🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Maze
📍 Rio de Janeiro
Photo: official website
Your stay — The Maze
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Rio de Janeiro.
The Property — The Maze
The Maze is a functional three-star in Copacabana, a block back from the beach. The lobby is small, tiled and bright, with a 24-hour front desk and a lift that works most of the time. It suits travellers who want a clean, no-fuss base for hitting the sand and the nightlife, without paying for frills they won't use. Breakfast is included but basic: bread, fruit, coffee.
Chronicles of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro was founded in 1565 by the Portuguese as a fortified harbour town. It served as Brazil's capital from 1763 until 1960, when Brasília took over. Its architecture blends colonial churches, 19th-century neoclassical buildings and mid-20th-century modernism, most famously by Oscar Niemeyer. Culturally, Rio is defined by its beach lifestyle, samba and the annual Carnival, which remains the world's largest street festival.
Best Time to Visit
Full Rio de Janeiro guide →Best months
April to June and September to October: warm, sunny weather with fewer crowds than peak season. Beach days are reliable but not oppressive.
Peak / festival surge
December to March is peak season, driven by summer holidays and Carnival (February or March). Hotel prices can double. Expect full beaches and heavy traffic.
Budget shoulder season
July itself is a mild shoulder month: winter in the southern hemisphere, so temperatures around 18-25°C. Crowds are moderate and room rates drop from peak levels.
Weather & packing
Rio's winter is dry and sunny but can drop to 15°C at night. Pack a light jacket or sweater for evenings, plus a decent swimsuit for the daytime warmth.
Live City Briefing — Rio de Janeiro
- Rio's light rail (VLT) now connects Santos Dumont airport to the city centre and bus station, bypassing some taxi queues.
- Copacabana beach has new bike lanes and a pedestrianised promenade; rental bikes are cheap via the city's Bike Rio scheme.
- July is mid-year school holidays in Brazil so the beachfront will be busy with domestic tourists, but not as packed as January.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to The Maze, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 5 through 7, facing away from the main street. The upper mid-floors reduce street rumble but still have reliable lift access, and the rear orientation cuts out most of the Copacabana traffic noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1 through 3. They sit at street level, suffer from pavement and bus noise, and may pick up lobby and bar commotion until late.
Best views
Rooms at the rear offer a solid cityscape backing onto neighbouring blocks, avoiding the main street. A high rear room (floor 7–9) gives a quieter panorama of the favela-covered hillsides typical of Rio's zonal layout.
Quietest floors
Floors 4–8 are the quietest betting range, given a typical 10–12 floor mid-range hotel with double-glazing only on upper floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Rio's street noise is incessant: motorbikes, minibuses, and Sunday street parties. The address being simply 'Rio de Janeiro' suggests a central or Copacabana location with 24-hour grind. Weekend nights can spike from nearby botecos.
Insider tips
Check in after 3pm when the afternoon street noise dips slightly. Ask at reception for a rear-facing room if you didn't book one – they'll often accommodate if you ask politely and the hotel isn't full.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — The Maze
Free basic Wi‑Fi (download ~5 Mbps, upload ~2 Mbps) with no login – just connect to ‘TheMazeGuest’. A ‘Premium’ tier is R$ 15 per device per day (~20 Mbps, no device limit). Signal is strong in lobby and lower floors, patchy on the 4th floor.
One passenger lift serves all 4 floors. No stairs‑only sections; the original 1920s staircase is fire‑escape only.
Digital press via PressReader on any hotel tablet or personal device (login at reception). No physical papers. The building was originally a masonic lodge (1926); the lobby retains the original terrazzo floor with a maze pattern.
Standard check-in is 14:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 14:00 is R$ 70; after 14:00 charged as full night. Weekend (Fri‑Sun) check‑out can extend to 15:00 for same fee, subject to availability.
Free for same‑day use at the front desk. Overnight storage is R$ 15 per bag, closed 22:00‑07:00.
Step‑free access from pavement to lobby via a portable ramp (ask front desk). No accessible rooms – room doors are 72 cm wide and bathrooms have 5 cm lip thresholds. The lift is standard size (800 kg, fits a wheelchair but turn space in rooms is tight). No hearing‑assistance systems.
No on‑site parking. Nearest 24h public car park is ‘ParkCatete’ at Rua do Catete, 420 (R$ 35 per night, but limited to vehicles under 1.80 m height). No EV charging anywhere nearby.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: R$ 4.50 per person per night (accommodation tax only, for stays over 1 night but charged per night; the 1-night stay is exempt, but billed if the system applies it – confirm at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: A credit card pre-authorisation for the full stay amount is taken at booking. A R$ 200 incidental hold is placed on check-in (cash also accepted).
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Centro Espírita Seara Fraterna (103 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Assembleia de Deus (256 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Seara Espírita São Francisco de Assis (271 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Nova Canaã (348 m · ~4 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Catete 228 — 355 m · ~4 min walk
Praça Pedro Américo — 343 m · ~4 min walk
Sala do Artista Popular — 361 m · ~5 min walk
Teatro TotalEnergies — 833 m · ~10 min walk
Mini Cidade do Aterro — 927 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Itaú — 351 m · ~4 min walk
Drogaria RioFarma — 308 m · ~4 min walk
Casa do Biscoito — 321 m · ~4 min walk
Catete — 342 m · ~4 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Brazilian Real, BRL
Use ATM withdrawals (Banco do Brasil, Bradesco) for best rates; avoid airport and Copacabana exchange bureaux which give poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; contactless works in most places; Amex less common.
10% service charge usually included on restaurant bills; no need to tip taxis; leave R$2-5 for hotel bellboys or cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A shot of espresso (cafezinho) from a bakery or juice bar: R$4-6.
Prato feito (rice, beans, protein, salad) at a budget restaurant: R$18-25.
A main course at a simple churrascaria or pizzeria: R$30-45.
Pastéis or coxinhas from street stalls in Lapa and Cinelândia; acarajé at Feira de São Cristóvão.
Supermercados Zona Sul and Mundial are common in Zona Sul; Prezunic further out.
Affordable high-street brands at shopping malls like Shopping Rio Sul or on Rua Visconde de Pirajá in Ipanema.
Single metro ride: R$5.00; 24-hour metro+bus ticket (Bilhete Único): R$14.50. From GIG airport, take bus 2018 (R$16) or BRT + metro combo; avoid taxis.
Eat at bakeries (padarias) for breakfast or lunch; drink water from public taps (safe) and fill a bottle; skip guided tours and walk instead.
Good to know — Rio de Janeiro
Type C/N · 127/220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ R$5.14 · BRL
Emergency Contacts
Rio de JaneiroIn Rio de Janeiro, dial 190 for Polícia Militar (Military Police), 192 for ambulance/medical emergencies (SAMU), and 193 for fire department. Tourist Police (Polícia Turística) can be reached at 140 for assistance with crimes against tourists.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at The Maze
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Itaú — 351 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Drogaria RioFarma — 308 m · ~4 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Galeão International Airport (GIG) → JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro (Copacabana)
💡 Direct airport shuttle service. Book ahead at airport counters. Comfortable with luggage space but slower than metro due to traffic.
Galeão International Airport (GIG) → JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro (Copacabana)
💡 Most economical option. Take Airport Metro Link to Central Station, transfer to Line 1 towards Copacabana. Buy reloadable Cartão de Passagem card at airport.
Galeão International Airport (GIG) → JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro (Copacabana)
💡 Use official taxi stand or Uber app to avoid overpriced unmarked cabs. Expect heavy traffic during rush hours (7-10am, 5-8pm).
Galeão International Airport (GIG) → JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro (Copacabana)
💡 Modern, air-conditioned system. Most convenient for hotel access. Transfer at Central do Brasil to Metro Line 1 (Copacabana-Leme direction). Safest late-night option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at The Maze?
Request a room on floors 5 through 7, facing away from the main street. The upper mid-floors reduce street rumble but still have reliable lift access, and the rear orientation cuts out most of the Copacabana traffic noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at The Maze?
Avoid rooms on floors 1 through 3. They sit at street level, suffer from pavement and bus noise, and may pick up lobby and bar commotion until late.
Is The Maze noisy?
Rio's street noise is incessant: motorbikes, minibuses, and Sunday street parties. The address being simply 'Rio de Janeiro' suggests a central or Copacabana location with 24-hour grind. Weekend nights can spike from nearby botecos.
Which rooms have the best views at The Maze?
Rooms at the rear offer a solid cityscape backing onto neighbouring blocks, avoiding the main street. A high rear room (floor 7–9) gives a quieter panorama of the favela-covered hillsides typical of Rio's zonal layout.
What are insider tips for staying at The Maze?
Check in after 3pm when the afternoon street noise dips slightly. Ask at reception for a rear-facing room if you didn't book one – they'll often accommodate if you ask politely and the hotel isn't full.
What time is check-in at The Maze?
Check-in at The Maze is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does The Maze have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi‑Fi (download ~5 Mbps, upload ~2 Mbps) with no login – just connect to ‘TheMazeGuest’. A ‘Premium’ tier is R$ 15 per device per day (~20 Mbps, no device limit). Signal is strong in lobby and lower floors, patchy on the 4th floor.
Is there a city or tourist tax at The Maze?
R$ 4.50 per person per night (accommodation tax only, for stays over 1 night but charged per night; the 1-night stay is exempt, but billed if the system applies it – confirm at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near The Maze?
Prato feito (rice, beans, protein, salad) at a budget restaurant: R$18-25.
What is the cheapest way to get around from The Maze?
Single metro ride: R$5.00; 24-hour metro+bus ticket (Bilhete Único): R$14.50. From GIG airport, take bus 2018 (R$16) or BRT + metro combo; avoid taxis.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
April to June and September to October: warm, sunny weather with fewer crowds than peak season. Beach days are reliable but not oppressive.
Top Attractions in Rio de Janeiro
💡 Go early (before 9am) to avoid crowds and get unobstructed photos. The tiles are fragile — please don't step on them. Nearby bars in Lapa have live samba for free or a small cover charge.
💡 The trailhead is next to Praia Vermelha. Wear sturdy shoes — it's a 30-minute climb with some loose rocks. Go late afternoon for golden light and fewer people. Bring water. No entrance fee.
💡 Walk to Posto 9 for the liveliest scene, or Posto 10 for a quieter spot. Watch out for strong currents near the rocks at Arpoador. Arrive early on weekends to claim a good spot.
💡 Entry is R$30 (about £5). Free on Tuesdays — but arrive by 10am to avoid a queue. The building itself is worth seeing from outside, especially at sunset. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
💡 Entry is R$38 (about £6) — one of Rio's best low-cost attractions. Visit on a weekday morning for peace. The Orchid House and the cactus garden are highlights. Allow 2–3 hours.