Rio de Janeiro state has a surface area of 43,305 km2, and approximately 14 million inhabitants. Rio de Janeiro city is the second largest city in Brazil with a population of about 6 million Cariocas as the inhabitants are called. The area of the city is 1,171 square kilometers and the city is located just south of the Tropic of Capricorn.

Communication
Rios international airport is located on Ilha do Governador about 25 km from Copacabana and Ipanema. There are one smaller airport in the center of the city for the flights to Sao Paulo and some other domestic destinations.

International Airport Information Tel. (55 21) 3398-4526, 3398-4527.
Domestic airport Information (Santos Dumont airport) Tel. (55 21) 2210-2457.

Taxis have meters in Rio, but try to avoid tours or excursions from taxi drivers. If you can, use the Cootramo radio taxi (Tel. 2560-5442) or Transcopass (Tel. 2560-4888) instead of the yellow cab.

Real is the name on the currency in Brazil (plural Reais). One Real is made up of 100 centavos. There are a green one Real note, a blue/purple 5, a red 10, a brown 50 and a blue 100. You can exchange money at exchange shops (casa do cambio), hotel front desks or banks. At exchange shops you get the best rate. US$ cash give you a better rate than a traveler check. Major banks, restaurants, hotels and shops accept major international credit cards, such as American Express, Dinners Club or Visa. Visa is the best card to use for you travel in Brazil, but be a little careful with were you use it. Bank hours are Monday through Friday from 10.00 to 16.00, except public and bank holidays.

Try this link to the currency converter at Yahoo Finance

GSM cellular telephones work in Brazil. The International Direct Dial (IDD) code for Brazil is 55. The city code for Rio de Janeiro is 021 (dont use the 0 in International calls).Fax can be sent from any large post office in Rio.

Postal services works pretty god in Brazil. Usually airmail letters or postcards to USA and Europe arrive in about a week or two.

The electrical current in many cities in Brazil is 220 volts, except the states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Pernambuco where it is 110 volts. (Some hotels and newly reformed properties have 220 volts). Bring a converter if you need some electronically device.

Safety
Rio isnt so dangerous as the reputation says, but try to remember the following advices to stay out of hassle. Hotels offer safety deposit boxes in their rooms. It is recommended that travel documents, jewelry and other values will be kept in them. Keep only what is necessary for daily use with you. Only carry a towel, sun block and a small amount of money to the beach, nothing more! Dont exchange money in the street. Look after you luggage all the time. Try to avoid walking at dark streets at night, use taxi. Dont go to the beach at night even if that is a big temptation. Be careful with the strong undertow when you swim at the Atlantic beaches. There are a flag warning system Red – dangerous / White - Water is safe, lifeguard on duty.

In case of hassle call direct to Rio Tourist Police, Tel. 2511-5112 or visit them at, Av Afranio de Melo Franco Leblon (It´s opposite Scala)

Climate and dressing

Rio de Janeiro has a tropical to semi tropical climate. Summer runs from December through March and winter from June through August. The temperatures ranging from 25 degree Celsius to 42 degree Celsius in summer and 16 to 25 degree Celsius in winter. Many restaurants and nightspots are not restrictive on the dress code, although some require formal wear for the evening. For sightseeing and other outdoors activities, light summer clothing is most practical. Light cotton shirts, shorts, dresses and trousers are ideal during the day. You dont need to bring a jacket if you are not going to stay here during the winter.

Health

Its suggested that you drink mineral water and avoid tap water in Brazil. Be careful with the sun. Use high sun block even during cloudy days. Here are the address and telephone for English speaking doctors in Rio:

Tel:(021)  2516-1557
Fax: (021) 233-4529
Dr. Antonio Carlos Sousa Junior (Tel. home: 2225-2362)
Dr. Leronardo Ponce de Moura Rua
Miguel Couto, 124 - 2. andarCentro - RJ

If you need a dentist in Rio:
Dr. Valda Paulis Dzelme
Dr. Alicia PaulisRua Francisco Sá, 23/301
Copacabana Tel: (021) 2513-3025

Food and drinks
Traditional Brazilian cuisine has been favourably compared to those of the other great cuisines of the world and offers a similar complexity and diversity of taste and dishes. Among the more famous regional dishes of Brazil are those from Bahia and Minas Gerais states which are served at a number of restaurants in and around Rio. Dishes with such exotic names as moqueca, vatapa, camarao a baiana and tutu a mineira. Rio for its part has what is considered to be the most traditional dish of them all, the feijoada, a type of stew. Which is traditionally served at Saturday lunch, by restaurants and hotels. Another popular dish Brazilian dish in Rio is the barbeque. Barbeques comes in all shapes and sizes from the corner galleto, serving barbeque chicken and steaks at the counter, to the churrascaria rodicio, a barbeque house which for a set price serves as much of the many varied barbequed delicacies as the costumer wishes.

Rio also has its traditional drinks, many of which are based on a locally produced sugar cane spirit known as cachaca. Chachaca is the basis to fruit batidas and also the caipirinha, a drink that is the established accompaniment to the feijoada.