Zona Sul Attractions in Rio de Janeiro

Most major Rio de Janeiro attractions are to be found in the city's affluent Zona Sul (South Zone), and it's here that the vast majority of visitors will make their base. The beautiful beaches of Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon are top Rio de Janeiro attractions, and lazy days on the beach are a vital part of any Rio de Janeiro vacaction.

Zona Sul attractions are far from limited to the beaches, however. This part of the city is blessed with far more than its fair share of natural beauty - from the great dome of Sugar Loaf mountain, jutting right out of the Atlantic Ocean, to the vast, mountain-flanked lake that is Lagoa, and the unforgettable vision of Christ the Redeemer towering above the city from his home atop Corcovado, the highest of many many mountain peaks Rio de Janeiro.

While the Zona Sul of Rio de Janeiro is populated by the city's upper classes, the sprawling favelas that cling to the mountainsides reveal another side to the city. Curious visitors who want to find out more about life in these notorious shanty towns can even take an organised tour of Zona Sul favelas such as Rocinha (the largest favela in South America). While some visitors may be dubious about the morals of such a visit, the best of them, such as Marcelo Armstrong's Favela Tour, can be eye-opening and educational experiences.

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