Hey all. I've been in Brazil since January and Rio since May. My parents are coming for a visit at the end of July for two weeks. I will be working for the first week and won't be able to show them around, does anyone have advice for what I can do with them for a few days? They don't speak Portuguese, just English and aside from Thailand, are not world travelers. I found an apartment in Ipanema near posto 8, so they can walk up to Copa and over to Leblon and while I've already been to Pão and Corcovada, I don't want to send them there alone. I was thinking about:
-favela tour
-shopping Rio Sul/Leblon
-and a tour around Rio in general
Any other ideas?


If you don't want to leave them alone you should try to find a professional guide tourist at
http://www.sindegtur.org.br

What dangers could possibly befall them taking a tour to Corcovado? or visiting Christ statue? Or floresta da Tijuca? These were all when I did it and seem a heck of a lot safer than a favela tour, even if done solo.
Going to these popular sites were so heavy populated and not dangerous at all, especially being the middle of the day.
Sending them off on a favela tour sounds like a provacative sick joke. Upon their return they would surely grab you by the ear and drag you home on the next flight!
I like the idea mentioned above: hire a local, English-speaking guide for them -- and let them create their own adventure.

It isn't so much having them go to Pão or Corcovada, but in getting there. I know how to yell at the taxi drivers, but they're not going to know if they're being ripped off or not. I'm still annoyed they're doing bandeira dois so early now too, who's to say they won't charge bandeira três and take the "scenic" route.
I'll probably go the tour guide route for a few days. Thanks for the ideas all.