Ten “Don’ts” of Rio Travel: What Not to Do in Rio
Greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Most travel blogs tell you what to do when you travel, but we like to tell you what not to do. With these Rio travel tips, you will be better prepared to visit this legendary city of Brazil.
Rio Travel Tip #1: Don’t Visit Sugarloaf or Christ the Redeemer on a Cloudy Day
Not every day in Rio is beautiful and sunny. If you catch a cloudy or a foggy day, don’t bother going up to see Christ on the hill, or Sugarloaf Mountain. It’s not worth the trip if you can’t see anything from the top.
Rio Travel Tip #2: Don’t Think Rio is Just Beaches
There’s so much more to Rio than the world-renowned beaches. Yes, the beaches are fantastic and are famous for a reason, but Rio was the capital of Brazil until 1960, so there’s a ton of cultural attractions as well. There are Portuguese Palaces from the 19th century, not to mention tons of cool museums.
Watch: Five Tips for Visiting Rio de Janeiro
Rio Travel Tip #3: Don’t Sit on a Beach Towel; Sit on a Conga
If there’s one thing that gives tourists away, it’s lying on a beach towel rather than a conga. Locals use a conga to bring to the beach; it’s a thin piece of fabric that can act as a sarong or a blanket for the beach.
Rio Travel Tip #4: Don’t Go to the Beach at Night
Going to the beach in Rio at night can be dangerous. The best thing you can do is to ask your hotel or hostel which are the safest beaches to visit.
Watch: Safety Advice for Traveling in Brazil
Rio Travel Tip #5: Don’t Wear a Lot of Jewelry
Another safety tip for visiting Rio is not to wear a lot of jewelry, or have any flashy jewelry when you visit. Even if you have fake diamonds, it’s not worth becoming a target.
Rio Travel Tip #6: Don’t Flash Your iPhones at the Beach or on the Bus
Similar to flashing jewelry, don’t have your electronics out for everyone to see. I’ve seen locals warn tourists that had their iPhones out at the beach. Theft is fairly common in Rio, so lessen your chances of becoming a victim.
Rio Travel Tip #7: Don’t Bring Your Modesty to the Beach
You’re going to see a lot of skin on the beaches of Rio. And it’s not just the beautiful women in teeny bikinis. Men wear pretty small bathing trunks, too.
Rio Travel Tip #8: Don’t Go Topless At the Beach
With the tiny bikinis and nearly bare bottoms, you may be surprised to learn that you can get fined for being topless at the beach. Now, there’s no limit to how small the bikini top can be, but you have to wear one.
Rio Travel Tip #9: Don’t Visit the Favelas
The favelas of Rio are not a tourist attraction. Tours of the favelas are becoming popular with travelers, but I don’t recommend going, either with a tour or alone.
Rio Travel Tip #10: Don’t Listen to the Media Hysteria About Rio Dangers
Rio has a reputation for being dangerous, and it’s definitely a place where you need to pay attention at all times. If you listen to the media, you’ll be convinced of imminent kidnapping, shooting or robbing, before the mosquitos show up to give you Zika. Yes, there are issues in Rio, but there are also great people and many reasons to visit.
Don’t let these “don’ts” scare you off. Rio de Janeiro is a fantastic city; we’ve had a great time here. With a few safety precautions, you will have an amazing time. If you’ve been to Rio, feel free to add more “don’ts” in the comments below!
For more Brazil travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos: