Stay Curious: Experience Rio de Janeiro From Your Living Room

Copacabana Beach is a central hub in the party city of Rio de Janeiro
Copacabana Beach is a central hub in the party city of Rio de Janeiro | © mediacolor's / Alamy Stock Photo
Sarah Brown

As staying in becomes the new normal, Culture Trip invites you to indulge in a spot of cloud tourism. Experience the sights and sounds of a place – without even leaving your home. Next up on our virtual tour is Rio.

With golden beaches, jungle-covered mountainous skylines and the beat of samba around every corner, Rio de Janeiro is the stuff daydreams are made of. To stimulate your imagination and mentally escape from the confinements of your living room, here’s a feel of what the Marvelous City has to offer – and how you can experience it at home.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Listen to ‘The Girl From Ipanema’

While samba is undoubtedly the beat of Rio, it’s ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ that’s the most famous song to come from here. It was written by two Brazilian musicians, Antônio Carlos Jobim (more commonly known as Tom Jobim) and Vinícius de Moraes. They were inspired to write the song after seeing Helô Pinheiro, a local young woman, walking past a bar they were at in Ipanema. The song (the original Portuguese version, that is) is best enjoyed at full volume to bring a bit of Brazilian tropical vibes to your living room.

Tom Jobim’s statue is situated on Ipanema Beach

Dance samba

There are plenty of samba songs for you to listen to and practice your samba moves – just search for “Carnival samba” on YouTube to get a selection of playlists straight from Rio. The dance can be challenging to learn as it requires both getting the footwork right and moving your hips to the beat of the rhythm. With the need for novel ways of exercise being more important than ever before, why not check out a few samba class videos online and turn your bedroom into a dance floor.

Whether your have feathers or not, you can learn to dance samba

Drink a caipirinha

While most Cariocas (people from Rio) prefer a freezing-cold chopp (Brazilian beer served in a small glass) on a night out, the most famous drink to come from Brazil is the caipirinha, a potent mix of cachaça (sugarcane spirit), lime juice and sugar served over plenty of ice. Lime is the classic flavor, but there are plenty of delicious ones made with passion fruit, mango and other exotic fruits. So feel free to experiment with strawberries, blueberries or any other fruits you can find.

Caipirinhas are made from mango, strawberries and all kinds of fruit

Learn Portuguese

Portuguese is a Latin-based language, so if you’ve ever studied Spanish, French or Italian, you’ll notice how the verb structures and the masculine and feminine nouns are similar. Try starting with Duolingo or Babbel to build your vocabulary and learn the verb tenses, before moving on to italki for classes with native teachers. If you already know Portuguese but are a little rusty, check out Nexo Jornal on YouTube for a wide selection of videos to brush up on your listening skills.

Make a barbecue, Rio-style

You don’t want to be drinking caipirinhas on an empty stomach, so prepare yourself a true Rio banquet to keep hunger at bay. If you can order online, look for picanha (a succulent Brazilian steak), linguiça (sausage) and chicken hearts; cook them on a gas or electric portable barbecue and serve on a sharing platter with rice, black beans and garlic bread on the side – and of course, a cold beer or caipirinha. You can also eat açai, a popular snack in Rio that’s often served with fruit and granola.

Linguiças are long sausages typical in Rio

Read Brazilian literature

One of the most famous authors to come from Brazil is Paulo Coelho, who was born in Rio de Janeiro and is best known for his award-winning novel The Alchemist (1988). He also worked as a songwriter and wrote the lyrics for some of Brazil’s biggest music icons, such as Elis Regina and Raul Seixas. It’s an obvious one, but if there’s just one book of Coelho you read, make it The Alchemist. Other recommendations include Eleven Minutes (2003), Brida (1990) and Manuscript Found in Accra (2012).

Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian writer most known for The Alchemist

Watch a movie made in Rio

For a heart-lifting film that will leave you feeling as warm as the Brazilian climate, try watching Central Station. It follows the unlikely friendship that forms between a retired schoolteacher who struggles to make ends meet and a young boy who is looking for his long-lost father. Not only does it give a glimpse into Rio’s everyday life, the touching story will give you an extra pleasant and cosy feeling while in your abode.

‘Central Station’ is a feel-good movie that also captures everyday life in Rio

Step inside the National Museum of Brazil

The National Museum of Brazil once held one of the largest collections of natural history in the world, yet a devastating fire in 2018 destroyed nearly 20 million pieces, including dinosaur fossils, indigenous artifacts, and the oldest human skeleton to be found in the Americas. However, Google Arts and Culture preserved these items through 3D technology, and you can see them through a virtual tour of the museum. Explore the 360-degree surroundings and discover Brazil’s largest iron meteorite, ancient Egyptian artefacts and many other fascinating exhibitions.

See lost items through a virtual tour of the National Museum of Brazil
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