General Info
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Brazilians proudly call Rio de Janeiro "the wonderful city", because of its extraordinary natural beauty.
Rio de Janeiro, capital of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and also Brazil's capital from 1763 to 1961, is nestled between the mountains and the sea. Its magnificent shoreline includes charming bays and beautiful beaches, dotted with islands up and down the coast. Flying into Rio is a beautiful sight, whether it be at night or during the day. The visitor quickly finds out why Rio is known as the Wonderful City. It is the centre for art and fashion. New styles and clothing concepts are always available in Ipanema's elegant stores and boutiques.
Population (city of Rio de Janeiro): almost six million highly cheerful and friendly inhabitants.
Official language: Portuguese is the official language, but English-speaking staff is available in Hotels, Restaurants, and most important Shopping Centers and stores.
Electric current: Normally 110 V, 60 Hz. Some hotels have special 220 V
as well.
Climate and temperature in Brazil
Brazil's climate is very diverse. The huge territorial expanse, allied with factors such as temperature, altitude, barometric pressure and proximity to the ocean, provide the country with climatic conditions that can please everyone. It is one of the richest and most complex ecosystems in the world, with extremely diversified vegetation and sceneries. The Brazilian territory is divided into climatic strips: 92 % of the territory is located between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. We can therefore say that the Brazilian climate is predominantly tropical, with equatorial and subtropical (temperate zones) strips distributed over the remaining 8 % of the nation's territory. The predominance of lower altitudes throughout the country provides more elevated temperatures, with averages exceeding 20 °C. The seasons are the exact opposite of those in Europe and the United States, except in the northern region of the country. The average annual temperature is approximately 28 ºC in the northern region and 20ºC, in the south. Extreme temperatures are rare, but they may occur: in the winter, some cities in the south of the country experience negative temperatures, with frost and snow. And in Rio de Janeiro, in the peak of summer, the temperature may hit 40ºC. Now that you know about our climate, choose the temperature you find most pleasant and come fall in love with the beauty Brazil has to offer.
Average temperature in Rio de Janeiro at noon:
November through April: 33.8 oC = 93 oF (Fahrenheit)
May through October: 26.1 oC = 79 oF
Useful Telephone Numbers and Addresses
Address: Av. Afrânio of Mello Franco, s / no.
- Leblon
22430-060 Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Tel: (21) 2511-5112 / 3399-7170
Fax: (21) 3399-7172 GENERAL SECURITY
Airport
International Airport of Rio de Janeiro
District of Ilha do Governador, about 12 km downtown
Telephone: (21) 398-5050
Rio de Janeiro international airport is served by airlines from many countries.
Some of the most important U.S. cities have daily flights to Rio de Janeiro.
VARIG and TAM Brazilian airlines are the company which have the greatest
number of flights to this city.
The best way of transportation to the hotels is the taxis.
Airport Santos Dumont (Sdu)
Tel.: (21) 262.6212 - 210.2457
Salgado Filho square - downtown Tel: (21) 2262.6212 - 2210.2457
This Airport serves to flights of Aerial Ponte between Rio and São
Paulo, and to other cities of the interior of Brazil. It has a good restaurant,
bank agencies and exchange.
Business Hours
Banks: Monday-Friday, 10h00 - 16h00. Closed on Saturday.
Offices: Monday-Friday, 09h00 - 18h00
Shoppings centers: Usually from 09h00 to 22h00. Sunday: from 15h00 to 22h00.
With some variety depending on location and type of business.
Main Shopping Streets: Copacabana (Nossa Senhora de Copacabana and Barata
Ribeiro Street), Ipanema (Visconde de Pirajá Street), Leblon (Ataulfo
de Paiva Avenue).
Passports & Visas
Participants may require official invitation letters to the Advanced School
for either local grant applications or entry visas to Brazil (for only few
countries it is necessary).
Transport Information
Public transport
Exploring the Rio de Janeiro city is possible by bus, taxis or Subway (only
two lines). Regular public transportation will take you to most places worth
seeing. Ask tourist information offices or at the main bus terminal for
more information.
Taxis
A great number of taxis exists in most of the cities
of the Brazil. Common taxis, with taximeter, they can be called in the street.
The value to be paid is in the display of the taximeter. Radio taxis can
be requested by telephone. The official taxis of the airport are also radio
taxis. If you would like to hire a taxi please ask your hotel receptionist
for help.
Some taxi companies
Coopatur - Tel: (xx) 21 573-1009
Copacarioca - Tel: (xx) 21 518-1818
OuroTáxi - Tel: (xx) 21 568-8618
Coopertramo - Tel: (xx) 21 560-2022
Cootramo - Tel: (xx) 21 560-5442
Transcoopass - Tel: (xx) 21 560-4888
Car Rental
There are several international rent-a-car companies, but there are also
many local companies that offer that service.
Actual
Venue: Av. Princesa Isabel, 181 lj J - Copacabana
Phone: (21) 2541-3444
Fax: (21) 2542-3890
E-mail: actual@msm.com.br
Website: http://www.msm.com.br/actual
Avis
Venue: Av. Princesa Isabel, 350 - Copacabana
Phone: (21) 2543-8481
Fax: (21) 2543-8488
E-mail: elcopacabana@avis.com.br
Website: http://www.avis.com.br
Boomerang
Venue: Rua Xavier da Silveira, 40/C - Copacabana
Phone & Fax: (21) 2523-3093
E-mail: boomerang@vetor.com.br
Website: http://www.boomerangrentacar.com.br
ConnectCom
Tel Phone 24hours service: 9311-1112.
Van and car service, chauffer driven.
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Tucked between the mountains and the sea, Rio de Janeiro is an unusual city on account of its geography and is certainly the part of Brazil that is best-known worldwide. At the very mention of the country, even those with only the slightest knowledge of Brazil automatically associate it with the "fabulous city".
The capital of Rio de Janeiro is endowed with a natural beauty that ranges from the beaches that indent the coastline, such as Arpoador, Ipanema and Copacabana, to the peaks that punctuate its landscape, such as the Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountains. Rio contains the largest urban forest in the world, the Tijuca Forest, which was completely replanted during the second half of the nineteenth century. The city is still one of the main sources of national culture and is the cradle of three types of Brazilian music - the choro, the samba and the bossa nova.
Rio de Janeiro is dramatically set between rainforest-clad cliffs and the sea is always awash with joyful existence. Locals love Rio calling it "the marvelous city" and referring to themselves as Cariocas for being part of what is undoubtedly the world's most beautiful city setting. One of the world's densest cities, it never sleeps and it is easy to get around day or night. Cariocas are friendly folks who always have time for the sensual pleasures of good living and the rhythm of samba.