The Sol Ipanema from what I heard has been undergoing some renovations lately but you might want to check. This hotel will have a better location than the Ipanema Plaza but the Plaza is newer and in not a bad location just one block from the beach while the Sol is beach front. Other mid priced hotels on Copa would be the Miramar Palace and the Luxor Regente or the Orla all nice mid priced hotels. Copa is more honky tonk and lively than Ipanema where Ipanema has nicer restaurants and shops but Copa has more hotels and tourists while Ipanema has more middle class residents in various sections on the beach. As far as safeness is concerned they are both about the same but Copa has more of the reputation for being unsafe than Ipanema does but they both have their problems equally.

I just came back from Rio and stayed at the Sheraton which was pretty good. The best thing about it was the pool and the beach. Although I did not go into the ocean beacuse of the rough current. We saw 2 water rescues in Ipanema where they recovered 2 people. Be very very very careful if you go into the water.

We went to some amazing restuarants- Colata, Satiricon, Porcao, and Marius.

My husband went hand gliding and had the best experinece of his life - i highly recomend going!

Danak, I am seriously thinking about hang gliding since I heard/read that there is someone up there with you. Tell me what do you do with with personal items such as wallet? thx

I held everything in a bag since i was staying on land the whole time. I would only bring the necessary items such as cash. Since they took pics of my husband flying, we didn't need any pics of that. I did take pictures from the platform where you take off. I think there is a secure pouch in the harness you wear where you can securly keep you belongings. Email Paulo at [email protected] and he can help you with any question you might have!