Monkey Magic

Monkeying around in Santa Teresa

They try their best to be inconspicuous, but look hard enough and you’ll see these crafty creatures everywhere – eyes darting, plotting their next move. No, I’m not talking Rio’s notorious thieves, but an altogether more charming kind of cheeky monkey.  The trees, telegraph wires and even rooftops are the stomping ground for gangs of teeny weeny marmosets, referred to locally as ‘micos’. If your hostel or hotel has leafy gardens, chances are these little cuties will be regular visitors, and they also like to pay regular visits to terraces of several of the city’s restaurants – particularly those in verdant locations such as Santa Teresa. Keep your eyes and ears peeled – the monkeys emit a high pitched whine, and when you spot one, chances are a whole host more are close behind. Perhaps the best place for spotting monkeys, without getting too far off the beaten track, is the trail that runs round the bottom of Sugar Loaf mountain, next to Praia Vermelha beach. It’s not unusual to spot the marmosets taking food from the hands of visitors here, as they have become brave after years of exposure to tourists and their flashing cameras. Other good urban monkey spotting locations include Parque Lage, in the Jardim Botanico neighbourhood (map); but you can spot them at almost any point in the city if you keep your eyes and ears alert.