A holiday to Rio de Janeiro is something most people can only dream about. The long stretches of sparkling beaches, beautiful people and captivating culture have made this one of South America’s most sought-after holiday destinations. Ipanema beach, by far the most famous and gorgeous parts of Rio, may have been immortalized by a song, yet it’s the suburb’s superlative beach, fantastic shopping and delectable dining options which attract millions every year and keep many of them coming back for more. Want for a truly authentic Rio experience when visiting? Then book your holiday rental apartment in Ipanema and book one (or all three) of the following cultural tours while you’re in town. Samba Dinner Show If you’re lucky enough to be travelling to Rio de Janeiro in February you’ll have the opportunity to see the epitome samba show of the year, yet at any other time you can also spend an evening experiencing this most captivating and addictive part of Brazilian culture. Samba is to Rio what flamenco is to Spain: a dance defined as one of the most inherent components of the local culture. During this four-hour outing, you can enjoy an authentic and delicious Brazilian grilled dinner, while watching one ...

Take a famous song, add a long stretch of powdery white sand, endless rolling blue surf and sprinkle with taut, tanned bodies and you have one of the most desirable travel destinations on the planet. Beautiful Ipanema beach is the stuff of legends. It entered the rest-of-the-world’s imagination with the haunting ballad ‘The Girl From Ipanema’, written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, one of the pioneers of the bossa nova sound. Jobim used to hang out on Ipanema’s sidewalk cafes and bars along with other artists, intellectuals and liberals, forging Ipanema’s reputation as ‘leftist’ (albeit affluent) enclave until many of them were forced into exile in the coup d’ etat of 1964. Like all of the world’s great beaches, Ipanema has its own unique culture. The beach is subdivided into sections called postos (or ‘posts’) which give in turn have their own character, making Ipanema feel a times more like a series of community microcosms. Posto 9 is the most famous; a fascinating mixture of the young, tanned and beautiful and leather-skinned hippies. You’ll find volley ball and soccer players at Posto 10 whilst Posto 8 is distinctly more working class. The gay section is located in front of ...