One of the positive aspects of the port of Rio de Janeiro is that it is close to must-visit icons such as Copacabana Beach, Sugar Loaf Hill, and Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain summit. As a result, upon disembarking the Rio de Janeiro port you can be at, for example, Christ statue in as little as 40 minutes (by taxi).
That’s fast considering that the statue is erected at 710 meters (2,328 feet) above sea level. From the statue to Sugar Loaf takes approximately other 40 minutes, and from Sugar Loaf to Copacabana Beach takes only 10-15 minutes. In other words, if you leave the port early morning, you can be done with these attractions by 1 p.m.
From the Rio de Janeiro port by taxi directly to your hotel in Copacabana, Ipanema, Leme, or Leblon takes approximately 20-25 minutes. A taxi ride from the Rio de Janeiro docks to the international airport (GIG) takes between 25 minutes to one hour and 15 minutes on weekdays depending on the traffic (on weekends and holidays averages 25 minutes).
Type of taxis at Rio de Janeiro Port
- ► Yellow taxis
The yellow taxis run on the meter (or, at least are supposed to), but regrettably some drivers skip the meter and propose a flat rate for a full- or half-day tour (which is usually much higher than what it would be on the meter). There are plenty of these taxis right outside the exit of the Rio de Janeiro port as well as on the street. Yellow taxis (on the meter) are reasonably cheap.
- ► Special taxis
The special taxis (which have different colors, but not yellow) run on a flat rate and have no meter. The fare of these taxis cost, in fact, almost the double of the fare of the yellow ones. However, the drivers and the cars tend to be of higher standard. Besides, they are 100% reliable and the fare is calculated according to a price list monitored by the city, so there is no surprise as you know the total fare cost in advance.
Another smart way of visiting the main attractions departing from the Rio de Janeiro port is by hiring a private tour guide. Unlike other ports around the world, private tour guides are usually not available at the port as most of them are hired in advance. They are more expensive than the yellow taxis (not so much more than the special taxis), but worth the rate.
Planning to embark or disembark soon at the Rio de Janeiro port? Read all you need to beat the crowd of cruisers at the tourist attractions and get the most out of your trip in My Rio Travel Guide – The Essential How-To Visitor’s Guide to Rio de Janeiro.
Facilities at Rio de Janeiro Port
The port of Rio de Janeiro is not impressive, or at least not yet. The government has plans to make improvements year after year as Rio de Janeiro is becoming one of the most desired cruise destinations in Latin America. Regrettably at the time of this writing (Oct. 2012), the port still lacked basic services such as money exchange and lockers. However, the port is clean, well-lit, and safe. The port’s name is Pier Mauá in Brazilian Portuguese.
The Rio de Janeiro port is the biggest and the second most important in Brazil (the number one port is Santos, in the state of São Paulo).
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