Sports and leisure activities Brazil

Budget & Tips

Exercise and sport in general are widespread in all Brazilian metropolises. Almost every type of sporting activity is on offer. The cult of the body is omnipresent. You can stretch your legs, ride a bike or rollerblade for no money at all, as there are many free facilities in Brazilian cities.

Rio's southern zone (Lagoa, Ipanema beaches, Copacabana, Leblon, as far as Barra da Tijucá) is very well equipped for bikes, rollerblades and jogging. The Roller Rio association (https://www.facebook.com/rolleriorj/) offers group roller tours. The parks and bike paths of São Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Salvador are great for getting into shape or getting back into shape. In some cities, such as Rio and São Paulo, certain roads are closed to vehicles on Sundays and dedicated to "soft transport". The famous Avenida Atlântica in Rio or Avenida Paulista in São Paulo are "abandoned" to joggers, rollerbladers and other cyclists. This is true in almost every Brazilian metropolis.

In Rio, you can take a forest walk starting from the Botanical Gardens. The Tijucá forest is the largest urban forest in the world, but we don't recommend going it alone, as there are many assaults on the paths leading to Corcovado. With guides, however, it's much safer.

Free sports activities are not limited to urban exercise

Many places in the morros and mountains have equipped climbing routes. Mountaineering is possible in the mountains of the states of Rio, Sao Paulo and Minas (guides are recommended).

Of course, if you prefer to relax and enjoy the passing of time, the beach is a free option... Surfboards are available for hire. For other extreme sports activities, such as rafting, canyoning and paragliding, you'll need to budget accordingly.

What's very local

You can explore the city on foot, bike or rollerblades, especially at weekends, in the midst of a crowd of fluorescent-colored, tanned people. You're rarely alone running between Copacabana and Lagoa.

To test your "Brazilian-ness", try futevôlei. It's often a test for gringos. You only agree to play futevôlei at length with someone whose skills you recognize in this highly technical sport. As you can see, futevôlei is a very Brazilian mix of beach soccer and beach volleyball. You play soccer on a volleyball court, with the same rules as soccer: bunting, headers and footers. It's always spectacular, and the reputation of Brazilian footballers for technical skill is well deserved. It's always guaranteed to be a thrilling game on Copacabana.

Your documents please

Brazilian maritime legislation stipulates that the boat rental company must have the hirer fill out a register informing him/her of navigation and safety conditions and instructions, and specifying 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's not uncommon for you to be asked to sign a waiver for "high-risk" sports or activities, such as horseback riding.

To be booked

Some major events attract huge crowds. For example, soccer matches in the final stages of the Brasileirão, the Brazilian championship, require advance booking, even when played at the 100,000-seat Maracanã stadium. For the Brazilian Grand Prix, normally held in November, it's a good idea to make reservations, as Brazilians are eternal fans of motor sports and Formula 1.

Main events

Brazil is the land of soccer. Between May and December, the whole country cheers for its favourite team in the Brasilerão Serie A, which features the 20 best teams in Brazil. The Copa Libertadores, meanwhile, pits Brazil's top teams against South America's best between January and November.

In May, surfing enthusiasts can head to Saquarema, north of Rio de Janeiro, to watch a World Cup stage on the beautiful left-hand side of Itaùna beach. Gone are the pollution and dubious rollers of Barra da Tijucá. Since 2017, the CT (Championship Tour or World Cup) boarders have been meeting there in large numbers, to the delight of ever-growing numbers of fans.

The superliga de volei reaches its climax in April and May, when the finals are held. Volleyball is a particularly popular sport in Brazil, producing a large number of stars who play for some of Europe's biggest clubs. Last year's winner was Funvic, a club from Taubaté in the state of São Paulo.

In April, the São PauloMarathon brings together thousands of runners to cross the city. The other major marathon is the Rio de Janeiro Marathon, held in mid-June. It is possible to take part in certain major events such as these (you will often need to show a medical certificate attesting to your physical fitness).

Tourist traps

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