One thing that everyone always loves about Rio de Janeiro is the honest happiness of the locals: It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, everyone's enjoying themselves, chilling at the beach, playing volleyball, singing and dancing, and drinking their own versions of the mojito, made with national spirit cachaca (a.k.a. aguardiente) instead of rum. Though everyone associates Rio with Carnival, that may actually be the worst time to visit—just because everything is exponentially more crowded and hectic, and this is a crowded, raging party of a city to begin with. Ogle the thong-clad bottoms on Ipanema Beach, wander the mosaic tile pathway that fronts the beach, or take a day trip to Corcovado mountain to pay greetings to the magnificent statue of Christ the Redeemer that famously looks over the city from a 2,300-foot peak.