Parque da Catacumba is located in the Lagoa neighborhood, just 20 minutes walk from Ipanema. It is a park with tropical plants and Atlantic coastal forest  with stone paths and steps which lead through the park.

The lower section of the park houses some sculptures, and then the path leads to the top of a hill or a small mountain. From here on the path is no longer made of stones but it becomes a woodland path. The view that stretches from  the top of the trail is really amazing. Visitors can see the Lagoa, Two Brothers Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, Ipanema, Leblon, and Gavea.

Even though the entrance to the park is free one can always choose some of the additional activities offered here. There is a zip line, a canopy walk, rock-climbing wall…

Prainha Beach is located near Rio de Janeiro and it is a popular destination for surfers. It takes a short drive southwest from Rio de Janeiro to get to Prainha. It is in the shape of the half moon which help waves be so perfect for the surfers. The current is really strong here so it is recommended that only experienced surfers go deeper than waist.

The best time for surfest to visit here would be the spring since winds from the west northwest blow here in that period.
No matter if you´re here just for seeing great waves or you are an experienced surfer, you´ll definitely love it. Because of all these characteristics of the beach, Prainha is never too crowded.

You won´t be bored at Ipanema Beach. It has been proclaimed as the ˝World´s Sexiest Beach˝ by the Travel Channel and it is located next to Copacabana Beach. There are many restaurants, cafes, shops here, but not as much as on Copacabana. Ipanema is one of the affluent neighborhoods in South Zone.Two Brothers or Dios Ermãos mountains are located right next to the beach, to be more exact, on its western end.

This beach became even more popular after the release of the song ˝The Girl from Ipanema˝ by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes.
Ipanema is characterized by strong currents and rough surf, so the literal translation of the Indian name Ipanema - ˝dangerous water˝ speak about the characteristics of the water.  Nevertheless, the beach is crowded, especially during the summer months and on Sundays when the place is perfect for hikers, rollers, cyclists, etc. since there is no traffic.

Morro do Leme is a 210 m high mountain on one side of the Copacabana Beach, situated in the Leme neighborhood. Since 1987 a lot of plants were planted there so today there are about 11,000 different types of plants and about 90 animal species. At the top of the mountain is a fort named Forte do Leme, also known as Forte Duque de Caixas and Forte do Vigia. This fort was once used to protect the entry into the Guanabara Bay. 

It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk up the Morro do Leme. Another special thing is that from its top one can enjoy in spectacular views over Copacabana, Urca, and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas is a popular destination both for visitors and locals. This lagoon is connected to the Atlantic ocean and for this reason it has salt water. A 7.2 km of a path circles around the lagoon which makes it perfect for cycling and hiking. Its water area is also used for leisure and sport activities. 

Today, it is one of the principal tourist attractions in the city so the name ˝The Heart of Rio de Janeiro˝ describes it well.
The surrounding area is occupied by the same name upper-middle class neighborhood. There are also many Kiosks or outdoor restaurants which are positioned around the Lagoa in three areas.  

During Christmas period a large Christmas Tree is decorated and located on a large platform which keeps it on the Lagoa water surface, and this makes Lagoa even more special.