Our previous trip to Rio was somewhat exciting with the robbery and attempted robbery, so this visit we were hoping for a more relaxing ‘touristy’ time. Not to be disappointed, our accommodation was a super little guest house in the heart of Copacabana, about a 5 minute stroll from the beach and a 7 minute stroll from Ipanema Beach. Run by a French/Brazilian lady called Fanny, who was superb in making us feel welcome and with probably the fastest wifi we had connected to in many smonths.

The trip up to Corcovada or Christ the Redeemer takes a short 10 minute metro ride to La Machada from General Orsorio where we hopped on the van for the 20 minute ride up the mountain through the Atlantic Forest. A few hundred more exhausting steps upwards and we were finally at one of the Great Wonders of the Modern World.

Needless to say, it is crowded with people vying for that perfect photo shot across Rio or looking up at the largest art deco statue in the world.

The views are breathtaking but the multitude of people crammed into the tiny viewing areas does get a bit too much and an hour is more than enough time up here, taking in the glorious sights around this truly picturesque city. From the Maracana Stadium to the bridge spanning the ‘harbour’ to Sugar Loaf Mountain below and across to Ipanema Beach and beyond the views are perfectly amazing.