Footpath and cycle paths follow much of Rio's coastline, the best
example of this is the route that starts in Botafogo and ends in
Gloria. Providing views across Botafogo bay, Christo, Sugar Loaf,
Centro, Gloria marina and Flamengo beach. One of the best ways to enjoy a
sunny day in Rio.
The path starts at the beginning of Botafogo, next to Botafogo stadium, and follows the beach in its entirety. Botafogo beach is often deserted as the water here is dirtier than most other places in Rio, however it has for me the best location, bar none. Looking across the boat filled bay you can see sugar loaf in all its glory. You can sit on the sand and watch as the cable cars carry countless tourists to its summit. Looking in the opposite direction, towards Botafogo itself you will be to spot Christ perched high above peering down into Botafogo.
Once you reach the end of the beach the path continues along the waters front leaving Botafogo behind you. Here you will often see fishermen and maybe even a cat or two. As you get further from bay you will also start to see a few sailing boats catching the breeze as they skip along, with Niteroi just visible far behind them on the other side of Guarana Bay. After you pass the fisherman, you will come to 'The World's Strongest man' style gym. With bars as thick as you arm and round concrete weights on either end, the prospect of attempting to lift one is rather daunting, but worth giving a go just for that sense of achievement when you raise it high above you head, even if you are getting ridiculed looks from the regular strong men, plus it makes for a great photo, weight held high and sugar loaf behind. The gym is also, rather ironically, home to the world's most obese cat.
Next you come upon Flamengo beach, where you can continue to walk along the beach front or venture into the park, which runs parrell, if even just to take shelter from the sun for a while, I prefer to walk beach side along the Flamengo Boardwalk and take advantage of the vendors selling ice cream and fresh coconut water (don't forget to ask them to open up your coconut after you've drunk all the water inside so you can feast upon the pulp within). Although the beach is not so well known among tourists it is certainly popular among the locals and is often just as busy as its more famous friends.
As you reach the end of the beach it is time to leave the waters edge briefly and enter into Flamengo and Catete Park, giving you a few moments relief under the shadow of the tress, before rejoining the waters edge at Gloria Marina. The marina is small but has some impressive boats and is a very tranquil location to sit and rest. Just after the marina you come to a large and modern looking war memorial. Finally you come to a large museum (although it isn't obvious its a museum, but its a large grey building raised above the ground with ponds in front of it), from here you can take a footbridge across the road into the centro district, where you will easily find Cinelandia metro station or plenty of buses to take you to where you wish to go.
The path starts at the beginning of Botafogo, next to Botafogo stadium, and follows the beach in its entirety. Botafogo beach is often deserted as the water here is dirtier than most other places in Rio, however it has for me the best location, bar none. Looking across the boat filled bay you can see sugar loaf in all its glory. You can sit on the sand and watch as the cable cars carry countless tourists to its summit. Looking in the opposite direction, towards Botafogo itself you will be to spot Christ perched high above peering down into Botafogo.
Once you reach the end of the beach the path continues along the waters front leaving Botafogo behind you. Here you will often see fishermen and maybe even a cat or two. As you get further from bay you will also start to see a few sailing boats catching the breeze as they skip along, with Niteroi just visible far behind them on the other side of Guarana Bay. After you pass the fisherman, you will come to 'The World's Strongest man' style gym. With bars as thick as you arm and round concrete weights on either end, the prospect of attempting to lift one is rather daunting, but worth giving a go just for that sense of achievement when you raise it high above you head, even if you are getting ridiculed looks from the regular strong men, plus it makes for a great photo, weight held high and sugar loaf behind. The gym is also, rather ironically, home to the world's most obese cat.
Next you come upon Flamengo beach, where you can continue to walk along the beach front or venture into the park, which runs parrell, if even just to take shelter from the sun for a while, I prefer to walk beach side along the Flamengo Boardwalk and take advantage of the vendors selling ice cream and fresh coconut water (don't forget to ask them to open up your coconut after you've drunk all the water inside so you can feast upon the pulp within). Although the beach is not so well known among tourists it is certainly popular among the locals and is often just as busy as its more famous friends.
As you reach the end of the beach it is time to leave the waters edge briefly and enter into Flamengo and Catete Park, giving you a few moments relief under the shadow of the tress, before rejoining the waters edge at Gloria Marina. The marina is small but has some impressive boats and is a very tranquil location to sit and rest. Just after the marina you come to a large and modern looking war memorial. Finally you come to a large museum (although it isn't obvious its a museum, but its a large grey building raised above the ground with ponds in front of it), from here you can take a footbridge across the road into the centro district, where you will easily find Cinelandia metro station or plenty of buses to take you to where you wish to go.
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