On the road to Rio For the 2016 Olympics

Travel agents don’t have to wait six years to sell their clients on Rio de Janeiro. The members of the Brazil Tour Operators Association are now offering some great deals to one of the most besutiful cities in the world.

And you can bet that North Americans will get a warm welcome as the people of Rio, the Cariocas, are still celebrating winning the Olympic bid for the summer games in 2016.

Spectacularly sited between towering mountains and lush natural parks and surrounded by turquoise water and miles and miles of white sand beaches, Rio is a feast for the eyes and the senses.

Americans come to this sophisticated city for its sizzling, non-stop nightlife, world-class dining and its infectious party atmosphere – and not just during Carnival.

Balmy breezes and the sounds of samba and pagode fill the air all year round. And then there are the beaches – 55 miles of them – with names like Ipanema, Copacabana, Saõ Conrado, Leblon and Barra.

This Cidade Maravilhosa, or marvelous city, is especially dramatic when viewed from the 1,300-foot Pão de Açúcar, Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Visitors have a choice of two cable cars or – for the very intrepid – climbing. Rising 2,330 feet above the city is Corcovado Mountain, with a 98-foot statue of Christ and another panoramic view of dramatic Rio.

Corcovado lies within the largest park in Rio, Tijuca National Park. In its 8,000 acres visitors can see armadillos, iguanas and marmosets. The 340-acre Botanical Gardens offers more manicured natural beauty with 5,000 species of flora, including Imperial Palms planted in the 1800s.

Visitors can opt for a quiet afternoon walking or cycling around picturesque Lagoa Rodrigo de Frietas.

The Carmen Miranda Museum is located in Botofogo and art lovers will enjoy the Museum of Contemporary Art in Niterói, designed by famed native son Oscar Niemeyer. Santa Teresa has some 50 artists showing their works out of the neighborhood’s 19th century homes.

The city has a well-deserved reputation for its excellent restaurants serving authentic regional food, traditional barbecue, fresh seafood and every international cuisine.

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