Alternative Rio Vistas

Next to the Pavao-Pavaozinho is the Cantagalo Favela. A "pacified" favela, the climb up the hill from Copacabana is worth it. There is an elevator at the metro station off Praça General Osório (the entrance on Rua Barão da Torre and Rua Teixeira de Melo), from which you can take in the view or stroll safely in the area.

In addition to being beautiful to look at, the view from Dois Irmaos is also quite exceptional and makes for a lovely hike. From one side the horizon extends towards the Lagoa and the South Zone.

Photo credit: Sheila Taylor

On a hike around Dois Irmaos you can also see more of the South Zone of rio, caught here again by Sheila, we can see the white sands of the affluent Sao Conrado beach, plus the Pedra da Gavea and Rocinha, meaning little farm, which is the largest favela in Rio.

Photo credit: Sheila Taylor

The neighborhood of Santa Teresa, close to the center, is easily accessible and provides some excellent views of the city, especially from the Parque de las Ruinas where you can climb an abandoned mansion to see the South Zone, shown here, and downtown, featured in the next shot. This area of the city is explored on our Bohemian Rio walk.

The other perspective from the Parque de la Ruinas, besides the islands to the east of the city, is this impressive view of downtown, the historic center of Rio in addition to being the business district. Here you can spot the city's famous pyramid-like cathedral designed by Edgar Fonseca.

On our Renewing Rio walk, which explores how the city and its urbanism are currently evolving, we visit the Jardim Valongo, granting a different perspective of the historic areas of downtown, the Morro da Providencia and even the Christ Redeemer in the distance. Valongo is part of the old port area where they've recently unearthed the former slave market and other sites linked to Brazil's involvement in the slave trade.

The best views of Rio might not even be in Rio, but on one of the nearby Islands. This excellent shot by docent photographer Juan Jose Gonzalez was taken from Niteroi, a municipality across the Guanabara Bay from downtown. It's easily accessible by ferry and is home to the Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum, designed by world-renowned Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer.

Photo credit: Juan Jose Gonzalez, Flickr