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Kid-friendly Rio

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Adults may be happy to sun themselves on the beach all day, but kids may not share their parents' desire to achieve the perfect tan. Luckily, Rio is a city that has plenty to offer for all ages, and its many natural wonders will impress younger members of the family as well as the grown ups. The cable car ride up Sugar Loaf mountain and the cog railway up to the Christ Statue are obvious examples, but there are plenty of other fun trips too - this schedule offers options for kids of all ages and interests, while making sure there's plenty to keep the grown-ups happy too. And, of course, some rainy day options are included too!

Author: Lucy

Day 1 - Rio de Janeiro

As well as a great location right in front of Ipanema Beach, Praia Ipanema Hotel has a lovely rooftop pool and gym, so the kids can splash around to their heart's content while mum and dad work up a sweat in the gym (or relax by the pool with an early morning drink!). From the hotel, walk up the beachfront to Arpoador, where you'll find Parque Garota de Ipanema, with swings, slides and skate ramps for adventurous camp. From here, it's a 15 minute walk down to Copacabana beach, where the kids can splash around and play beach ball games while the adults get some tanning time. Stop for a snack at a beack kiosk and order an 'agua de coco' - coconut water served through a straw, straight from the coconut. From Copacabana take a bus down to Urca, and the cable car up to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain. Don't miss the chance to take a walk around the base of Morro da Urca - it's a pleasant short stroll and monkeys can be spotted in the trees overhead. Nearby is the neighbourhood of Botafogo, where you'll find the Museu do Indio. The displays, videos and artefacts relating to the history of Brazil's native Indian tribes will keep adults and kids alike busy for at least an hour. From here, take a bus or taxi back to the hotel for a change, and then head out to the Ipanema branch of Porcao, Rio's most famous all-you-can-eat barbeque restaurant. Prices for kids are half that of the price for adults, so if your children have healthy appetites then they could be in for a bargain feast! Remember that desserts are not included in the fixed price.

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Praia Ipanema

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Avenida Vieira Souto 706 Ipanema
Ipanema
22420-000 Rio de Janeiro, BR

Phone:

+55 21 2141 4949 / +55 21 2540 4949

Praia do Arpoador

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Copacabana / Ipanema
22410-003 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2259 6165 (Tourist Information)

Parque Garota de Ipanema

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Arpoador
Between Avenida Francisco Bhering and Rua Francisco Otaviano
22410-003 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2221 2574

Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf)

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Praia Vermelha
Urca
22290-270 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2461 2700

Museu do Índio

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Rua das Palmeiras 55
Botafogo
22270-070 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2286 8899

Orla Marítima

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Leme até Barra da Tijuca
22010-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Morro da Urca

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Praia Vermelha
22290-270 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Porcão

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Rua Barão da Torre, 218
22411-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 3389 8989

Copacabana Beach

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Avenida Atlantica and Xavier da Silveira
22010-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2542 8080

Day 2 - Rio de Janeiro

Many activities in Rio are dependent on good weather, and in this tropical climate you'll need a back up plan in case of a tropical downpour! If the weather's good in the morning, make the most of it as things can change later on. Should you wake up to a clear day, take a cab over to the base of Corcovada mountain and take the little cog railway up to the Christ Statue and the most amazing city views in the world. Even the kids will be impressed! If the weather holds out, take a tram over to the Jardim Zoologico, where the many species of monkeys will keep children of all ages entertained. Alternatively, take a trip to the botanical gardens, where the many exotic plants and trees may be of interest to older children. Next door to the gardens, Parque Lage is a pleasant park with beautiful grounds and some interesting caves for children to explore. Parque Lage is free to enter, so it's well worth a visit. However, if the weather's taken a turn for the worse, dismiss the zoo and the gardens in favout of the Planetarium, close to Jardim Botanico. At the hotel, find out if there's a soccer match on at the legendary Maracana Stadium. Mid-week games start and end quite late in the evening, so these will be suitable only for older children and teenagers, but weekend games start mid-afternoon, and even non-sporty kids will enjoy the riot of noise, colour and atmosphere. Before you go, stop for something to eat at Barril 1800, opposite Ipanema beach, or alternatively, if there's no football on it's worth heading over to Sao Conrado Fashion Mall, where teenagers and children will enjoy the sport-themed Joe & Leo's Burger. Adults may want to treat themeselves in the mall too - some of the best designer stores in the city are based here.

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Planetário da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro

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Praça Padre Leonel França, 240
Gávea
22451-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2274 0096 / +55 21 2274 0046

Jardim Botânico

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Rua Jardim Botânico, 920 - 1008
22460-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 22946947 / +55 21 22943642

Jardim Zoológico

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Quinta da Boa Vista s/n
São Cristóvão
20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2568 7400

Maracanã Stadium

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Rua Profesor Eurico Rabelo s/n
São Cristovão
20271-150 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 2264 9962

Joe & Leo's Burger

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Estrada da Gávea, 899
São Conrado Fashion Mall
22610-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 24220775

Barril 1800

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Avenida Vieira Souto, 110
Ipanema
22420-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

55 21 523 0085

Corcovado Mountain and Christ the Redeemer Statue

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Rua Cosme Velho 513
22241-090 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone:

+55 21 558 1329

Day 3 - Rio de Janeiro

A boat trip from Rio is always a fun day out, and you have a choice of destinations depending on the weather. If the sun's shining, head out in the morning to Ilha da Paqueta, a little island with no cars, where you can hire bikes and cycle around without fear of Rio's break-neck drivers! If the sun's hiding, take the ferry over to Niteroi instead - the Contemporary Art Museum might not sound too appealing to children, but it's space age design will intrigue all ages. Mum and Dad, of course, can spend some time looking at the exhibits. On either ferry ride, look out for Ilha Fiscal, where you'll see a bright green, fairy-tale style palace. At lunch time, head back to Ipanema and grab a healthy takeaway snack from New Natural, before taking a bus or cab into Centro. Again, much depends on the weather. If it's sunny, take the little yellow tram (bonde) up the hill to Santa Teresa. Kids will love the ride as it clatters over the Lapa Arches, and local kids jump on and off the moving vehicle. In Santa Teresa, head for the Museu Chacara do Ceu and Parque das Ruinas, where kids can explore the ruins of a Belle Epoque mansion and climb the vertigo-inducing stairs to see some amazing city views. There's an abundance of good places to eat up here, most of which welcome kids. Especially good, though pricey, is Aprazivel, where food is served in a fantastic tropical garden as monkeys and tropical birds move overhead. Try and spot the pair of toucans that like to visit here! If you plan to visit Aprazivel, call ahead to check they will be open, as opening hours are a little erratic. If the weather's not so good, try the Folklore Museum, which has fascinating, colourful displays of carnival costumes, figurines, and animated exhibits depicting life across Brazil's states. Alternatively, if no-one in the family is in the mood for culture, take a trip to the suburb of Barra da Tijuca and the thrills and spills of the Terra Encantada theme park.

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