Booty shaking in Rio: Brazilian hotspot is a must visit for any thrill-seeking traveller

    PARTY: Rio de Janeiro has been named one of the must see destinations of the year

Named one of the must see destinations of the year by travel experts, this samba-fuelled city is shaping up to stand on the world stage for the second time this decade, after hosting the Fifa World Cup in 2014. Towering mountain peaks covered in lush rainforests act as a serene backdrop to the chaotic city skyline. Meanwhile, down on the shimmering seafront, the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are packed with people playing football and volleyball, surfing and drinking.
The Brazilian bum craze is still very much in full swing and an endless parade of thong-clad bodies soak up the sun and cool off in the water. The vibe here seems to be, if you’ve got it, jiggle it. In this alluring atmosphere of South American sun, sport and frenetic sensuality, it’s easy to see why people fall in love in this city and are seduced by Rio itself.
Which is why it’s the latest setting for the City Of Love movie franchise, created by Universal Pictures. Following on from Paris Je T’Aime in 2006 and New York, I Love You in 2008, the new Rio, I Love You movie tells a host of love stories set in different locations all over the city. One of these is the Horto Waterfall in Tijuca Forest, the largest urban rainforest in the world and the perfect place for escaping the heat.

    HOTSPOT: Rio de Janeiro is preparing to host the summer Olympics


 Further into the forest lies the trail to one of Rio’s most famous sights – the giant Christ the Redeemer statue. If you don’t fancy the three-hour hike, mini buses and a tram take sightseers to its jaw-dropping peak. As I reached the top a fellow tourist dropped down to one knee and proposed to his girlfriend to huge applause – living proof that Rio can definitely give Paris a run for its money in the romance stakes.

Another landmark just made for enjoying the view is Sugar Loaf Mountain which can be reached by a short cable car ride. Here the director of Rio, I Love You sets a heartwarming autobiographical tale of how he met his partner on the climb up. The summit offers a 360- degree vista of the city and its surround ing islands, and anyone who stops to admire the scenery will also get a close-up of cute marmoset monkeys and exotic birds.

Of course, it’s impossible to visit Rio without being swept along by some slinky samba. By night the city comes alive with drums, singing and dancing, and the bars overfl ow with people partying until dawn. The Lapa district is one of the best evening spots and one cool place to hang out is the Rio Scenarium bar, a three-story former antique store packed full of eclectic vintage fi nds with a samba band providing the soundtrack.
Caipirinhas are the drink of choice everywhere and consist of a potent mix of cachaça, sugar and lime, and cost around 18 Brazilian reals (approx £3) each. The ancient suburb of Santa Teresa is another alluring area to visit after sundown. Here cobbled streets and beautiful, crumbling colonial-style buildings are filled with trendy bars, restaurants, music and shops.

We visited the Restaurant Aprazivel, a traditional Brazilian food fiesta in a series of treehouses in the hills with dazzling views of the twinkling city lights below. Steaks and fish dishes are reasonably priced at around 35 Brazilian real (£6) and small tapas-style bites are cheaper. For vegetarians, deepfried cheese in puff pastry is a staple in most eateries here and is absolutely delicious. Saturdays are feijoada day in Rio and all restaurants serve versions of this national black bean dish.
For all the dazzling magnetism of this far-off fantasy land, it’s also a city of extreme contrasts. It’s impossible to ignore the groups of tiny ramshackle hillside houses built on top of each other. Home to some of the world’s poorest people, the favelas were also an important filming location for Rio, I Love You, portraying the everyday lives and passions of the Brazilians who live there.

    CUTE: Marmoset monkeys on summit


 On the whole very dangerous, the slums are controlled by drug lords. But one community – the Favela do Vidigal – has recently been pacified by the police and opened up to visitors. Its winding, steep streets are now the site of tours led by local guides and host spectacular parties at their summit.


Source: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/travel/beach/492744/Rio-Brazilian-hotspot-visit-thrill-seeking-traveller