Hi,
I am planning my first trip to Brazil this coming Winter, and I'd like some suggestions of places to go in Rio and anywhere around it. I've always dreamed of visiting Rio, which is supposed to be the worlds most beautiful city. I'd like the suggestion of a local Brazilian travel operator who could help me plan the trip as well as some general info, as I am planning to spend 10 days in Brazil.
Thanks in advance for all support and tips!

It depends on what time of the year you will come and your interests.

Rio is very pretty but unless you love crowds, around New Year's and Carnival can be a nightmare.

Apart from the well known spots and beaches, within a three hours radius the is Parati, Angra dos Reis and Buzios, all with nice beaches and Petropolis in the mountains.

Hope it helps a bit. I am not from Rio and someone from there can indicate a local tour operator.

And remember. Rio only scratches the surface of what Brazil has to offer! Try to travel around the country and you will be amazed!

Why not start with a guide book, such as the Lonely Planet guide to Brazil or any of numerous others? Eaiser for you to see a wide variety of places and decide what appeals to you. I wouldn't let a local tour operator determine my whole itinerary for me, and I speak Portuguese. Brazil is the size of the continental U.S. You mention 10 days in Brazil but address only Rio. A guide book, and a look at airline costs and schedules will help you determine just what you want to, and can, see. You can always find organized tours for specific locations, such as the city of Rio. If you want your entire stay organized in advance, I think you'd be better off dealing wiht a U.S.-based operator, especially if you don't speak Portuguese and don't wan to be with a group tour, without English, for your stay. When my mother and a friend visited Brazil, while I was working in Rio, a U.S. travel agent arranged flights and also semi-escorted tour arrangements in each city.

Important: by "winter" I assume you mean the Northern Hemisphere winter. If you will traveling over New Years and/or Carnaval, you will run into higher than usual costs, minimum stay requirements (especially in Rio), etc. and may be too late to arrange hotels except at super high prices (if at all). I would agree with the above poster that you should try to get out of Rio itself. World's most beautiful city? Very subjective (others would vote for Hong Kong, San Francisco, Paris and others-- some of which may be be cleaner and more modern and safer, but without the nice beaches, found in or near Rio). And I'd still try to see a variety of places, depending on what your interests are (which you don't indicate; another reason for a guide book). Foz de Igua�u, Ouro Preto, Salvador, Pantanal, Amazon jungle all worth considering. No way you could see all of them, plus Rio, in 10 days. And the itinerary that might be good for me may not suit you. Start reading. And start looking at flight and hotel costs.

BTW, even when I lived and worked in Rio in the mid-90s, and lived in Ipanema, I seldom went swimming there, due to the pollution. Many others did, and even without swimming the scenery was great-- both human and otherwise. Barra de Tijuca, on the northern outskirts, has some nice beaches. And keep in mind that Brazil is not a cheap place to visit, even when the dollar is strong. It's not like visiting Argentina or Mexico.

Thanx for all the useful info. I do realize that Brazil isn't a cheap place to visit.

I will be going to Rio on January 5th, and will stay in Brazil until Jan. 11th. I was able to find a local travel operator (Velocitas Travel www.velocitas.com.br) with great English-speaking staff and good package deals, but yet expensive. I will be staying in Copacabana at a moderately priced hotel, which according to the people at Velocitas, I will be able to bring in any local friend I find on the beach or elswhere, and I am also going to go to Paraty, which is a historical city for a 4-night trip. Even though I didn't find Velocitas package a bargain, it was 30% cheaper than what I was offered by a Miami-based operator (BROL) and about 40% cheaper than what I found researching directly on the internet... Brazil is indeed very expensive.

But as SoCal suggested getting information is a must, thereforeI am reading a lot about Brazil and Rio, and that's why I want to spend 6 nights in Rio, as I wan to visit the many different sights the city has to offer: nudist beach (Abrico), the Tijuca Forest, the Barra and Recreio beaches, the Carmen Miranda museum, the Chacara do Ceu museum and I also want to hang glide and go to the night life in Lapa, besides visiting the Sugar Loaf and the Christ statue.

Now I just hope everything works out as planned. Wish me luck, because I am getting a bit nervous about this trip. But I will let you all know of how it went. And I do hope to find a local Brazilian romance.

deleed

Well, now we know what you're headed to Brazil for. Do not assume that the hotel will abide by Velocitas's promise that you can take outside women to your room. Some hotels are strict about this, in order to deter prostitution and the problems it can involve (and if the girl is under 18, or appears to be so, it's a big, big, big problem with the police). You might read up on a drink called "boa noite, Cinderella," known to be given by working women to customers to knock them out. And be sure that the lovely woman you pick up is a woman. I'm sure you know to be safe and use a condom.

As the OP reasons to visit Brasil seem quite clear, why not sample the many different options available ?