Activities

Given the mountains, beaches and lush forests at their doorstep, it's not surprising that Cariocas are an active bunch. The coastline brings an array of options: Jogging, walking, hiking, cycling, surfing etc... The mountains offers their own allure: you can hang-glide off of them or rock-climb up them. great hiking trails through Atlantic rain forest lie just outside the city.

Cycling

Rio de Janeiro has over 74km of bike paths around the city, making it an excellent way to get some exercice. There are bike paths around Lagoa, along Barra da Tijuca and on the oceanfront from Leblon to Leme. This last path goes all the way to Flamengo and into the downtown. In the Tijuca forest, a 6km bikeway runs from Cascatinha do Açude. On Sundays the road along beaches from Leblon to Leme is closed as is the road through Flamengo Park. You can rent bikes from stand along the west side of Lagoa for US$6 per hour.

Golf
Green fees at the 18-hole golf course of Gavea Golf & Country Club are about US$80 a round, plus club rental of US$ 25 and caddie hire for US$ 25. On weekends, you have to be invited by a member of the club to play there. Excellent choice!!!

Hang Gliding

If you weigh less than 220lb and have about US$ 80 to spend, you can do the amazing hang glide off 510M high at Pedra Bonita, one of the giant granite slabs that tower above Rio de Janeiro. Onto Pepino's beach in Sao Conrado. No experience is necessary and we're told that winds are very safe here. Guest riders are secured in a king of pounch attached to the kite.

Flights naturally depend on weather and wind conditions. You can usually fly on all but three to four days per month and conditions during winter are even better. If you fly early in the day, you have more flexibility to accommodate weather delays. The cheapest, but probably not the safest, way to arrange a flight is to go to the far end of Pepino's beach, where the flyboys hang out at the Free Flying Club. During the week, you can probably get a flight for around US$ 60 dollars.

Hiking & Climbing

Visitors can hike one of the many trails through the Tijuca Forest or head to Rio's nearby national parks, Serra dos Orgaos national Park and Itatiaia's National Park.

In recent years, there's been a boom in organized hikes around the city, including hikes through wilderness areas around Corcovado, Urca's Hill, Sugarloaf and of course, Tijuca. It's advisable to go with a guide for a number of reasons, to avoid getting lost and getting robbed are top of the list. Group outings can also be a good way to meet Cariocas.

Rio de Janeiro is also the center of rock climbing in Brazil, with around 350 documented climbs within an hour's drive. Rio has several well organized climbing clubs, which have regular weekly meeting to discuss upcoming outings. The clubs definitely have a social component and are a good place to meet locals.

Walking & Jogging

There are some good walking and jogging paths in the south zone of Rio. If you're staying in the Catete / Flamengo area, Flamengo's Park has plenty of space and lots of workouts stations. Around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas a 7.5km track provides a path for cyclists, joggers and power walkers. At the Cantagalo's Park,, you can hire bicycles, tricycles or even, quadricycles. Along the seaside from Leme to Barra da Tijuca, there's a bike path and footpath. On Sunday the road is closedto traffic from 7am to 6 pm. The road skirting through Flamengo's Park is also closed on Sundays.

Closed to bicycles but open to walkers and joggers in the Pista Claudio Coutinho, between the mountains and the sea at Red beach in Urca. It's open from 7am until 6pm daily and is very secure because of the Brazilian Army post nearby. People in bathing suits aren't allowed in, unless they're running. It's a nice place to be around sunset.

Surfing

When the surf is good, it gets crowded. Arpoador's Beach, between Copacabana and Ipanema, draws large flocks of surfers, though there are much better breaks further out in Barra, Grumari, Joa and Prainha by far the best surf spot in Rio. Across the bay, Itacoatiara also has good breaks.

If you don't have a board, you can hire or buy one in Galeria River (Ipanema - Arpoador at Francisco Otaviano street, 67), a commercial center full of surf shops and boutiques surf wears.

Paddle Boating

Althrough most Cariocas laugh at the idea of paddling a big swan boat out across the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the truth is , many of them have already done it. Located on the east shore of the lake near the kiosks are available forhire throughout the year on the weekends. During the summer, you can hire boats until late in the night on weekends and it's always an admirable goal to paddle toward the Christmas tree across the way if you're around in December.