Destination: Rio de Janeiro
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A true tropical metropolis, Rio has two main seasons, rainy (spring and summer) and dry (fall and winter), and subtle temperature variations between them. The city sits on a series of plains between the Atlantic Ocean and rain-forest-covered mountains, so it tends to be humid year-round. May through August (fall and winter in the Southern Hemisphere) is the best time to enjoy civilized temperatures (60s to 80s), balmy breezes, crystal-clear skies and a Fauve palette of oranges, yellows and purples over the mountains as flowers bloom in the rain forest. The days are shorter here—expect gorgeous sunsets at 5 p.m. You’ll get much of the same weather and a lot more flowers and colors in spring (September through November), but Rio’s long rainy season will be in full force. In summer (December through March), the city comes alive in all its hedonistic glory, but temperatures soar well into the 100s and stay there.
Carioca tip: Rainstorms can come suddenly and be quite fierce, with flooding and massive traffic jams. Locals trust a centuries-old weather forecast tool: the wind. No matter the season, the moment the wind shifts to the southwest, rain will follow and the temperature will drop.
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