Every May for three days, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Paraty turns into the jazz capital of the world. The Bourbon Festival is an international music festival featuring jazz, blues, R&B, and soul artists from all over the world. All concerts are completely free, and street musicians perform all over town.
As a football fan, I’ve been on a lot of stadium tours, but none have given me chills like I had walking onto the field at Estádio do Maracanã. This historic stadium in football-crazy Rio de Janeiro is the Mecca of football. I’ve been on BETTER stadium tours in more beautiful stadiums, but none in a place as significant as Maracanã.
“Don’t go to a favela, they’re too dangerous”. “Favelas are full of crime and drugs”. “Didn’t you see City of God? The people in the favela will murder you!”
Just outside of Rio de Janeiro city center is the Sambadrome. It’s converted into one of the most important areas of the city for a few days a year.
The Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading (Real Gabinete Português de Leitura), one of the most magnificent libraries in the world, is located in Rio de Janeiro’s city center.
Lapa is one of the more interesting neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro. While typically known for nightlife, it has a few points of interest, including one of the city’s most visited sights.
Most people come to Rio de Janeiro for the beaches, scenery, and nightlife, but there is plenty to see in the historic city center, including the heart of the city, Largo da Carioca.
Copacabana beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world. The word Copacabana itself creates images of hundreds of perfect bodies on a crowded beach, men and women flirting with each other, playing football, working out, or laying out for a tan.
Rio de Janeiro has some of the best and most famous beaches in the world, along with a strict beach culture that Cariocas say should be followed if you want to fit in.
The most famous and colorful (and touristy) area in Buenos Aires is the old working class area of La Boca. Settled by Italian immigrants, mostly from Genoa, this area retains an Italian feel to it. In fact, the official emblem of La Boca has the Genoese flag in it. La Boca was also instrumental in the rise of the tango. You’ll find many tango performers in the street.