travelling-blogger

comments

The stadiums have been finished on time, the fans are arriving and the sense of excitement is palpable. It must be time for the World Cup.

Of the tens of thousands of England fans making the journey to Brazil, more than half will visit Rio de Janeiro during their stay. And it's easy to see why they flock to the Cidade Maravhilosa (Marvellous City).

Fringed with golden sands, graced with lush peaks soaring above the skyline and with a National Park right in the centre of the city, it is perhaps the most visually stunning city on the world and a magnet for the world's most beautiful stars, from Rihanna and Lady Gaga to Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

Splash out: Cariocas (Rio residents) love nothing more than hitting the beach on the weekend and there are some spectacular golden playgrounds to choose form

So when fans aren't watching matches in the many beach bars that line Copacabana - which have all have big screens so football-mad Cariocas (Rio residents) don't have to miss a game - here is what they should be doing.

Hit the beach

Cariocas live on the beach, it is their glorified back garden and everyone who is anyone heads straight to sand when the sun is out and work is over. It is also Rio's greatest democratiser, each sector of society may have its favourite spot, but the beaches belong to everyone.

Beach break: Rihanna tried out stand-up paddleboarding while in Rio earlier this year and posed for a series of Instagram pictures

Kick-about: When Beckham (L) was in Rio earlier this year to film his documentary about Brazil, he tried a game of futvolley, while Brazilian striker Ronaldo is also a fan of the Rio-based sport

The most famous beaches all link into each other. lined with kiosk bars selling beers, fresh coconut water and, of course, caipirinhas. At the Leme end you have the sports fans where exercise classes take place first thing in the morning. Then stroll along to Copacabana, dotted with futvolley pitches - the local sport played on a volleyball court that involves hitting the ball with everything but your hands - a favourite of David Beckham when he dropped in on the city earlier this year.

Next up is Ipanema, the most fashionable of the beaches, backed by stylish boutiques and bars and where the great and the good like to be seen. Stroll on to Leblon for the ultimate exclusive Rio experience - not many stroll that far, making it all the more worthwhile to visit. In the streets just behind the beach you'll find Rio's 'Gourmet Area', around Rua Diaz Ferreira, where a host of spectacular restaurants have popped up, much to the delight of foodies.

Watch the sun set

As if Rio isn't beautiful enough by day, when the sun starts the dip below the horizon the whole skyline takes on a golden glow. And with so many peaks above the city, there are plenty of lookout points to enjoy the last rays of sunshine while sipping a caipirinha.

17 Apr 2014, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil --- View of Rio de Janeiro at sunset from Sugarloaf Mountain. --- Image by Jon Hicks/Corbis

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil --- Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic ocean, Rio de Janeiro, Sugarloaf Mountain, Teleferico cable car --- Image by Antonino Bartuccio/SOPA RF/SOPA/Corbis

20 Jun 2010, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil --- Tourists and locals alike gather atop Arpoador Rock at Ipanema Beach's easternmost point to watch the sunrise. Rio de Janeiro, 2010. Photo by Eduardo Rubiano --- Image by Eduardo Rubiano/National Geographic Society/Corbis

First up is Sugarloaf Mountain. Tie it right for the last ascents of the day and you can be on the iconic peak looking out over the city as the sun turns the sky a burnt orange. The cable car up Sugarloaf has two stages, time it right and you can pick up a caipirinha in the bar at the first stop-off and take it with you up to the top - take the penultimate cable car to make sure you get a good spot.

While many tourists flock to Sugarloaf, romantic locals and those in the know head to the point called Arpoador, which juts out into the sea between Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Clamber over the rocks and settle down to watch the sun sip into the sea ,with swimmers and stand-up paddle boarders silhouetted against the sun.

Hit the dance floor

The whole of Rio beats to the rhythm of samba - even Prince Harry noticed the musicality of the city when he visited in 2012. Whether you're on the beach or in the bars, there is a tropical beat in the background women practically sashay down the street. But if you really want to join the locals as they party the night away, head to one of the gafieras (dance halls) in Lapa. Once a wealthy neighbourhood in the centre of town, it is packed with colonial buildings, but became run-down in the 1930s.

19 Feb 2010, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil --- Rio Scenarium Club in the Lapa area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America --- Image by Yadid Levy/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis

01 Jan 2000 --- Decorative interior of Rio Scenarium nightspot in Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by Lisa Wiltse --- Image by Lisa Wiltse/Corbis

Now it is back on the up, packed with bars and dance halls, which had their heyday in the 1920s hen the working classes used to dance their troubles away, but have recently seen a resurgence. If you're worried about your fancy footwork try Rio Scenarium - where Actress Goldie Hawn tried out her moves on a visit last year - a three-story delight set in an old theatre where both tourists and locals take to the dance floor.

Live it up

The first luxury hotel to open in Latin America back in 1923 that still remains is the iconic Copacabana Palace. Its slick white facade looks straight out to sea, a gleaming salute to the old-style glamour of Rio. The great and good from all over the world have stayed here, from royalty to Hollywood stars. Fred Astaire danced across the ballroom floor, Prince Charles and Princess Diana booked into the Presidential Suite, Madonna stayed there for 10 days in total. Marilyn Monroe visited, as did the Rolling Stones and Brigitte Bardot.

11 Aug 2012, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil --- Copacabana Palace Hotel, Avenida Atlantica, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil --- Image by Ian Trower/JAI/Corbis

Write caption here

Famed as the playground of the rich and famous, it has certainly been the site of some A-list antics, from the rich guests who have moved into the hotel to live, to the president who demanded entirely new bedding for his stay - not to mention recent hell raisers Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. A room costs from £366, but sitting at the outdoor patio restaurant overlooking the spectacular pool, you'll certainly feel like a star.

Go green

Not many cities in the world can boast a National Park within 15 minutes of the centre. But Floresta da Tijuca is one of Rio's true delights. The 120 square kilometre park is all that's left of the Atlantic rainforest which once covered the area around Rio and is a haven for hikers and those who want to escape the bustle of downtown. Trails take you round old ruined farmhouses and churches, past tumbling waterfalls and weaving around creeks, while monkeys clamber in the branches overhead and iguanas scuttle across the paths. Don't go alone, it's easy to get lost, there are plenty of chances to hire a private guide or join a tour group.

ca. 2000 --- Tijuca National Park is the largest urban forest in the world. --- Image by Galen Rowell/Corbis

Aim high

It is one of Rio's greatest ironies that its poorest residents have the best view of the city. Look up into the hills and you'll see shanty towns - known as favelas - perched on the slopes looking out to sea. Until recently, many of these favelas were too dangerous to enter, dominated by drugs gangs, out of reach of the police, and encapsulated in all their violent glory in the film City of God.

View from above: It is one of Rio's greatest ironies that the city's poorest residents have some of the most spectacular ocean views

Getting involved: England footballer Danny Welbeck, centrer right, joined in a Capoeira dance demonstration with locals watched by Adam Lallana, fourth left, during a visit by five England players to the Rocinha Sports Complex on the edge of the Rocinha favela

Controversially, police have raided the favelas over and over again, eventually 'pacifying' them. The main ones, such as Rocinha, which is near the England team's hotel, have become tourist destinations, with groups taken around to explore with a guide and given a chance to buy local produce and help the communities. There are some who disagree with this form of 'overly tourism'.

If you aren't sure, then there are also projects you can get involved with to feel like you are contributing something. Take a look at Project Favela (http://ift.tt/1uMfINK) and if in doubt, read more at Tourism Concer (http://ift.tt/UydUcm), with hotels springing up offering affordable accommodation and a chance to see favela life without relying on a guided tour.