ABOUT KARİNA
Rio de Janeiro is more than a city — it's a feeling, a way of life.
Welcome to Going to Rio — my love letter to the city that shaped me. Born and raised here, I've spent a lifetime learning its rhythms, its secrets, and the quiet magic that no guidebook quite captures.
A carioca who turned a lifelong love into a mission
My name is Karina, and I've been navigating Rio's rhythms since before I could name them. I grew up here, a proud Carioca, learning the city's unwritten rules and falling in love with its contradictions — the jungle that meets the sea, the chaos that somehow feels like home.
I've traveled the world searching for a place that could make me feel the way Rio does. I lived in different countries, walked through cities filled with history and beauty. But every time, I came back to the same truth: nowhere feels like Rio.
I've built something that no guidebook can offer: a real, living knowledge of Rio. Not the postcard version — the Rio that locals live. The small rituals, the hidden corners, the laid-back lifestyle, the conversations you overhear on the beach, the warmth of strangers who become friends. This is my home. It always has been.
That's the Rio I want to show you.
With over 12 years as a tourism professional, I created Going to Rio because I kept seeing the same gap: Rio is one of the fastest-growing international destinations in the world, and travelers were arriving armed with outdated information, generic itineraries, and a lot of unnecessary fear. The city they were experiencing wasn't the Rio I know. And that felt like a waste.
MY STORY
"Going to Rio is more than a guide. It's an invitation to see the city through the eyes of someone who truly loves it."
Here you'll find local insight, real-life tips, neighborhood stories, cultural context — and everything you need to feel at home, even if it's your first time here. Shared honestly, lovingly, and with the curiosity of someone who never gets tired of discovering it.
Ready to plan your trip to Rio the right way?
If you're planning a trip and want someone who genuinely loves this city in your corner — someone who can cut through the noise and help you make the most of every single day — I'd love to help.
"I don't believe in one-size-fits-all itineraries.
I believe in helping you find your own Rio —
the one that matches your pace, your interests, and the kind of memories you want to bring home."
And I can't wait to show you around.
With love, Karina