Carnival 2025

Feb 28th - Mar 08th

Botafogo | Meet the Rio Neighborhoods

Rio de Janeiro

Botafogo | Meet the Rio Neighborhoods

A beachfront neighborhood, Botafogo is next to Copacabana, Laranjeiras and Flamengo.

Located close to the Laranjeiras and Copacabana localities, Botafogo is another beachfront neighborhood, with the hills of Mundo Novo and Morro de São João bordering it. It is named after the Portuguese João Pereira de Sousa Botafogo, who was instrumental in creating the artillery of the famous Botafogo galleon and thus added the name to his family name. He was given lands in this area when he came to live in Brazil. The area contains several colonial mansions.

Museums - Cultural Heritage

Three important museums of Rio de Janeiro are located here. The Museu Nacional dos Povos Indígenas/ National Museum Of Indigenous People, located within a 19th century manor, is considered to one of the most important Latin American Indigenous museums, with its innumerable artifacts, books and papers presented in an intriguing manner that brings to life the activities of ancient tribes. It also has a fun interactive section for children.  Named in memory of the founder of the Brazilian Academy of Music, the Villa Lobos Museum contains artifacts that surrounded the composer’s life, including the piano he played at. The Rui Barbosa Museum sheds light on the growth of journalism and research in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. This is where the famous journalist, politician and jurist lived till his death in 1923.

Botafogo Beach

The beach is a relatively small strip where you can always find a game of football in progress. Offering picturesque sunsets and views of parked yachts, Sugar Loaf and Morro da Urca mountains, this flat beach is also a popular venue for open air shows and new year’s parties.

Pasmado Overlook

This is the point for taking photos of Guanabara Bay and Christ the Redeemer statue. It is a great place for taking panoramic shots of Rio de Janeiro.

Carnival celebrations in Botafogo

The locality’s bloco - Barbas meaning ‘beards,’ was founded in 1984 at a bar owned by famous bearded journalist Nelson Rodrigues Filho. Its parade, characterized by red and white colors, takes place on Carnival Saturday and begins at Rua Arnaldo Quintela. Its main attraction is its water truck that cools down the street’s merry makers.

 

 

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