Rio de Janeiro Light Rail

July 31, 2018

There is a special transportation that you’ll only find and be able to use at the center of Rio. Have you heard of the Rio de Janeiro Light Rail?

The VLT Carioca, as it’s called in Portuguese, was built in 2016 for the Olympics and it’s now part of the everyday life of Cariocas.

Rio de Janeiro Light Rail

Inspired in the streetcars that used to be seen around the city in the 60s, Rio de Janeiro Light Rail connects several points in the center of the city in a fast and sustainable way. It improved mobility and facilitated access to Porto Maravilha and neighborhoods such as Saúde, Gamboa and Santo Cristo which are an important part of the history of Rio.

The VLT is nearly silent, fueled by fossil fuels and it moves just like a bus, following the same traffic rules. The only difference is that it has its own rail to move around.

For you to use the Rio de Janeiro Light Rail, you’ll need a card, the same that you use in a bus, and you can buy it in every VLT station. The cost of the ride is R$ 3,80 and once you enter the VLT, you need to validate your card. Not validating it can have bad consequences, such as paying a R$ 170,00 fine.

Come and ride it with us on our RioLIVE! activities. You’ll surely enjoy it.

Click in the links below to see more related Dicas
Santa Teresa Tram
Subway in Rio de Janeiro
Means of transportation in Portuguese
How to use Ir in Portuguese

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This is the best way to learn portuguese in Rio! Great atmosphere, vers good teachers and very efficient active learning method through one big bonus of this school: Rio&live !! Definitely recommand!!

Kanso M

2023-08-04

Llevo solo unas semanas estudiando en línea con Rio & Learn y puedo decir que mi portugués ya ha mejorado notablemente! Espero poder visitar la escuela pronto para realizar una inmersión completa y conocer a todos los profesores que son geniales. Muchas gracias Rio & Learn!

Pablo Gonzalez

2023-07-29

I have been taking online group classes here for about a month. The entire class is in Portuguese so you learn super fast. The class sizes are small and after each class the teacher evaluates you, so you learn at your own pace. All the teachers I've had are super enthusiastic and encouraging. You're also put in a WhatsApp group to practice and there are extra online activities which are super fun. I both laugh and learn a ton in my classes. I highly recommend this school and I hope someday in the future I can visit in person!

Sam Terlizzi

2023-07-27

I had a lovely time with the teachers and my fellow students during the classes and the activities the school provided. They push you to speak as much Portuguese as possible during and outside the classes. This made it possible for me to start smal conversation after one week!!! Thank you very much for all the fun and teachable moments! “Eu gosto Rio and Learn!”

Mathieu Vandemaele (MathieuV)

2023-07-26

Rio & Learn is a one stop shop for learning Portuguese while enjoying the amazing Carioca lifestyle. The teachers and the staffs are very accommodating and they always encourage you to speak and immerse in the language. The immersion classes would take you on amazing journeys to local historic spots of the city while keeping you extra fit. Highly recommend!!!

Khoa Pham

2023-07-25

excelente experiencia, quero visitar novamente, os professores foram maravilhosos - Diogo e Ana Paula! A escola é bem organizada, bem localizada e funciona bem. Obrigada a todos!

C G

2023-07-24

Wonderful experience of Portuguese learning! The curriculum combines class room lectures and RioLIVE! field trips. My favorite activities are samba and cooking lesson. Staff and teachers are very friendly and helpful.The school is perfectly suited few steps away from beautiful Copacabana beach. Diogo is amazing and fun, he makes a beginner like feels really comfortable and able to learn!

Hong Lynn Zeng

2023-07-21

E ai pessoal! Rio & Learn fue una experiencia maravillosa. En la escuela tuve clases muy interesante que mezclan temas gramaticales con conversación de una forma muy bien planificada. Adicionalmente, las actividades programadas por la escuela en la tarde y los fines de semana son muy divertidas y son una extensión de las clases por lo que se puede continuar practicando portugués en un escenario más pragmático. Complementario a esto, los profesores son muy buenos y tienen mucho ánimo y disposición para enseñar, preocupándose de que el estudiante aprenda ya sea en un entorno individual o grupal; debido a que el profesor que dicta la clase cambia con cierta frecuencia uno tiene la posibilidad de desarrollar más la habilidad de escucha con los diferentes acentos y dinámicas de cada uno. Finalmente, como solo traveler es el lugar ideal para hacer amigos en clase y pasar un buen rato con las actividades de RioLive mientras conoces Rio y practicas el idioma objetivo así que es una excelente combinación. Recomiendo completamente, amé mi experiencia, cree amistades para toda la vida y mejoré mi portugués tal como quería, superó mis expectativas con creces.

karolina roa correa

2023-07-14

la escuela es muy útil para aprender portugués, las clases son interactivas y divertidas. Tiene excelentes profesores que ayudan al aprendizaje de manera efectiva.

Daniela Camacho

2023-07-13

I highly recommend Rio and Learn, especially as a solo-traveler. You will make so many friends from the classes and have a lot of support from teachers as well. The group classes are quite great and allow you to maximize your time in the city. I love how you spend the first half of the day focusing on grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary and then afterwards you actually apply it while visiting some of the coolest places in Rio.

michael alcorn

2023-07-11