Columbus Cruise Review - Rio de Janeiro

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Time Zone: GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 from third Sunday in October to third Saturday in March).

Currency: Real (R$) = 100 centavos.

Sightseeing: The city’s spectacular harbour is dominated by the famous rocky outcrop, Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf), and, further up, the Corcovado (Hunchback) peak, rising 709m/2326ft above the Baía de Guanabara and providing the focal point for the classic Rio skyscape. The Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue stands on top of the Corcovado peak which is located within the Parcque Nacional da Tijuca – it is accessible by cog train (leaving from the Rua Cosme Velho). From the top there are magnificent views, particularly from the right side. Rio’s other landmarks are its numerous beaches, most notably the Copacabana and Ipanema. Beach life is a ritual in Brazil and different beach sections reflect different ways of life and fashions. Rio’s other main beaches include Flamengo, Botafogo, Leme, Arpoador, Leblon, Vidigal, Pepino and Barra da Tijuca. Rio also has several interesting museums, including the Museu Histórico Nacional, the Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói, the Museu Villa Lobos, the Museu do Folclore Edison Carneiro, the Museu do Índio, the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes and the Museu da República.

Shopping: See Manaus. Rio specialises in antiques and jewellery.

Eating Out: In Rio de Janeiro a favourite dish is feijoada (thick stew of black beans, chunks of beef, pork, sausage, chops, pigs’ ears and tails on white rice, boiled green vegetables and orange slices). Beer is particularly good and draught beer is called chopp. The local liqueur is cachaça, a type of rum popular with locals, but not so much with visitors. This phenomenally strong spirit is often mixed with sugar, crushed ice and limes to make caipirinha, a refreshing if intoxicating cocktail and the Brazilian national drink.