Elite Traveler March-April 2016

elite traveler MAR/APR 2016 113

WHERE TO PARK YOUR JET

■ Santos Dumont (SDU) This commuter airport is located downtown and has slot restrictions of 19 operations per hour, often filled by domestic operators flying the route to São Paulo. It is the hub of Brazilian airline Azul, has two 4,000ft-plus asphalt parallel runways, is subject to peculiar wind regulations and, because of its proximity to residential zones, it is closed at night.

■ Galeão Antonio Carlos Jobim (GIG) This is Rio’s main international hub and is also known as Galeão International airport. Situated 12 miles north of the city center on an island in Guanabara Bay, it has two runways in excess of 13,000 ft. It is Brazil’s second busiest airport and the largest in terms of area.

■ Jacarepaguá–Roberto Marinho (SBJR)

This is the smallest airport of the three and is located in the Barra da Tijuca area south of the city, home of the Aeroclube do Brasil and a host of air taxi and helicopter services. Ideal for fast access to the beaches of Leblon and Ipanema plus it's close to the Olympic Village.

THE PLACE TO BE… ARPOADOR

DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Famous for being the cradle of Rio’s surf scene, Arpoador is the cool coastal hot spot right now – and is the unequivocal meeting place of the rich and famous, hip and handsome, brawny and beautiful. Located between the western end of Copacabana and the eastern extreme of Ipanema, it is handily close to the Fasano and Sofitel hotels, as well as the upscale high-rises of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (Rio’s inland lagoon). A dramatic rock formation that marks its limit is the spot from which fishermen used to spear passing fish – arpoador means harpooner – and today it is everyone’s favorite sunset lookout. All kinds of beach gear, from surf shorts to wet suits to snorkels, is on sale at the nearby Galeria Ríver. There’s weight training at the Posto 8 beach lookout and iced coconut water on the sidewalk. A young crowd takes over Praia Diablo (Devil’s Beach) for beer and dancing after dark.

August 5-21 Rio Olympics

September 7-18 Rio Paralympics

November 13 Brazilian Grand Prix

February 24-28, 2017 Carnival

Before you travel to Rio, hook up with Marcelo

Esteves, the city’s coolest VIP bespoke guide. Multilingual, multi-talented Marcelo guides business visitors as well as the likes of U2 and

Quincy Jones. +55 99984 7654

Photos: Alamy, Corbis, Getty Images, 4corners, Gallery Stock