Arrival Information:

(Please print this page and bring with you. It has detailed instructions and important phone numbers. And remember that most of you are easily identified as a tourist, so take care of your items while in transit.) To print on 2 pages, use Internet Explorer and change all margins to 0.5 inch.

Normal Arrival; Saturday or Sunday, March 29 or 30:

The group bus to Búzios will DEPART from the HOTEL ASTORIA PALACE, Av. Atlântica, 1866  -  Copacabana at 15:00 on Sunday, March 30. This will be the ONLY pickup point in Rio. Please make sure you are at the hotel no later than 14:30 in order that we can confirm your presence and have the bus loaded by 15:00.

How to Get to Hotels/Departure Location:

Rio de Janeiro’s international airport, Galeão/Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG), is located on an island in Guanabara Bay, approximately 20 km from downtown (the southern part of downtown includes Copacabana). The airport is not served by subway lines, so the options from transportation to the city are taking a cab or an “executive bus” (comfortable – look for the keywords “executivo” or “frescão”). By taxi it is usually a 30-minute ride from the airport to the hotel area. There are options of regular cabs (yellow – Aerocoop, for example), which are metered, and the so-called “special taxis”, charging flat fares to different city destinations. In the latter, fares range between US$15 and US$ 20. The buses usually take 1 hour to reach the hotel area (known as “Zona Sul”, or “south region”), the fare is around US$ 2, and they leave the airport from Terminal 1, Arrivals, Blue Sector. Regular city buses are not recommended, since it will be a long and uncomfortable trip. Some hotels offer a shuttle service, usually by prior arrangement.

Addresses of Hotels / Map of Area:

The hotels we suggested are:

The HOTEL ASTORIA PALACE, Av. Atlântica, 1866  -  Copacabana, telephone number 21 2545-9550 Hotel Astoria Palace website.  

Located near intersection of Av. Atlântica and Republica do Peru.

The BANDEIRANTES HOTEL,  Rua Barata Ribeiro, 548  -  Copacabana  Tel. 21 2548-6252.   Bandeirantes Hotel website.

Located near intersection of Rua Barata Ribeiro and Rua Santa Clara.

The hotel websites have maps showing their location. Here is a composite map showing the approximate locations of the hotels

By the he large squiggly A and the B.

For maps and other information of the Copacabana-Ipanema, go to http://www.ipanema.com/citytour/maposto6.htm

(Note: I can't get these maps to show in Exporer.  If you have the same problem, try copying the address.  Otherwise, try

using Netscape; it works.)

Late Arrival; mid week or the weekend of April 5-6:

For those arriving mid week or on the following weekend, we are investigating whether the schedules fit for us to organize a convenient and inexpensive means of transport (unfortunately, one you will have to pay for yourselves). It might also be possible that we may be able to pair you with one of the local speakers from Rio who may be driving to Buzios at the same time. We will post information about these two options as soon as possible, but this may not occur prior to the beginning of the meeting when we can talk directly with the various locals. So please check here for updated information.

The best other option is via bus. For this option, do the following.

Take a taxi to the intercity bus station (called "Rodoviária Novo Rio"). The taxi would cost approximately US$ 10 to 15. From there take a bus to Búzios.

Dropoff point in Búzios is near the Esso station at Terminal Rodoviario on the map of downtown Búzios..\buzios_map.htm (this information may need to be updated). The Hotel Atlantico is at the upper right corner of the map (about a 15 minute walk).

The name of the company is 1001, website is www.autoviacao1001.com.br

logo is  .

The timetable for buses Rio-Búzios and Búzios-Rio with prices is:

Rio-Búzios:
leaves at 6:30 - arrives at 9:20 - Price R$ 26,36 - no air conditioning
leaves at 9:15 - arrives at 12:05 - Price R$ 28,86 - air conditioning
leaves at 11:15 - arrives at 14:05 - Price R$ 26,36 - no air conditioning
leaves at 13:15 - arrives at 16:05 - Price R$ 28,36 - air conditioning
leaves at 15:15 - arrives at 18:35 - Price R$ 28,36 - air conditioning
leaves at 17:15 - arrives at 20:05 - Price R$ 28,36 - air conditioning
leaves at 19:30 - arrives at 22:20 - Price R$ 26,36 - no air conditioning

Búzios-Rio:
leaves at 7:00 - arrives at 9:50 - Price R$ 21,00 - no air conditioning
leaves at 9:00 - arrives at 11:50 - Price R$ 23,50 - air conditioning
leaves at 11:00 - arrives at 13:50 - Price R$ 21,00 - no air conditioning
leaves at 13:00 - arrives at 15:50 - Price R$ 23,50 - air conditioning
leaves at 15:00 - arrives at 17:50 - Price R$ 21,00 - no air conditioning
leaves at 17:00 - arrives at 19:50 - Price R$ 23,50 - air conditioning
leaves at 19:00 - arrives at 22:20 - Price R$ 23,50 - air conditioning

I am told that

a) you can pay with your credit card and reserve your ticket to Buzios through the site of Auto Viação 1001 Company.

b) Buzios receives many tourists in hollydays and week-ends so we recommend you to buy the ticket before.

For comparison, you can take a taxi directly from the airport to Búzios. Aerocoop quoted a fare of R$ 360, approx. US$ 220.

Emergency phone numbers for late arrivals:

Call the Hotel Atlantico in Búzios (021-22-26208850). Ask them to call Geraldo Sigaud, Eduardo Montenegro, or Bob DuBois.

IF cell phones work in Búzios, Geraldo’s number is 021-21-98721052, Eduardo’s is 21-9617-8996.

Changing Money upon Arrival:

It is strongly recommended NOT to change money with persons at the airport (and NOT to pay a taxi or a bus in foreign currency). The money exchange services available at the international airport are:

Banco do Brasil American Express
Location: 3rd. floor, Terminal 1 Location: 1st floor, Terminal 1, Blue Sector
Hours: Mon - Sun: from 8 am to 10 pm Hours: Mon - Sun: from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm