Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s most recognizable landscapes. The granite mountains rise suddenly out of the ocean, golden beaches stretch along the coastline, and colorful neighborhoods climb the hillsides. Over a week, I explored the city during its busiest and most festive time, Carnival. This week-long party at the beginning of February is a time when the city celebrates, dances, and parties through the night.
From soaring high above the coastline in a helicopter to learning about its rich history and turbulent past, each experience showed me another side of the city and its culture, offering multiple perspectives on what it means to be Brazilian and live in this unique city tucked between the mountains and the sea.
Christ the Redeemer: Rio’s Most Recognizable Landmark
I knew a visit to Rio wasn’t complete without trying to capture the perfect picture of Christ the Redeemer. Ascending the Corcovado mountain by funicular, packed in with other tourists like sardines, I arrived at the top ready to battle the final stretch of stairs to the statue. By the time I made it to the platform, almost every square inch was full, bustling with people trying to get their perfect shot and marvel at the view, all in an effort to take pictures that made it appear as though there was no one else there.
With the day being very overcast and no sunlight shining through, I took the best pictures I could muster, embracing the moody lighting. And while the statue was incredible to see, the real treasure was the views it provided. The city stretched in every direction, with all of its bays and inlets contrasting against the horizon out in the distance.
Seeing Rio From Above
As the helicopter began to shake and lift off from the ground, my heart sank. But not just because of my deadly fear of heights that I was in the process of conquering, but from the stunning view that spread out before me. A patchwork of mountains, neighborhoods, and beaches spread out in every direction, the golden beaches and crystal-blue water meeting the Atlantic Ocean. From above, I could easily spot each of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods, such as Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Behind them, dense favelas rose into the mountains, showing the striking difference in wealth here.
Making a sharp turn, we course-corrected toward the Christ the Redeemer, towering over the rest of the population from one of the high points around. Visiting Christ the Redeemer the previous day, I had not realized how high up I actually was, perched on a small viewing platform created with the statue. Yet from the helicopter, the small, narrow Corcovado mountain created a striking contrast against the rest of the view, the jungle engulfing the entire mountain save for the top. Did I conquer my fear of heights? Probably not. Will I be taking another helicopter ride should the opportunity present itself? Absolutely.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Another iconic view of Rio that I could not miss was Sugarloaf Mountain. Once again, I challenged myself by taking the cable car up, first to a halfway point and then to the top of the mountain. The halfway point itself was a granite peak, covered in vegetation, with a rest stop. After spotting a cheeky marmoset (a type of monkey) searching for food to steal, I headed up into the second cable car for the final ascent.
From Sugarloaf Mountain, the views were once again spectacular; this was no surprise by now. With large groups of birds circling overhead, it reminded me of how high up I was and of what a feat of engineering the cable cars were.
Rio’s Most Famous Beaches: Copacabana and Ipanema
As the center of social life for locals and tourists alike, these two beaches are always bustling with people. Known as the most beautiful beaches in the city, it is clear that Brazilians love to spend their days relaxing in the sun and gazing out at the water. Who would blame them? Groups played volleyball, families splashed in the waves, and vendors gathered along the promenade selling coconuts, açai, and fried snacks.
Strolling along the promenade right next to the sand, I gazed out at the deep sense of community that was stretched out before me. While some people had phones in hand, most were directly engaged with their surroundings: enjoying the views, talking with friends, or sunbathing in peace. The famed “energy of Brazil” lived up to the expectation.
Carnival at the Sambadrome
Once a year, the biggest party in the world is held in the Sambadrome, an outdoor arena shaped in a long line, with parades of dancers and musicians going down the middle. As a competition of samba schools from around the city, they fight to take the crown for the best samba school, with elaborate floats, dance routines, and costumes.
Spectating from the stands, there were thousands of people gathered, all eager to see the glitter and spectacle of the schools. With incredible choreographies and routines, I watched as dancers performed the fastest samba steps I had ever seen, all in very high heels. The talent and passion were matched with a true sense of joy, beaming from all the performers, who waved to the crowds and gave their hearts out.
This experience showed me just how deeply Carnival is woven into the fabric of the culture here. What appeared to me as a few days’ celebration as a visitor was a year’s worth of excitement, preparation, and practice for the biggest week of the year.
Rio de Janeiro is a city shaped by deep contrasts and landscapes, from its towering peaks and ocean views to its wealth disparities and colorful traditions.
Experiencing Rio through its landmarks was the ideal way to understand it on my first visit, yet I look forward to returning and diving deeper into its off-the-beaten-path experiences to learn more about this famous city.
