Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: South America's Jewel on the Ocean

Rio de Janeiro is known for its lavish party around February, but with summer approaching in the southern hemisphere there will be plenty to do at the beach before Carnival gets here. Rio's fantastic sights, wonderful beaches, and ideal location are the reasons why Rio de Janeiro gets my vote for the friendliest city in South America.

One dollar is worth 1.71 Brazilian reais so the exchange rate for Americans is favorable. Rio has a mass transit system that includes buses, subways, and executive buses that are air conditioned. Recently, Mastercard started a paypass system in Rio for their mass transit needs, the first in South America. They will need such upgrades by 2016 when the world comes to Rio for the Olympics.

Rio is friendly not just because it is a beautiful city but because there is so many varied things to do there. Right outside the city sits the beautiful mountains you can explore on foot, bicycle, or by car. If laying on the beach is your idea of fun there are plenty of places to do that too. Many hotels offer beachfront property where you can walk right out from your hotel and go lay out for a day in the surf and sun.

Rio has many cultural museums that locals are proud of. If history is your thing, try the National Historical Museum. If you get a chance, you should also see the Estadio de Maracana. It is one of the world's largest soccer stadiums and seeing a match there is an experience if you are lucky enough to see some of the best players in the world there in the beautiful game. If art is your forte, Rio houses the world's largest collection of primitive art in the International Primitive Art Museum. See over 8,000 pieces of primitive art done in ways that may surprise you.

Rio's nightlife is famous. Anywhere along the Copacabana you will find some of the hottest nightclubs in the world to dance the night away. Miami has nothing on Rio in this regard. Drinking and dancing will not be a problem if that is your idea of a good time.

Rio de Janeiro has a lot to offer travelers and with the advent of the Olympics in 2016 you can bet that the city will be getting some major upgrades in the next seven years. Now may be some of the best times to visit Rio de Janeiro as the city gets ready to welcome the world.