Its countless attractions make Rio de Janeiro the tourism capital of Brazil. Located in the Southeast region, with six million inhabitants, this Marvelous City covers 1,224,56 square kilometers, with a coastline 246.22 kilometers long, and 325.60 square meters green areas. Nestling between steep slopes and the sea, the creative spirit of Rio inspires innovative solutions that appeal to all tastes.

A landmark of Brazil, the statue of Christ the Redeemer atop the Corcovado peak has been voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, in an international contest. A cable-car trip up the Sugar Loaf at the mouth of the Guanabara Bay also offers unforgettable views over the city. Its countless attractions for visitors are well-known, with two of the most important being the Maracanã Sports Stadium, which pays tribute to the five World Cup titles won by Brazilian soccer sides, and the Sambadrome, where thousands of people applaud the unforgettable samba school parades during the world’s largest street festival: Carnival in Rio. Built recently by the Mayor’s Office on an area covering 114,000 m² in the docklands, the Samba City complex offers year-round tours of the workshops where the main samba schools prepare for their elaborate parades. Offering inside glimpses into the world of Carnival, Samba City takes visitors backstage, touring its workshops throughout the year, in addition to Carnival shows every day.

Surveys conducted by universities in Michigan and California, rated Rio as the city with the world’s friendliest inhabitants. This is the guiding spirit of this Marvelous City, the light-hearted carioca way of life that turns every inch of the city into a welter of attractions: beaches, mountains, forests, open air sports and world-class events such as New Year’s Eve, Carnival and many others. Packed with historical and cultural treasures, Rio is vibrant by day and dazzling by night. Its many flavors and colors offer something for every taste, every age. Like its best-known symbol - Christ the Redeemer - Rio welcomes its guests with open arms.

Riocentro Convention Center
Av. Salvador Allende 6555 - Barra da Tijuca - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

At the moment, Rio de Janeiro has around 350 hotels, ranging from one to five stars, in addition to many motels and apart-hotels, offering more than 23,000 rooms.

There will be shuttle buses running between the OFFICIAL HOTELS and the RIOCENTRO, as well as to official social events.
Transportation will be free of charge for passengers wearing the Congress badge (Attendees, Companions and Exhibitors).

The Tom Jobim International Airport on the Ilha do Governador island offers easy access along modern expressways to the Downtown (Centro), South Zone (Zona Sul) and Barra da Tijuca districts, where the main hotels are located. All Brazilian airlines and 26 international carriers operate at this airport, which handled through flows of around eight million passengers on domestic and international flights. Downtown, the Santos Dumont Airport handles regional flights and the Rio - São Paulo air shuttle, as well as executive jets and smaller aircraft. Excellent cab and bus services link the airports to main hotels and residential areas.

Rio de Janeiro International Airport - Galeão / Antonio Carlos Jobim:
Telephone – Information: (55-21) 3398-5050
Flights: (55-21) 3398-4527 / 3398-4526

Domestic Airport - Santos Dumont:
Telephone – information and flights: (55-21) 3814-7070

Almost all Rio's large taxi fleet is air-conditioned. Regular yellow cabs can easily be flagged down in the street, charging metered fares. Special cabs run by licensed firms serve airports and hotels, or can be called by telephone. At airports and large malls, most special cabs work with fixed rates by district of destination, paid in advance at the desk, which displays the price list.

The Rio subway (Metrô) is safe, efficient, and easy to use. Sold at booths in the stations (not from machines), tickets are valid for one, two or ten trips. There are three Metrô stations in Copacabana: Estação Cardeal Arcoverde in the Praça Cardeal Arcoverde square, Estação Siqueira Campos between Rua Siqueira Campos and Rua Fiqueiredo Magalhães, and the Estação Cantagalo in Rua Xavier da Silveira, all set four blocks back from the beach. The Subway is a great way for adventurous visitors to explore the city, with the Catete, Glória, Cinelândia, Carioca and Uruguaiana stations located close to the main historical and cultural attractions of the city.

At no additional cost, the Surface Subway (Metrô na Superfície) links the Estação Siqueira Campos station to the Gávea district by bus, running through Ipanema and Leblon, while the Estação Botafogo is linked by bus to Gávea, through the Humaitá and Jardim Botânico districts. The Barra Subway (Metrô Barra) links the Estação Siqueira Campos station to the Terminal Alvorada bus terminal in Barra da Tijuca, passing through São Conrado, with itineraries along the Avenida das Américas and Avenida Sernambetiba.

A sub-tropical city, summer in Rio de Janeiro runs from December through March, with temperatures varying from 25°C (77°F) to 42°C (108°F); winter extends from June through August, with temperatures of around 20°C (68°F) during the day and 16°C (60°F) at night.

The electricity in Rio de Janeiro is 110 or 120 volts, although many hotels and buildings are fitted with alternative power outlets with 220 volts.

Endowed with an excellent communications system linking it to the rest of Brazil and the world, Rio offers direct dialing and collect call facilities from any telephone. Call-boxes are scattered all over town, even along its beaches, with calling cards easily available. Mobile telephones may be rented at low fees by visitors. The direct dialing code for Brazil is 55, and 21 for Rio de Janeiro.