We caught TAM one way and Gol the other, flights costs about 100€ p.p. all up we then stayed at a place called the Arpoador Inn in Ipanema which is beachfront and a good price ($USD 95 pn). Get the beachside or internal rooms as the road is too noisy. I wouldn't bother staying in Copacabana if you can't or don't want to stay in Ipanema, try Leblon instead.
Tours can be arranged by the hotel. We did an all day trip and saw all the major attractions plus a few that weren't worth seeing, but it was good value and included lunch at a half decent restaurant.
You can walk around during the day without problems, but after 9 pm, stick to the cabs, even for walking from Leblon to Ipanema.
We went to Rio with some friends from Natal who used to live there so they took us to quite a few places that we wouldn't have gone to otherwise. If you want I will try and remember the names of the restaurants and clubs.
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