Horseback Riding, Trekking and Orienteering

What: Horseback riding, trekking, orienteering and survival courses in the rainforest less than an hour from Rio das Ostras
Who: Vivencia Treinamentos
Where: Aldeia Velha, RJ (just west of Casimiro de Abreu)
Website: http://www.vivenciartreinamentos.com.br/
Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002710460352
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/64511059@N07/
Phone: (22) 9824-9576 or (22) 9845-4167
Email: vivenciartreinamentos@gmail.com

Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Shiatsu Massage

What: Energia Vital acupuncture, chiropractic, shiatsu massage and moxibustion Oriental Medicine
Who: Gilson da Cunha Bastos
Where: Rua Niterói No. 1455 - Jardim Mariléa, Rio das Ostras
Hours: Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm, other times available by appointment
Phone: (22) 2764-9387 or (22) 9224-3465
Email: energiavital@ig.com.br

Farmer's Market

What: Farmer's Market
When: Saturday mornings
Where: Rua Martins where it meets RJ-106 (Rodrigo Amaral Peixoto)

Churches in Rio das Ostras

I've compiled a list of churches in town, as far as I can find them. If you have more information about each church, or a church I have missed, please contact me via email or leave a comment below. New information will be updated as it comes in.

Private Schools in Rio das Ostras

I've compiled a list of private schools in town, as far as I can find them. If you have more information about each school, or a school I have missed, please contact me via email or leave a comment below. New information will be updated as it comes in.  

Yoga School - Nucleo Maha Vidya Yoga

What: Nucleo Maha Vidya de Yoga
Where: Rua Flamengo #668 in Centro
Cost: Currently R$100 per month for two classes per week. Please confirm independently as prices may change.
Website: http://mahavidyayogaereflexoes.blogspot.com/
Contact: Phone (22) 9814-0631 & (22) 8801-9029  Email: maha.vidya.yoga@hotmail.com

Bowling - Strike Club

What: Strike Club bowling alley
Where: Rua Um just on the north west side of RJ-106 (Rodrigo Amaral Peixoto) about 2.5 kilometers north of the Rio das Ostras Bridge.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 6:30pm to midnight. They stay open later on Saturday until everyone is done bowling.
Contact: Phone (22) 2760-8087

Paying INSS online

Fellow blogger, Shelley, from "Give Us This Day Our Daily Mango" has written an excellent tutorial of sorts on how to pay the INSS part of your domestic helper's salary. What is the INSS? Per Shelly, "It's essentially the benefit that employees get, like Social Security, when they retire. It's mandatory to pay into the INSS of your hired help."

Please take a look at her post, including the comments which also have good information:

Paying INSS online

Leave her a comment if you have any questions, or would simply like to shout out a "Thanks".

Improvements - Praia do Bosque

The city is working on improving the entire beach front of Praia do Bosque.

The heavy equipment has come out and they're making visible progress.

Improvements - Praiamar

Where: Praiamar
What: Paving, sewers, water and drainage

Improvements - Decks on Praia da Tartaruga

Where: Praia da Tartaruga
What: Deck replacement

Rio das Ostras - 3rd largest population of the upper class in Rio de Janeiro State

Below is my translation of an article written by Angel Morote which appeared on the Rio das Ostras Jornal site.

Rio das Ostras has the third largest percentage of upper class (class "A") inhabitants in the state [of Rio de Janeiro].


Among those who fit the class "A" category, Rio das Ostras is third only to Niteroi and Rio de Janeiro.
Migration from the capital in the interior is one of the contributing factors.

The Wooden Bridge is Fixed

The wooden bridge (ponte de madeira) which crosses the river Rio das Ostras between Centro and localidade Colinashas (The Hills) finally been rebuilt. As of today, it is once again open for both vehicle and foot traffic.

Facebook Page

Posts will be less frequent for a little while as I'm traveling and out of town. If you have information to share or something you would like me to research please leave a comment and let me know. We take requests and encourage guest posters over here!

In the mean time, please make sure to follow our Facebook page. There are frequent updates on upcoming fun events posted there even if things are slow over here.

Beaches - Praia de Costazul

By far this is Rio das Ostras' most famous beach.

Beaches - Praia do Remanso

Formed into a small cove by large boulders, this is a good beach for children because the boulders also form small ponds. The water is warm, green and fairly clear especially in summer months.

Situated in Costazul, near Tocolândia and the Praça da Baleia. The area is lined with sidewalks, decks and playgrounds near the sand.

Dengue Fever Precautions

Rio das Ostras along with most of Brazil is in the middle of a Dengue epidemic.

There are many precautions we should all be taking to work together to lessen the chances for the disease to spread.

Weekly Event - Mariléa Feito à Mão

What: “Mariléa Feito à Mão” Feira de Artesanato e Gastronomia (Art and Food Fair)
Where: Praça Jaime Rodrigues Villar, next to the Ginásio Poliesportivo Benedito Zarour, in the Jardim Mariléa neighborhood
Hours: 6pm to 10pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus holidays

Restaurant - O Bartrô

 

What: O Bartrô Bar e Bistrô
Where: Rua Jandira Moraes Pimentel, 449, Centro
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday for dinner, Saturday and Sunday for lunch
Phone: (22) 2764-7782
Website: www.bartro.com.br

June 2011 - 9th Annual Festival of Jazz & Blues

Rio das Ostras prepares to hold another edition of Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues Festival, taking place on the 22nd through the 26th of June, with free concerts on three outdoor stages. The festival, held by the Municipality, through the Department of Tourism, Trade and Industry, produced by Blue Productions, will again present great singers and instrumentalists of the genre.

Beaches - Praia da Joana

Small in size and huge in charm, Praia da Joana is part of the "Monumento Natural dos Costões Rochosos" of Rio das Ostras. It has vegetation typical of the city, with many bromeliads, cacti, orchids, small shrubs, almond and coconut trees. It has crystal clear water, rocks at the ends and is located right near Coconut Island.

Restaurant - Sansai Sushi

What: Sansai Japanese  and Chinese Restaurant
Where: Avenida Governador Roberto Silveira, 95 Costa Azul
Phone: (22) 2764-1333
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 7pm to 11:30pm, full rodizio offered Thursday through Saturday
Website: http://www.restaurantesansai.com.br/

May 2011 - Festival of Art and Food

What: Feira de Artesanato e Gastronomi
Where: Jaime Rodrigues Villar Plaza, next to Ginásio Poliesportivo Benedito Zarour, in the Jardim Mariléa neighborhood.
When: May 6th through 8th from 6 to 10pm
Photo courtesy of Amlid Jazz Dance Website

Bicycle Club - BikeRO

What: BikeRO bicycle club
Website: http://bikeriodasostras.blogspot.com/
Email contact: bikero@bol.com.br

BikeRO is an inclusive club that welcomes all types of cyclists at all levels. Their goal is to form a connection between beginners and more advanced riders to show what the bike can offer you. They try to show a better quality of life which connects with nature, to transform children into bikers and bikers in children and promote peace of spirit about being on two wheels.

Sports & Leisure Classes Available

Rio das Ostras offers FREE public courses in various sports & leisure activities.

If you are interested, don't miss the opportunity. Registration is now open for various sports projects offered to the community.

Beaches - Praia do Cemitério

Located just to the north of Praia do Centro, just around the point on the other side of the Iate Clube, this small beach is great for swimming. The waves are gentle, the water is shallow and it is much less crowded than Praia do Centro.With it's picturesque wooden pier, it's said to be the best location in town for watching the sunset.

Beaches - Praia do Bosque

Located just to the south of Praia do Centro, this beach has bigger waves and rougher sand than Centro, but not as bad as Praia das Tartarugas. The beach runs from Praça São Pedro in Centro to the rocks at the point of Turtle Beach.

Movie Theater - Cinemagic

What: Cinemagic Movie Theater
Where: Inside the Holiday Shopping mall in Centro on Rodovia Amaral Peixoto
Website (with schedule): www.cinemagic.art.br//rio_das_ostras/

Restaurant - Macaxeira Tapiocaria

What: Macaxeira Tapiocaria
Where: Avenida Beira Mar in Centro, second shop from the corner near the Praca São Pedro
Hours: 3pm to about 10pm, Tuesday through Sunday

Dizalli Book Store

What: The Dizalli book store.
Where: lower floor right hand corner in the shopping center on Rua Rego Barros #141 lj 10 in Centro
Hours: Daily from 10am to 8pm, closed for 1 to 2 hours at noon for lunch.
Phone: (22) 2771-2920
Email: dizalli@bol.com.br

Jazz and Blues at the Clamshell

Once a month on a Saturday night the city of Rio das Ostras hosts a free Jazz and Blues concert in the Praça São Pedro at Praia do Centro in the Clamshell ampitheater.

Big names in Jazz from all over come here to play. The quality of music is fantastic and with so many kiosks, restaurants and vendors available it is a fun night out for everyone.

They seem to fall on the third Saturday of the month, but I haven't been able to confirm this yet. Anyone have a reliable source for the schedule? Please leave a comment.

Praça São Pedro

The City of Rio das Ostras re-inaugurated Praça São Pedro on Wednesday, November 1st, 2008 in Centro.

The Concha Acústica (acoustic shell) has an 85 m2 stage and amphitheater seating. The square also has wooden decks, a playground, and a grove of native vegetation.

Beaches - Praia do Abricó

This beach is not often full of people because the waves are very strong, and the water drops off and gets deep very quickly. The sand is also a bit rough, but full of good seashells. It is the first beach you come to in Rio das Ostras if you're coming from Rio de Janeiro. It is located alongside Highway Amaral Peixoto (RJ-106).

There are a few kioskes, but they seem to be only open on busy weekends.

It's about 4km long, and 5 to 20 meters wide.

Beaches - Praia das Tartarugas

Meaning "Turtle Beach". Found between Praia do Abrico and Praia do Bosque, this beach is so named because it shelters the largest number of sea turtles in the city. It also has a large rock at the point which is shaped like a turtle when viewed from above. The Tamar Project, which is dedicated to protect the turtles, monitors this beach to help preserve the species which were in danger of extinction.

Beaches - Praia do Centro

Located right downtown, this beach has very calm waters and seems to be the best one for small children. It is the embarkation point for tour boats that travel the coast and also hosts the "banana-boat". It is about 2km long and ten to twenty meters wide.

Art Classes at Casa de Cultura

What: Various art classes
Where: Casa de Cultura
Cost: R$30 per month for unlimited classes
How to: Sign up at the front desk of the Casa de Cultura. You will be given a tour of the workshop areas and meet any instructors who happen to be on campus at the time. Jorge Pinheiro is usually on hand and speaks enough English to help you get started.

Casa de Cultura and Archaeological Museum

What: House of Culture
Where: Rua Dr. Bento Costa Júnior, 70 - Centro, next to Praça São Pedro (the clamshell stage at Pria do Centro).
Phone: (22) 2764-7676
Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am to 6pm, Sat - Sun: 2pm to 6pm

GIRO - Gymnastics School

What: GIRO Ginástica Rio das Ostras has classes in Rythmic, Artistic, and Acrobatic gymnastics plus ballet and trampoline with competitive teams.
Where: quadra do Rio das Ostras Futebol Clube
Alameda Casimiro de Abreu, 366
Nova Esperança – Rio das Ostras
When: Mondays and Wednesdays with morning and afternoon classes.
For whom: They accept students four years and older.
Contact: Phone number (22) 92616265
Website: Their Orkut profile page

Some information and recent press about them Here, Here, Here and Here.

Important Information for Drivers

Not just for those of us in Rio das Ostras. I received this information from our good friend after it was distributed through her company and it is very good advice.

Know how and where to file a police report in case of accident. Find out before you need to know. I will be posting a list of Rio das Ostras' police stations soon.

An advisory from Insurers:
Consider any collision with a motorcycle as an injury causing event.Always take a photograph of the bike, rider and passenger if possible. This is easy now with most cell phones. Get the name and phone numbers of witnesses.
Make a police report RIGHT AWAY.

Hiking Club - Anda Rio das Ostras

Rio das Ostras has an active hiking club called "Anda Rio das Ostras" which is a non-profit association started in May of 2008.

The Association promotes social inclusion through the hikes, encourages physical activity and also holds events relating to the environment such as planting trees, recycling of PET bottles and aluminum cans. They have also participated in events like the First Municipal Conference on Tourism, Challenge Day, Walk for Arbor Day, Environment Week organized by Semapa, 8th Municipal Health Conference and the Campaign for Blood Donation sponsored by jornal Tribuna dos Bairros.

May 2011 - Taste of Rio Charity Event

Normally I'll only be adding information about events specific to Rio das ostras, but I'm making an exception in this case. If you haven't already heard about it, go check it out. The International Club of Rio de Janeiro is hosting the Taste of Rio event in the beautiful Clube Federal in Alto Leblon. Click here for information and ticket sales.

It looks like a fantastic event and worth the trip into Rio.

April 2011 - 19th Anniversary of Rio das Ostras Independence

Preparations have already begun for the nineteenth anniversary of the Political Administrative Emancipation of Rio das Ostras (April 10), which will be celebrated with an extensive lineup between April 8th to the 11th with a parade, free concerts, sports competition and other events.

Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11pm, and Sunday at 9pm there will be free concerts performed at Camping Costazil. 

The Memorial Parade will take place on Saturday, the 9th at 9am, on Avenida Amazonas in Centro. Participants will be local schools, government departments and entities of civil society organizations.

Where to Buy Havaianas

There are loads of stores in town which sell "Havaianas" for cheap. I found out from a friend recently that they're probably "Paraguay", which has become synonymous with "counterfit" and "garbage", so I asked here for the lowdown on the good stuff.


Turns out there are two places in town where you can be sure to get real, quality Havaianas.

April 2011 - Classic Cars of Rio das Ostras

What?  II Classic Ostras - A gathering of vintage and collectible cars in  Rio das Ostras.
Where?  Lagoa de Iriry
When?  April 17th, 2011 from 9am to 5pm.
How much?  Participation and observation are FREE.

Along with the classic cars, there will be music from the 60's, 70's and 80's playing during the event, an exhibition of miniature classic cars, giveaways, and even a presentation of  the Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues festival, known internationally by lovers of Jazz and Blues music.

May 2011 - Musical Group - Strada da Terra

The alternative, reggae and soul musical group from Rio de Janeiro "Strada da Terra" will perform in at the Festa Fechada in Rio das ostras at Praia da Joana on Saturday May 21st, 2011 at 5pm.

Praia da Joana is between Boca de Barra at Praia do cemitario, and virgin beach. From the map it looks like it is very near the southewestern end of Av. Costa Azul.

Photo from Diário Riostrense blog.

March 2011 - XVI Ostrascycle-Motorcycle rally in Costazul

This weekend, starting today (Thursday, March 24th) through Sunday the 27th there is a motorcycle rally in Costazul, which will include a delegation from Daytona in the United States.


This will be a huge event. The prefecture expects more than twenty five thousand motorcyclists this year.

There will be an area with over 65 vendor tents available for the public.

Teatro Popular de Rio das Ostras

Rio das Ostras has a little theater above the library. They have no website, but occasionally Blog Fala Rio das Ostras posts an up coming (or current) show. The theater seats about 100 people, but when the crowd overflowed the available seats during our last visit they just busted out more chairs and squeezed another fifty or so in the room.

The theater is on Av. Amazonas in Centro, on the same street as the flea market and in the same building as the local library (go up the ramp on the side of the building).

Learn to Speak Portuguese - Private Classes With Rosangela

My strong suggestion is that you learn at least a little bit of Portuguese before you arrive in Brazil. Most communities in the US have adult education classes available, which you can find with some Google time. Take a class, and carry a small dictionary. Having my little dictionary in my purse has been handy at the grocery store, for example the time I forgot how to say "hamburger" (carne moida).

Once you are here, keep taking classes. Not only will you find it easier to navigate your new world, your instructor can give you an invaluable window into Brazilian culture.