here — you’ll also find technicians, office workers, and families. It’s even possible to rent a room. The narrow streets are full of lively street vendors, and there’s a bustling open market selling food and handmade goods. Life here follows its own internal order. You will walk through the streets, visit local shops and bars, and, of course, hear an honest account of how life really works inside a favela. Dinner at the hotel. .
