MARINA DA GLORIA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

RACE 8 NEW YORK, USA - DERRY-LONDONDERRY - DEN HELDER - LONDON, UK

LEG 8 HOMECOMING

Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Christ the Redeemer statue and Copacabana Beach will be welcome sights for the crews after almost a month spent crossing the Atlantic and Equator into the Southern Hemisphere.

And Rio’s colourful, vibrant carnival atmosphere awaits along with the promise of Caipirinhas, samba and football.

Rio’s cariocas (residents) are known to party hard, and if you want to join in, ask for a “cerveja” (beer) post-football at the Maracanã stadium or at a beach kiosk.

For spectacular views looking down on Rio, take the small train up Corcovado Hill to the statue of Christ the Redeemer, or the cable car to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Head to Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to spot the honed bodies Brazil is famous for. Cycling, playing volleyball and people watching while sipping coconut water are all favourite pastimes of the locals.

Rio has 19 bike rental stations distributed between Lagoa, Copacabana, Leme, Gávea, Ipanema and Leblon and cycling is a fun way to see the different neighbourhoods.

The Claudio Coutinho trail, located between the coast of Sugar Loaf and Red Beach (Praia Vermelha), is a great place to enjoy the wildlife and views of Rio, with many types of birds and monkeys easy to spot.

And the Tijuca Forest is considered the largest urban rainforest in the world. Take an official tour across the green expanse to see birds, small mammals and exotic plants.

PORT INFORMATION