Sports and leisure activities Rio De Janeiro

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 Tijuca) is very well equipped for bikes, rollerblades and jogging. The Roller Rio association (www.facebook.com/rolleriorj/) offers group roller tours. Belo Horizonte's parks and bike paths are great for getting into shape or getting back into shape. In Rio, certain roads are closed to vehicles on Sundays and dedicated to "soft transport". Rio's famous Avenida Atlântica is "abandoned" to joggers, rollerbladers and other cyclists.

Rio's botanical gardens are the perfect starting point for forest walks. The Tijuca Forest is the world's largest urban forest, but we don't recommend it, as there are many assaults on the paths leading to Corcovado. Many of the morros and mountains are equipped with climbing routes. 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 or paragliding, you'll need to budget accordingly.

What's very local

You can explore the cities 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. It's all very Brazilian, but is it really any different from Venice Beach? Nothing could be further from the truth. 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, head and feet. 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 hire company must have the hirer fill in 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 notice, even when played at the 79,000-seat Maracanã stadium.

Main events

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

In May, surfing fans can head to Saquarema, north of Rio de Janeiro, to watch a stage of the Surfing World Cup on the beautiful left-hand side of Itaúna beach. Gone are the pollution and dubious rollers of Barra da Tijuca. Since 2017, the CT (Championship Tour or World Cup) boarders have played a major role here, delighting an ever-growing fan base

The volleyball Superliga reaches its peak in April and May with the finals. 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.

The Rio de JaneiroMarathon is run around mid-June. It is possible to take part in some of the big events like this one (you 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.