About Activity
Join us, in a small group tour, for a day full of fun, visiting the most well-known landmarks in the city, and culture, visiting downtown Rio and it’s fascinating buildings.
Following our pickup at the Cruise Terminal, board an air-conditioned minivan and head straight to the Statue of Christ the Redeemer. Travel through Tijuca National Park, and spend ample time admiring views beside one of the New7Wonders of the World.
Then, take a cable car to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain for more spectacular vistas of Rio. Following a break for lunch at a restaurant in Ipanema, continue to Maracanã Stadium and the Sambadrome to admire the exterior of each.
Tick off the Lapa Neighborhood, the Selarón Staircase (Escadaria Selarón), and Rio de Janeiro Cathedral on a panoramic tour, and see the extravagant interior of São Bento Monastery on a guided tour.
Plus, take in the beaches of Flamengo and Botafogo before your tour concludes at the Cruise Terminal drop-off.
Includes
- Lunch / Barbecue in a traditional Brazilian Steakhouse
- Cruise Terminal pick-up and drop-off
- Christ the Redeemer ticket
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Sugar Loaf ticket
Excludes
- Gratuities
- Drinks and dessert
Departure Point
- - Meet our tour guide at the exit gate of the Cruise Terminal
- Please contact us to inform your ship name and schedule.
- The tour might need some variations in order to guarantee the drop-off time to the ship.
- Roundtrip transportation available from Cruise Terminal Pier Mauá only. For pickup at regular Hotels please check our regular tour "The Best of Rio in a Full Day Tour - Corcovado, Sugar Loaf, Selaron and more" or if you are interest in a shorter version check our half day tour "The Best Half Day in Rio with Christ Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Hill"
- Attention: During Carnival Period, because of the extreme high season, this tour will not operate. See our other tours for that period.
Stop At: Parque Nacional Da Tijuca The Tijuca Forest (Portuguese: Floresta da Tijuca) is a tropical rainforest in the city of Rio de Janeiro covering an area of roughly 32 km² (12.4 mi²). The tour will reach Tijuca Forest with a stop at Paineiras to board the official vehicles of the National Park Authority to be able to reach the top of the Corcovado Hill where The Christ The Redeemer Statue is located.
Stop At: Santuario Cristo Redentor Admission Ticket:
Tickets are included From the top of Corcovado Hill you will be able to admire The Christ of the Redeemer statue, which has 38m in height and was made of reinforced concrete clad in a mosaic of thousands of triangular soapstone tiles, and also will have a chance to see some of the most beautiful views of the city.
Stop At: Mirante Dona Marta Only in case of poor visibility on the summit of the Corcovado, we will make an alternative stop at Mirante Dona Marta which offers one of the most incredible views of the city, guaranteeing the title of one of the most visited tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro. From there, you can see the Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Cristo Redentor, the Maracanã, the Guanabara Bay and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.
Stop At: Boticario Square The Largo do Boticário (Apothecary's Square) is a square in the Cosme Velho neighbourhood of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The area is characterised by large, neo-colonial houses and Atlantic Forest vegetation.
Stop At: Morro Da Urca Admission Ticket:
Tickets are included This hill, 220 meters high, has at its peak the first stop of the cable car towards the Sugar Loaf.
From the top of Morro da Urca you have spectacular views of various points of the city, such as the beaches of Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema, Flamengo, Leblon, Pedra da Gávea, Tijuca Massif, Corcovado with a statue of Cristo Redentor, Guanabara Bay, Enseada Botafogo, Downtown, Santos Dumont Airport, Governador Island, Niterói, Rio-Niterói Bridge and, in the background, the Serra do Mar and the Dedo de Deus peak.
Stop At: Sugarloaf Mountain Admission Ticket:
Tickets are included We will travel to the top in two steps by cable car. The first will take you to Urca Hill, at the height of 220 meters above sea level where you already will have great views from Baia de Guanabara. From there, after enjoying the views for a bit, will take the second cable car all the way to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, 396 meters above sea level. From up there, you will have a chance to see the most breathtaking views of Rio de Janeiro and will definitely understand why everyone says that Rio is “The wonderful city”
Stop At: Maracana Admission Ticket:
Tickets are not included After lunch, the tour starts with a visit to the Maracanã Stadium (outside only) where we will have a quick stop outside for pictures at the Bellini’s statue, a famous captain who led Brazil’s soccer team to win the World Soccer Cup in 1958.
Stop At: Sambodromo Da Marques De Sapucai After seeing Maracanã Stadium we will head to the Sambadrome, which is the stadium for the city's main Carnival parade. We will then stop to take some photos and to try on the famous Samba School costumes used during Carnival.
Stop At: The Metropolitan Cathedral Of Saint Sebastian As we continue through the city, we will see the Lapa Arches, Lavradio street and Avenida Chile. There we will visit the cone-shaped Metropolitan Cathedral, a major landmark in this Brazilian city and a masterpiece of modern art. With architecture inspired by the Mayan pyramids of Mexico, the conical shape is believed to give proximity to God. Four stained glass windows run from floor to ceiling forming a cross at the top. You will notice that acoustics are great in there!
Stop At: Arcos Da Lapa The Carioca Aqueduct is located in the centre of the city, in the Lapa neighbourhood, and is frequently called Arcos da Lapa (Lapa Arches) by Brazilian people. Since the end of the 19th century the aqueduct serves as a bridge for a popular tram that connects the city centre with the Santa Teresa neighbourhood uphill, the Santa Teresa Tramway.
Stop At: Escadaria Selaron Next we will visit the Escadaria Selarón (Selaron stairs), a colorful tiled stairway, work of a self-taught Chilean artist Jorge Selarón. Having traveled the world, Selarón moved to Rio in 1983, in a tiny house just in front of the desolate stairway connecting the areas of Lapa and Santa Teresa. 215 steps that he entirely covered with tiles collected in urban areas of Rio or donated by visitors from all around the world. Since 1990, Selarón has laid over 2000 tiles, mainly red-colored: unique pieces representing a “tribute to the Brazilian people”.
Stop At: Mosteiro De Sao Bento Following we will then visit the São Bento Monastery. A place of monastic simplicity that is one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in Brazil where there is a surprising contrast between the austere, purposefully simple appearance of the exterior and the richness of the interior highlighting gilded Baroque engravings with plants motifs. See for yourself the exuberant Rococo style in the engraving on the high altar, followed by a view of the dome and the Chapel of the Santíssimo Sacramento.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Suitable for all physical fitness levels This tour will operate under any weather Pick-up and Drop-off only from the Cruise Terminal - please contact us to inform your ship’s name and estimated time of arrival at the Sea Port. Our tour guide will be waiting for all passengers at the gate and the tour will depart approximately 1 hour after the disembarkation. We can anticipate the beginning of the tour if all participants arrive at the meeting point earlier than expected. This tour may need to be adapted accordingly to the Ship arrival and departure IMPORTANT: During Carnaval week this tour will not operate due to traffic issues during these days. Please, see our optional tour for that specific days: "The Best Half Day in Rio: Corcovado and Sugar Loaf" Approximately from August 2026 until May 2027, the Corcovado venue (the Christ the Redeemer statue) will be under renovation. The tour may take longer and accessibility may be affected. Operated by Carioca Tropical Tour Operator For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
The magic of Monica.rhyllaw
This tour was amazing from start to finish. The cruise terminal pick up and drop off made it possible to see everything during our shore time. Monica was an amazing guide. With great local knowledge and conversing in Spanish and English no one was left out. She managed short wait times for gondolas which was magic. When being over 60 is a benefit! She took group photos that meant we all have memories of us with our travelling companions with well placed back grounds. Finishing with a delicious BBQ was an extra bonus. Would certainly recommend you have Monica as your guide. Paulo was a very safe driver who managed to the route well and in a timely manner. Thanks to all involved.
The very best for the money. What value. Top experienced guide knowing when to view with less crowd. Viewed all the sites w pier pu. Excellent comminications.
Peter is a very skilled tour guide and it became clear at every destination that everyone knew him and treated our group with preference. He provided insights and kept the tour moving although it was a very long day. The lunch at a Brazilian steakhouse was great. Would highly recommend.
Best Guided Tour in RioArlene_M
Day well spent visiting the best spots in Rio with lunch at a Brazilian steakhouse in Ipanema. We were a small group of 11 only and had a pleasant experience hitting all the top Rio sights in a day. Our tour guide, Peter, was very organized, knowledgeable and personable. Our driver, Wendell, did a good job getting us to the many stops efficiently and safely. Highly recommend this full-day tour!
Great tour of all the top attractions in Rio. It was a long day, but worth it. Our tour guide, Lucy, was the best and our driver did a wonderful job in all the traffic!
We had a lovely time...lori_k
We had a lovely time seeing all the sites with our small group and guide! Good pace and very informative
You won't be disappointedmeryl_n
Well all I can say is fabulous. Sabrina was great, so helpful and knowledgeable. She got us through ridiculous crowds avoiding the queues to have a brilliant day. We had an awesome time great views from christ the redeemer And Sugarloaf, serlerno steps cathedral etc great Brazilian lunch in ipimana. Just great all round
A Packed Excursion in RiosPeter_K
We enjoyed a packed experience in Rios with Peter (Pedro) of Carioca Tours. We were picked up from Pier Maua at 8:30 am and returned at 6:00 pm. Peter did an excellent job in planning the logistics by taking us to Christ the Redeemer in our first stop to avoid the long queues. Next we visited the Sugarloaf Mountain and Peter helped us took many beautiful pictures. We then have a barbecue lunch in the Ipanema neighborhood. The rest of the afternoon we had a ride through Copacabana Beach, the Ipanema neighborhood,, the Cathedral, San Bento Monastery, and the Seleran steps. Peter was pleasant and professional throughout the excursion. His time management skills was excellent. We enjoy his positive attitude and enthusiasm, and would recommend this tour to anyone who would enjoy it while organize overview tour of Rio de Janeiro.
Fabulous tour of RioLynn_L
Monica met us at the exact agreed time gave excellent information and history of everywhere we visited
We skipped in front of the big cruise groups at every site and Monica went ahead and got tickets. The lunch was also delicious Brazilian Barbecue. Such a great day
10 out of 10
Great tour from start to finish524ANON
This tour was excellent great pick up on time driver Andy and guide Peter who was really friendly and passionate about Rio as a city and very knowledgeable and good fun. We saw the sights had plenty of time and the meal at end was excellent. Andy and Peter gave us a really great day thank you and Andy also took lots of photos for us thank you
Comprehensive Private Tour of RioZ8461UEdavidk
We enjoyed a private tour with a guide and driver over one and half days making full use of limited time.
We covered all we would expect in a comprehensive tour that took in all the well known sites and places, those that some larger groups may miss as well as those which fitted our own interest related to our Jewish background. Our guide Monica, was very helpful, very friendly and very knowledgeable about the city and all the many sites and areas that we visited. It was pleasure to be guided by her. We visited during Carnival which made the days more fun and well as more challenging for the guide and she handled it very well. Clearly she enjoys her job. We look back on this tour as a highlight of a two week trip to South America
Sabina, our guide, was exceptionalumkc0701
The whole day was absolutely excellent. Our guide Sabina was amazing and went above and beyond to ensure we all had a fabulous day. She was exceptionally knowledgable about Rio and the places we went to and also very pleasant and so very conscientious. The format of the day was amended so we could make the most of day given the wet/misty weather.
Through thick and thinDavid_D
Your crew was great. They had to wait around for hours while ship cleared port authority. They still managed to get most of tour in with a great attitude. Absolutely great service.
Unfortunately we were not allowed to leave the cruise ship last Sunday. We are already back in Germany in the meantime. Therefore we did not enjoy the trip 🦠🦠
Fabulous overview of RioSusan_L
Feb 19, 2020, 10:07:26 AM This was a fabulous tour! Kiki was a wonderful guide, sharing as much information with us he had time for, keeping the group together, making sure we all knew the plan and what time to meet up. We managed to see all the high points of the city in the limited time we had. When he saw the weather was clearing, Kiki changed the order of sights so that we were greeted with a full view of Christ the Redeemer as well as a beautiful panorama of Rio. Could not have been a better tour.
Full Day in Rio from the Sea PortShirleyA1353
Jan 14, 2020, 11:37:35 AM The tour started out badly. The van was a bit old, the microphone didn't work and the step into the van was so high several people needed to be helped in, as there was no step. Our tour guide saved the day by talking with her office to find us a new bus and a step, so by the time we left Christ the Redeemer, things were much better. Our guide shared lots of information and history, but often it was at the expense of pointing out things we were passing. We didn't have enough time to visit the cathedral that was on the list because of the bus exchange fiasco, which was disappointing. Overall, we saw a lot in the one day and had sufficient time at the sights we did see. I would recommend this tour because it was a good price compared to the competition.
Excellent overview of Rio with all of the attractions necessary to check off the bucket list. Guide was local, professional with lots of humor. He kept us all together and on the move with nothing left out. We even visited both beaches. Lunch was the traditional and endless amount of delicious food. It was a long and wonderful day
In one day, this covered the very best of Rio with a terrific guide. The views from the heights were magnificent. The lunch was superb. We couldn't ask for a better day or better tour.
Great tour, well worth the money.DARYL_B
Dec 16, 2019, 12:38:29 PM Only 8 people in our group. Our guide was wonderful. We saw everything that the tour outlined and them some.
Excellent and fun tour with a great tour guide. The pick-up at the sea port worked perfectly. Well worth the money! I went with a friend, in a small group tour, and we had a great time meeting nice people in the same tour.
Monica is an extraordinary guideGeraldineR624
Absolutely exceptional day in Rio thanks to Monica.
Everything was perfectly organized, rhythmic with accuracy and no waste of time. In one day, we were able to discover all the essentials in ideal conditions.
His explanations were clear, rich and exciting, especially during the visit of Christ the Redeemer, the Sugar Bread, the Selarón Staircase, the Maracanã Stadium and the Cathedral. She took care to translate everything into French throughout the excursion, which allowed us to be totally immersed.
Special mention also for lunch, very well chosen.
Monica is an adorable, professional and attentive guide. She made this day memorable.
We highly recommend it!
Sunny and splendid tourist daymicaelarQ6419EZ
A sunny day, knowing every step above all Excellent attention and organization , very nice experience for the first time
Beautiful all-round cover, very good food 😃stephanwO3742TW
The pickup worked smoothly. We've seen a lot. Implementation was also great. We were at times at the sights where we didn't have to wait or didn't wait long. The guide told us a lot about the country and people and was flexible about us. A special highlight was the Brazilian BBQ. The buffet was huge, the meat delicious and the drinks good us cheap. The tour is a clear recommendation.
The driver did his job well, too. We felt safe and secure.
La beauté de RioJeanMarie_Q
Visite privée avec guide et chauffeur au top.
Excellent programme qui nous a fait découvrir la ville de Rio et ses sites principaux dans des conditions exceptionnelles avec une guide qui s’exprimait dans un très bon français.
Schöner, leider trüber Tag in RioEddi1978
Schöner Ausflug in Rio. Sergio und sein Fahrer war ein super Guide. Leider hat es an dem Tag bis Mittag geregnet.. Kann ich nur empfehlen!
Super Guide, Super Tour338camilles
For two we enjoyed a wonderful day in Rio with our guide Vincent! Sugarloaf and Christo were of course the highlights.
