The city of Rio Branco is the capital of the Brazilian state of Acre, which is found in the far northwest of the country. Visitors who hire a car here will discover that Rio Branco is just 3 miles from the Bolivian border, and little more than 1 miles from the Peruvian border; in contrast it is about 2, away from Brasilia. The State of Acre has a two-hour time difference from the Brazilian capital. The Plácido de Castro International Airport is 1 miles north of Rio Branco's city centre. It's an area of Amazon rainforest where rubber and Brazil nut trees are farmed, and where most travel is done by river.
There's a remote border-town feel to Rio Branco but if you hire a car here you'll soon find there are hidden depths to explore, with an active cultural and commercial life beneath the surface. Visitor highlights include the trendy SESC arts and cultural centre, the imposing Palacio Rio Branco State Capital building and history museum, and the Museu do Borracha, telling the story of rubber tapping in the region. The riverside Mercado Velho is a great place to have a meal and see live music - and don't miss the quirky modern cathedral, which is built in the style of an ancient Roman basilica.
