Not Cancun and its glitzy resort zone, Punta Cana and its pristine Caribbean sands, and most certainly not Cartagena and that historic, UNESCO-listed walled center: the beach city stealing all the limelight right now is Rio!
The driving force behind Brazil’s tourism growth is the main reason why the country is set to break its own yearly record of foreign arrivals, already posting a 12% increase year-on-year and edging ever closer to that 5 million mark.
In other words, Rio has bounced back with a vengeance since the 2020-2022 global crisis, and it’s time we looked into some of the main reasons why:
Why Is Rio Rising Again In Popularity Right Now?
It’s So-Unbelievably Diverse
Rio is one of the most vibrant cities in the Global South, with the kind of diversity and vast tourist offer only a handful of destinations worldwide can boast––what we’re trying to say is that you can spend weeks, months in Rio and still barely scratch the surface.
Not one neighborhood feels the same: in an affluent Leblon, it’s all about high-end shopping and living it up by the oceanside, whereas in a Bohemian Santa Teresa, it’s all about casual bars hosting live samba performances, street art, and colorful houses.
Brazil may have divorced from Portugal a couple of centuries ago already, but Santa Teresa’s vintage, yellow tramways trailing up narrow alleys and steep hills are proof their ties still run deep; of course, we can’t forget the neighboring Lapa:
Packed with points of interest, with the Instagrammable Selarón Steps and an 18th-century Lapa aqueduct, to name a couple, and lots of trendy bars (think a no-frills Improviso or a gringo-frequented Boteco Carioquinha)––there are many different ‘Rios’ to discover, so you’d better get to it!
It Has Beaches Galore
If your primary reason for flying all the way to Brazil is basking in the sun and catching a tan, you’ll be spoiled for choice here, starting with the most famous beach of all, Copacabana, a long stretch of soft, white sand wedged between azure waters and Art Deco buildings.
On the other hand, Ipanema is an upscale sandy strip offering a wide range of restaurants and a vibrant nightlife––for traditional Brazilian food at reasonable prices, make sure you swing by Garota de Ipanema, where they serve the best picanha (rump steak) in town.
Away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Rio, there’s Barra da Tijuca, a laid-back coastal strip featuring a wide beach and backed by a handful of resorts, including a landmark Hilton Barra, where overnights start from a surprisingly affordable $122.
For the young adventurers in our midst, particularly surfers and wild swimmers, a half-moon-shaped Prainha is your go-to spot for epic waves and unspoiled nature: no nearby developments, much less skyscrapers casting long shadows on the beachfront.
Vibrant Culture Like No Other
Rio may be best known for its beaches and lush nature, but it is also one of the most culturally significant cities in the Global South, founded as early as the year 1565––and if you love colonial history, it has a hidden gem or two beachgoers often bypass.
Once you tire yourself of sunbathing in Praia do Leme and exploring the verdant marine parks, you can set out to immerse yourself in Brazil’s rich past in Paço Imperial, a former royal palace built in the Portuguese style with a grand facade, now housing a museum.
Don’t forget Mosteiro de São Bento, one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in South America, hidden amidst a cluster of modernist skyscrapers (its church is one of the most beautiful you’ll ever see, with a gilded altar and intricate woodwork).
Our personal favorite, however, has to be Confeitaria Colombo, a café opened as early as 1894 and a prime example of Brazilian Art Nouveau, and somewhere you go for both admiring the ornate architecture and sampling Brazilian pastries (their empada de queijo tastes heavenly).
New Flights From America In 2025
Since the global crisis subsided, flight demand for Rio has soared to new heights, with nonstop service added from some of the busiest Stateside hubs and an increase in frequency for well-established routes, most notably Atlanta (ATL).
Starting in March 2025, Delta will bump up the frequency of its Atlanta-Rio flights from three to four weekly, reflecting the growing demand for Brazilian vacations among Americans. With their Boeing 767-300, they can accommodate up to 216 passengers per trip.
From Miami (MIA), the gateway to Latin America, American Airlines offers up to 4 daily flights, as cheap as $433 one-way in Basic Economy, and believe it or not, it’s even cheaper to fly with them from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), with tickets starting from $393.
Alternatively, fly daily from Houston-Intercontinental (HOU) with United Airlines (costing a significantly-pricier $1,257 one-way on the cheapest dates available on Kayak), or from New York with American or Delta, from a much-more acceptable $456.
What To Know Before Visiting Rio In 2025
There are a few things you should keep in mind before visiting Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
The Issue Of CPF
The first of them is that it may be harder to pay for online products, or even book bus or flight tickets through some national service providers if you don’t have CPF, Brazil’s equivalent to a Social Security Number.
How are you expected to have that unless you’re a Brazilian? We’re as befuddled as you are, but there have been numerous reports of travelers going to Brazil, and being unable to wade through the CPF bureaucracy in doing the most trivial of things, such as buying a SIM card.
You can sort of get your own temporary CPF, though we’re not sure how long it takes to apply, and whether it can be done in advance, especially if you’re only staying in Brazil for a week or two: in any case, prepare for some minor inconveniences.
Google Maps
While it’s okay to use Google Maps in most countries, and even some cities in Brazil, we wouldn’t be too sure about relying on this feature in Rio, a city where upscale resort zones lie only a few blocks away from crime-ridden areas and the world-famous favelas.
Google will always give you the shortest route when planning a trip, but as a foreign visitor, taking a shortcut, or even certain bus or metro lines, could be risky––if in doubt, ask your hotel about arranging private transportation.
Ubers also work reasonably well within city limits, not to mention they’re exceptionally-cheap, with rides ranging from a mere $5 to $10, and drivers are often knowledgeable about no-go zones, so as long as they have a good-enough rating, you have nothing to worry about.
Americans Will Need A Visa Soon
Soon enough, Americans will no longer be allowed to enter Brazil without first applying for a visa, in a tit-for-tat move that’s been touted for the past three years since the country’s returning President Lula was invested.
We’ve covered this development in depth here, so we strongly recommend you check that out. However, in the meantime, the good news is that authorities have not yet decided on a date for the new requirement to come into place.
All we know is that 2025 is the tentative year for the launch.
This winter, U.S. passport holders can continue flying to Brazil simply by presenting a valid passport, no other documents needed, and they’ll be usually issued a 3-month entry stamp upon arrival––if you wish to stay longer, you may renew it for an additional 3 months at any Federal Police outpost.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.