Originally called Pau-nh-Açquá (high, pointed peak) by the Tupi Indians, it was renamed Pao de Acucar (sugar loaf) by the Portuguese who thought the shape of the 1293ft granite rock to be comparable to that of the moulds used to set sugar cane. Henrietta Carstairs, an English nanny, became the first recorded non-indigenous climber to scale the mountain, when she successfully reached the summit in 1817.

Climbers frequently ascend the rock but the less strenuous and most popular way of reaching the top is to take the cable car - a system that has been in operation since 1912. The present Italian-style cars complete the journey in two stages.

The first leg of the ascent takes you from Praia Vermelha to a height of 720ft above sea level and stops at the summit of Morro da Urca. On this plateau lies an amphitheatre, heliport, restaurant, and shops. The second leg completes the journey to the Sugar Loaf over a distance of 2,460ft. Similar facilities exist at the final stop, which offers views of the oceans and beaches, the city and the mountains as far away as the Tijuca National Park. Sunset is an ideal time to visit and the area also has several, safe wooded trails, where marmosets thrive and it possible to escape a great portion of the tourists up on the summit with you.

CRISTO REDENTOR

The statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), sitting atop the 2,300-ft peak of Corcovado mountain, is Rio's most famous icon. The 30-meter-tall (98-foot) statue standing on a 20-ft pedestal weights 700 tons, completed in 1931, commemorates Brazil's independence from Portugal.

Arms boldly stretched in Welcome, he embraces the city and the magnificent Bay over which he looks. Choose a sunny day to make the trip, so you can look out the electric train's windows for monkeys, lofty trees covered in bromeliads, and tropical birds. At night the floodlit form is visible throughout Rio. Visitors can ascend Corcovado by road or car, train, and then climb 200 steps to the overlook. If weather permits, there are stunning views of the Bay and Rio's various but, within minutes, clouds can appear to obscure the areas from view. They can also disappear in minutes - or remain for hours.

CORCOVADO-(HUNCHBACK MOUNTAIN)

Corcovado or Hunchback Mountain, so named because of its shape, is home to Christ the Redeemer, The top of the Corcovado can be reached by electric train or by car.

Maddening traffic, unbearable noise, packed apartment blocks, and one of the world's most famous beaches - this is Copacabana, a Manhattan with bikinis. Copacabana only became part of Rio when the city was already 400 years old, with the construction of the Rio Tramway. The Light and Power Company of Canada invested in the link - blasting through rock to establish tunnels - in order to provide easy access for the trams. In 1923, the Copacabana Palace Hotel was inaugurated and it quickly became a pivotal point in the area's activities. The establishment of other hotels, nightclubs and casinos attracted the rich and famous during the 1930s and 1940s, but the area fell in popularity when gambling was made illegal in 1946.

The most cosmopolitan and wealthy neighborhood, Ipanema is home to a mixture of restaurants, discos, nightclubs and luxurious apartments. Chic boutiques, art galleries, theatres and cinemas are in abundance and the area teems with Rio's most beautiful people. The most famous beauty is the one immortalized in song - "The Girl from Ipanema". Schoolgirl Heloisa Pinheiro captivated composer Tom Jobim and lyricist and poet Vinicius de Moraes as she walked past the Velosa Bar each day when returning from school. Inspired by her beauty, the Bohemian men penned the song that was to leave its mark in pop history bringing recognition to the Brazilian music scene in the 1960s. The very bar where they sat, now known as A Garuta de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema), lies on the street renamed after Moraes. Ipanema. On Sunday mornings and afternoons, one lane of the roadway at Ipanema Beach is closed to traffic, and the area becomes a favorite spot for cariocas to hang out, rollerblade, exercise, or sit back and sip some of the sweet coconut water sold in the kiosks along the sidewalk. Families bring kids, bikes, dogs, and cats. Singles bring their desire to find other singles. Joggers bring their exercise buddies. Old and new friends casually meet on the street. It's a great place to work on your tan, and the sand is silky and light golden, but be sure to stay with the crowds, for security's sake. the best area for sunbathing and swimming is between Post 8 and Post 9. As you stroll along this beach, you'll catch a cross section of the city's residents. Different zones of the beach unofficially serve a variety of interests. The young tend to occupy the area in front of the Caesar Park Hotel. Gay men hang out in the section between Rua Farme de Amoedo and Rua Teixeira de Melo, while ancient left-wingers, hippies and artists tend to frequent Post 9.

Occupying an area of 46 sq miles, the area in the Tijuca range is the only national park in Brazil to be situated in an urban area. Classed as one of the world's biggest urban parks, it borders Alta Boa Vista, Santa Teresa and a number of Rio's other neighborhoods. Following the successful reforestation project, You can explore the tropical forest by car or on foot; watch for birds and butterflies, monkeys, iguanas, and much more. Birds have fared especially well and bird-watching is one of the park's major attractions. As well as providing a variety of leisure activities, the park has a wealth of opportunities for ecological and cultural tourism. Waterfalls, forests, ruins and fresh air render the park a wonderful place for relaxation and a picnic  

The Center of Brazilian football or soccer as Americans would call it, the arena, also formally known as the Mario Filho Stadium, became the world's biggest stadium - capable of holding around 200,000 people - when it was built for the purpose of hosting the 1950 World Cup Final. Football is a national obsession and even local matches are oversubscribed. Matches take place here three times a week during November and December with evening kick-offs. Football is not merely a game here and the atmosphere in the stadium is unique to Rio. Football aside, your ticket entitles you to experience a full-on theatrical extravaganza as the Brazilian spectators muster up support for their favourite team. The almost Colosseum-like surroundings serve as a fitting venue for a multitude of smokey fireworks, colourful flags and banners and the sounds of samba drums and whistles. The arena has also been used by Pope John Paul II. Frank Sinatra performed here in 1980 and when Paul McCartney sang at the stadium in 1991 he gained an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for achieving the largest live audience ever for a solo singer.

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