Corcovado Mountain - Christ the Redeemer Statue

Copacabana beach looking north

Samba School – Salgueiro. Demonstration night

Sugar Loaf Mountain and cable car ride

The most important day to day thing to remember, Ester explains, is that Rio’s poor people believe that all foreigners are rich. Richer than them simply by the fact that you are here. So if you’re stupid enough, says Ester, to flash your wealth disrespectfully by flaunting expensive jewellery, watches or cameras you may be asking for trouble. They’ll try to take your belongings off you because in their eyes you can afford to replace them easily. Rio can be a safe experience but please leave your valuables at home Ester pleads.

We have a saying in Brazil “to grease the hand” and as much as it pains Australians, you have to tip everyone. Carry small change so you can tip at the beginning and after. Realise the people that serve and clean up after you earn nothing much and a little tip goes a long way. Trust me says Ester this city invented corruption and in the end things get done.

The biggest hurdle for me as a wholesaler is the fear factor that South America holds. I’d like to reassure people that Rio is a beautiful city and as one of the great cities of the world it’s worth visiting on many levels. Ester says it’s a shame that we didn’t have good Governors that could have done better a long time ago. Because of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics the government is trying to make sense of all the mess. A lot has happened already. Copacabana is changing with new bars and cafes being built right along the beach front. There are now pay toilets and shower facilities at most of these cafes and new life guard posts every kilometre have facilities too. New highway infrastructure includes a new southern route to the airport so people don’t have to go through Copacabana.

Ester says there is absolutely no reason that a trip to Brazil shouldn’t be the experience of a lifetime. Simply keep to the well trodden tourist paths and away from the Favelas. A three night stop in Rio, as part of a Brazil/South American tour will allow enough time to experience the main sights. A trip up Corcovado mountain by train to see Christ the Redeemer Statue, a chair lift ride up the Sugar Loaf, a walk along Copacabana and Ipanema beach promenades, a Samba or Capoeira show, delight at the all the wonderful foods and a chance to drink a Caipirinha Brazil's national cocktail.

The Brazilian Travel Centre specialise in travel from Australia to South America. Globe Travel works closely with the big three airlines flying there with exclusive rates with Aerolineas Argentinas and LAN and are agents for Qantas, Emirates and United Continental.

Click here to read part 1

Contact Ester the “Carioca” Queen of Rio travel.
Globe Travel - The Brazilian Travel Centre
1300 132 636

www.globetravel.com.au