Free walking tour is exactly what it says on the tin and is a popular scheme in loads of cities across the globe. It is free although tips are expected and you give what you think it was worth a concept, I struggle with as watching the pennies mean we can’t be over generous but don’t want to be a scrooge either!
As we had just arrived I made us tag along on one to help us find our bearings in the city as well as learn some insider info we wouldn’t have known otherwise. Our guide was a very energetic lady called Giovanna who was Brazilian with the cutest English accent and apologised for her pronunciation of the word beach.
We set off on the three hour tour taking in Copacabana beach, Ipanema beach, Lagoa lagoon and sights along the way including the famous Copacabana Palace Hotel, iconic black and white wave pavement and the bar where the guy wrote the song ‘Ipanema Girl’ which I can’t get out of my head!
She told us all about life in the favelas, cheap ways to see the famous attractions, how proud the Brazilians are of their caipirihina cocktail which started life as a flu medicine and how the city changed to gear up for the world cup such as introducing fines for dropping litter, which has remained as well as the large police presence which makes this place feel super safe.
At the end we sat down to watch the sun set over the heart shape lagoon and shared a picnic of local delicacies including brigadeiro which is a sweet gooey chocolate and sweet tea. Apparently this is an essential for all heartbroken Bridget Jones type Brazilian women who grab a bag of these than a tub of ice cream.
I would really recommend joining one of these tours even if it happens in your home city as I bet you will learn things you didn’t know before plus its free!*
*almost
Have you ever joined a walking tour?
