International Palm Society - Biennial - 2010

A full report on this Biennial will be posted shortly. Below details the program prior to the actual event

Key Dates: Main Biennial:
April 16   (Friday)   Early arrival for the IPS Board of Directors; suggested early arrival for those from great distances [Hotel / meal costs for this day are NOT included in Biennial fees.]
April 17    (Saturday) All day meeting of the IPS Board of Directors. Other Biennial attendees arrival, hotel check-in, and Welcome Dinner
April 18   (Sunday) Biennial Tours Begin for all Biennial participants
April 23   (Friday)   Farewell Dinner. Biennial officially ends
April 24   (Saturday) Biennial Participants resume    their personal travels, either home or onward elsewhere
It is advisable for attendees traveling from great distances to arrive in Rio by Friday, April 16th, to comfortably adjust. It is imperative that all IPS Directors and Officers arrive by end-of-day Friday, April 16th, to attend the all day Board Meeting on Saturday, April 17th.

Those lucky enough to attend recent IPS biennials know that exciting destinations have become the norm, but the 2010 biennial meeting is shaping up to be the most exciting destination ever: Brazil.

Brazil is home to a rich palm flora, spectacularly landscaped gardens and a handful of dedicated IPS members. Five years ago, when the IPS Board received a proposal from the Brazilian team to host a biennial meeting, the Board responded enthusiastically. Years of planning and organizing will culminate in the 2010 IPS Biennial in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This will mark the first occasion that the IPS has met in Brazil.

Brazil occupies roughly half of South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and covering 8,514,215 km² (3,287,357 sq mi) and spans four time zones.

Brazil has one of the world's most extensive river systems with eight major drainage basins, all of which drain into the Atlantic Ocean. Major rivers include the Amazon, the largest river in terms of volume of water, and the second-longest in the world; the Paraná and its major tributary, the Iguaçu River, where the Iguaçu Falls are located; the Negro, São Francisco, Xingu, Madeira and the Tapajós rivers.

Brazilian topography is diverse. The extensive low-lying Amazon Rainforest covers most of Brazil’s terrain in the North, whereas small hills and low mountains occupy the South. Along the Atlantic coast there are several mountain ranges, with a highest altitude of roughly 2,900 meters (9,500 feet (2,900 m). The highest peak is the 3,014 metres (9,890 ft) Pico da Neblina (Peak of Mist/Fog or Misty Peak).

For this Biennial, which includes several tours of natural forests, Dr. Andrew Henderson is preparing a field guide to the palms of the state of Rio de Janeiro to assist participants in identifying the native palms seen on tours.

Brazil requires visas for citizens from the USA, Mexico and Australia, among others. All biennial participants should check with their travel agent for visa requirements.

Day 0, Friday, 16 April 2010.
The IPS Board members arrive on this day, one day ahead of most participants. It is also suggested that other participants traveling great distances arrive on this date to allow for adjustment to local time before the Biennial actually begins.

Day 1. Saturday, 17 April 2010.
Arrival of the Biennial meeting participants. Attendees will arrive at the Rio de Janeiro International Airport and will be met by bilingual guides. Attendees will be shuttled to the Windsor Barra Hotel, located in front of Barra da Tijuca beach where Allagoptera arenaria occurs in its natural habitat. A welcoming dinner and social event will occur in the evening.

The Board meeting, which is open to all members of the IPS, will take place on Saturday, starting in the morning and finishing in the afternoon. At Board meetings, the directors make decisions on the management of the Society, future Biennial meeting sites, and disbursement of endowment fund grants.

Day 2. Sunday. 18 April 2010.
This is the day that the tours begin. Air conditioned buses will carry participants on a tour of Serra das Orgãos National Park (Parque Nacional da Serra das Orgãos), located less than two hours from the hotel in the Brazilian Highlands of Rio de Janeiro state. The park is a lush fragment of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (or Mata Atlântica), recently designated as a World Biosphere Reserve. Serra das Orgãos National Park protects 11,800 hectares (ca. 29,160 acres) of the Atlantic Forest; it covers parts of Petrópolis, Teresópolis, Magé and Guapimirim from 300 to 2,263 m (985 to 7,425 feet) altitude. The region offers spectacular vistas and unusual rock formations like the Dedo de Deus (Finger of God). The Teresópolis region has at least two entrances into this vast National Park, where we hope to see several species of palm including Geonoma schottiana and Lytocaryum weddellianum in the wild. This forest is notable for the diversity of Geonoma, and the aptly named G. elegans is common here. The beautiful Euterpe edulis also occurs here. Other palms include species of Bactris, Desmoncus and Syagrus. Just a short drive beyond Teresópolis, the vegetation changes rapidly into seasonally dry forests and there we will see impressive stands of Attalea apoda before returning to the hotel.

The city itself, Teresópolis, lies in the Órgãos Mountains at 2,959 feet (902 meters) above sea level, about 35 miles (56 km) north-northeast of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Named for the Brazilian empress Teresa Cristina in 1890 and originally spelled Therezópolis, it was given city status in 1893. A cool climate and picturesque setting amid mountain peaks (including the Dedo de Deus) make the city a popular summer resort. Scenic waterfalls are located nearby. Flowers are grown in the region, and fruits and vegetables are shipped to supply the Rio metropolitan area.

The trip to Teresópolis and the Serra dos Órgãos National Park will be followed by IPS hosted dinner at the hotel in Rio.

Day 3. Monday, 19 April 2010.
On this day, we will travel just thirty minutes from the hotel to the historic Botanical Garden Rio de Janeiro (Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro); in the afternoon the participants will split between those wishing to stay at the Rio Jardim Botânico throughout the afternoon and a second group for those who wish to go to the Christ the Redeemer monument on Corcovado Mountain in Tijuca.

The morning and much of the afternoon will be devoted to visiting the marvelous plantings in the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. A lunch will be served at the garden, followed by a palm lecture.

The Rio Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico), created in 1808, is known for its famous and much-photographed royal palms along the main entry avenue. Known as the Avenue of Royal Palms, the entrance is lined with 134 soaring Roystonea oleraceae. The garden covers over 142 ha (350 acres,) but only about 40% of the area is cultivated, with the remainder being natural forest. The garden is home to hundreds of palm species and was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 1992. Following lunch and a lecture, those not wishing to stay at the Botanic Garden for the remainder of the day will leave by bus to visit the 30 meter (100 feet) tall statue of Christ the Redeemer at Tijuca National Park (Parque Nacional da Tijuca), which is just thirty minutes from the garden.

The view from the Corcovado Mountain is out over the Tijuca National Park, which contains the largest urban forest in the world. The 3,238 ha (8,000 acre) rainforest was once cleared for growing coffee, sugar cane and pasture, but from 1862 to 1874, thousands of trees, both native and exotic, were replanted. Over time, native species have recolonized the land, and now the forest supports a rich community of native flora and fauna.

The buses will return participants from both the Rio Botanical Garden and the Christ the Redeemer monument back to the hotel. There is no planned dinner nor evening events; all will be free to make their own arrangements.

Day 4. Tuesday, 20 April 2010.
See note below for further explanation on how the Tuesday (Day 4) and Thursday (Day 6) schedules will be exchanged between two groups of Biennial attendees. Approximately half of the attendees (Group A) will see the two destinations described below on this Tuesday (Day 4), while the other half (Group B) will visit the destinations described under Thursday (Day 6)

Group A: (two buses, alternating destinations)
One destination for this day for Group A will be the home and garden of the famed artist and landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx. His famous Copacabana promenade mosaic, completed in 1970 along the Rio de Janeiro beach, is now an icon of the city. His garden and home have been turned into a museum and cultural center since his death in 1994. Burle Marx is known for his bold use of color, abstract design and local plant materials, including palms, aroids and bromeliads, many collected by Burle Marx himself on field excursions to the surrounding forests.

A second destination for Group A will be Herminio’s Nursery. Herminio's nursery and garden have a wide diversity of plants, including a number of exotic and native palm species. It is a fairly large area to wander around in – with roads, trails and a number of shade houses and full sun areas. Herminio has many rare plants that undoubtedly he will proudly point out to us. According to Larry Noblick, native Syagrus pseudococos are growing near the top of his hill. This will be an ideal opportunity to see how a Brazilian nursery functions.
Lunch will be provided by the IPS.

Following a late afternoon return to the hotel, there will be an IPS-hosted dinner, followed by lectures on palm topics.

Group B: (two buses, alternating destinations)
See note below and Thursday (Day 6) schedule for these destinations.

IMPORTANT SCHEDULE NOTE:
It is anticipated that only half of the Biennial participants will see the Burle Marx garden and the Herminio Nursery on this Tuesday (Day 4), The other half of the attendees will go to the destinations shown in this schedule on Day 6 (Thursday) due to space limitations.
Since all of these four destinations (Burle Marx and Herminio as well as Prainha and Grumari on the Thursday schedule write-up) limit the number of visitors to 40 (or one bus load) at a time, we need to split up the group into smaller groups with two buses going to visit Burle Marx and Herminio’s on this day (Tuesday), while the other one or two buses go to visit Prainha and Grumari (see details on the Thursday write-up). We will alternate the two groups on Thursday. Further, the two buses going to Burle Marx and Herminio on Tuesday will have to alternate as well – with one going to the Burle Marx in the morning while the other goes to Herminio’s and then exchanging destinations in the afternoon. The same will be true for Prainha and Grumari destinations on Tuesday and Thursday.

Day 5. Wednesday, 21 April 2010.
This will be a “free day” devoted to optional outings and activities. Participants can choose to spend the day by the pool, enjoy shopping at local markets, take city tours and visit museums and gardens not on the itinerary.
Tour guides (at extra cost) will be available for the following:

Day 6. Thursday, 22 April 2010.
Group A: (two buses, alternating destinations)
As on Tuesday (Day 4), participants will split up this day to destinations limited to a single bus at a time.
A primary destination is the small but very interesting Prainha Ecological Park, with second destination Grumari Beach. Lunch will be provided by IPS.

If time allows, attendees may have a chance to see and explore the Rio Tropical Islands – alternately, this may have to be left to a “free day.” Watch the IPS website for updates on this day’s schedule.

Prainha Ecological Park, created in 1999 with an area of 126.30 hectares (312 acres) and located within the city of Rio de Janeiro, is a spectacular piece of the Atlantic forest that lies close to the coast. Prainha means “little beach” and the Park is very scenic with wonderful vistas, excellent trails and a palm flora including Astrocaryum aculeatissimum, Attalea dubia, Bactris vulgaris, Desmoncus polyacanthos, Euterpe edulis, Syagrus picrophylla and Syagrus romanzoffiana. To see what other wonderful plants can be seen there, check out the Rapid Color Guide offered by the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago at http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/plantguides/guide pdfs/192%20Prainha-monoc%202.0.pdf. This is a very nice 4-page color PDF file including 77 photographs of individual plants and scenic views from within the Prainha park. Print it out and bring it with you on the tour!

Grumari is another beach with adjacent Atlantic Forest and a palm flora similar to that found at Prainha, but from a different perspective. According to local sources, the spectacular Grumari beach is “the most beautiful and unspoiled in Rio.” What preserves it is the fact that it truly has not yet been “discovered.” It is often used as scenery of soap operas and movies. Grumari Beach is an environmentally protected area of the city of Rio. Access is forbidden without special permission, and is limited for buses and/or large groups.
The green forest of the area is fully preserved. See www.copacabana.info/grumari-beach.html for a few photographs and more details about the beach.

Dinner will be at the hotel, followed by a speaker, provided by the IPS.

Group B: (two buses, alternating destinations)
See note below and Tuesday (Day 4) schedule for these destinations.

Day 7. Friday, 23 April 2010.
Participants will travel in four air-conditioned coach buses with the entire day devoted to tours of Boa Esperança ranch. The ranch is the property of Jill Menzel, who has a real passion for plants, and is one of the most impressive gardens in the Rio de Janeiro area. The ranch is two hours from Rio de Janeiro.

Over the past six years, Jill has planted a large number of native and exotic palms on her ranch, and they have made incredible growth. She also has preserved a large tract of Brazil’s Atlantic Coastal Forest, an extremely fragmented and endangered ecosystem. Visitors to her ranch will have the rare opportunity to see the endangered Golden Lion Tamarin Leontopithecus rosalia, which is native to the region and protected in the forest on the ranch. The Golden Lion Tamarin is an endangered species with an estimated wild population of “more than 1,000 individuals” and a captive population of approximately 490 individuals. Palms indigenous to the area include various species of Attalea, Astrocaryum, Bactris, Geonoma and Syagrus.

Jill is also starting her own nursery at her ranch, which we will be able to visit.

During the course of the day, a light box lunch will be served, and each bus group will visit a commercial farm where Bactris gasipaes is cultivated for fruits. We shall see a demonstration of the uses of Bactris and have the opportunity to purchase products.
The day will end with the farewell banquet, where we thank our local hosts, say our good-byes to friends old and new, and make plans for the 2012 Biennial. Buses will take all participants back to the hotel.

Day 8. Saturday, 24 April 2010.
Departure day. Shuttles will be provided from the hotel to the airport for participants.
Those Biennial participants interested in other palm-related events associated with the Biennial should check out the two optional Pre-Biennial tour and the one optional Post-Biennial tour that have been organized and are available at extra cost. The tours include the Uruguay Pre-Biennial Tour, Andrew Henderson’s Amazonas River Pre-Biennial tour, and Harri Lorenzi’s Post-Biennial tour to Jardim Botânico Inhotim, Cadeia do Espinhaço and Jardim Botânico Plantarum.

The Rio Biennial is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and not to be missed. Check out the registration materials in the Supplement to PALMS and register online. We look forward to seeing at the IPS Biennial in Rio!

PRE TOUR in URUGUAY, BIENNIAL 2010
Punta del Este, and Rocha

April 13-16, 2010 - 4 days/3nights

Uruguay Natural, a name rightly given to this gently undulating green country, where, with its temperate climate, its long coastline with beautiful white sand beaches, people come to enjoy peace and security. Punta del Este is a very chic and famous beach resort.
Rocha is home to the world’s largest [and southernmost] natural grove of Butia capitata, very near the Atlantic Ocean and to a unique specimen, 30 mts. tall of Butiagrus nabonnandi.

RATE PER PERSON BASED ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY ( ****Hotel): U$S 750 .-

RATE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ( ****Hotel): U$S 640.-

Package includes:
Accommodation:

Three [3] nights accommodation, Standard room, in a ****Hotel in Punta del Este.
Government Tax.

Programmed activities

Visit to Montevideo, capital city of Uruguay, including the Botanical Gardens.
Visit to La Barra, and Jose Ignacio, or Arboretum Lussich,or Isla de Lobos
Visit to the palm groves of Butia capitata in Rocha

Transportation:

Arrival and departure transfers to Int. Airport in Montevideo/ Punta del Este/ Int. Airport, Montevideo. Also to and from Int. Airport in Punta del Este.
Suggested time of arrival on Tues., April 13th, by 12 noon [midday]
Round trip boat transfer Punta del Este / Isla de Lobos / Punta del Este
Round trip ground transfer to La Barra, Jose Ignacio, or Arboretum Lussich, and to Rocha

Food & Refreshments:
                       Day 01, Tues, April 13th, lunch and dinner
                      Day 02, Wed.,April 14th and Day 03, Thurs, April 15th: Breakfast (included at the hotel), Lunch & dinner.
                       Day 04, Fri. April 16th, Breakfast (included at the hotel)

Remarks:

Comfortable clothes, sunscreen protection, insect repellent, walking shoes, hat and camera are recommended.
Personal expenses, tips and gratuities are not included.
Confirmed reservations received after March 26, 2010, will be subject to a 15% increase on above rates.

Ffurther information, contact
Ximena Escuder
Turismo TOP
Calle Las Gaviotas esq. Gorlero Loc.04
Telf. (00.598.42) 44.83.73 / 74
Punta del Este, Uruguay.
E-mail: turismotop@adinet.com.uy

PRE TRIP OPTION - RIVERBOAT TOUR OF THE AMAZON, BIENNIAL 2010

Dates: April 7-16th, 2010 (immediately before the Rio Biennial)
Departure: Manaus, Brazil
Price: US$2750 (estimated, depending on exchange rates)
Included

Transfers to and from airport in Manaus
Accommodations on board Amazon river boat (double occupancy)
All meals other than as noted below - field trips, admissions and guides’ services

Not Included:

Round trip airfare to Manaus, Brazil
Passport and visa fees
Brazilian airport departure tax
Beverages (there is a bar on the boat)
Meals purchased while traveling to or from Manaus or on personal time
Excursions not included in the itinerary
Tips for local guides and boat crew

Tour Leader: Dr. Andrew Henderson, Curator, Institute of Systematic Botany, New York Botanical Garden
Reservations: A non-refundable deposit check in the amount of US$400 per person is required to reserve a place on the tour. All checks should be made payable to The New York Botanical Garden and sent to Andrew Henderson, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx , NY 10458-5126. Early reservations are recommended as space is limited to 24 participants.

For more information and booking form go to: www.nybg.org/botany/amazonpalmtour/, the tour website.

For additional information contact:
Andrew Henderson at ahenderson@nybg.org,
Tel 718 817-8973,
Mail to: The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458.

POST TOUR in BRAZIL, BIENNIAL 2010
April 24-27, 2010 - 4 days/3nights
Jardim Botânico Inhotim, Cadeia do Espinhaço and Jardim Botânico Plantarum
(organized and guided by Harri Lorenzi - Easy to be taken by participants of any age or with physical difficulties).

This tour will show you, in a two-day field trip, the greatest palm biodiversity area of the Brazilian territory. You will have the opportunity to see at least 21 species in the wild. In the last two-days, you will visit the two botanical gardens visits described below, where you will be able to see probably all 305 native palm species of Brazil in cultivation.

The tour will begin with an early morning, 50-minute jet flight trip from Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, April 24, to Belo Horizonte, the capital city of the state of Minas Gerais. Soon after arriving in the city and directly from the airport, we will head to the Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim, 50 km from the airport; where you will spend the day seeing contemporary art in 21 galleries intermixed with a luxurious 50 ha garden, with a large palm collection of native and exotic flora, besides a marvelous restaurant located among palms, orchids, bromeliads, etc, where you may stay to eat (not included in the package) (photo 2)

In the two days that follow (Sunday and Monday), we will depart on a field trip to de Cadeia do Espinhaço, a 600 km circuit in a comfortable bus, through breathtaking natural landscape in a 1000 m highland region of mainly grassland and savanna, intermixed with rocky outcrops among dazzling creeks and waterfalls; considered by the United Nations as a Biosfere Reservoir, it hosts many endemic species of the flora and fauna and 11 conservation units (natural parks and biological reservoirs); in this complex ecosystem you will also contemplate and see the following palm species (photos 03 and 04):

Acrocomia aculeata
Allagoptera campestris
Attalea compta
Attalea geraensis
Butia archeri
Butia capitata
Euterpe edulis
Geonoma brevispatha var. brevispatha
Mauritia flexuosa
Syagrus campestris
Syagrus evansii (new species)
Syagrus flexuosa
Syagrus glaucescens
Syagrus macrocarpa
Syagrus mendanhensis
Syagrus pleioclada
Syagrus romanzoffiana
Syagrus oleracea
Syagrus 2706-RT (new species)
Syagrus 6537-HL (new species)

At the end of the second day in the field trip, which includes an overnight stay in the historical city of Diamantina (named after the diamond exploitation age in the region in the 18th Century). We will then return to Belo Horizonte for the third overnight of the tour.

On the morning of day four, we will go back to the airport for another 50 minutes jet flight trip to Campinas (state of São Paulo) to visit the Jardim Botanico Plantarum (Harri Lorenzi’s garden), final attraction of this tour and distant 30 minutes from the Campinas airport and 1.5 hours from the city of São Paulo. (Photo 5)

There, in a 10 ha garden you will see the largest collection of Brazilian plants, including palms with probably all 305 native species, all cultivated in a carefully maintained landscape with a well designed identification plate system, besides a large collection of exotic palms. After a break for lunch in a “churrascaria” (a typical southern Brazilian restaurant, based mainly in meat prepared in many different ways, where you may eat as much as you want for the same price), we will return to the garden for the final visit.

Those wished to fly home from São Paulo (there are many more flight options departing from São Paulo than from Rio), the tour bus will take you directly to the international airport on the Tuesday afternoon after the tour ends, arriving there by 7:00 PM.

Changes in the package price and payment policy – we are sorry that due to the constant fall of the US dollar value against the Brazilian currency (real), also due to the uncertainty of the minimum number of participants and the desire of most of ones who contacted us so far to pay with credit card, we had to update the values and payment policy of what we had announced firstly in our website; to avoid additional cost changes up to the date of the tour, we (Jardim Botânico Plantarum) through the tourism company Vipitur, already hired with the suppliers (air company, hotels, bus company and restaurants) a minimum package of 35 participants; so, for the ones willing to participate, we are requiring, upon reservation, the total payment of the package value with credit card, online through our secure virtual store. We have to pay part of our suppliers on January 15, 2010 in order to guarantee the reservations, especially air tickets and hotels; so after that date rates will increase 15%.

RATE PER PERSON BASED ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY ( ****Hotel): US $ 900.00
RATE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ( ****Hotel): US $ 700.00

In order to receive this payment (because the tourism company declined), we adapted our virtual store (used for book sales) to process payments. After selecting the occupancy, type in the quantity box the number 1 (one) and when asking to enter the Continent of shipping on the same page, select any continent shown, in order to proceed, than enter complete your order to continue; on the Registration form that follows, on the Id. Box, enter your passport number and on the Shipping form (same page) click on the Use the same address for shipping. When choosing “double occupancy” and your partner is coming with you, you should make two independent reservation and payment procedures, each one with a different name (yours and your partner’s) even though the payment is going to be done with the same credit card. The trip is limited to 40 participants; so, when this number is reached, the system automatically closes. Click here to make your reservation now.

If you are going to pay with a Brazilian credit card: Click here to make your reservation now. (in this case you are going to enter the Portuguese virtual store and will be charged in reais: right on the first page, on the forma de entrega type any option and on the local de entrega select any state, in order to proceed).
To the system work properly, always make sure that the pop-up blocker tool of your navigator is off.

Tourn package includes:

Accommodation, Transportation, admition ticket and one lunch:
Three [3] nights accommodation, Standard room, in a ****Hotel in Belo Horizonte and Diamantina with breakfast.
Bus transportation during all four days tour, including transfer from Jardim Botanico Plantarum to the International Airport of São Paulo (not included airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro).
Air ticket Rio de Janeiro – Belo Horizonte and Belo Horizonte - Campinas.
Lunch at “Churrascaria” in the town of Nova Odessa – SP (drinks, beverages and deserts not included).
Admission ticket to Inhotim and Jardim Botanico Plantarum.

Remarks:

Comfortable clothes, sunscreen protection, insect repellent, walking shoes, hat and camera are recommended.
Personal expenses, tips and gratuities are not included.
Confirmed reservations received after January 15th, 2010, will be subject to a 15% increase on above rates.
Average price for a meal (lunch ou dinner) in a good restaurant – US $ 25.00.
Maximum participation – 40 persons.
Questions regarding the palms and the region to be visited, contact hlorenzi@plantarum.com.br and regarding reservation and payments, contact plantarum@plantarum.org.br

For further information, contact:
VIPITUR TURISMO
RUA SALDANHA MARINHO 1277
13416-257 -PIRACICABA SP BRASIL
PABX        55 19 34171212
DIRETO    55 19 34171213
CELULAR 55 19 96086979
EMAIL bete@vipitur.com.br
MSN     bgarbex@hotmail.com
SKYPE betearbex

OTHER POTENTIAL SIDE TRIPS

Although there are no IPS-sponsorships for the following destinations, these are interesting as side tours that Biennial participants may examine as possible additional Pre-Biennial or Post-Biennial destinations.

Iguaçu Falls: The Rio Iguaçu arises in the coastal mountains of Paraná and Santa Catarina and snakes west for 370 miles (600km) before it widens majestically and sweeps around a magnificent jungle stage, plunging and crashing in tiered falls at the border with Argentina and Paraguay.

Buzios Peninsula: Once the preserve of pirates and slave traders, the peninsula of Buzios, 105 miles (169 km) north east of Rio, is today the haunt of the rich and famous who flock to the city (once a fishing village) to enjoy the 20 or so beaches in the vicinity. The peninsula is a sophisticated beach resort with a very active nightlife and fine restaurants. See the area’s website www.buziosonline.com.br.

Petrópolis is another favorite getaway for Rio de Janeiro residents. With cooler weather, historic buildings, plenty of ecotourism and adventure opportunities, and charming hotels, Petrópolis is the closest mountain resort around Rio. Sightseeing here is convenient as many of the city's attractions are in the historic downtown area. Surrounding districts abound in natural beauty and charming inns. Petrópolis houses the Museum Imperial, built between 1845 and 1862 as the summer residence of Emperor Pedro II. Some of the most important objects in Brazilian history are housed in Museum Imperial, including the gold quill used by Princess Izabel to sign Lei Áurea, the law which liberated slaves in Brazil in 1888.

Visits to these destinations can be arranged at extra cost through any reputable tour guide in Rio.