A Samba school parading at Carnival, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is a single’s paradise, so if you’ve just broken up or are just want to enjoy your bachelor status, Rio is where you want to be. Unfortunately I’ve never heard of a spring break that overlapped with carnival (February 13-16 in 2010), but the good news is that there’s plenty of fun to be had all year ‘round. Beautiful beaches, filled with beautiful people, parties 24/7, and – if you still have the energy – beautiful natural and cultural sites to visit. I went in mid-March (during my spring break) and the weather was perfect. Things can get a bit overheated in the summer (that’s December-February, remember Brazil is in the southern hemisphere), but if that’s the only time of year you can go, average temperatures in the high 80’s can be overcome by lovely dips in the cool Atlantic Ocean.
Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro
If you live by the old adage when in Rome, do as the Romans do, you’ll love being in Rio. The Cariocas, that’s what the locals call themselves, love to chill out, hang out, and party all day (and night). Stroll down the beaches, especially the popular Copacabana, and enjoy the famously beautiful Brazilian women tanning in tiny bikinis or the (less famous) hunky guys playing beach volleyball or soccer. At night, head over to a bar or festival for some drinks and music – you’ll find one on virtually every block – or hit up one of the famous night clubs in Copacabana. The beaches, great during the day, get even better at night: just follow the music and you’ll be sure to find a group of locals drinking and partying all night long.
If you get tired of partying, or maybe it’s just not your thing, ask your hostel what they can arrange for you to do during the day. If you’re a fan of water sports, from surfing to scuba diving and waterskiing, they’re all available here (as can be expected from one of the world’s best known beach party destinations). Adventure sports are also popular: I tried hang-gliding off of sugarloaf
Hang-gliding over Rio de Janeiro
mountain (alt. 1675 ft) and loved it (click here for booking info)! You need to be in pretty good physical shape because take-off and landing require some running/sprinting. Ask if they’ll mount a camera on the wing (for an extra charge) so you can show off with video evidence back home. Paragliding and sky diving were also available but I could only afford one because these kinds of activities are a bit expensive (ballpark $100 for the hang-gliding, but ask your hostel’s front desk if they can arrange a group discount). For the outdoorsy-type, try hiking around the national park, Parque Nacional da Tijuca, a tropical forest filled with exotic animals and even a 115-foot waterfall, the Cascatinha Taunay. If you still have some energy left, climb up to the top of Corcovado Mountain to see the 125-foot Statue of Christ the Redeemer, to symbol of Rio (and a great place for spectacular views of the whole city).
The food in Rio is generally great, no matter where you go (although vegetarians might have a hard time in some of the cheaper eateries). Try the all-you-can-eat or eat-by-the-pound restaurants a few blocks away from the beaches. You won’t spend a lot of cash and you won’t go hungry. I wouldn’t recommend the street food (I risked it a few times and only got sick once – it definitely wasn’t worth it!) but if you absolutely have to, get the cooked food rather than the delicious-looking raw fruits.
Statue of Christ t, Rio de Janeiro
Look for free rooms or check out hostels.com, my absolute favorite sight for finding great hostels. You can find beds for as little as $13/night right by Copacabana beach (El Misti Hostel – Copacabana) if you’re willing to stay in a dorm-style room (I mean, you do it all year long and it’s not that bad, why not do the same thing on vacation: it’s not like you’ll be spending a lot of time sleeping anyway!). For just a few bucks more you can get a bit nicer package, like the Mellow Yellow Backpackers Hostel. If you’re flexible on dates, you can fly roundtrip from Dulles to Rio for around $700, or about $660 from BWI.
If you’re willing to be a bit frugal, you can spend 10 days in Rio for less than $1000 (including airfare and cheap alcohol) – that’s why this party city makes it into the student’s top 5 exotic vacations.
- Don’t get ripped off, haggling is expected.
- If you’re taking a taxi from the airport, don’t let the driver offer you a fixed price, make him turn on the meter and you’ll pay a lot less.
- Rio has a big crime problem, so make sure to stay in the safe (southern) parts of the city and always keep your personal belongings either in a safe or locker or tucked into an inside pocket where Rio’s skilled pick-pockets can’t reach.
- If you do lose something, contact the tourist police, not the local police department.
- Check out my article First steps for planning your summer vacation abroad for more advice on how to get started.
Don't forget to stop by often and see what's new. Liked this article? Check out Top 5 Exotic Travel Locations for Students 2009: #4 Portugal. If you would like help planning your next trip, email me at the link above with your questions.
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