Layover in Rio-what can we see?
 

En route to Iguazu, we have a layover of about 8 hours in Rio. Is there enough time to get a brief view of the city? I understand it's a very surface impression and that we don't have 8 hours to tour, considering the formalities at the airport. If this is best done with a private guide, can you recommend a guide or service? Thanks!

brazilnuts.com

peruforless.com

city tours or better

hire a cab at GIG for private tour

use cab stand or a service suggested by providers above

to not share cabs or get into unlabeled "rogue" cabs

very risky.

latinamericaforless.com brazilforless.com same folks as above.

obrigado!

Time enough-get in at 09something, leave at 1650?

Your impressions of "formalities" at the airport are not correct. At the end of July, we arrived GIG from JFK and the entire plane was through immigration in just 20 minutes. The immigration officials were less than interested. Very routine. A lot faster than getting back into the US at JFK. When you return to GIG for your ongoing flight, the process is very efficient. Going through security is a breeze. It's the way the US used to be before Homeland Security got involved.

Suggest you do a simple self tour of the Ipanema and Copacabana neighborhoods. Go to the taxi dispatcher at the end of the terminal and grab a regular cab to Copacabana or Ipanema. Hang out, have a snack at one or more of the beach kiosks and absorb the Rio vibe. Regular yellow cab to Sofitel at one end of Copacabana cost us just $28. Sofitel also has a really nice bar on the second floor overlooking the beach where you can have a drink and just chill. Make sure the taxi meter is on and the tariff is set to 1, not 2 (the night rate which is almost 20% more). Almost every cab driver we have used in Brazil has tried to cheat us with the meter trick. Just say no ... the cab drivers know exactly what they are doing. And always ask for a receipt. If you are ripped off, you can go to any tourist office with that receipt and file a complaint and get your money back.

SusanSDG--
The lines at GIG to get through passport control and then baggage claim and customs depend on how many international flights land at about the same time, and how fast you can get off the plane and into the line. It can take more than an hour at some times of day.
In my extensive experience (almost 2 decades) in Brazil, most Rio taxi drivers are honest family men just trying to support their families and get you where you are going in the fastest way. You can get a more expensive pre-paid taxi from the ladies soliciting your business inside the terminal, or you can come out and get a regular yellow taxi. Look for the ones with the cooperative name and phone number stenciled on the fender. Few drivers speak English though. You might consider hiring a tour guide, who has a car and who would pick you up and drop you off at the airport, to see Rio in the most efficient way in a short time. The entertaining and knowledgable Rafa (Rafael Torres Lopes), mentioned in some posts on (another thread on )this forum, seems popular with many tourists.
You have time to take the train up to the Christ, with its great city/ocean views,or Sugarloaf, with views and monkeys and buzzards circling. The Urca neighborhood below Sugarloaf is charming. Or you can stroll the wave-tiled walkways past the beaches and have a coconut water at one of the barracas. Or walk downtown to see the historic architecture (and stop at Confeiteria Colombo for a coffee and snack). Or even take the 12 minute ferry ride (runs every 15 min from Praca XV near the city center) over to Niteroi to see the view of Rio from there and enjoy the harbor crossing and maybe a quick view of the iconic museum's architecture. It is indeed the Marvelous City and not to be missed.

Obrigado, Equestrian.
I do think we'll want a tour guide for our short trip. I chose the itinerary I did partially because it flies through Rio.
Do you know how to contact Rafael?

Rafael Torres Lopes (Rafa)

His email:
[email protected]

Mobile: (country code 55) (City code 21) 8852-1799 or 9469-6562
One of his blogs:
http://donrafaguestsinrio.blogspot.com

His main page on Virtual Tourist, from which you can access many pages of great places to see:
members.virtualtourist.com/m/97fc0/1762a9/