Hi. I went to The Carnival 3 years ago.My travelogue is 10 pages long....Rio is an exciting place..A 4 night Youth hostel package was $118..but I got the last bed.and i booked that 6months inadvance!.At the time I wsas advised to stay in just 3 areas Copocabana,Impanema and Botofogo..everywhere else is a bit dangerous espec at night...also to watch for snatch thieves on the beaches..I had no real problems other than scorched feet..Learn some portuguese or you will struggle..Food esp "Meat on the sword" is fanastic..also blackbean stew and best of all the fruit jiuce bars which mix drinks from some Amazonian fruits you will never have heard of .. My eyes sparklewd for weeks...I would take some up advice on safety and wouldnt venture into the poorer area yoy see on the hills without a guide...Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf are obvious must dos..consider a helicopter flightA night Copocabana becomes a very "interesting" place..as does its main nightclub..Help disco..Escala club in Impanma is the class club..Other than the 3 areas I mention I personally would have reservations about where I would dare cycle espec on my own in Rio but take advice .As abreak from Rio Igazu Falls is truelly magnifcent but is 26 hours away on the bus..If you go to Rio BE STREETWISE but you will love it