How does PlanRio keep information accurate?

Each guide is assigned a review interval based on how quickly its subject can change. High-volatility safety, price and event information enters the review queue every 90 days; reviewed priority guides show their published and last-reviewed dates.

Does PlanRio earn money from recommendations?

Yes — PlanRio is reader-supported through clearly disclosed affiliate links (mainly GetYourGuide). These commissions never influence what we recommend. If a tour or restaurant isn't worth your time, we say so.

How can I report an error or outdated information?

Email hello@planrio.com with the page URL and what needs correcting. We aim to review and fix legitimate corrections within a few business days.

Editorial Standards | How PlanRio Researches & Reviews Guides

Q: Who writes PlanRio's guides?

PlanRio is founded and edited by Lotte, a Rio local. Local knowledge does not replace verification: changing details such as prices, schedules, transport rules, safety information and event dates are checked against current official, municipal, operator and reputable Brazilian sources. Guides carry the PlanRio Editorial Team byline, edited by Lotte, and named contributors are credited where their expertise materially shapes a guide.

Editorial Standards

PlanRio exists to be the most trustworthy source of Rio de Janeiro travel information online. This page explains how we research, write, review and update our guides — and how we handle affiliate relationships, safety information and corrections.

Who writes PlanRio

PlanRio is founded and edited by Lotte, a Rio local. She sets the editorial standards on this page and reviews the guides. Local knowledge does not replace verification: changing details such as prices, schedules, transport rules, safety information and event dates are checked against current official, municipal, operator and reputable Brazilian sources. We use the collective "PlanRio Editorial Team" byline for work edited under these standards, with the byline linking to the founder and the research method behind it. Where a specific resident, specialist or contributor materially shapes a guide, we credit that contribution by name.

Our editorial principles

First-hand claims reflect real experience. A first-hand claim reflects something Lotte or a credited contributor actually experienced — we don't fabricate visits, meals, stays or completed routes.
Local knowledge is not a substitute for facts. Local perspective informs judgement, but it is never used to justify an unsupported factual claim.
Volatile facts carry a visible review date and source. Prices, hours, fares, safety information and event dates show when they were last reviewed and are checked against current sources.
Contributors are credited. Named residents and specialists are credited when their expertise materially shapes a guide.
Affiliate relationships stay separate from recommendations. Commercial links never determine what we recommend.
Corrections are welcomed and documented. We fix errors quickly and note material corrections on the article.

How we research

First-hand experience. We make a first-hand claim only when Lotte or a credited contributor actually observed the place, route or service. Otherwise we identify the source of the recommendation or logistical fact.
Local sources. Portuguese-language news outlets (G1, O Globo, Extra), municipal data, Riotur announcements, and locals we trust. See the Rio news sources we follow for a visitor-friendly shortlist.
Cross-checking. When we publish or update a volatile price, opening hour or transport detail, our standard is to verify it against at least two independent sources and record the check.
Operator verification. Tours and activities we recommend are checked for licensing, guide language, cancellation policy and rating history.

How we keep guides up to date

Rio changes fast — restaurants close, transport routes shift, safety conditions in specific areas evolve. We take that seriously:

Reviewed priority guides show their publication date and last-reviewed date.
Safety-critical guides, prices, fares and event dates are assigned a 90-day review interval.
Restaurant, hotel and tour recommendations are assigned a 180-day review interval.
Top-traffic guides are prioritised using current Search Console data rather than assumed importance.

How we approach safety information

Safety is the topic travellers ask us about most. Our approach is:

Honest, not alarmist. Rio is not the war zone the news sometimes portrays, and it's not a risk-free European capital either. We tell you which specific streets, times and behaviors carry real risk — and which fears are overblown.
Practical, not theoretical. Instead of vague "be careful" advice, we give concrete rules: which posto to sit at, when to switch to Uber, what to carry on the beach.
Local, not tourist-brochure. Our safety guidance is based on how residents of Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo and Santa Teresa actually move through the city.

Affiliate links & how we make money

PlanRio is reader-supported. Some links in our guides — clearly disclosed with a "book this" or partner label — are affiliate links, primarily to GetYourGuide. If you book a tour through them, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

These commissions do not influence what we recommend. Editorial and commercial decisions are separated. We regularly warn readers away from popular but overpriced or unethical tours (for example, exploitative "human safari" style favela jeeps) even when doing so costs us affiliate revenue.

Corrections policy

If we get something wrong — a factual error, an outdated price, a closed venue — we want to know. Email hello@planrio.com with the page URL and the correction. Legitimate corrections are typically applied within a few business days, and material corrections are noted at the bottom of the article.

AI & content generation

We use AI tools to help with research, editing and formatting, but no article is published without substantive human review by the PlanRio editorial team. Recommendations, safety guidance and any factual claim about a specific place, price or route are human-verified.

Questions

More about who we are on the about page, or write to us via the contact page.