Monday is your first day in town, and it's a sunny day at that. Instead of going for a city tour right after you step off the plane we are going to explore Ipanema. Put on your trunks, and go for a dip at the beach. It's a weekday, perfect to start working on your tan. Go to Body Tech Gym, and pay for a day pass. A good workout will help to line up those bones after the long flght. Alternatively go for a quick shower at one of the gay baths

Enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants or cafes in Ipanema. At Rua Garcia D'Avila take the complimentary workshop tour at H. Stern jewelers, and visit the Amsterdam Sauer Gem Museum. Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Mont Blanc, Antonio Bernardo, and other sophisticated boutiques line this world-famous cross-street. After the window-shopping and daydreaming, proceed exploring the main street Rua Visconde de Piraja.

Buy some new swimwear - Cariocas wear wider briefs (Speedos) underneath their trunks (Blue Man has a great selection). There are also many cools shops around Praca Nossa Senhora da Paz. Take your time, stop for a fresh-squeezed juice, or an expresso with pao de queijo (cheese roll), and start tuning into the Rio lifestyle. You have a busy night ahead.

You had a lot of fun yesterday, fell in love at least three times (in a row), but there's lots to do today so get out of bed.

We are taking the mandatory panoramic city tour. We know it's touristy, but prejudices aside Rio is a very big city. If you don't develop some sense of orientation, you will be tempted to the same places all the time.

A typical city tour features the Corcovado (Statue of the Christ), Tijuca Forest, beaches of Botafogo and Flamengo, Sugarloaf, the Cathedral, Sambodrome, Maracana Stadium, Governor's Palace, and other attractions.

Full-day city tours usually include a rodizio-style lunch. To request your tour using the services of Ipacom Travel, an IGLTA member since 1996.

You have already spent a full day in Ipanema, so now let's give Copacabana it's fair chance. This is a neighborhood that keeps side by side luxury and trash, and gets away with it.

For contrast, start with breakfast at the pool of Copacabana Palace Hotel. Close your eyes and imagine that this is the famous pool where celebrities from Princess Diana to Rock Hudson went for laps while in Rio...

Once you're finished, proceed to Barata Ribeiro 194, and pretend you are visiting a friend if the doorman asks you anything. This is a cabeça de porco, a building with dozens of tiny studios on each floor. Explore the art-deco district of Lido, the discount stores on the main street, and head South the chic antique shops on Shopping Casino Atlantico.

Visit Forte de Copacabana, the surf shops at Francisco Otaviano, and finish your perfect day watching the sunset from the Arpoador rocks.

If you feel adventurous today, this is the opportunity to go on a dual tandem flight. It's pretty safe, loads of fun, and your friends will not believe you had the guts once they see the photos. River rafting is a second suggestion to daredevils. A third option is taking a guided favela tour, visiting a popular community.Once you see it from inside, you will change that bring-the-bulldozers mentality.

If you woke up with more of a cultural mood, a good alternative is a visit to Downtown Rio. There are many churches, museums, palaces, shopping streets with colonial and imperial architecture. Attractions are grouped in clusters, and with the subway you can easily go from one area to another.

Downtown is always very busy during the day, and there are restaurants and eateries everywhere. Use our subway map for orientation and tips on attractions surrounding each station.

You have already done a lot of things, but you haven't ventured out of the city yet. If you are interested in Brazilian history, a visit to Petropolis is the order of the day. Visit the Imperial Museum (Imperial crown & jewels), the Cathedral, and the Crystal Palace. Beach lovers can take the one-day tour to Buzios, and divers must visit Angra dos Reis.

To enjoy the more bucolic side of Rio, an afternoon at Lagoa and the Botanical Gardens. This historical park was opened by Dom Joao VI and attractions include Imperial Palm Trees, an orchid greenhouse with exotic flowers you wouldn't have a chance to see elsewhere...

On your way back you may stop at scenic Jockey Club, that is right across the street. As you are in the neighborhood you may well stretch your tour and explore a bit of Gávea. There are traditional restaurants around Praca Santos Dumont, you can later go on a shopping spree or catch a movie at Shopping da Gávea.

The beach is the natural destination on sunny Saturdays. If you have errands to run, the shops in Ipanema and Copacabana stay open until 1 or 2 p.m. You could go to the gay beach in Ipanema, but these are the plans for tomorrow. To do something different venture all the way to Barra. Praia do Pepê spot concentrates some of the prettiest (mostly straight) boys and girls, some actors, and other local characters.

Do not be surprised to see some nudity at Praia da Reserva. If you are actually looking for the nude beach, proceed to Praia do Abrico, on the left side of Grumari.

A visit to Barra without a stop at the huge malls would not make sense. For the full experience choose Barrashopping with literally hundreds of shops, its own monorail system, the works! There are movie theaters, restaurants, and lots of people all the time. Save some time for a quick nap, as Saturday is a long night in Rio.

A special attraction in Ipanema on Sundays is the Hippie Fair at Praça General Osório. It's the perfect opportunity to find gifts and souvenirs for you and your friends, with stands selling reasonably priced jewelry, paintings, sculptures, handcraft, and exotic musical instruments.

The beach lane is closed for cars, and a constant parade of rollerbladers, skaters, bikers, cyclists, dogs, boys and girls will keep your head turning (bring your sunglasses). At the Farme Gay you may join or watch the volleyball or dodgeball matches, rent a beach chair and mingle with the crowd.

If you just want to have something light there are kiosks at the beach where you can sip a fresh coconut, chilled beer and assorted snacks. Later try one of the restaurants at Farme, or have a late lunch at Felicce.There are still cafes, bars and gay baths to explore before you call it a day. There's Sunday night to look forward to.