The stopover that feels like a second holiday
Rio de Janeiro
Beaches inside a city, jungle mountains above it, and a rhythm that starts on Friday and never quite stops. Add Ilha Grande and you have a proper week.
- Best time
- Year round — hot and lively in November
- Recommended days
- 4 days in Rio, plus 2–3 on Ilha Grande
- Getting there
- 4h flight from Santiago, often bookable as a free stopover
Where to fly
Fly Santiago (SCL) → Rio de Janeiro, Galeão (GIG) with LATAM or GOL — 4 hours, and often bookable as a free stopover on your way home to Europe. Do not book into Santos Dumont (SDU) for the international leg. Uber from Galeão to Ipanema is about €20.
What not to miss
Ipanema & Arpoador
Posto 9 for the day, then the rock at Arpoador where the whole beach applauds the sunset. Leblon next door is calmer.
Cristo Redentor & Santa Teresa
Go up Corcovado at opening time, then come down into the tiles, trams and bars of Santa Teresa and Lapa.
Pão de Açúcar & Urca
The cable car at golden hour, then beers on the sea wall in Urca with half the neighbourhood.
Ilha Grande
No cars, no roads — just jungle trails and beaches. Lopes Mendes is one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, two hours' walk or a short boat from Abraão village.
Day by day
This is only a suggestion. We have not been here ourselves yet — this is how a trip could look. We recommend doing some further research and shaping it into your own adventure.
Day 1
Ipanema
Beach in the morning, posto 9, a walk to Arpoador for sunset applause, dinner in the neighbourhood.
Day 2
Corcovado & Santa Teresa
Christ the Redeemer early to beat the crowds, then the tram, tiles and bars of Santa Teresa and Lapa.
Day 3
Sugarloaf & Urca
Cable car at golden hour, then beers on the wall in Urca with everyone else.
Day 4
To Ilha Grande
Transfer 2.5h to Conceição de Jacareí, then a 30-minute boat to Vila do Abraão. Swim, eat fish, sleep to the sound of the forest.
Day 5
Lopes Mendes
Boat to Praia de Palmas and walk 40 minutes through the jungle to Lopes Mendes — white sand, warm water, no buildings.
Day 6
Boat day & back
A day trip around Lagoa Azul and the small beaches, then the boat and transfer back to Rio or straight to the airport.
Where to stay
- There are so many lovely places to stay here — have a browse on Booking.com and Airbnb and pick whatever feels right for you. These buttons will take you straight there.
Don't forget
- · Take a taxi or Uber at night, not the beach path
- · Carry little: a card, some cash, an old phone
- · On Ilha Grande bring cash and reef shoes — ATMs are unreliable
- · Learn five words of Portuguese — it changes every interaction