Che Lagarto Hostel, Copacabana 1

The first thing that I notice when I got there is that their website is tricky! Is is not that beutiful and clean-looking as the pictures shows us (the lobby, bar, bedrooms, bethrooms, etc). Anyway, I had a great time there. The location is great (close to everything that you'll need and easy access to transportation to everywhere in Rio).

The beds are not confortable at all, but at least the bar have some good stuff on the menu (the Canadian bartender makes some gooooods caipirinhas!). The staff is amazing! Great people! And I was lucky to meet some great other guests.

Oh, and note that I'm only talking about Che Lagarto Copacabana 1, because they also have a Copacabana 2.

You already know something about the Sugar Loaf, right? At least saw a picture?

Well, the Sugar Loaf is one fo Rio's most visited attractions. The reason? It is really amazing to go up there and see the city, Baía de Guanabara and feel the strong wind blowing.

To go up there you'll pay BRL 44.00 that you can pay with money or credit/debit cards and it's divided in two steps: the first hill - sorry, forgot the name, and the second (the Sugar Loaf itself). Both have it's own pleasures and sights. Once in the Loaf, tehre's a really good snackbar/restaurante there. Avarage prices for everything. But the shops are extremely expensive, though.

The lines during the weekend and holidays are huuuge, so get there realy early in the morning (it opens at 8am), or after 2pm. The line won't be so big.

Or if you trust in your climbind and hiking skills, you can climb all the way up to the Sugar Loaf with specialized personnel around there! Cool, isn't it?

Ok, when talking about Rio, everybody has something to say about Christ the Redeemer. It's such a cliche! But you know what? It's the best cliche that I've seen my life.

The view of Rio from the top is absolutely one of the most beutiful thing I've ever seen in my life (conditions: sunny, non-cloudy day, of course!). Copacabana, Ipanema, Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Maracanã, the Sugar Loaf... everything is there! See the 180 degrees picture below.

The statue itself is amazing. It stands 38 meters high - qhat is kind of impressive, because it was build in 1931! Last year it was Consecrated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World!

You'll pay BRL 36 for the little train to take you to the top (and bring you back down! Relax). The little forest that you have to go thru is really charming (with little monkies messing around and beautiful kinds of plants). Usually the train departs every 30 minutes.

---> GO THERE ONLY DURING WEEK DAYS! Why?

Santa Teresa, in my opinion, is the best neighborhood in Rio (with Lapa). It's really old and the most charming and fun thing to do there it take a ride in the old train around there.

Take the subway to Carioca station and it will be easy to find the train station. It costs only BRL 0.75. It leaves the station and goes all the way up and around Santa Teresa, where you'll the best artsy-popular restaurants in Rio and all kinds of people around.

It's funny, it's wild! Haha, just kidding about the wild (it's really) slow. But it's fun to pass above Lapa Arches (Arcos da Lapa) and jump off the train to check something interesting and walk around, and then jump back in.