About Rio De Janeiro

The Portuguese actually stumbled on Rio when they discovered Guanabara Bay on January 1, 1502. They named the bay Rio de Janeiro or January River. The Portuguese immediately fell in love with the beachs around the bay and developed a relationship with the indigenous tribes that inhabited the area. This new world became a passion for the Portuguese and they spent the next 3 centuries exploring, settling and populating what is now known as Brazil.

Today, Rio is a city filled with complexities in terms of culture, economy and future opportunities. The population of Rio’s metropolitan area is about 12 million. Immigrants from all over the world settled in Rio and the city’s communities are a diverse cultural mix that blend together and create a collective culture. They call themselves “Cariocas” as well as “Brasileros” or Brazilians. Rio’s economy is an ongoing lesson in economics. On one hand Rio represents the poorest economic conditions a city can exhibit in terms of poverty, filth, crime and squander and on the other hand it is one of the richest cities in the world in terms of wealth, beauty, the arts, natural sophistication and entertainment. Rio continues to reinvent itself. The city offers opportunities to those who want to make a difference socially, as well as economically.

Distances to Neighbours

• Brasília: 1,160 km (720 mi)
• São Paulo: 430 km (270 mi)
• Belo Horizonte: 450 km (280 mi)
• Salvador: 2,805 km (1,743 mi)