13 Morning Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Compared

1.Sunrise and Sunrise Walk Two Brothers with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 193 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $64Our pick

Meet your local guide at Praça do Vidigal, ride a community motor taxi or van to the trailhead, then hike 1.5 km through Atlantic Forest to the 533-meter summit. Lanterns, local transport, photos and videos are included. Guides such as Rodrigo and Milena have led past outings, but your guide may vary.

“The experience was absolutely incredible! The views from the top of Morro Dois Irmãos at sunrise are truly breathtaking, totally worth the early wake-up. Everything was perfectly organized, and our guide Rodrigo was the best! Super friendly, knowledgeable, and made us feel safe the whole way. One of the highlights of my trip to Rio. Highly recommended!”

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2.Sunrise at Observatory & Christ the Redeemer

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 144 reviews · 6 hours · from $143

Start before dawn in a small-group, air-conditioned vehicle with a trilingual guide. Watch sunrise from Mirante Dona Marta, have a light Brazilian breakfast, visit Christ the Redeemer by shuttle car, then explore Santa Teresa and Selarón Steps. Guides such as Marco and Yasmin have led these outings, but the assigned guide can vary.

“Marco is the best tour guide on the PLANET! No one does it like him. Everything was timed perfectly. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about the whole experience. I would recommend him time and time again. We love you Marco!!!”

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3.Sunrise Lookout and Christ the Redeemer Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 121 reviews · 3 hours · from $98

Start before dawn with hotel pickup, then watch Rio brighten from Dona Marta Lookout before heading to Christ the Redeemer. The three-hour shared tour includes entry, a breakfast kit, and a multilingual guide. Guides such as Ederson are praised for explaining the sites and helping you find photo spots ahead of the crowds.

“Fantastic tour, great guide with just the right amount of knowledge. Breakfast was quoted as being at a cafe but it was actually on the go so this description should be corrected but minor detail”

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4.Dois Irmãos Peak Sunrise, Day or Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 94 reviews · 3h 30m · from $54Best value

Meet your guide at Vidigal’s blue steps, ride a moto-taxi to the trailhead, then hike about 1.5 km uphill to Dois Irmãos Peak. Choose a 3:20 AM sunrise start or a 10:00 AM or 3:30 PM daytime tour. Guides speak Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French; names include Milena, Thaina, and Nat.

“Our sunrise hike was unforgettable, thanks to our incredible guide, Milena. She was warm, knowledgeable, and went out of her way to make sure everyone felt comfortable and had a great time. Milena answered all our questions with enthusiasm, shared fascinating insights about Rio, and found the perfect spot to watch the sunrise. Her passion and attention to detail made this one of the highlights of our trip. If you’re considering the sunrise hike, definitely ask for Milena.”

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5.Private Sunrise Tour at Mirante Dona Marta

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 81 reviews · 2h 30m

Leave your South Zone or downtown hotel around 5:00 AM for a private drive to Mirante Dona Marta, 360 meters above the sea. You get about an hour for sunrise views of Rio, Niterói, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Christ the Redeemer. A guide such as Guilherme can share local context and help with photos. The 150-minute trip usually returns around 7:30 AM.

“Very impressed by this tour. Our guide was very nice, arrived even faster than was expected and he patiently waited for us. Very good price compared to the competitors. The view is a total worth of money and effort to wake up at 4am :)”

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6.Sunrise at Morro 2 Irmãos – Vidigal – Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Meet in Vidigal at 4 a.m. and ride a motorcycle taxi up the favela before hiking for about an hour to Morro Dois Irmãos. Local guides such as Christian, also called Chris or Christyan, and Junior lead the climb and share stories about Vidigal and Rio. After sunrise, walk back down through the community.

“The experience was amazing, Chris is a great tour guide. The hike it self wasn’t difficult at all, just be sure to check the weather while planning”

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7.Christ Redeemer by Train & City Highlights Morning Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 74 reviews · 5 hours · from $92

Take a five-hour guided tour from Rio’s South Zone, riding the Corcovado Train through tropical forest to Christ the Redeemer before visiting city landmarks by air-conditioned bus. You’ll see the Sambódromo and Maracanã from outside, enter the Metropolitan Cathedral, and stop at the Selarón Steps. Guides speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian.

“de tour was erg leuk!! we hebben heel veel gezien van de stad.”

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8.Morning Sailing Tour in Rio

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 59 reviews · 3 hours · from $58

Set sail from Marina da Glória for a three-hour cruise past Guanabara Bay’s forts, Boa Viagem Island, and the Niterói Museum of Contemporary Art. You’ll see Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer from the water, with drinks and snacks included. The crew may include hosts such as Clarisse or Karina and captains Apolo or João Carlos. Swimming is possible, but wind and sailing time can vary.

“It was more expensive than other tours but definitely worth. We could jump into the ocean and swim. And unlimited access to different type of cocktails. We highly recommend”

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9.Tour to Mirante Dona Marta at sunrise with guide and photos!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $114

Leave your southern-zone hotel around 3:30 a.m. for dawn at Mirante Dona Marta, where a guide and photographer takes portraits on your phone and sends the photos to the group. Thales has been praised for his eye behind the camera. Expect a shared group of up to 10, about 30 steps, and no breakfast.

“T and T were great guides! Fun, safe and very knowledgeable! Thales has a very good eye for taking the right photos! Really enjoyed being with both of them!”

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10.Stand-Up Paddle – Copacabana Beach Sunrise

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 39 reviews · 1h 30m · from $70

Meet near the Fairmont Hotel at Posto 6 for a 90-minute sunrise paddle toward Copacabana Fort. An instructor explains basic technique, then you paddle out to watch first light from the water. Boards, paddles, life jackets, lockers, and photos and videos are included. Instruction is offered in six languages, though clear communication is worth confirming.

“Fue una gran experiencia, lo único que pienso de puede mejorar es la puntualidad para comenzar la actividad ya que el amanecer estaba por salir y aún seguíamos en tierra.”

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11.Corcovado Express: Morning Tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $77

Head up Corcovado early in an air-conditioned minivan, then transfer to the National Park Authority’s vehicles for the final climb to Christ the Redeemer. The roughly three-hour tour includes a guide, hotel pickup from selected Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana hotels, and time at the summit. Guides on past departures have included Sabina and Carmen.

“Great to get to the top before the crowds with a friendly knowledgeable guide who went out of their way to make our trip memorable and easy”

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12.Sunrise at Morro Dois Irmãos + Vidigal Favela Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 35 reviews · 4 hours · from $65

Start at a designated meeting point for a guided, moderately challenging hike up Morro Dois Irmãos and watch Rio wake from above. Then walk down through Vidigal with a guide who shares stories of local life. Beatriz has led outings with coffee, hot chocolate, snacks, and a helpful hand on slippery sections.

“It was very good. Beatriz our guide was excellent and informative, very helpful and great to talk to. Arguably you would be better off with walking boots simply because of the grip but it’s possible to do with trainers like everyone else does. I would highly recommend nonetheless”

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13.Copacabana Sunrise Stand Up Paddleboard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 6 reviews · 1h 30m · from $58

Meet your instructor at the red turtle tent on Avenida Atlântica, then walk one minute to Copacabana Beach for a sunrise stand-up paddleboard session. Your board, safety gear, instruction, and photos and videos are included. The instructor speaks English and Spanish. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, water, and warm layers for a chilly morning.

“Vue magnifique. Mais on a pas le droit de s'arrêter 2 secondes pour prendre une photo. Les moniteurs ne font que crier qu'il faut avancer. Plus stressant qu'autre chose. 1 seconde à l'arrêt et on se fait crier dessus. Pas relaxant pour admirer la vue”

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