The remote life series: Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷
Another post in the remote work series that talks about traveling and working.
☕ The Setup
In Rio I rented an Airbnb one block away from the beach of Copacabana and near the Copacabana Fort. The facility was equipped with high-speed internet, so work was done from the kitchen table while the air conditioner was working full time. I brought with me my Azorpa 2K USB-C portable monitor, along with my favorite Corsair Harpoon mouse. If Linus doesn't need more, neither do I. Multiple screens are life, and that life is good.
What to expect in terms of costs
- Airbnb: around $600
- Meals: 15 (it can get more expensive if you want to)
- Uber back and forth to Galeão Airport: $25—it's a 40-minute drive.
- Flights $120 (internally in Brazil)
📆 A Day in Rio
The day typically started with a coffee supply run. I'm nothing without a good coffee. The good thing is that Copacabana has everything close by. Exiting the apartment, you could feel right away that the heat in the late summer is no joke. After breakfast, it was heads down on tasks until lunchtime.
Don't you think that spending 15 minutes of your lunch just walking on the beach improves productivity? Because I think it does. Past lunch, another heads-down session until work was accomplished for the day.
For the night, it’s time to explore. But first, a personal recommendation. I really enjoyed watching the sunset at the Arpoador beach. I will leave you with a photo so you can draw your own conclusions.
After that, it's time for dinner. I like trying different restaurants, so I usually take a stroll around the block (you will always find a lot of stuff in terms of restaurants and bars), or if I have an idea of what I want to eat, I look for local, well-rated restaurants on Google Maps. Another personal recommendation is Boteco Belmonte, a local franchise of bohemian bars (yes, they do have food, but they also have very good drinks).
🌅 Recommended activity
I promise you, you won't regret going in the standup paddle at sunrise. The most amazing time and vibe. The view? Absolutely Gold
🧱 Work Meets Reality
Rio has a different vibe. People seem to seize their time more and well. On particular days and times of the week, the municipality closes the avenue near the beach to cars, and the runners, the bikers, and the gym bros, they all take over. I think that honestly elevates you to take a pause and contemplate the great opportunity to be in this beautiful place. There is no way you won't get energized and creative after just a few days. The pictures of this post will never capture that feeling.
🧠 What I Took Away
Context really matters. Working hard is an amazing skill, but knowing how to refill that energy so you can keep delivering in a healthy manner is a skill on its own. I'm still not a complete nomad, but touching grass—in this case, sand—every now and then feels very refueling and is definitely recommended.
✈️ Would I Do It Again?
There is only one answer to Rio, and it is always yes. It's a big city, with all the problems of a big city. But just take your safety precautions, and off you go. You're going to have an amazing time.