Weather

Rio has a regular tropical climate. The summer months, between December and March are hot and temperatures can vary from 77°F to 104°F. Humidity is a major concern, and Rio experiences more showers during this season as compared to others. These showers can be defined as short intense tropical spells. In winter, between June and August, temperatures are between 68°F to 86°F, which provides ideal climatic conditions to venture out on the beach. At night the temperature is known to decrease to as low as low as 59°F. Rainfall in the winter is characterized by longer and heavy drizzling. Spring and fall temperatures range from 70°F to 90°F. The tropic of Capricorn is located south of Rio, which explains its tropical climate.

1. Best Times to Go

A trip to Rio de Janeiro can be planned based on personal preferences, whether a person wants to soak up the sun or indulge in shopping and sightseeing. Mean low temperatures hover around 68°F in winter and the summers are prone to numerous downpours. Apart from the weather conditions, the Rio Carnival is also a determining factor when planning a trip to the Brazilian city. The carnival starts five days prior to Ash Wednesday and most tourists prefer to a be a part of this extravaganza. However, be warned that if you visit the city during the carnival period, you will face higher hotel tariffs and overcrowding.

2. What to Wear

Clothing in Rio is relatively informal, with beachwear having prime importance. The locals are not strict about dress codes even in their daily life and are very casually dressed. Shorts for men and women, and bikini tops for the latter are considered to be normal attire, all the more during summer. In order to deal with humidity and not stick out as the odd duck amongst locals, tourists may choose to wear t-shirts, shorts and ordinary flip flops around the city or at the beach. Certain places have outlined the need for a dress code, more so religious sites and churches where short clothing and showing of skin is not viewed positively.

E. Transportation

1. Air

The Galeão International Airport is also referred to as the Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport. It is at a distance of about 9 miles from the city center. The airport proves to be a platform for domestic and international connectivity. The major airlines that land at the airport are Brazil's national airlines, Varig, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental, Iberia, Lufthansa, TAP, United Airlines and Vasp. Regular air-conditioned and ordinary buses depart every half an hour and the journey spans about 45 minutes to an hour. There are fixed-rate municipal taxis that can be boarded next to the airport entry gate.

2. Subway/ Underground Rail

There is a very effective and time saving subway system that operates in Rio. It does not go all the way to Ipanema but has a line that is laid three blocks outside Copacabana beach. It is a reasonably priced transportation option and remains air-conditioned all through the year. The neighborhoods of Flamengo and Botofogo are easily accessible via the subway system. They are reputed to be clean fast and cheap as compared to buses and the chief line between Botafogo and Saens Pena has 15 stopovers.

3. Bus

Traveling by bus in Rio is an easy task, since there are many and they are regular and prompt. Routes are marked in the front right hand plane of the windshield. Passengers are required to board from the back and pay their fare before they enter the sitting area. Rush hours almost always end in traffic jams and packed buses provide an ideal platform for petty thieves to frisk through travelers' bags, apart from using razors to actually cut into bags. Most buses take travelers via Copacabana Beach, making life easy and hassle-free for them. Carrying valuables on a bus is a risk and should be avoided.

4. Taxi

When visiting Cristo Redentor or the Sugarloaf Mountain, hiring a cab arranged by the hotel is safe as it eliminates the possibility of being confronted by petty thieves along the way. Taxis are fair priced and can be boarded from important streets and crossroads. At times, drivers may only be well versed in Portuguese so travelers would do well to learn a bit of the local lingo. When boarding, make certain that the meter works. Radio taxi tariffs are 30% more expensive than regular cabs, and cab fares are proportionate to the popularity of the season.

5. Tram

Earlier there were many trams that traversed Rio, but as of now the only surviving member of the fleet is the Santa Teresa tram. The locals call it the ‘bondinho'. It operates from the city center and goes till the colonial district of Santa Tereza. It is interesting to note that although a ticket is cheap, you can travel free if you choose to hang off the sides of the tram, similar to the local kids.

7. Ferry

Daily ferry services in Rio are fair priced and allow people to get a better view of the city as they are slow and travel different routes as compared to road transportation. The Transtur/Aerobarcos do Brasil company provides hydrofoil and catamaran services as well. Boat and yacht rentals can be reserved from the Marina da Glória.