Top Southeast Brazil How to Get Around in 2026

Spend time in Rio’s Vidigal favela and get to know more about the community on this small-group tour. Follow your guide as you navigate the alleyways and secret passages, meeting locals along the way. Get to know what life is like in the favela and how these hillside communities came to be. Well-suited for travelers looking to get off the beaten path and have a more intimate experience.

Discover Rio de Janeiro your own way on this private tour that is exclusively for you and your chosen companions and can be customized to suit your interests. Let your private guide know what interests you and they will create a tailor made itinerary to ensure that you get the best out of the "marvelous city."

While most tourists visit the Christ the Redeemer statue on land, few get to fly above and around it. Book this helicopter tour for unparalleled aerial views of one of the New7Wonders of the World. Meet at the heliport, climb aboard, and soak up the stunning views of Rio de Janeiro from the air—an unforgettable experience.

Paraty is a popular coastal destination between Rio and Sao Paulo in Brazil. For a deeper understanding of this peaceful town, join this brief but diverse walking tour. Visit colonial churches, learn about Portuguese heritage including Portuguese royalty, see how sugar, gold, and coffee booms shaped the town, and taste cachaça, Brazil's national drink.

This small-group adventure combines a scenic hike through lush forests with a challenging rock climb to Sugarloaf Mountain. Learn local history as you ascend to the top for panoramic views of Rio, then take a cable car ride down. All necessary climbing equipment and a professional accredited climbing guide are included, but lunch and other food or drinks are not provided.

Carnaval is undoubtedly one of Latin America’s largest events, but it’s easy to miss the action among the crowds. This backstage experience at the Carnaval Factory gives you access to areas the public aren’t usually allowed in, so you can dress up in costumes, learn dance moves, and meet the professional dancers who participate in the parade for a samba class.

Explore Brazil’s largest favela in the company of a local—and head off the tourist trail to talk to community members, and discover how residents live—on this small-group tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Rocinha Favela. With your local guide, you’ll see areas of the city most tourists miss, will visit a craft fair and street markets, will admire capoeira performances, and will finish with a moto-taxi trip straight Rocinha’s highest viewpoint.

Save yourself the hassle of locating different sites or missing the deeper story behind them on this small-group Jewish heritage tour of Rio de Janeiro. With round-trip transport from select hotels and a flexible, locally guided itinerary, explore key landmarks including Itzhak Rabin Park, the Jewish Museum, the Grand Temple, and historic synagogues across Copacabana and Leblon.

Explore the mountain retreat of Petrópolis on this full-day guided tour. Once a summer holiday destination for the royalty of Brazil, Petrópolis features landmarks like the Crystal Palace, the Imperial Museum and the burial place of Dom Pedro II. Purchase a tour upgrade for a stop at Cervejaria Bohemia, where you'll taste one of Brazil's favorite lagers and learn about the history and science behind this brewery through a tour and interactive exhibits. Round-trip transportation from most Rio hotels is included.

First-time visitors to São Paulo who want a fun overview of the city will enjoy this private half-day tour. The itinerary can be customized to suit your interests, with visits to the Museum of Contemporary Art, the cathedral, the market, and the soccer museum at Pacaembu Stadium. Learn about the city's history and culture while getting your bearings with included hotel pickup.

Sail on Guanabara Bay for half a day, viewing the Rio's picturesque city skyline and Sugarloaf Mountain from the water. On this cruise from Rio, glide through the bay's tranquil waters, passing islands and historic forts. Upgrade your experience to enjoy a local all-you-can-eat barbecue lunch at a restaurant in Rio. Round-trip transportation from most Rio hotels is included.

Christ the Redeemer is a sightseeing must for visitors to Rio de Janeiro, but visiting it can require long waits and heavy crowds. Instead, enjoy a perspective on the wonder of the world that few others get to see—and enjoy a hassle-free experience—on this private or small-group helicopter tour. Choose your preferred departure time, take off, and admire the statue (plus views of other Rio highlights).

Discover the captivating natural beauty amid the urban sprawl of Rio de Janeiro on a bike tour with an expert guide. Visit iconic landmarks like Sugar Loaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach, stopping regularly to listen to informative commentary and capture excellent photographs. Gaze at the resplendent Christ the Redeemer statue on his cliff-top perch; cycle alongside the gorgeous Ipanema Beach; and enjoy the shaded serenity of the area surrounding the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake.

Dive into the heart of Brazilian culture with a night out to Pedra do Sal for an evening of live samba. Explore the vibrant origins of samba, enjoy live performances, and learn dance steps from the pros. Connect with locals and fellow travelers in a lively atmosphere and learn the history and cultural significance of samba from your guide.

A tour full of charms. Rio de Janeiro is an obligatory itinerary for visitors looking for breathtaking landscapes and that typical carioca friendliness. One of the most charming postcards in Brazil, it can be enjoyed in a unique and unforgettable way through a beautiful panoramic flight. *If on the date of the flight Christ is not visible due to the weather, the flight will be carried out over the beaches. Takeoffs require a minimum capacity of 3, 4 or 5 passengers, depending on the type of helicopter in use.

Experience the vibrant culture and coastal charisma of Rio de Janeiro on an exciting 4-hour bike tour of the beguiling Brazilian city. Follow a knowledgeable guide on an explorative route past landmarks like Copacabana Beach, São João Batista and the colored Steps of Selaron. Gaze at the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue on his cliff-top perch and explore Rio’s famous celebrity cemetery. Stop regularly to capture photographs and listen to illuminating commentary from your expert guide.

This walk will allow you to discover the bohemian district of Santa Teresa by accessing it by the famous yellow tram, then wandering at your own pace before reaching Lapa by the famous colorful staircase of Selaron then ending your visit with Cinelandia square.

Go off the beaten path and discover the city of Niterói during this tour from Rio de Janeiro. Get deeper insight into the city's history, culture, and architecture, including the largest number of signed works by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer. Visit the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of contemporary art in Brazil. Stop by some of the city's municipal buildings, such as the Popular Theater of Niterói and the Memory Hall Roberto Silveira. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Leave the crowds on land behind and get a different perspective on Rio de Janeiro on a unique small-group tour that takes you over and under Rio's crystal clear waters. Depart by boat from Barra da Tijuca and head to calm waters ideal for planasurfing—an exhilarating underwater flight experience. With Pedra da Gávea towering overhead and panoramic ocean views, this adventure combines adrenaline and unbeatable scenery in one seamless experience.

See Rio's most important sights, including Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain, during this comprehensive 5-hour guided tour. Visit Sao Conrado beach, a popular landing spot for hang gliders taking off from Pedra Bonita, to watch the gravity-defying adventurers soar high above the beach. Travel through Tijuca National Park's rainforest to the Christ the Redeemer statue, enjoying spectacular views over the city. Descend into the Santa Teresa neighborhood to visit the Escadaria Selaron and have lunch (own expense). Choose to return to your hotel or be dropped off at Sugar Loaf Mountain to view the sunset.

The turquoise waters of Arraial do Cabo have given the area the nickname of the “Brazilian Caribbean” and this boat tour from Buzios takes you to the best spots. Sail along the coast and stop at several points of interest such as the Blue Grotto, Fenda da Nossa Senhora, and a few beaches. During your journey, stop to swim in the crystal-clear waters and enjoy a delicious lunch at Cabo Frio.

A good number of Rio de Janeiro’s population live in the surrounding favelas, or slums, but they can be dangerous to visit on your own. Join a local guide for a private tour of the Vidigal favela to learn about the local culture and see what it’s like through the eyes of someone who lives there. Walk through back alleys, discover vibrant street art, and enjoy a traditional Brazilian lunch.

Spend the day trekking through the lush Tijuca Rainforest on this small-group tour. Discover local wildlife as you make your way up to Taquara Hill which is 330 feet (100 meters) higher than Christ the Redeemer. Take in views of Rio, visit caves and grottoes, and take a dip on the refershing pools of the Baronesa Waterfall. This is a challenging hike for those with good physical fitness.

Combine Rio's most famous tours on a 4-hour tour, packed with breathtaking views. You will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city and also visit Christ the Redeemer, on top of Corcovado, the main postcard of the city, an unmissable tourist attraction, elected one of the seven wonders of the modern world!