Roda de Samba (group of musicians playing samba) every night of the week in different clubs of Lapa and in some small bars in the Zona Sul, ‘Bip Bip’ on a Sunday night in Copacabana or ‘Samba no Horto’ on a Friday night in Jardim Botanico.
10 things you must do when in Rio:
1.have a bowl of açaí (a kind of sorbet made from an Amazon fruit) for breakfast/2.Try the ‘Lime risotto with spicy shrimps’ at Zaza Bistro Tropical/3. go hiking at Tijuca Forest /4. drink coconut water on Ipanema, beachPosto 9/ 5. take a surf lesson at Prainha beach/6. enjoy the sunset at Arpoador Beach / 7. watch a match at Maracanã stadium/8.join a samba class at any of the schools / 9.On a Sunday stroll around the Hippie Market in Ipanema/10. visit one of Lapa’s samba clubs.

Country code for Brazil: 55. Rio de Janeiro: 21.

Use a plastic bag for daily use. Don´t use moneybelts or bunbags. Prefer the famous Havaianas flip flops to the Birkenstock Sandals.

Be ready to party late, especially at Carnival time. Cariocas usually leave home after 11 p.m. and never arrive on time.

The old tram is the soul of Santa Teresa. You can rollercoast the neighborhood for only R$ 0,60. It is a unique experience and a good way to interact with the locals.

Ten per cent is usually added to restaurant bills. General gratuities are not expected but waiting staff on minimum wage will certainly appreciate the gesture.

Cariocas fuel up on thimble-sized, super-strong and -sweet coffees. Exotic and nutritious fruit smoothies are also ubiquitous and cheap. Rice and beans are the staple, plus a variety of stews, including feijoada and moqueca. Good fresh fish, such as sea-bass or badejo, and churrasco steaks, straight off the southern plains, are also good.

The Brazilian real (plural: reais). At today's exchange rate, you get R$2.20 to U$1.

Taxis are cheap and numerous so you should be able to hail one at any time. Don’t strike deals with the devil, to be sure you don´t get ripped off, always ask to switch the taxi meter on.

Your best friend while in town.
How to be a Carioca by Priscilla Ann Goslin.

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