fashion of the times is self-made tours based on on-line advice and reviews, but the reality is that rio de janeiro is so complex, rich of options, and huge that the best way to truly explore the city in a time, safe, and cost effective way is via organized tours, or with the assistance of a professional guide - at least the first time.

in fact, aside from time and cost considerations, there are safety issues that must be taken into account - favelas are now much safer and incredibly interesting, but they remain a complex environment easily understood by foreigners - so that a professional guide for these districts is not only suggested but highly recommended.

the many parks and peaks of rio de janeiro are rich of gorgeous flora and fauna, but a turn on the wrong trail can quickly lead to getting lost in the tropical rainforest - so a local hiking guide is also necessary, especially to assist in case of injury or emergency.