Rio de Janeiro Local Custom Tips by racheljapi Top 5 Page for this destination

Traveling to places close to Rio

Places you can easily check out on a day trip or for the weekend:

Buzios
Cabo Frio
Petropolis

To name a few. Buzios is better during the weekend. Petropolis is a historical town. Cabo Frio is similar to Buzios but a bit less developed. You can also go to Ouro Preto. It's a 7 to 8 hr bus trip. There are night buses that leave around 10p and get you there around 6a. Great city!

Padaria

Found on every two to three blocks, Padarias are an important part to every day life here in Rio. The bread is made fresh every few hours (or maybe even more) and can be purchased for 30 cents a piece. That is nothing and the bread is amazing. Listen when you come in, if the fresh bread isn't out already it might be on it's way.

Eat this bread alone or add meat and/or cheese. I enjoy it with Catupiry. It's a cheese spread. A must try!

Parking guy

When driving around Rio you're going to see parking guys waving you in and asking for money. Some of these guys work for the city (they wear vests) some don't. The thing is that you have to pay even if they don't, that is, if you want to keep your car safe. The thing is there are guys that work some streets just like the government guys. They charge you for the spot (2 to 3 reais depending on where and what's going on in that area) and they kind of watch your car. When you pay with a government attendant it includes insurance for your car getting stolen (I believe).

Both ways, you have to pay when you park where one is and there is usually someone on almost every street (minus residential)

Mate

This ice tea drink is a favorite among many Cariocas. You get it from the Mate man on the beach. You know how you know who he is? You know because he's carrying two big tin jugs (one on each arm). The trick is the mixture. One jug has lemon juice and one has Mate. You mix 30% lemon with 70% Mate and you have your tea. I highly recommend trying this.

This should cost you 1.50 reais

FYI: They guy will also be yelling Mate.

Globo snack on the beach Beach Review

Sitting on the beach all day can make you hungry. Brazilians have the perfect snack to ease that hunger but not hurt your appetite for lunch. This snack is called Globo. There are two types that they carry around in a huge clear bag. You won't be able to miss them because they yell globo while walking on the beach.

Anyway, the point is that this is a strange snack that any visitor should try. While it's shaped like a donut it's more crumbly and light like some kind of corn puff.

This should only cost 1.50 reais

Jogging on the beach Beach Review

Cariocas like to be in shape and look good. (I know it's obvious ;-)))))

Anyway, if you feel like jogging or going on a walk, the beach is the perfect place for it. Big tip, don't leave anything on the beach while you go off jogging unless you leave another person with it (same goes for swimming) and try to jog either earlier in the day (before 11am) or after 3pm. The hottest time of the day is 11 to 3 (more or less).

Have fun!

Sunscreen

Yes, the Brazilians you see walking around town and/or sunning on the beach are quite tan. Really, they are. You know what the secret is? The secret is sunscreen. All Brazilians protect themselves from the sun. They use face sunscreen, sunscreen for the body, even sunscreen for the hair. The sun is strong here and I STRONGLY recommend any visitor to follow this custom and use plenty. Yes you can still get tan using a 15 or more. Also, you must re-apply. The worst thing for a tourist is to get badly burned during their trip! Bring some from home, it's expensive to buy on the beach! (But buy the one for your hair in Brasil. You can get it at any drug store or Lojas Americanas. They make great hair products here!)

Coconut Water Beach Review

Get it at the beach, great for dehydration, great for hangovers, great for taste. Costs about 1.5/2 reals at the beach

Weekend Food

After the beach on Saturdays or Sundays most Brazilians go to a BBQ place called a churrascaria. Go and get meat, beans (black), rice, and farofa. If you've never had farofa, I personally like to mix my rice, beans, and farofa up. Don't mix it too much because you still want to taste the individual flavors. Man, I'm hungry! Try Caravelas on Visconde de Caravelas in Botafogo.

Bathing Suits! Beach Review

Alright, the Brazilians have style down, especially at the beach. There are many things foreigners can do to make themselves stick out on the beach (being VERY white as one) but a big one is the type of bathing suit. Regardless of fitness level, Brazilians strut their stuff in little bikinis or speedos (males and different then european and american). When in Rome...Go get one.