Rio’s Antonio Carlos Jobin International Airport is 20 km north of the city. Airlines fly in from many continents. Main carriers include British Airwaves, Varig, Iberia, Delta, Lufthansa and Air France. The connecting roads are good, slowing as you get closer to the city and the traffic takes hold. Bank on well over an hour for the trip no matter what the form of transport.
Local flights come into Aeroporto Santos Dumont, built on an artificial island off the part of Rio known as Flamengo. Close to the city, this airport is highly convenient if coming in from another stop in Brazil. The airport is named for Alberto Santos Dumont, widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of aviation. He was the first person to achieve powered flight in Europe and was the first person to achieve flight in a heavier than air vehicle that could take off under its own power – the Wright brothers used a catapult to help get their craft airborne.
Brazil is deceptively large and decidedly difficult to traverse. If you want to get anywhere in any sensible time resign yourself to taking the plane. There are modern roads linking main towns and cities, but the distances are vast and time involved out of the question unless you want to enjoy something of the country. There is very little in the way of rail connections, so, if you don’t fancy the plane, it is the bus or car for you.