In anticipation of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Google Maps brings 'Explore' feature to Brazil

The Olympic games are a time when the countries of the world should put aside their differences to engage in sport. Whether that actually happens, however, is debatable. While the athletes are surely capable of focusing on the competition, it can be hard for long-standing disagreements to be forgotten -- even temporarily -- by their home countries.

If you plan to visit Brazil for the Olympic games, and to focus on sport and having fun, Google has you covered. In anticipation of the 2016 Rio Olympics, the search giant is bringing the 'Explore' feature to Brazil Maps.

"The Explore experience in Brazil is very much like the experience here in the US and is available on both iPhone and Android. Simply open Google Maps on your mobile phone and tap 'explore food & drinks near you' at the bottom of the screen. Depending on where you are and time of day, a category (breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and drinks) is preselected for you. Google Maps will share lists of food and drink locations around you, ranging from 'best breakfasts' to 'waterside dining'", says Bryan Cheng, Product Manager, Google Maps.

Cheng further says, "once you find a list that fits your needs, just tap on the list to see suggested locations. Then swipe right or left to see more options and tap 'read more' or the arrow at the bottom of the screen to select a venue and get more details. Of course you'll see these on-screen prompts like 'explore food and drinks near you' in the language you’ve set as primary on your mobile phone".

Whether you are visiting the country for the Olympics, or just vacationing, this looks to be a great way to not only "explore", but more importantly, discover. When traveling, it can be hard to find the best places to eat and visit. Google has created a rather impressive way for tourists to experience Brazil, plus other countries like Japan, France and the UK to name a few.

Of course, I would be remiss not to mention the health concern du jour, the Zika Virus, when discussing Brazil. While the impact on humans is still being evaluated, the risk to pregnant women and ultimately, their babies, cannot be denied. If you are pregnant, or actively trying to become so, visiting the country -- for the Olympics or just for holiday -- can be risky. In other words, consulting your doctor before heading to Brazil and using Google Maps 'Explore' would be wise.

Are you heading to Rio for the Olympics? Will you leverage the Google Maps app on either Android or iOS? Tell me in the comments.

Photo credit: Julio Aldana / Shutterstock