Monkey Business in Rio

Nature-lovers will feel right at home in Rio de Janeiro, where the wild jungle sits side by side with the towering mountains, and towering apartment blocks.

And those with a soft spot for our monkey cousins will have particular reason to be cheerful on a holiday in Rio.

Hopping from branch to branch, tree to tree, Rio´s marsupial residents can be spotted right across the city if you keep your eyes and ears open.

Far and away the most common monkey to be spotted in Rio is the tiny marmoset, or ´mico´as the locals call them.

These furry friends are so teeny tiny that they can be hard to spot at first, but once you catch sight of one of the little critters, you can be sure that his friends and family are not far behind.

In leafier areas of Rio de Janeiro, such as Botafogo, Santa Teresa, and Laranjeiras, listen out for a distinctive high-pitched whining sound. This is how the monkeys call to each other, so if you do hear the noise keep a close eye on trees (and telephone cables!) overhead. The monkeys are quite at home scampering along power cables between houses, and mothers can often be spotted carrying babies on their backs.

Visitors to Rio de Janeiro looking for a closer encounter with the city´s monkeys would be wise to head for Urca, and the path that surrounds the base of Sugar Loaf mountain.

Here, the monkeys are accustomed to human company and will even take fruit from your hands if you offer it to them. Come armed with a bag of bananas or tangerines, and you´ll soon have made a whole host of monkey friends.