called réveillon, new year's eve in rio de janeiro is an explosion of colors, energy, music and religious traditions - we documented réveillon in copacabana, ipanema, on flamengo beach, on the sugar loaf and on praia vermelha, hoping to capture but a glimpse of what it feels like  to experience it in person - and even at sea!

while copacabana is the most traditional and a must do location for any first-time visitor to rio over new year's eve, réveillon on the morro da urca and on sugar loaf is one of the most stunning celebrations world wide, as the combination of the festivities with the spectacular views during this magical night are truly unforgettable - after the sugar loaf we descended into praia vermelha to welcome the first sunrise of the year.

on this link, we published a gallery of the pictures we took of réveillon seen from the water, onboard of a fishing boat we rented for the occasion - after exiting the port at urca, and sailing alongside many cruise ships, we stopped in copacabana bay, and watched a spectacular combination of fireworks in the sky and reflected in the water, with copacabana and Christ the redeemer in the background, for a truly unforgettable night.