Corcovado Mountain, Christ Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain Day Tour (10 hours) Following pickup in the morning at the cruise port or your Rio hotel, set out on a guided tour of downtown Rio. Stop at the famous pyramid-shaped Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedtral) and see the historic buildings in Cinelandia Square. Pass the Sambadromo, where the yearly samba competition takes place during Carinval. Continue to the Urca neighborhood, where you'll board the cable car for the scenic ride to the summit of Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain). The car will stop halfway up the mountain at a scenic viewpoint that offers fantastic photo ops of the entire city and Guanabara Bay. At the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, enjoy views of Fortaleza Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Fortress), Copacabana Beach and Corcovado Mountain.
Stop at a local barbecue restaurant for a traditional lunch (included) in a Brazilian Churrascaria that offers a wide variety of sides and alternative options, in case you decide to stick with a vegetarian option, you will still leave delighted.
Drive through Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas district, a large park and entertainment complex where many cariocas (residents of Rio) spend their leisure time. At Cosme Velho station, board the cog train for a scenic ride through the Tijuca Rainforest to the top of Corcovado Mountain, the site of Rio's most photographed landmark: the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue. This iconic piece of art stands 98 feet (30 meters) high and its outstretched arms have a wingspan of 92 feet (28 meters). Spend 45 minutes here before descending the mountain and returning to your hotel for a short rest before starting the evening portion of your tour.
Ginga Tropical Show in Rio de Janeiro (3.5 hours)
Following pickup at your hotel in Rio de Janeiro, travel Ginga Tropical Show venue. During the Ginga Tropical Show, you'll see dancers perform bossa nova, samba and a variety of other musical and dance styles found in Brazil. The cast of dancers and musicians will perform the dance of forró, the sultry lambada and athletic displays of capoeira. Learn through music and dance tales of folklore from the Amazon, the Pampas, Lapa, as well as the mystic rituals of Bahia. When dancers appear in outrageous Carnival costumes and shake their hips to the beat of the live drums, that can only mean one thing: it's time for you to get up and dance, too. At the conclusion of the show, enjoy drop-off at your Rio hotel.
