Welcome to the View from Above! A series where we take you on a Journey to some of the most beautiful places on earth! When it comes to cities with a visible pulse of energy, none quite match Rio de Janeiro’s intensity. Often called the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvellous City) by the locals, Rio is a tropical metropolis infused with the vibe of the very jungle that surrounds it. Sipping caipirinhas at Copacabana by day, watching the futbol in the Maracana at night, or climbing Corcovado in the morning; Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro is a pure delight. Shot from above with state-of-the-art UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and cutting-edge GoPro cameras, View from Above captures Rio de Janeiro in ways that have never been seen before. Rio was originally inhabited by the indigenous Tupi people before Portuguese colonialists landed on Guanabara Bay (the natural harbour that Rio de Janeiro surrounds). The bay was home to pirates, Portuguese royalty and African slaves as well as the Tupi locals before Portugal moved its capital to Rio following Napoleon’s romp in Europe. Rio then served as Brazil’s capital until 1960 when it was moved to Brasilia, and the city has since been the home to a few of the 2014 FIFA World Cup matches, and will host the 2016 Olympic Games: http://www.rio2016.com/en Rio is probably best known for its urban beach culture. Everyone, rich and poor, young and old, take their anxieties to the beach, and leave their worries in the sand. The Atlantic facing beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are some of the most famous beaches in the world, yearning for the wandering tourists to dig their toes into the sands and sip on caipirinhas. Those new to Rio mustn’t forget about the other praias (beaches) that are not as popular. Arpoador is a well-known local surf spot while Praia Vermelha is a lovely, quiet beach with a view of Sugarloaf Mountain. Rio is a city of symbolism, and while the beaches may represent the canvas on which the locals or carioca lay down their troubles, the mountains surrounding the city are their protectors, imposing guardians that act as significant landmarks. Sugarloaf Mountain was historically considered the beacon to which new voyagers from faraway lands will be ushered into Guanabara, but the most iconic mountain is that of Corcovado, atop of which spans the outstretched arms of Christ the Redeemer. A mountain with a little less limelight, but almost as imposing as Sugarloaf and Corcovado, is that of Pedra Bonita from which the popular Rio hang-gliders take flight. From the mountains above Rio one can look down onto the city and the surrounds. One of the most iconic sights is that of the Maracana. This ‘holy’ site is where many hundreds of thousands of Brazilians have made a pilgrimage to worship their favourite sport: futebol. The home stadium of the Fluminense football team is still considered one of the most classical football stadiums in the world and sits just to the North-West of downtown Rio, accessible to both the wealthier Rio residents and the poorer residents of the famous favelas. https://www.maracana.com/site/ Speaking of wealthy Rio residents, what better way of experiencing Rio de Janeiro than living it up in the shopping complexes and luxury hotels in neighbourhoods like Barra, Botafogo and Leblon. A walk in the snazzier locales will have you window-shopping for the latest fashions all within walking distance of the world’s best beaches. If that’s not your thing then how about a trip to the famous Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, a landlocked lagoon just behind Ipanema which can be traversed by paddle boat. One could also kick back and relax in the Flamengo Park after a hard day of walking the city centre. View from Above could not have made these astonishing videos without the help of the DJI unmanned recreational drones. Witness these marvellous feats of modern technology on the website: http://www.dji.com/ Can we please have standing ovations for the gallant little drone, the DJI Phantom 3: http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-3 And a courteous bow to the valiant and impressive DJI Inspire UAV: http://www.dji.com/product/inspire-1 These drones would be nothing without the marvellous GoPro video cameras that make filming so much easier nowadays. Visit their website here: http://gopro.com/ And check out their new baby, the Hero 4 Session: http://shop.gopro.com/EMEA/cameras/hero4-session/CHDHS-101-EU.html This amazing video was shot and edited by: Marcelo Fortes http://aeroflowrj.com.br/ Be sure to check out the other amazing destinations in the View from Above series such as: Panama Sydney Seattle Dubai Sri Lanka New Zealand Poland Japan Germany Maldives Norway Netherlands Seychelles Italy Greece Vietnam Ireland

• published: 23 Jan 2016
• views: 252912