How to Get Around Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Don't Be a Lost Tourist

Imagine touring Rio de Janeiro for the first time, with no knowledge of basic Portugese or how to get around the city's beaches and districts. Add to that the fact that Rio is packed most of the time with beach bums, the rich and famous, obscure pickpockets and other colorful personalities, and it's easy to imagine getting lost. It's a possibility that you wouldn't want to happen, but you should well be prepared for.

Before getting there, don't forget to bring your basic Portugese manual and a guide to using Rio's public transport. But even when you believe you've got things all covered, you must be careful of thieves out to victimize unsuspecting foreigners. Keep your valuables in the hotel, or better yet, at home, and pack light. Beach wear, sunblock, disposable cameras and enough cash for the day would be the best thing to bring when you're getting around the city.

Rio is situated around Guanabara Bay, so you can expect to find much water-based transport, such as ferries, motorboats and the like. Rio has subways, a bus system, railway, taxis and car rentals, so choose the best transport that will take you to your destination a lot faster.

BUS If you're staying at the city center (Centro), you can take the bus if you're headed for the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches; just make sure to read the signboards before getting on one. However, this isn't the best mode of transport if you're traveling in a high traffic time of day when thieves and pickpockets are most rampant.

TAXI In comparison to other major cities in the world, taxis in Rio are pretty cheap and aplenty, so this is a good option if you don't want to squeeze yourself between passengers on a crowded bus. Just make sure you can tell the driver in decent Portugese where you plan to go, as some of them may be unable to communicate in English.

SUBWAY The subway runs through Copacabana beach, and passes through the districts of Botofogo and Flamengo. Fare is cheap, convenient, and comfortable, as the subway cars are air conditioned to protect you from the heat.