Nature directly affects lifestyle in Rio de Janeiro - An impressive portion of the city's population is passionate about interacting with their natural surroundings: the unique assortment of urban beaches, sea-side lagoons, natural parks, gardens, forests, and rocky mountains.

The warm climate makes sports and fitness recreations all the more appealing and at every park and beach one can find armies of Cariocas running, cycling, exercising and playing sports.

Residents and visitors of the city regularly make excursions up into the hills that enrich the great metropolitan parks such as the 'parque da tijuca' or the 'parque da pedra branca', scrambling through woods and up rocks to enjoy sensational views of the city around and below.