15 Full-Day Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Compared

1.Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,673 reviews · 14 hours · from $77Our pick

Leave Rio early for a full day on the Costa Verde: about two and a half hours by road, then a boat trip among Ilha Grande’s lagoons and beaches. Swim, snorkel, and stop for a buffet lunch in Japariz. Guides speak Portuguese, English, and Spanish; Marcelo, Nayt, Thiago, and Fabio have led recent trips.

“Such a fun day out, everyone was was dancing and singing along to music. The tour guide was very inclusive, tried to get everyone up and dance along. The stops were amazing, water wasn’t as clear on our day out but I’ve heard that it can be very clear. Towards the end of it everyone was laughing, dancing, drinking and getting along with other groups”

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2.Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Grand Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 469 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $90

Travel from Rio to Angra dos Reis by bus, then cruise by schooner among Ilha Grande’s beaches and swimming stops, including Lagoa Azul and Japariz. The roughly 14-hour outing costs $90 and includes a bilingual guide, transport, boat ride, and lunch. Expect an early start, extra marina and onboard costs, and a long drive each way.

“Lots of fun, amazing experience, tour guide was adequate, food was ok, good music, overall a good experience”

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3.Pedra do Telégrafo Hike and Beach Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 417 reviews · 4 hours - 390 minutes · from $56

Ride from selected Rio neighborhoods to Pedra Branca State Park, then hike about an hour uphill to Pedra do Telégrafo and its famous viewpoints. Guides such as Dayvison, Erick and Nicolas have helped set a steady pace and take group photos. Afterward, spend time at Grumari or Prainha Beach. Bring water, hiking shoes, swimwear and your own snacks.

“This was great! I’m not a hiker, I wouldn’t consider myself one as I maybe do a basic simple hike like once a year, if that. I was initially worried if I would be able to keep up but Erick made sure we all were good. I actually did well…I think haha. The hike it self is very tiring, very steep incline but that’s it. There’s no climbing or any other physical activity needed. I truly appreciate our guide Erick as from the start, he was very prompt. He arrived exactly on time and kept great communication with me. My friend with me struggled with the hike and Erick kept…”

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4.Tijuca Forest Challenge Hike Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 163 reviews · 9 hours · from $86

Spend a full day hiking Tijuca Forest with a bilingual guide and a group of up to six. The 10.4 km route climbs 848 m to Taquara Hill, then leads past old coffee-farm ruins, a cave and waterfalls. Guides such as Gustavo, Ricardo and Tito are known for sharing Rio’s history along with the forest’s plants and wildlife.

“Great day with Ricardo our tour guide, who had lots of interesting conversation and knowledge. The hike was as expected length wise, and good for those who want a bit longer in the jungle than the other half-day tours. Mostly in-shade so walk is hot but at least not in direct sunlight for the most part. Saw monkeys, raccoons, frogs and lots of nice wildlife.”

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5.Rio de Janeiro Full-Day Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 121 reviews · from $165

This 8.5-hour small-group tour pairs an early visit to Christ the Redeemer with Sugarloaf Mountain, lunch in Ipanema and a broad drive-and-walk tour of downtown Rio. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Guides on past departures have included Carmen, Ana, Vincent, Vicente and Kikko. Tickets and lunch are included; drinks and desserts are extra.

“Although the weather was not the best, our tour guide evade the effort to find the way to enjoy as much as we can.”

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6.Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 118 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $40Best value

Leave Rio at about 7:00 am for a full-day trip to Angra dos Reis, with boat stops at Lagoa Azul, Freguesia de Santana, Cataguas Island, and Praia de Japariz. Lunch is scheduled at Japariz. The listed group limit is 15, but the boat may be shared with a much larger crowd. English-language guiding is not assured.

“Longue activitee mais super,Les deux spot de baignade paradisiaque Le repas est ok et l ambiance sur le bateau top Mapfre beaucoup de monde”

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7.City Tour Full Day in Rio: Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 81 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $126

Spend about nine hours seeing Rio’s headline sights, from Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf to Selarón Steps, the cathedral, Sambadrome and Maracanã. Transport, admission to the two major viewpoints, an accredited guide and a Brazilian buffet lunch are included. The small-group tour is capped at 19 people, though seat comfort and views from the bus can vary.

“Long day but worth it. Our guide had lots of information to share. We were a group of 20. The only downside was that sitting in the very back of the bus we couldn’t really see any of the scenery and had a hard time hearing the guide.”

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8.Private Full-Day Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 7 hours Top rated

Spend seven hours seeing Rio’s major sights with a private guide and air-conditioned car with a dedicated driver. Ride the train through Tijuca National Park to Christ the Redeemer, walk in Santa Teresa, see the Selarón Steps and Cathedral, then take the cable car up Sugarloaf. Guides have included Patricia, Thalyta and Leandro. Attraction tickets cost extra.

“It was a amazing tour. since I had already seen various activities, we were able to do a very customized tour. I've seen spots that certainly don't appear on every postcard. my guide was very helpful and I felt completely comfortable. I can only recommend this tour and guide.”

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9.Full Day Tour of Rio de Janeiro with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $186

Spend about eight hours seeing Rio’s headline sights, from Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain to the Selarón Steps and Lapa arches. A registered guide leads this shared tour in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Admission to the two major viewpoints and lunch are included, but the Maracanã visit is exterior only, and lunch quality can vary.

“Excellent Tour guide, he was very profesional. Spent time to pick up and drop off, guests from different hotels took too much time, around one hour per trip. The restaurant choice for lunch, it was horrible, and cheap. Terrible service and very poor meal quality.”

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10.Búzios Full-Day Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 55 reviews · 13 hours · from $69

Travel by air-conditioned bus or van from selected Rio hotels to Búzios, then board a schooner for coastal views and three swim stops. Lunch is an all-you-can-eat buffet of regional food, and the day includes free time on Rua das Pedras. The boat can carry up to 120 people, plays loud music and does not dock at beaches.

“Ne prenez surtout pas cette activité il mon donner rdv à 6h50 il ne sont jamais venue , j’ai fait 40min de route à 5h30 du matin pour être là à l’heure , il ne sont pas venue est personne ne répond via whatsap ou sur le chat de l’application”

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11.Full Day City Tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $165

Spend about eight hours crossing Rio de Janeiro in a shared, air-conditioned vehicle, with a multilingual guide, hotel pickup, Brazilian lunch, and included access to Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. You’ll also stop at the cathedral, Maracanã, the Sambadrome, Lapa’s Arcos and Selarón Steps. Guide Mar has been noted for clear English and useful photo tips, though guide assignments can vary.

“I got the tour guide "Mar". She was very friendly, active, very good English speaking. She gave us sufficient time at each attraction and recommend best spot for the photo at each place.”

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12.Full-Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 50 reviews · 14 hours · from $77

Travel from Rio to Angra dos Reis for a guided boat tour around Ilha Grande’s clear-water bays and beaches. The 14-hour day includes round-trip transport, a bilingual guide and a regional buffet lunch. Expect several hours on the road, extra costs for the marina fee and drinks, and a route that does not stop at every island.

“Muy buena actividad. Tuvimos un muy buen guia. Estaba preocupado por nosotros todo el tiempo. En el bus que ibamos tuvo un problema pero rapidamente nuestro guia solucionó el problema y la actividad se hizo a tiempo.”

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13.Full Day in Búzios with Catamaran Tour and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 39 reviews · 14 hours · from $76

Travel from Rio’s South Zone to Búzios for a three-hour catamaran trip past beaches and islands, with swimming stops and a DJ on board. A buffet lunch, a stroll along the Bardot Promenade, and free time on Rua das Pedras round out the day. Commentary is offered in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

“Estuvimos esperando dos horas y cancelaron de la nada”

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14.Rio de Janeiro private Full day Custom Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Tour Rio in a private vehicle for about eight hours, with hotel pickup and a guide who can adapt the day to your interests. The route includes Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf and Lapa, with Santa Teresa also suggested as a possible addition. Tickets and lunch cost extra, so ask about arranging them in advance.

“Her name is Aline Scot Plavnik. She was very well spoken and incredibly knowledgeable. It was a private tour for us and we had many highlights already booked. Aline adapted to our needs easily and quickly while telling about things to see that we didn't know we should see, like the stairs and Santa Theresa.”

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15.Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 32 reviews · 10 hours · from $178

Spend a full day seeing Rio’s headline sights with a guide, South Zone hotel pickup, Sugarloaf’s two-stage cable car, and a traditional barbecue lunch. At Corcovado, choose a cog-wheel train route with a Maracanã Stadium lap or a van route with the Selaron Steps. Expect panoramic views, busy attractions, and a long day.

“Interesant tour. Vous allez par différents lieux impossible d'aller par vous même dans un seule journée. l'organisateur vous guide par tout comme si vous êtes son enfants. Toujours en train de voir que vous soyez à l'aise. Il parlait en 3 langues. Malgré que le transport est superbe, le son du système audio très mauvais. Beaucoup de difficulté a comprendre pour la qualité du son. Impartialité au momnet de venir vous chercher et ça cause une angoisse de savoir si l'excursion va avoir lieu ou si vous avez été oublié.”

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