Sports and leisure activities Rio De Janeiro

Budget & Tips

You can walk without risk in all the small towns of Minas (Ouro Preto, Tiradentes) and the coast of Rio (Parati, Buzios). The southern area of Rio is quite safe if you stay in the crowd during the day. On Sunday mornings, it's jogging, biking, scootering along the beach, without a car. You can rent a bike for cheap. Exercise and sports in general are widespread in all Brazilian metropolises. Almost all types of sports activities are offered. The cult of the body is omnipresent. You can stretch your legs, ride a bike or rollerblade without paying a penny, as there are many free facilities in the Brazilian cities. The South zone of Rio (Lagoa, Ipanema beaches, Copabana, Leblon, up to Barra da Tijucá) is very well equipped for bikes, rollerblades and jogging. With the Roller Rio association (https://www.facebook.com/rolleriorj/), you can do rollerblading tours in groups. The parks and bike paths in Rio and Belo Horizonte are great for getting in shape or getting back in shape. In Rio, some roads are closed to vehicles on Sundays and dedicated to "soft transport". The famous avenida Atlântica in Rio is "abandoned" to joggers, rollerbladers or other cyclists. One could go for a walk in the forest in Rio from the botanical garden. The Tijucá forest is the largest urban forest in the world, but we do not recommend it because of the numerous attacks on the paths that lead to the Corcovado. In many places in the morros or mountains, there are equipped climbing routes. Of course, if you prefer to relax and enjoy the passing of time, the beach is a free option... You can rent surfboards. For other extreme sports activities, such as rafting, canyoning, paragliding, you will have to plan a more substantial budget.

What's very local

You can walk, bike or rollerblade through the cities, especially on weekends, in the middle of a crowd of people with fluorescent colors and tanned skin. One is rarely alone to run between Copacabana and the Lagoa. It is certainly very Brazilian but to really test its "Brazilianness", you have to try the futevôlei. It is often a test for gringos. One only agrees to play futevôlei for a long time with someone whose abilities in this very technical sport are recognized. As you can see, futevôlei is a very Brazilian mix between beach soccer and beach volleyball. We play soccer on a volleyball court, with the rules of soccer, bunting, head and feet. It is always very spectacular and we understand that the reputation of Brazilian footballers is not usurped. It is always the assurance to attend passionate games in Copacabana

Your documents please

Brazilian maritime legislation requires the boat rental company to have the renter fill out a register informing him/her of the conditions and instructions for navigation and safety, and to specify his/her identity, as evidenced by a Brazilian identity card or passport. It goes without saying that you will be asked to prove your identity when renting expensive equipment. It is not uncommon for you to be asked to sign a waiver if you are involved in "risky" sports or activities, such as horseback riding for example

To be booked

Some major events attract large crowds. For example, soccer matches in the final stages of the Brasileirão, the Brazilian championship, require advance notice, even when they are played in the 100,000-seat Maracanã stadium.

Main events

Brazil is the country of soccer. The whole country is thrilled for its favorite team between May and December during the "Brasilerão Serie A", where the 20 best teams of Brazil play. The Copa Libertadores will see the best Brazilian teams compete against the best South American teams between January and November.

In May, surfing enthusiasts will be able to go to Saquarema, north of Rio de Janeiro, to watch a stage of the World Cup of Surfing on the beautiful left beach of Itaùna. Exit, the pollution and the doubtful rollers of Barra da Tijucá. The residents of the CT (Championship Tour or World Cup) are there largely since 2017 and delight more and more fans

The superliga of volei reaches its peak in April May during the final stages. Volleyball is a particularly popular sport in Brazil, which produces a large number of stars playing in the biggest European clubs

One of the great marathons in Brazil is the one in Rio de Janeiro, which takes place around mid-June. It is possible to participate in some big events like these (you often have to show a medical certificate proving your physical fitness).

Tourist traps

We strongly advise against buying tickets from scalpers. Commissions can be exorbitant