Travel Information
Important: You will need a visa for travel to Brazil.
The best way to book your flight to Rio is to call or e-mail Roberta below*. She can help you with visa information as well.
ROBERTA SWABY - ROBERTA@BACCTRAVEL.COM
LOANNA ALMEIDA - LOANNA@BACCTRAVEL.COM
from NYC call 1800 848 2746
outside NYC call 1800 342 5746
* tell them you are a member of the "Goldstein group"
Ground Transportation
Taxis are always available at Rio de Janeiro International Airport as well as at the
hotels.
If you plan to make a week or two out of this, we recommend...
Buzios
Made famous by one Bridget Bordeaux, Buzios is for the South American/South Hampton in you. Just a 2 hour drive from Rio w/ transportation accessible from GIG (rio international airport). Check out this site or speak to Roberta from BACC to learn more. This place has Nate and Beni's name all over it.
http://www.buziosonline.com.br/home/english/
Ilha Grande
A nature lover's / eco-tourists paradise. No cars (or people really) allowed on this island. Diving that rivals the Great Barrier Reef and hiking that takes out the Appalachian Trail. If the Glassers don't get here, it's a crime.
http://www.ilhagrande.com.ar/
Paraty
Close to Ilha Grande, Paraty is a popular get away for Cariocas (the name for someone from Rio de Janeiro). Don't let the fact that we've never been here before change your mind from going, because we know a guy who knows a guy who has been.
http://www.paraty.com.br/
Petropolis
Pri and I don't know too much about this place (other than frequent family day trips as a 7 year old), however we hear a lot of great things about it. Petropolis is an hour and a half drive from Rio, tucked away in the Brazilian jungle highlands. This could be a South American version of the Evansville West Side Fall Festival with the heavy German influence. Take a look at the site to get a legit feel.
http://www.v-brazil.com/tourism/rio-de-janeiro/petropolis.html
Corcovado
Don't tell your rabbi you are going to see a statue of Jesus. It's the #1 landmark in perhaps all of South America. You can take a taxi or trolley to the top of the 3,000 ft mountain to get a view of the Rio Harbor, one of the 7 wonders of the world, that the Grand Canyon has trouble defending.
Pao de Acucar
Straight out of Goldfinger (James Bond circa '67), this 2 legged tram will take you to a new level of zen. Another outstanding view of one of the (did I mention) 7 wonders of the world? Just minutes in a cab from Copa Cobanna and about 20 minutes in a cab from the Sheraton.
Foz fe Iguacu (bra), Amazonia, Bahia, Buenos Aires (arg.), Punta del Este (urg.), Asuncion (Paraguay)
All of the above destinations receive honorable mention and are within a short flight striking distance of Rio. Definitely look into it.