A week together by the ocean — to ship ideas, share meals, and watch the sun fall behind the mountains at Arpoador. Here is everything you need to land smoothly and enjoy every minute of it.
Drop your photos from the week into the shared album so we can build one big collective memory.
All times in BRT (UTC−3). Sessions and squad time are held in the Arpoador meeting room at Hotel Othon Palace (2nd Floor).
Domestic flights from SDU: please Uber on your own — closer and faster. Reimbursed via expense.
A quick orientation so you spend less time figuring things out and more time enjoying the city.
Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish — Spanish gets you partway. Useful phrases: bom dia (good morning), obrigado / obrigada (thanks), tudo bem? (how are you?), a conta, por favor (the bill, please).
~R$5 ≈ US$1 (check the day-of). Cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted nearly everywhere — you'll rarely need cash beyond beach vendors and small stalls.
In June, Rio is 1 hour ahead of US East (EDT), 4 hours behind UK (BST), and 5 hours behind continental Europe (CEST). Brazil has no daylight saving since 2019.
Rio mostly runs on 127V but some hotels are 220V — check the outlet. Most laptop chargers handle both. Bring a Type N adapter; it looks like a Type C (Euro) but with a third grounding pin.
Tap water in Rio is technically treated but is not recommended to drink. The hotel provides bottles; restaurants serve água sem gás (still) or com gás (sparkling).
Use Uber or 99 — both reliable, cheap, and safer than street taxis. Stick to Uber Comfort or Black, and Black if possible: regular UberX cars in Rio can be in rough shape. Avoid hailing on the street late at night, and when in doubt, walk in a group. That said — we'll handle transportation for every group activity, so you only need cars for free time.
June is Rio's winter — meaning the city's most pleasant weather. Sunny, low humidity, almost no rain, and breezy in the evenings.
Rio is safe to enjoy with normal big-city awareness. The advice below covers 95% of what you need to know.
But in any case, save these:
If anyone ever demands your phone or wallet, give it up — nothing in your pocket is worth a fight. Insurance will cover the loss; we will help you replace anything. Tell a Resend trip lead immediately and we'll go to the police together.
We're based in Copacabana — Rio's most iconic beachfront. Step out of the hotel and you're on Avenida Atlântica, with the famous wave-tiled promenade between you and the Atlantic. Arpoador is a short walk south, and the rest of the south zone is a quick Uber away.
Hotel Othon Palace sits right on Av. Atlântica, looking out at one of the most photographed beaches in the world. The black-and-white Portuguese-stone promenade is yours every morning before breakfast.
The rocky outcrop between Copacabana and Ipanema. Sunset there is unmissable, and the beach in front of it is calmer than the main stretch. You can walk the whole way along the sand.
Two neighborhoods, one continuous beach, separated only by a rock. Locals don't really pick sides — they walk between them. You'll do the same all week.
Tree-lined streets, café and bookstore culture, the original bossa-nova hangouts. Praça General Osório has a great Sunday hippie market. Posto 9 is the place to people-watch on the sand.
Ipanema's quieter, slightly more residential sister. Great for an evening drink at Jobi or dinner at Sushi Leblon.
Big urban lagoon with a running/biking loop, kioskos around the edge, and views of Corcovado on a clear day.
A short list of places worth your free hours — picks from the team and the friends we trust most in Rio.
Tiny Centro spot pioneering specialty coffee in Rio. The bar is the whole experience.
Carefully sourced single-origin beans and a warm, no-fuss bar. A favorite for a slow morning cup.
Refined Japanese in the heart of Ipanema — beautiful sushi and one of the best omakases in town. Book ahead.
Comforting, generous Italian cooking with that homemade-pasta-and-good-wine kind of evening. Great for a small group.
Cozy neighborhood spot with a regulars-only feel. Order what's in season, share a few things, stay for one more glass.
Beachfront caipirinhas on Ipanema, kiosk style. Try the passionfruit. Sit with the sand at your feet and watch the parade go by.
The Rio juice-bar classic. Açaí, fresh-pressed everything, a sanduíche natural to walk with. Perfect post-beach refuel.
The go-to açaí in Rio — order to the hotel and have it waiting after a beach morning. Get it with banana and granola.