This guide to Rio de Janeiro covers all the major sights, area by area, in an easily navigable format. Descriptions of tourist attractions include the Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains, the fabulous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Barra da Tijuca, the jungle wilderness of the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, and coffee plantations of the Vale do Paraiba. The guide also contains background historical information, advice on shopping and entertainment and the low-down on eating out. There is an A-Z of practical information, listings of recommended hotels and restaurants and useful expressions in Portuguese. You can read about beach culture, museums, the carnival and tropical thirst-quenchers. Maps show excursions, Rio de Janeiro and Greater Rio de Janeiro, and there are dozens of colour photographs throughout.