Dec 16, 2016
|Last updated on November 11th, 2020 at 07:45 am
Rio de Janeiro’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Highlights
As of 2016, the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a perfect destination for your UNESCO tour of Brazil or South America. Have you ever wondered what qualifies a city to be a World Heritage Site? Nominations are carefully selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). If a city, site, or location is considered to have a particular cultural or physical significance, that place can be declared a World Heritage Site, offering protection and increased awareness.
With a rich history, stunning natural landscapes, and cultural wonders, it is no surprise that the grand city of Rio de Janeiro ranks as a UNESCO site. From the Tijuca National Park, one of the world’s largest urban forested areas, to the picturesque bay and waterfront, many sites have undoubtedly contributed to Rio’s ranking. Let’s look at some of the Unesco World Heritage Sites you cannot skip when traveling to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Corcovado & Christ the Redeemer Statue
Copacabana Beach 
The Botanical Garden
Tijuca National Park
Though the city’s key elements, listed above, were huge encouragements for UNESCO to name Rio de Janeiro a World Heritage Site, Rio’s artistry also contributed. Rio’s consistent artistic inspiration has helped musicians, landscapers, and urbanists in their constant effort to make the world a more beautiful place, and made the city extremely worthy of its new title.
Sustaining the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the City
Initially, Rio de Janeiro was announced UNESCO status in 2012. But Brazilian authorities needed to report plans to protect and preserve the iconic sites before it could become official. Now, Brazilian authorities take great care in preserving sites such as Sugarloaf Mountain, Botafogo Bay, and others.
Best Time to Visit Rio de Janeiro
There is no bad time to visit Rio de Janeiro to do a UNESCO tour. If you’d like to spend time at beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema, you could visit from October to April. For those visiting during Carnival, you’d want to be in Rio around February / March. If you’re flexible, we recommend the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro Brazil is from September to November.
Touring Rio de Janeiro UNESCO World Heritage Sites
SouthAmerica.travel has two city tours in Rio de Janeiro that are perfect for any traveler considering travel to see Rio’s UNESCO sites.
- The Colonial Walking Tour takes guests back in time as they walk past century-old buildings and monuments through the colonial heart of Rio ending at the restored waterfront and Museum of Tomorrow.
- The Brazilian Food and Wine Tour promises a full and happy tummy for all of its guests. Starting in Rio’s Historic Center, travelers visit a local market to try different fruits, along with traditional Amazonian soups. Then, for the grand finale is a Brazilian feast, complete with all the typical foods and plenty of caipirinhas. Both of these tours are fantastic for experiencing Rio in every sense of the word.
You may also consider visiting Rio de Janeiro during the Carnival Champion’s Parade! The Champion’s Parade is the less crowded but still an exciting version of Carnival. Guests will see some the top Samba Schools in Brazil perform right before their eyes! If you plan on visiting Rio during this time, make sure to book soon! People from around the world come to Brazil just for this event.
Visit Rio de Janeiro Now!
Now that Rio de Janeiro is officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is even more of an incentive to visit. Contact us today! Any of our expert Travel Consultants would be happy to customize the perfect trip to South America!
