New Year in Rio de Janeiro (12/26/2005 – 01/04/2006)

 

  Rio is situated in the picturesque Guanabara Bay and is famous for its beaches. The most well known is Copacabana Beach.

Before 1960 Rio was the capital of Brazil. The inhabitants of the 8 million city are called cariocas.

Seeing in the New Year is the event, which is as important as famous Carnival. Any carioca will tell you the story about the omnipotent goddess Yemanja. She lives in the ocean. Happiness and good luck of all people depends on her. People should congratulate her on the New Year. All the inhabitants, wearing white clothes, pour out onto the beach. A sacrificial boat laden with flowers, candles and jewellery is pushed out to sea from Brazil’s famous Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro. This ceremony is accompanied by ritual songs and dances and is finished with grand fireworks: the multicolored lights of which bloom in the sky and reflect in the deep dark water of the ocean.

Trip to Rio+hotel ($3222) WWW.EXPEDIA.COM

Trip

Departure

Arrival

Moscow (SVO) to Rio (GIG)

12/26/05 2:45 p.m.

7:05 a.m. (+1 day)

Rio (GIG) to Moscow

1/04/06 11:40 p.m.

10:45 p.m. (+1 day)

 

Accommodations

Guanabara Palace Hotel*** (www.world66.com)

                                       

Address: Avenida Presidente Vargas 392                                  

Rio de Janeiro 200071-000

Brazil

Nearest major airport: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GIG-International)

Check in 12/27/05

Check out 1/04/06

Flight price $2886

1 room (standard single, BB) 8 nights ($84.50 per night) $676

Taxes &fees $114

Discount for booking together $55.84

Ø      Located downtown in the financial center of Rio. Near government offices, main banks and hallway between Copacabana beach and main tourist spots.                  

                                                                        

Ø      Modern building, newly renovated apartments and suits. Soundproof windows, wood floors.

                                                

Ø      Panoramic rooftop terrace with swimming pool, fitness center and sauna. Business center with 7 workstations free use for guests, 35 meeting rooms, largest in downtown Rio.

                         

 

On the 31st of December

                                                  

                                           

                                                           

The price includes:

·   Accommodations

·  Breakfasts

·  Excursions, transfer

·  Guide, flight

·  Medical insurance

Program of stay

Service

Number of people

 driver + a ticket per person

01

02

3-4

5-7

8-9

4 hour excursion round the city

102

53

41

27

18

4 hour excursion Sugar Loaf (the entrance cost is included)

116

63

53

39

30

4 hour excursion Corcovado (the entrance cost is included)

116

65

53

39

30

6 hour excursion Sugar Loaf (ticket is included)

144

80

64

46

35

6 hour excursion Corcovado (ticket is included)

144

80

64

46

35

8 Hour excursion Sugar Loaf& Corcovado (including the entrance ticket and barbecue)

207

125

99

80

68

8 Hour excursion Corcovado&Guanabara Bay Cruise (ticket+barbecue)

204

122

95

76

65

8 Hour excursion to the Botanical Gardens, Maptacang and Niteroi stadiums (ticket+barbecue)

186

105

78

59

47

6 hour excursion Petropolis (ticket, no meals. The museum is closed on Mondays)

189

96

63

42

30

8 Hour excursion Petropolis (ticket, no meals. The museum is closed on Mondays)

203

110

77

57

45

Rio at night: samba-show in Platforma1(no meals)

170

101

80

64

54

Rio at night: barbecue+Samba-show in Platforma1

192

120

104

83

71

Rio at night: seafood SOL&MAPT+ Samba-show in Platforma1

203

131

114

94

82

 

Regular excursions (any number of people in the bus)

Excursions

Cost per person

HD excursion Sugar Loaf and a short trip round the city (daily)

32

HD excursion Corcovado and to the forest (daily)

32

HD excursion to the Botanical Gardens, stadium Maptacang&Niteryi (daily)

23

HD excursion Historical Rio (Tuesday-Friday)

21

6hour excursion Petropolis (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)

23

8 hour excursion Sugar Loaf& Corcovado (barbecue) (daily)

72

PM excursion round the city+barbecue (daily)

24

3 hour excursion Guanabara Bay Cruise (Tuesday-Sunday)

21

FD excursion Guanabara Bay Cruise+barbecue Niterpoi (daily)

44

Rio at night: barbecue+Samba-show in Platforma1 (daily)

52

Rio at night: Samba-show in Platforma1 (no meals) (daily)

40

Excursion Tropical Isles+lunch(daily)

47

Excursion Tropical Isles+lunch(daily) – Bernardo Island

63

 

Useful information

We advise you to visit famous restaurant “At Marius”, which is situated in Copacabana. Having paid $25 for the entrance, you are able to enjoy not only salads, stewed mushrooms and succulent pickled cucumbers, but also taste 26 sorts of meat, prepared according to special technology – in the infra-red rays. Very friendly waters carry the meat and cut off right on the spot the piece that you like.

Shopping

 The majority of shops are opened from 9a.m. till 6.30p.m. (Monday-Friday), from 9a.m. till 1p.m. (on Saturday).

Large shops are open till 10p.m., supermarkets can work round hours.

The main place for shopping is Ipanema District. There is a wide choice of qualified summer knitted wear, suits and leather shoes, and also interesting souvenirs – American Indians’ vessels, Negro amulets or goods from pay-brazil mahogany. The best place for buying souvenirs is “Hippy” fair, which takes place on Sundays. The biggest shopping centers are Rio Syl and Barra. It’s worth buying natural precious stones, diamonds, and topazes in Brazil. They are of higher quality and are much cheaper than those in Russia.

Tipping

In expensive restaurants and bars you should tip (10% of the bill); in cheap snack bars – 1-2 reals; in beach cafes – it’s not a common thing; to the porter in a hotel or in the airport – 1 real; to the driver – the bill is rounded to bigger sum.

Currency

Brazil currency is real (1$=1.93 BRR). There are banknotes of 1,5,10,100 reals and coins of 1, 5, 10, 50 centavo. In hotels and some shops are accepted international credit cards.

Currency exchange

 You can exchange “travelers’ checks” and foreign currency in banks, exchange offices attached to tourist agencies and in shopping centers, in airports, in hotels (dollars only). Banks are open from Monday till Friday (10a.m. – 3p.m.). Exchange offices usually work from 9a.m. till 5.30.

Transport

 There is a developed coach communication between towns situated along the sea cost. The most preferable mean of transport in Rio is taxi (when going by bus you may be robbed). There are taxies of two types: yellow and radio. Yellow taxies are cheaper, but few drivers know English. There are 2 tariffs: day (figure 1 is lit) and night (11 p.m. – 6a.m.) – holiday (2 is lit). Besides, there are 2 zones of service: southern (letter “s” is on taxies) and northern (“N”). When you go out of the zone the tariff increases twice. If you ask to switch on the conditioner, you’ll have to pay extra. Average cost of a radio-taxi is 2$ for the first km and 1$ for the every following.  You’d better to take tourist coaches (green with large windows), going along the beaches.

Health

There is a high risk of catching viral hepatitis type B, especially after sexual contacts, blood transfusion etc. We advise you to inoculate against viral hepatitis type A and B and malaria, it’s also advisable to inoculate against yellow fever. There is a great rate of venereal diseases. You mustn’t drink running water. Take with you sun blocks.

Security

Brazil is among first ten most criminal countries in the world. Don’t wear expensive jewelry, take big sums of money with you, and leave your clothes, cameras and purses/wallets on beaches without supervision. You shouldn’t accept invitations from unfamiliar people. Don’t go to slums even at daytime. Never leave papers, money and jewelry in the hotel room (hotels are not responsible for disappearance of your things from your room.

 

Brazil Embassy in Russia: www.brasemb.ru

Consular duties – 80$