Cheap flights to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from C$ 493

Rio de Janeiro is synonymous with its glitzy Carnival, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Christ statue on Corcovado, and the “itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny” bikinis littering the beach at Ipanema. Brazil’s lively cultural capital nestles between the sea and the mountains, and is home to Tijuca Forest, the world’s biggest urban forest, which was completely replanted during the late 19th century. The city is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro, encompassing most of Brazil’s major tourist attractions.

Tourists booking flights to Rio are advised to bring their open minds and attitudes. Temptation runs rapid in Rio — if the samba doesn’t seduce you, the people will. The city moves to the music of the choro, samba and bossa nova, all of which form the principal source of Brazilian national culture. Rio’s infamous annual carnival is a wild, colourful and hedonistic affair that draws together both rich and poor, who flood the streets for the world’s largest samba parade on the Sambodromo.

Rio de Janeiro climate

If you like the heat you will love Rio de Janeiro where the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees (Celsius). Rio has a classical tropical climate. December to March is summer, and it is very humid with temperatures topping 38 degrees. December has the most rain and July and August the least. Winter is short, lasting only from June to September. Daytime temperatures in winter are in the 20s and the nights are cooler.

Getting around Rio de Janeiro

The Rio de Janeiro subway doesn’t reach all parts of the city, but it is air conditioned and quicker and cheaper than the buses, which can take you anywhere. You will need to learn enough Portuguese to ask for directions though, since few drivers speak English. Avoid taking buses at night; they can be a hotspot for robberies. The private Fresco buses have regular stops and can be flagged down anywhere on the way to the beach, downtown or the airport. If you’re travelling anywhere in the city at night, take a taxi to play it safe. There are plenty of taxis around, and you shouldn’t have trouble flagging one down. For a more reliable and air-conditioned cab, your best bet is one of the radio taxis and cab companies that serves hotels. It’s always a good idea to negotiate your fare before you get in the car if the meter isn’t running. If you rent a car, stay alert and keep the car doors locked. You’ll have to deal with heavy traffic, poorly labeled streets and scarce parking.     

What is good to know if travelling to Rio de Janeiro?

• Take a cable-car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain. The journey to the top is done in two stages. The first cable car climbs more than 213 metres up Urca Hill. Then, on another cable car, tourists travel 396 metres to the summit from which there are wonderful views of Copacabana beach and over the city.
• The world-famous statue of Christ the Redeemer is 38 metres high and stands at the peak of the mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park.
• The botanical gardens are home to about 2,600 species of plant life. The gardens were created by the Prince Regent of Portugal in 1808 as a temporary home for imported plants while they were being acclimatized. There are animals too such as toucans, tanagers, marmoset monkeys and exotic butterflies.
• World-famous beaches include Copacabana, where Rio’s New Year’s celebrations take place, and Ipanema, famous in the song The Girl from Ipanema.
• For retail therapy, check out the upmarket Rua Garcia D’Avila or for budget-conscious travellers, the hippie fair at Praça General Osorio is a good place to pick up souvenirs such as wooden sculptures, leather goods and artworks.
• The Museu Nacional de Belas Artes was inspired by the Louvre. It dates from 1908 and is Rio de Janeiro’s main fine arts museum. It displays artifacts from the 19th century to today from several famous Brazilian artists including Victor Meirelles, Pedro Americo and Candido Portinari as well as foreign and contemporary artists.

Rio de Janeiro airport overview

Rio de Janeiro-Galeao International Airport, better known as Galeao International Airport (GIG), is one of the busiest airports in Brazil. Galeao is Portuguese for galleon, and the airport is named for Galleon Beach, where the majestic ship Padre Eterno was built in 1663.

Located 13 miles (20km) from central Rio de Janeiro, the airport is a favourite gateway for travellers looking to soak up the sun on Copacabana Beach or party the night away during Carnival. Its proximity to such a major international tourism destination means you can find flights to Galeao International Airport from all over the world, including local connections from Salvador da Bahia, Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Vitora; and international ones from most major European and North American cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam, New York and Washington DC.

With the addition of the second terminal in 1999, the airport increased its capacity to 7.5 million passengers annually, though it is currently handling more than 12 million each year. This adds up to long queues for everything from security to coffee, and a lack of seating in the departure lounges. However, the airport is currently beefing up its terminals and infrastructure in a big way ahead of Rio de Janeiro hosting the World Cup in 2014.