Rio de Janeiro’s main airport is officially called Antonio Carlos Jobim International airport but is widely called the Galeão Airport because of the Galleon Beach right next to the two passenger terminals. Brazil’s biggest airport was named after the local musician Jobim in 1999, who mentioned it in one of his samba songs. If you hire a car at Galeao Airport you’ll soon find it stands on Governador Island in Rio’s huge natural harbour, Guanabara Bay. It’s about 12 miles north of the city centre. It’s the largest island in the bay and home to around a third of a million people.
Ilha do Governador is a mix of favela slums and high-class waterside neighbourhoods. Most travellers who hire a car at Galeao Airport are soon crossing to the mainland by the busy road bridges. Then the RJ-071 dual carriageway whisks traffic south to the city centre and beaches, or north to outlying commuter cities like São João de Meriti. The attractions of Rio are easy to reach by car, including the spectacular mountain viewpoints of Sugarloaf and Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer), and the famous sandy beaches of Ipanema and Cocacabana. Other highlights include the Maracanã soccer stadium and the Sambadrome carnival centre.
Car Collections
With a wide range of travellers passing through our locations every day, we've got a wide range of vehicles on offer to suit your needs - from smart executive saloons to compact family hatchbacks. ***
***Specific cars may not be available when booking
