Enjoying Rio

Today is an adventurous day and Hylka will be joined by Jan, her guest from Kazakhstan. Together, they explore the small island neighbourhood of Marapendi Canal on an exciting jet ski ride. They lunch at one of the island restaurants, which they reach on a colourful wooden boat that is used by both locals and tourists. After venturing through the waters, it’s time to see Rio from the air. Hylka and Jan hang glide over the city, a breathtaking experience. After so much adrenaline they relax at a kiosk by the sea drinking a frozen acai (Amazon typical fruit) and finish off the day in great style: a toast with sophisticated drinks in a very cool bar, Kult Kolector, the perfect destination for rock and roll lovers

Hylka picks up Bel, her Australian guest, at the Leblon Spot hostel for an experience available to very few tourists. With a local guide, Eric, they explore Rocinha, one of the largest slums in the world. Together, they run through the community and encounter locals for a glimpse of Rocinha’s artistic, cultural, gastronomic and musical culture.

Away from the most popular beaches of Rio de Janeiro, Hylka meets her guest of the day – Nuno, from Portugal -- at the "Surf and Stay" hostel. Accompanied by an instructor and other students, they climb into the hostel surf van and go in search of the best waves in the stunning beaches of the city’s west side, where they’ll enjoy surf lessons. They lunch at a vegan restaurant and explore the region’s mangroves through a stand up paddle tour with an unforgettable sunset. Night falls and they finish off the day with a special dinner at a tropical restaurant.

Today is the day to explore the two most bohemian and traditional neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro: Santa Teresa and Lapa. Hylka goes to Books Hostel to meet her guest of the day, Constanza from Argentina. To reach Santa Teresa, they climb the steps painted by the artist Jorge Selarón. They taste exotic dishes inspired by Amazonian cuisine and visit a former residence of an art collector that was turned into a museum. In the evening, they walk through the neighbourhood’s colonial streets and explore the various local craft shops. Night falls and Hylka and Constanza walkthrough Lapa’s busy streets and end the day dancing in a traditional samba school, which is already set up for the next carnival. Definitely, enjoy Rio de Janeiro!

From Botafogo to Maracanã Stadium | Enjoying Rio like a local (5/7) wocomoTRAVEL 23 Likes 2,852 Views 2023 Apr 25 #brasil #flamengo #riodejaneiro Hylka meets Daniel, her German guest, in Oztel hostel located in the Botafogo neighbourhood. They have breakfast at Cafe Maya, considered by locals to be one of the most charming cafes in the Laranjeiras neighbourhood. They explore a community fair at San Salvador square, where locals sell clothes, crafts and regional foods. Together, they experience new flavours and enjoy live “choro” music, a wonderful dive into Brazilian musical culture. The day continues at the Maracanã stadium where they watch a Flamengo soccer game and immerse themselves into one of the world’s largest and most fanatical soccer fan bases. They end the day toasting in Baixo Gávea district, a location acclaimed by young locals, where roads are packed with pedestrians goofing off, flirting and drinking beer.

Hylka meets Stephanie, her American guest, at the Manga hostel in the Lapa district, to explore Rio de Janeiro’s historical center. They start the day with a classic breakfast in a traditional pastry shop founded in 1894. They walk the downtown streets passing by major monuments, they visit the naval museum and sail the waters of Guanabara Bay on board of a vessel used during World War II. They have lunch at a typical port restaurant and explore the city center’s popular commercial streets with more than 1,200 shops selling all sorts of merchandise. Night falls and Hylka and Stephanie end the day dancing samba right where Samba was born.

Love is in the air! Today, Hylka meets a very special couple, Nick and Jane at the Bonita hostel in Ipanema. He is from Bulgaria, she is from Canada and both chose Rio as a romantic destination. The day's goal is to visit some of the sites seen on the city’s most famous postcards, which are so much more when you see them live, especially next to your loved one. They explore the waterfront of the world’s most famous beach by bicycling, kayak on the banks of the famous Sugarloaf mountain, enjoy a typical Brazilian dish and end with a romantic paddle boat tour at Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. Night falls and Hylka bids farewell to the couple at a restaurant with typical Amazonian food and exotic drinks.