Top Southeast Brazil Cultural Tours

Get an in-depth local experience with this walking tour of one of Rio's favelas, Rocinha. Follow your resident guide to get an insider's perspective on daily life and learn about the challenges these communities face.

The bohemian Santa Teresa and the nightlife hub of Lapa are two of Rio de Janeiro’s most atmospheric neighborhoods. With this walking tour, explore some of the city’s most photo-worthy spots, including the Ruins Park, the vibrant Selarón Steps, and Cinelândia. Take in the views as you ride the local tram, stroll through the Passeio Público, and visit the legendary Confeitaria Colombo café.

Get an overview of Rio's most important sights during this comprehensive 8-hour tour. With a local guide, travel through the Tijuca Forest, stopping at Paineiras to board transportation to the top of Corcovado, home of the Christ the Redeemer statue. Take the cable car from Urca up to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, then eat lunch at one of the city's best steakhouses before visits to Maracanã Stadium and the Sambadrome. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included. 

Tour Rio de Janeiro your way, with a private car and driver, during this fully customizable tour. Choose the landmarks and attractions that you want to visit, such as Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado, Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Selarón Steps, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the city's famous beaches. Learn about the food, language, culture and history of the city and its inhabitants from your informative local guide while you explore. Round trip transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned private vehicle is included.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s biggest parties during this tour in Rio de Janeiro. See all the work that goes into this week-long party as you tour the City of Samba, a warehouse where floats and costumes are kept, and the Grande Rio’s Samba Factory, to learn about the history of samba and how to samba while wearing a traditional costume.

As one of the New7Wonders of the World and Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic attraction, the Christ the Redeemer statue attracts lengthy lines. Don’t waste time waiting, save time with this skip-the-line ticket that allows you to board the next available train to Christ the Redeemer, which reigns supreme over the city from Corcovado’s summit. Your return ticket is valid on any train so spend as much time as you like at the top, enjoying panoramic vistas of Rio and capturing photographs beneath the outstretched arms of Christ.   

Summit both Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains in the early morning to beat the crowds on this half-day tour in Rio de Janeiro. After bright and early pickup from your Rio hotel, travel through the Tijuca National Forest to get up close with the Christ the Redeemer statue without throngs of people around. After learning about its history from your local guide, move on to Sugar Loaf Mountain for spectacular views of the sprawling city, slowly waking up in the morning light.

With your ticket at Morro da Urca, you visit and have access to the Praça dos Bondes - which displays the two previous generations of the Sugar Loaf Cable Car and the life-size bronze sculptures of those responsible for the creation and implementation of each one - Augusto Ferreira Ramos and Christopher Leite de Castro and; Cocuruto - a place that tells the story of the Sugar Loaf Cable Car, inaugurated over 100 years ago, with exhibitions of images, projections, machinery and objects that marked the trajectory of the 1st Brazilian cable car and the oldest in operation in the world. At some times of the year, the space hosts temporary exhibitions. The park has preferential access, lift platform, adapted toilets and ramps, making tourism accessible for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.

Head to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain by cable car for sweeping views of Rio de Janeiro. Your skip-the-line ticket gives you priority access to both cable cars, and is valid for any departure time on the day you select.

Get a glimpse into local life in Rio de Janeiro during a favela tour that reveals a different side of the Marvelous City. In an intimate group limited to 12 travelers, you’ll explore two of the largest favelas in Rio, and benefit from the local insight of a guide as you learn more about living conditions in the city.

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.

Visit two of Rio de Janeiro's most famous landmarks, Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado Mountain, during this half-day tour. Ascend to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain for sprawling views of the city below and Corcovado to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue. See the mountains, lakes, beaches, and oceans that surround the bustling city with natural beauty from its highest points. Learn about the culture and history of Rio through informative commentary from your local guide. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included. 

Get an overview of Rio's most important sights during this comprehensive, full-day tour. With a local guide, visit Copacabana Beach, Botafogo Beach and Palácio Guanabara. Travel through the Tijuca Forest, stopping at Paineiras on the way up Corcovado to see the Christ the Redeemer statue. Take the cable car from Urca up to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, then eat lunch at one of the city's best steakhouses before visits to Maracanã Stadium and the Sambadrome. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Walk through Old Rio on this afternoon sightseeing tour with a local guide. During this half-day outing, wind through the narrow lanes and baroque-style buildings while your guide fills you in on the history and legends of the area. Visit sites like the Metropolitan Cathedral, Carioca Square and the Imperial Palace. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Discover the best of Rio de Janeiro on this full-day guided tour with lunch. Take the Corcovado train up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, take a cable car ride up to the Sugarloaf Mountain, see the famed Maracana soccer stadium, capture beautiful photos in front of the colorful Selaron Steps, and much more. This tour is also inclusive of a delicious barbecue buffet lunch at a local steakhouse.

This stroll will give you an excellent overview of the Historic Center of Rio, which combines Baroque churches, colonial buildings and modern buildings as it is also the business center of Rio. The visit is made on foot at your own pace and ends with a lunch on Cinelandia square included in the service.

Whether you've just touched down at Rio Galeão International Airport (GIG) or you're departing, this private transfer service has you covered. Meet your driver at the airport, the cruise terminal, or your accommodation for your swift journey to your chosen destination. Transfers are available to and from Rio de Janeiro's south zone and Barra/Recreio areas.

Take a panoramic city tour through Downtown Rio, a stop at the Metropolitan Cathedral and travel to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain and visit the Christ the Redeemer statue on this full-day comprehensive tour of Rio's most famous landmarks. Reach the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado Mountain by cable car and by cog train through the Tijuca Rainforest, respectively. This full-day tour includes round-trip transportation from most Rio hotels, allows you to see all of Rio's sights in just one day.

Niterói is one of the most beautiful tours that can be done during your visit to Rio de Janeiro. The view of the city park, the visit to the museum and all the history involved in the fortress of Santa Cruz are simply marvelous and enchanting.

And an opportunity to learn to samba with a carnival queen of Rio de Janeiro. Besides having a lot of fun, you will learn to sambar ....

Explore the Carnival Factory, for a peek behind the scenes of Rio's Carnival, on this cultural tour. Learn how the parade's famous floats and costumes are produced. Listen to commentary on the history of samba and carnival, then hit the dressing rooms to try on some costumes and take some photos. Wind up with some cocktails and a samba class for the whole carnival experience.

Combine three of Rio’s top attractions on this flexible-length visit to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue and the Selaron Steps, plus an optional trip to Sugarloaf Mountain. Enjoy the panoramic city views from the platform of Rio’s most iconic statue, then pass through historic Santa Teresa to visit the ceramic-clad Selaron Steps. Finish with an optional cable car ride up Sugarloaf.

Make sure you've got the best views in the house by securing seats in the front box for RIo Carnival, the globally-acclaimed festival that takes place each spring. As well as enjoying the best views of the parade from your front-row seats, you'll benefit from convenient hotel pickup and drop-off—so you won't have to worry about navigating public transport or finding a meeting point.

Ride through Tijuca National Park's rainforest in an open-top Jeep during this half-day trip from Rio. During guided eco-tour, hike through the forest to spot sloths, butterflies, monkeys, and birds. Enjoy panoramic views from Vista Chinesa (Chinese View) and marvel at the fact that this section of the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest) is just 10 minutes outside the city limits. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.