Everything You Need to Know About the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro
Every area of the world is divided up into zones, but not all those areas are called zones most of the time. It is different down in Rio de Janeiro though, and their neighborhoods are part of the zones that make up this fabulous city.
The
West Zone of Rio de Janeiro
The West Zone of Rio de Janeiro is comprised of multiple neighborhoods that include Barra, Recreio, Grumari, Prainha, Sitio Burlemarx, Casa do Pontal, and Pedra do Telegrafo. This happens to be the largest zone in the city, and it is filled with massive buildings and continuous construction projects. Of course, that means that there are not as many tourists in this part of Rio de Janeiro, but there are plenty of things to do for those who do choose to visit this amazing space, especially with a private tour guide.
The
History of the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro
There were not too many people living within the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro until the Joá Bridge and Tunnel were constructed during the early part of the 1970s. This bridge was designed so that people could easily move between the South and West Zones and hopefully make some of the people who lived in the South Zone move over to the West Zone to live.
To assist with the drive of people, upper class condos were constructed first in the late 70s and stores and services followed during the 1980s. The population of the West Zone exploded in the 1990s and now there are traffic issues that are common in other major cities. New arteries, overpasses, bridges, and wider highways are being built to control this traffic and the Bus Rapid Transit is successful in transporting people to other zones of Rio at reasonable rates.
Facts
About the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro
This area of Rio de Janeiro is well known for its shopping opportunities, especially at the Barra Shopping Mall. The mall has more than seven hundred stores and restaurants and they all ensure that visitors can spend days perusing them all!
The beach in this part of Rio is amazing and there is no shortage of space within any of the seventeen kilometers! In fact, visitors will find that they are capable of sunbathing from morning until night, unless they are too busy exploring the rest of the sights within the West Zone. Those who do spend time near the water will want to consider learning how to surf, whether regular surfing, kitesurfing, or body surfing, as this is a spectacular place for this water sport.
The nightlife in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro is plentiful and travelers will find themselves wondering if they happened to travel to Miami instead! This says quite a bit, since the nightlife in Miami is considered the hottest and most vibrant in the world, and it is nice to know that Rio can compete with their numerous available options. Those who are unsure of where to start their nighttime adventure will want to talk to the tour guides that they use when in Rio de Janeiro, as the guides are quite knowledgeable with the places to be once the sun sets in the sky.
Visiting
the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro
Most travelers will fly into the airport in Rio de Janeiro and then find themselves on their own as they navigate the city streets until they reach their destination. Thankfully, there are many options that travelers can use to reach the West Zone of this fascinating city and they include the bus, subway train, and taxi. Taxis are obviously going to be the fastest option, as well as the easiest with luggage, but they are also the most expensive. It is usually best for people to choose their mode of transportation prior to their arrival, so that they can do their research at home and know exactly which bus they need to board or which subway train to hop onto to get to their hotel.
Once a person has reached the West Zone in Rio de Janeiro, they can easily hop on and off the bus to reach many of the destinations that they are interested in seeing, even if they are not within the same zone.
What
to See in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro
With so much to do in Rio de Janeiro, it can be extremely difficult for a person to narrow down their list of what they must see during a trip. Of course, some people think that there is not much to do within the West Zone, which is not true, and they skip over some very important features when they are there.
First, everyone must visit at least a couple of the beaches within the West Zone, because they are some of the best within Rio de Janeiro. Praia Funda, Praia do Meio, Praia Grumari, and Praia Prainha are the four that need to be at the top of everyone’s list. The first two are quite rustic and travelers will need to hike along paths to reach the sandy beaches. The last two can be reached via car and while they are a little more crowded, they never see the crowds like Copacabana Beach does. It is always best to take a tour when seeing the beaches in this part of the country, because many of them cannot be reached via public transportation. However, tour guides frequent these beaches with travelers often, ensuring that everyone will have a blast as they spend some time on the sand and in the water.
Nature is everywhere in the West Zone, which is why visitors will want to take the time to do some hiking. The best hike is the TransCarioca, which is divided into segments that make it easy to do one or two at a time. Those who love adventures out in nature may also want to spend some time exploring the mangroves, which are full of wildlife that include capybaras, snakes, and burrowing owls. Hikers should plan on hiring a tour guide for each of the hikes that they plan on doing, as it can be quite easy to get lost amongst all the trees and mangroves. No one will want to get lost as they are wandering along a trail on an adventure of a lifetime.
Culture can be found almost everywhere in Barra da Tijuca, especially at the Cidade das Artes, or City of Arts. This massive concert hall is the perfect place to watch the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra or another classical performance. There are also many shopping areas within this neighborhood with the Village Mall being the most upscale option in the entire city. Those shoppers looking for more affordable options will want to visit Barra Shopping and Shopping New York City instead.
Insider
Tips for the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro
Everyone who makes the wonderful decision of spending time in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro will want to make sure that they set aside enough time to explore the area properly. A day or two is not going to allow anyone to see everything that they should in this area of the city and then people will be disappointed when it is time for them to leave.
Most people will want to take at least three or four days of their trip and spend that time in the West Zone with a tour guide before venturing out and seeing the rest of what Rio de Janeiro has to offer!
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