Beautiful white-sand beaches backed by luxurious condominiums, swathes of protected Atlantic forest that have somehow been left untouched amidst a fast-growing urban sprawl, and all the vibrant samba bars and kerbside boteco bars: Everyone knows and loves Rio de Janeiro, and there’s definitely a reason why it’s been recently crowned the best beach city in South …

Famous for its upscale Copacabana Beach, unique mix of sprawling concrete jungle and actual jungle, and thriving comunidades, Rio is Brazil’s most sought-after tourist destination, but it can be particularly hard on the wallet if you’re not willing to compromise on comfort and safety. Some of the cheapest four-star hotels in the most touristy parts …

We get it, the panoramic view of Rio from atop Corcovado is breathtaking and surely not to be missed, and you’ll definitely want to spend an entire afternoon lounging by the famous Ipanema Beach sipping on some coconut, but trust us when we say the city doesn’t even come close to being the best for …