The city of Rio de Janeiro was discovered on January 1st, 1502 by Portuguese explorers who mistook the entrance of Guanabara Bay for the mouth of a river. The city was named for the “January River”. Over the years, it developed into an important shipping port for gold and diamonds. When Napoleon’s armies invaded Portugal in 1808, the French king and his court were transferred to Rio de Janeiro, bringing even greater international status and class to the city. With Brazilian independence, Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the new empire.
Even though Rio de Janeiro is no longer the capital city of Brazil, it is still recognized worldwide as one of the capital cities of beauty. Visitors only need a few moments here to understand why it is also called “ Cidade Maravilhosa”, or “The Wonderful City”. Urban areas are cradled between a magnificent bay and gorgeous beaches on one side, and dramatic mountains covered with lush tropical forest on the other. It is precisely this unique geographic setting that permanently places Rio de Janeiro among the world’s most beautiful cities.
On top of that, Rio is famous for its vibrant culture. Visitors from all over the world flock here to experience its annual Carnaval, the one-week-long festival with its wildly-imaginative floats and vivid costumes. Rio is rich in local culture, offering much to visitors who want to enjoy samba and other forms of Brazilian music and dancing. This capital of leisure also has amazing beaches, packed with locals surfing, playing volleyball or simply enjoying life in the sun. Some of the world’s most beautiful men and women spend their days sun-bathing on the sand or splashing in the waves.
Rio has many other wonderful tourist attractions, such as the great Maracanã stadium, one of the world’s largest soccer stadiums. Other landmarks include the giant statue of Jesus, known as Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), which overlooks the city with outstretched arms; the striking Pão de Açucar (Sugarloaf) Mountain with its cable car, and the Sambódromo, where the Carnaval parade takes place each year.
As with any country in the world, safe traveling can be a concern. With that in mind, MaximRio has taken great steps to ensure that you and
your party will be well take care of when traveling with us. We focus our activities exclusively in the safer neighborhoods in and around Rio,
and ensure that your accommodations are situated nearby. Our hosts make sure that we take you around the city with the utmost
attention given to your security and peace of mind. This will allow you to enjoy your time in Rio de Janeiro and not worry about anything other
than the fun you'll be having.
The 2016 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Rio!
http://www.rio2016.org.br/en/
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