Sports
Rio de Janeiro is a Sport-Enthusiast’s Paradise
Rio has beaches, waters and mountains that are not merely tourist attractions but ideal sporting venues as well. From football and beach volleyball to climbing and surfing, Rio is a haven for sports enthusiasts. The city’s good weather, ocean winds, mountain terrain and the sporting nature of the Cariocas, provide the perfect boost for sports. Chasing a ball or chasing the perfect wave is second nature to the Cariocas.
Football with the Cariocas
Football is the favorite pastime of the Cariocas, be is a street game or beach football. Every free moment is spent playing football in one of three forms namely, field football, beach football or Futebol de salão. If you are up for game then ask around at the beach and the locals will only be too happy to have you join in. You can catch up with some league, national or international matches at the Maracanã Stadium, the biggest stadium in the world.
Scuba Diving in Rio
Brazil’s cool, calm, warm and clear waters offer tourists plenty of opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling. There are a few good dive spots including Ilha Grande, west of Rio along the Green Coast and Arraial do Cabo 170 km east of Rio de Janeiro.
Hang Gliding in Rio
Hang gliding and paragliding are popular sports in Rio, living up the adventurous and sporting spirit of the Cariocas. The Pedra Bonita ramp in São Conrado is the favorite spot for hang gliding. There are many operators that are willing to take you across the skies right over the Atlantic Rainforest with an unforgettable view of the Corcovado, Sugarloaf and Pepino Beach. A word of caution, don’t let the price influence your choice of operators.
Skateboarding in Rio
This is another serious sport in Rio with many skate boarders found dodging traffic on the streets. This may sound dangerous, but for the faint hearted, parts of the beach avenues are closed to traffic on Sundays and holidays to enable skateboarding. Besides there are plenty of skate parks like Aterro do Flamengo, Parque Garota da Ipanema, Lagoa, which have banks and ramps for skateboarding.
