there are many ports in the city, the third busiest is aptly named the port of rio de janeiro (praça mauá, centro - tel. 2291.2122) and is often used as a docking point for cruise ships - the port runs from the mauá pier to the cais do caju (wharf of the cashew) and spans over seven thousand meters with a pier lurching 883 meters into the sea.

after disembarking the ship at this particular port, visitors can either walk off their sea legs, or catch the rail, road, or ferry to town - because a great deal of trade comes and goes from cais do caju it is very accessible. 

if spending the night off the boat, visitors should know that most hotels are to the south along the beaches of leme, copacabana, ipanema, and leblon.