Rio is on the southwestern shore of Guanabara Bay, Rio is indeed a city of enchantment where 14.4 million (1998 census) Cariocas await you. The Cariocas live in a setting that is unrivaled: 20 miles of white sand beaches with a backdrop of rolling green hills with the city sprawling in narrow strips between and among the mountains.

Rio is truly one of the most naturally beautiful cities on earth. Brazilian legends say that God made the world in six days and devoted the seventh day to Rio. And if you want to pronounce Rio like the locals, pronounce it "heeoo".

The beach is the heart and soul of Rio; it's everyone's backyard and playground.

The Insight Guide to Brazil explains the spell the beach casts over the Cariocas like this:
"With the passage of time, a day on the beach has evolved from a tranquil family outing into an all-encompassing cradle-to-grave lifestyle of its own. Today, the beach is not part of the life of Rio, it is the life.

"The beach is a nursery and a school yard; a reading room; a soccer field and a volleyball court. It serves as a singles bar, restaurant and rock concert hall; an exercise center and office all at the same time. Occasionally, someone goes into the water, but only for a refreshing pause before returning to more important beach-based activities."

"Cariocas read, gossip, flirt, jog, exercise, dream, think and even close business deals on the beach. ON a glorious summer weekend, nearly the whole of Rio spends some time on the beach. And this isn't to say they aren't on the beach during the week as well.   One of the great mysteries of Rio is how anything ever gets done on a warm, sunny day."

Rio has one of the healthiest climates in the tropics with cooling trade winds. The coolest months are June, July and August, averaging a low of 70 and a high of 90 on a sunny day. December through March are the hottest with temperatures between 80 to 100 degrees in the sun. October through March is the rainy season, with cooling refreshing rains providing welcomed relief from the heat.

Maracana, Brasil’s temple of soccer and a colossus among coliseums, is a landmark in Rio. It can seat over 100,000, and on occasion (such as the 1950 World Cup game) squeezed in over 200,000! The fans are fanatical, cheering their team on in many ways including chanting, singing, shouting, waving banners, pounding samba drums, exploding firecrackers, throwing toilet paper, beer and other things - in short, sheer lunacy reigns!