7-minute walk
Vidigal beach
A small sheltered beach shared with the Sheraton Grand Rio, just below the house. Quiet in the morning — ideal for a first swim before breakfast.
Around the house
Rio at your feet.
The beach on foot, Leblon in five minutes, the rest of Rio in under forty. Our addresses, with travel times from the house.
On foot
15 min by moto-taxi to the trailhead
Dois Irmãos trail
Rio's most famous hike starts at the top of Vidigal: 40 minutes to an hour uphill for the view over Ipanema, Leblon, the Lagoa and Corcovado. Go early, with a local guide the team can recommend.
10 min by moto-taxi
Bar da Laje and Mirante do Arvrão
Vidigal's hilltop bars: caipirinha at sunset facing the ocean, live music on weekends. This is where Rio comes for the best view in town.
5–10 minutes by taxi
5 min
Leblon
Rio's most elegant and quietest neighborhood: the beach, Rua Dias Ferreira and its restaurants, Cobal do Leblon for a fresh juice or a beer on a terrace, Shopping Leblon.
10 min
Ipanema and Arpoador
Ipanema beach at Posto 9, then Arpoador rock for the sunset the crowd applauds every evening. Footvolley lessons on Ipanema beach with Matheus's school, on request.
5 min
São Conrado and Pedra Bonita
On the other side of the hill, Pepino beach, where paragliders land after taking off from Pedra Bonita — a tandem flight over the forest and the ocean can be booked a day ahead.
15–35 minutes
15 min
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
The lake at the heart of the South Zone: a 7.5 km loop for running or cycling, kiosks by the water, pedal boats for kids.
20 min
Parque Lage and the Botanical Garden
Coffee in the courtyard of the Parque Lage mansion with Corcovado in the background, then the imperial palm avenues of the Jardim Botânico.
25 min
Sugarloaf
The two-stage cable car to the summit; book the late-afternoon slot to watch the city light up.
35 min
Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer
The cog train from Cosme Velho climbs through the Tijuca forest to the statue. Book tickets the day before.
18–40 min
Copacabana and Pedra do Sal
Copacabana for the promenade and the Fort; Pedra do Sal, in the historic center, for street samba on Monday and Friday nights.
From the house, on request
Private driver for the day
The house driver for a Sugarloaf + Corcovado + downtown day, or a trip to Búzios or Petrópolis.
Footvolley on Ipanema beach
An introduction to Rio's beach sport with the school run by Matheus, our host.
Massage and breakfast at home
A massage on the deck facing the sea; Brazilian breakfast served at the house — rates from the team.
Private chef
A moqueca or churrasco dinner cooked in the outdoor kitchen, for eight, without leaving the pool.
Our favorite guides to Rio
- Bonjour Rio — The reference French-language guide to Rio: neighborhoods, nightlife, addresses, news.
- Time Out Rio de Janeiro — This week's restaurants, bars and events, in English.
- Visit Rio — The city's official tourism site: events, beaches, transport.
Photo credits (places) — Wikimedia Commons · Mirante do Arvrão : Ferreiraandreza (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Praia do Leblon : Wusel007 (CC BY 4.0) · Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas : chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Parque Lage : Wilfredor (CC0) · Pão de Açúcar : Halley Pacheco de Oliveira (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Cristo Redentor : Donatas Dabravolskas (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Copacabana : Gabriel Heusi / Brasil2016.gov.br (CC BY 3.0 br)
