Getting There By Air:Aeroporto Internacional do Rio de Janeiro/Galeão Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)Tel: (21) 3398 4526/7.
Website:
www.infraero.gov.brRio International Airport is located on Ilha do Governador, in Guanabara Bay, some 20km (13 miles) north of the city center. It is the main air portal for Brazil and an important hub for flights from Europe and North America, as well as for major domestic flights, serving over 6 million passengers per year.
Airport facilities: Facilities in the
main, older terminal include a 24-hour bank, several bureaux de change, ATMs, shops, duty-free, a pharmacy, post office, 24-hour hospital, tourist information and car hire from
Avis, Hertz and
Localiza. Dining options are limited to a basic food hall with a few fast-food outlets. The newer, less-used terminal has a few shops and snack bars.
Business facilities: Guests at the airport’s Luxor Aeroporto Hotel (tel: (21) 2468 8998; website:
www.luxor-hotels.com) may use the hotel’s 24-hour business center, which has Internet access, fax and phone lines.
Diners Club cardholders have access to the
Diners Club VIP Lounge (tel: (21) 2462 3380; website:
www.dinersclub.com.br), which provides refreshments and business facilities. The lounge is open daily from 0600 to 2300 and is located on the second floor at the international voyages registration desk.
Transport to the city: Real/Reitur Turismo (tel: (21) 2564 2158; website:
www.realautoonibus.com.br) operates air-conditioned buses from the first floor of the airport to Barra da Tijuca, via the city center, the Rodoviária Novo Rio bus terminal, Santos Dumont Airport (see below), Flamengo and along the seafront between Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, where many hotels are situated. The bus runs approximately every 30 minutes daily (journey time - 45 minutes to 1 hour). Fixed-rate municipal taxis can be booked at the kiosk near the airport arrivals gate.
Aeroporto Santos Dumont (SDU) Tel: (21) 3814 7070.
Website:
www.infraero.gov.brBuilt on landfill at the edge of Guanabara Bay, the domestic airport of Santos Dumont is minutes from the city center. Around three shuttles per hour leave for São Paulo (less on weekends) but cancellations are frequent. Aside from the shuttle, there are a few other domestic flights together with air taxis and private planes.
Airport facilities: Tourist information, left luggage, restaurants, bookshop, souvenir shop, Internet access, 24-hour banking and exchange facilities are available along with car hire from
Avis and
Hertz.
Business facilities: Diners Club cardholders have access to the
Diners Club VIP Lounge (tel: (21) 2532 4271; website:
www.dinersclub.com.br), which provides refreshments as well as business facilities, including a fax machine, photocopying, computers and Internet connection. The lounge is open daily from 0600 to 2200 and is located on the main floor in arrivals.
Transport to the city: The airport is served by the
Real/Reitur Turismo (tel: (21) 2564 2158; website:
www.realautoonibus.com.br) bus service into the city center (see above), with a journey time of 20 minutes. Taxis are plentiful and reasonable, but make sure the meter is used or agree a price beforehand. It is only a 15-minute walk to the Centro (central business district) from Santos Dumont airport.
Approximate flight times to Rio de Janeiro: From London is 11 hours; from New York is 10 hours; from Los Angeles is 14 hours; from Toronto is 12 hours and from Sydney is 20 hours.
Getting There By Water:The
Docas do Rio de Janeiro Autoridade Portuária (Rio Docks Port Authority), Avenida Rodrigues Alves, 20 Praça Mauá (tel: (21) 2219 9542/3; website:
www.portosrio.gov.br/rio), regulates all water traffic in Guanabara Bay. Cruise ships anchor in the port during the summer and during Carnival. Ferry, hydrofoil and catamaran services depart from Estação das Barcas, beside the Praça XV de Novembro in the Centro. Tickets are available for purchase here. The ferry terminal is very basic and tourist services are limited. Nevertheless, there are many banks (with ATMs), shops and restaurants in the immediate area.
Boat services: The only ferry routes from Rio are local. Rio is an extremely popular destination for cruise ships and many thousands of passengers disembark at the city each year.
Costa Cruzeiros (tel: (21) 2220 0505; website:
www.costacruzeiros.com.br) operates cruises to and from Rio and the city is also a popular stop for international cruise liners.
Transport to the city: Regular public buses (see
Getting Around) run to the Centro, Copacabana and Ipanema. Taxis are also readily available. The Centro is a short walk from the Estação das Barcas and Barcas Metrô station is situated nearby.
Getting There By Road:Brazil has an expansive system of federal highways, designated by the letters ’BR’, which account for the vast majority of the road network. Minor roads, provided and maintained by the state of Rio de Janeiro, are designated by the letters ’RJ’. Road conditions are adequate although signage is poor. The national speed limit on highways is 110kph (68mph); speed cameras are in operation and fines are hefty. Drivers tend to drive fast with little regard for other road users; accidents are distressingly common.
The minimum driving age is 18 years. Drivers should carry a driving license from their country of origin at all times; technically an authorized Portuguese translation is required, although this is rarely asked for (an international permit is not necessary). Third-party liability insurance is required by law. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. By law, both driver and passenger must wear seat belts, although this is rarely enforced. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.06%.
Touring Club Do Brasil (tel: 0800 264 141
or (21) 3824 0070; website:
www.touring.com.br) provides information and assistance to foreign motorists in cities and on highways, providing the driver is a member of a similar organization in his/her own country. Car insurance and 24-hour roadside assistance is also offered.
Emergency breakdown service: Touring Club Do Brasil (tel: 0800 264 141
or (21) 3824 0070).
Routes to the city: The BR-116 from Porto Alegre passes through Curatiba, where it picks up traffic from Foz do Iguaçu and continues on through São Paulo, all the way to Rio de Janeiro. Coastal highway BR-101 runs from Natal, through Salvador to Rio de Janeiro and beyond. However, there is a faster inland route from Salvador on BR-116, which connects with the BR-040 from Brasilia at Belo Horizonte. The BR-116 and BR-040 lead into Rio along Avenida Brasil. The main highway continues along the coast before emerging from Túnel Novo at Copacabana. From here, the Avenida Atlântica runs alongside the beach to Ipanema and Leblon.
Approximate driving times to Rio: From São Paulo - 6 hours; Brasilia - 20 hours; Foz do Iguaçu - 21 hours; Porto Alegre - 26 hours; Salvador - 28 hours.
Coach services: International and interstate buses operate from the Terminal Rodoviária Novo Rio, Avenida Francisco Bicalho, in Santo Cristo (tel: (21) 3213 1800; website:
www.novorio.com.br). The station consists of an arrivals and departures side and has a tourist office that is able to help with city transportation advice. Facilities include left luggage and a bureau de change (for cash only). Long-distance coaches also depart from the more conveniently located Menezes Cortes terminal, Rua São Jose, Centro (tel: (21) 2544 6667).
International services go to Asuncion (Paraguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Santiago (Chile).
Pluma (tel: 0300 789 1300; website:
www.pluma.com.br) serves international and national routes.
Interstate buses travel to major Brazilian cities and tourist centers. There are many service providers, including
Pluma (see above),
Real Expresso (tel: 0300 788 7325
or (61) 2106 7100; website:
www.realexpresso.com.br),
Viação Cometa (tel: (11) 3868 5800; website:
www.viacaocometa.com.br) and
Expresso Brasileiro (tel: (21) 2253 5121), which operates a service to São Paulo.
Getting There By Rail:Rail travel in Brazil is extremely limited and is not a viable option for travelers getting to or around the country. There is no single national rail company and any passenger services are few and far between. Trains that do run are often slower than the buses.
SuperVia (tel: (21) 2588 9494; website:
www.supervia.com.br) operates an urban service from Rio’s Central do Brasil station.
There are two rail terminals located in the city’s Centro area - Estação Dom Pedro II, Central do Brasil, Praça Cristiano Ottoni (tel: (21) 2296 1244), and Estação Barão de Mauá, Leopoldina, Avenida Francisco Bicalho.
Rail services: Most train services from Rio are for cargo. The overnight train to São Paulo,
Trem de Plata, has been suspended and there are no replacement services.
Getting Around:Public TransportSECTRAN (tel: (21) 2299 3468; website:
www.sectran.rj.gov.br) oversees public transport in Rio.
The
underground service provided by
Metrô Rio (tel: (21) 3982 3600; website:
www.metrorio.com.br) is safe, clean, air conditioned, fast and efficient, although limited in the area it covers. There are two lines in operation from Monday to Saturday 0500 to 0000; Sundays and holidays 0700 to 2300. Line 1 runs from Siqueira Campos (Copacabana) to Sãens Pena (Tijuca), while Line 2 runs from Estácio (Centro) to Pavuna, in the north of the city. Metrô tickets are only available at the stations - for a single journey or a carnet of 10 tickets. Visitors are advised to keep their wits about them when emerging from stations into unfamiliar surroundings, as pickpockets are common.
Buses are cheap, regular and run to all parts of the city. Many different companies operate the municipal services, including
Real (tel: (21) 2263 7689) and
Novo Horizonte (tel: (21) 2233 7210). Services operate 24 hours and are relatively safe - incidences of crime are rare, although travelers must exercise caution during rush hour and at night, when pickpockets prey. Tickets are available from the conductor, who sits next to the turnstile at the back of the bus. These cost a fraction more on the air-conditioned
frescão buses.
An integrated Metrô and bus ticket (one-way combined fare), called Metrô/Ônibus, is available at Metrô stations.
TaxisYellow taxis operate with a meter and can be hailed on the street. The flag (
bandeira) indicates the tariff and usually reads ’1’. However, after 2300, on Sunday and on holidays the tariff will be ’2’, which indicates a price hike of about 20%. Taxis are fairly priced, although some late-night drivers might quote excessive fixed prices. Travelers should check that the meter is reset and indicates the correct tariff. There is a minimum fare, plus a charge per kilometer. Tourists are strongly advised to only use taxis that have an official identification sticker in the window.
Special taxis (either blue or red) operate from the airports. Payment is by pre-paid vouchers, which are available at airport kiosks.
Radio taxis are safe and reliable but 30% more expensive than yellow taxis. Providers include
Central de Táxi (tel: (21) 2195 1000; website:
www.centraltaxi.com.br),
Coopertramo (tel: (21) 2209 9292; website:
www.radio-taxi.com.br) and
Transcoopass (tel: (21) 2560 4888;
www.transcoopass.com.br). Brazilians generally do not tip taxi drivers, although rounding the total fare up to the nearest Real is appreciated.
Driving in the CityWith such a good public transport system, there is little need for tourists to drive in Rio de Janeiro. Those who attempt it need nerves of steel and a solid sense of direction to cope with the hectic traffic and confusing one-way streets. However, driving can be a good option for local excursions and visiting some of the further beaches. Seat belts should be worn and extreme caution employed. Doors should be kept locked. Rio’s traffic is a law unto itself and parking is difficult everywhere, although practically impossible in the center. Rush hour is Monday to Friday 0800 to 0900 and 1700 to 1900, although some areas are bumper to bumper at many hours of the day. For visitors making a day trip to Rio by car, the best option is to park in a secure car park, leaving the car with an attendant. Parking in Rio is very cheap.
Car HireThere are many car hire companies in Rio, including international providers. The minimum age to hire a car is 21 years, although this is sometimes even higher, depending on company policy. Insurance is essential. A credit card is usually required as security but also for payment, seeing as many companies are reluctant to accept traveller’s cheques or US Dollars. An International Driving Permit is not normally required - just a driving license. Rates include basic, third-party cover and collision waiver and personal accident insurance are extra.
Some major companies with car hire offices in the city include
Avis, Avenida Princesa Isabel 350, Copacabana (tel: (21) 2543 8481; website:
www.avis.com.br),
Hertz, Avenida Princesa Isabel 500, Copacabana (tel: (21) 2275 7440; website:
www.hertz.com.br), and
Localiza, Avenida Princesa Isabel 150, Copacabana (tel: (21) 2275 3340; website:
www.localiza.com.br). These companies also have offices at the international airport.
Rates vary according to the model of the car and whether or not it has air conditioning and include unlimited mileage. The minimum hire is usually for a day, with reductions for longer periods. It is sometimes possible for drivers to negotiate further discounts and it can be cheaper for visitors to make an advance reservation from abroad.
Bicycle HireRio has 74km (46 miles) of cycle paths that, wherever they exist, are very much preferable to riding in the city’s traffic. Most paths run alongside beaches and extend intermittently from the Marina da Glória, Centro, through Flamengo, Copacabana and Ipanema, to Barra da Tijuca. Six km (4 miles) of cycle paths traverse the Tijuca National Park.
Energetic visitors can hire bicycles from
Bike&Lazer, Rua Visconde de Pirajá, 135B, Ipanema (tel: (21) 2521 2686).
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