Between August 5 and 21, the Olympic Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro . This means that the city is preparing to receive tens of thousands of people, both athletes and fans who want to follow closely the sporting event of the year.
Leaving aside all the criticism that the organizers are receiving for safety issues or completion of the works, today I am going to focus on all those things that one should know before traveling to one of the most beautiful cities in Brazil , a country which two years ago also benefited from the avalanche of sports tourism, although on that occasion it had to do with the celebration of the FIFA World Cup.
Basic information
Rio de Janeiro is the second most populated city in Brazil, although it is number one when it comes to tourism . There are almost 6 and a half million inhabitants in a total area of 1,182 square kilometers.
It is located in the southeast of the country and is famous for its lively carnivals and its colorful beaches, Copacabana being one of the best known and most visited in South America. The climate is tropical, so the summers are hot and the winters are rather moderate. The official language is Portuguese and the time difference is 5 hours compared to the Spanish summer (4 hours compared to the Spanish winter).
Tickets and visas
If you are going to travel for tourism, you will not need a visa unless you are going to spend more than 90 days there. With the passport, as long as it is valid for at least six months, it will be enough. You will also have to show the round trip ticket, a receipt that justifies your economic capacity to spend a few days there (50 euros a day per person) and the papers that justify your accommodation.
The price of a direct roundtrip ticket to Rio de Janeiro usually ranges from 1,500 euros from Madrid, although it all depends on demand and the time of year. The airport is always the Antonio Carlos Jobim – Galeão , which is about half an hour from the city center.
Health and vaccines
The misdeeds of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito make it necessary to take precautions. It can transmit chikungunya fever, dengue fever, and the famous Zika virus , so use repellants every day and avoid drinking tap water. It is also recommended to be careful with the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Although it is not necessary to be vaccinated, it is highly recommended to be vaccinated against rubella, measles and yellow fever . The vaccine to avoid this last disease is mandatory if it comes from countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina and most of those on the African continent.
Things you shouldn’t forget
Take comfortable clothes without forgetting that it is important to take something warm for what may happen. The most important thing, in addition to the swimsuit, is a good mosquito repellent that you can find in pharmacies. I also recommend you take a hat to protect yourself from the sun and avoid sunstroke. On the other hand, it does not hurt to carry medications with the corresponding medical prescriptions.
accommodation
There is everything, so you choose. In Rio de Janeiro you will find modest hotels that are mixed with luxury ones. The tall buildings with sea views compete with another approach with the proposals of Airbnb , which has become one of the main sponsors of the Rio Olympics knowing that it will give them a lot of publicity.
If you can afford it, spend whatever money it takes to be in a good part of town. Unfortunately, crime is the daily bread in these parts, so being in a bad neighborhood can multiply the chances that you will be the victim of a robbery.
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