Rio de Janeiro · RIO PRIVATE TOURS

Private Tours in Rio de Janeiro: The 15 Best Guides & Drivers

58 tours  ·  from $49 a head

A private guide and car turns the statue, Sugarloaf and the Selarón Steps into one unhurried day. These 15 are compared on price per group, hours and what is included at the gate.

Rio de Janeiro: Private Guided City Tour - Beaches first, if that is what you want
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Rio de Janeiro: Private Guided City Tour

1.Private Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 207 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $56Our pick

Choose a 4, 6 or 8-hour private tour with a guide who speaks your language and a vehicle for getting around Rio. You can request beaches, city-center sights, Santa Teresa, Christ the Redeemer or Sugarloaf, then adjust plans as the day unfolds. Entry fees are extra, and busy-season traffic can stretch the schedule.

“Riccardo is an amazing guide. He made sure we had a great time and he showed us Rio de Janeiro through his eyes as he was born and lives there. We saw a lot and enjoyed every moment of it. Thank you so much Riccardo! We had a wonderful day”

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Private Helicopter tour - Rio de janeiro in 30min - Christ the Redeemer is the flight’s defining moment
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Private Helicopter tour – Rio de janeiro in 30min

2.Private Helicopter tour – Rio de janeiro in 30min

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 173 reviews · 30 min · from $281

Fly privately over Rio’s beaches, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer on a 25- to 30-minute route from Jacarepaguá Airport. The helicopter circles the statue once or twice when conditions allow. English and Portuguese guidance is offered, with optional hotel transfers. Bookings require each passenger’s full name, ID or passport number, and weight.

“The flight path was great, coming in from the west outside of Rio and getting the best views of the beaches, islands and Christ the Redeemer. It was a solid 25 minutes of flight time in a very comfortable two-seater with sliding windows. The only warning would be the drive to the helipad (if you're staying at Copa) it was almost a 90 minute drive.”

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Private Transfer GIG International Airport To or From Rio de Janeiro - A direct ride into the city
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Private Transfer GIG International Airport To or From Rio de Janeiro

3.Private Transfer GIG International Airport To or From Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 109 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Book a private, air-conditioned transfer between GIG, your Rio hotel or the cruise terminal for up to four people. At the airport, meet your driver after customs and baggage claim, using a name sign as your guide. Pickup and ride quality can vary, so confirm your meeting point, flight details and luggage before travel. Drivers such as Alex have earned praise, but aren’t guaranteed.

“Very comfortable ride- my driver Alex was very friendly and drove safely. Gave advice on restaurants and tour sites”

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Private Half-Day Must Sees: Your Last Minute Booking in Rio! - A cathedral with a striking interior
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Private Half-Day Must Sees: Your Last Minute Booking in Rio!

4.Private Half-Day Must Sees: Your Last Minute Booking in Rio!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) Top rated

Spend four to five hours exploring Rio in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a licensed local guide and driver. The flexible route can include Christ the Redeemer, Selarón Steps, the cathedral, Taunay Waterfall and the Botanical Garden. Guides such as Isaac, Diogo and Fred have led past tours, but assignments are not guaranteed. Entry fees are extra.

“Our guide, Tatiana was great, she gave us a continuous history of Rio during our tour and made us feel very safe as we traveled through the city. She showed us many Rio highlights during our tour. Love you Tatiana.”

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Private tour - The best of Rio in 1 day - Christ the Redeemer: Rio from above
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Private tour – The best of Rio in 1 day

5.Private tour – The best of Rio in 1 day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.)

Visit Rio’s headline sights in a private vehicle with a guide, including Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Selarón Steps, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Guide Patricia Cannabrava is praised for adapting the day and explaining the city’s history. The tour lasts about 6 to 7 hours; attraction tickets, lunch, and drinks cost extra.

“Patricia picked us up at the Port from our cruise ship and took us on a customised tour for the whole day. We visited the Maracana Stadium, learnt all about Carnival, walked up the Seralon Steps then went to Christ the Redeemer. We had Patricia’s wonderful descriptions of all of the history. After driving along Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, we parked at the Cathedral then walked downtown to the beautiful Library and visited Confeteria Columbus. We were returned to the port in time to get ready for dinner on the ship. Thank you for your wonderful and warm conversation- your English is excellent!”

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Exclusive Private Rio Tour: Guide & Private Car/Driver - Sugarloaf Mountain: another angle on Rio
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Exclusive Private Rio Tour: Guide & Private Car/Driver

6.Exclusive Private Rio Tour: Guide & Private Car/Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 83 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.)

This private six-to-seven-hour Rio tour pairs a guide, air-conditioned taxi and driver for a 7:30 am start and visits Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps, the cathedral, São Bento Monastery, Kobra’s mural and Valongo Wharf. Bruno is the guide named for this experience. Attraction tickets and lunch cost extra.

“Bruno is an exceptional guide. We saw the key sites and then some, very efficiently. Besides being extremely knowledgeable about Rio and its history, he’s a delightful person. He was born in Rio, moved to the US as a child, and returned to Rio to open a tour business a few years ago. He’s a great blend of Brazilian and US culture. So, if you’re looking for a great guide in Rio, try to book with Bruno. A+++++++++++”

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Rio de Janeiro: Private Sunrise Tour at Mirante Dona Marta - An hour above the city
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Rio de Janeiro: Private Sunrise Tour at Mirante Dona Marta

7.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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Private and Customizable Tour in Rio de Janeiro - Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer: the headline sights
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Private and Customizable Tour in Rio de Janeiro

8.Private and Customizable Tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 6 to 9 hours (approx.)

Choose a six- to nine-hour private tour of Rio with a guide, air-conditioned vehicle and pickup at your hotel or a meeting point. Build your day around Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, Selarón Steps, samba landmarks and more, or let your guide suggest the route. Tickets, lunch and parking are extra.

“Our tour guide Vitoria and driver Thiago were amazing. They had many wonderful suggestions of things to do and see. They were very informative. Very funny and engaging. We have a most wonderful day. Highly recommend them.!!”

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Private Program for Accredited Diver in Búzios - Getting into the water from Praia João Fernandes
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Private Program for Accredited Diver in Búzios

9.Private Program for Accredited Diver in Búzios

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

Certified scuba divers enter from João Fernandes Beach for a private, guided outing in a protected natural pool. Expect clear water and the chance to spot turtles, seahorses, rays of coral, fish, crabs, and other marine life. Equipment and a DiveMaster guide are included; photos cost extra. P&P’s team includes instructors such as Pablo, Matias, Nacho, and Sole.

“These guys were amazing! Extremely personal service! My husband and I are very experienced divers and booked this off of Viator. We were just here for a day off the cruise ship but would definitely come back since we own a dive shop in the United States!”

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Private Bilingual Transfer - City of Rio de Janeiro - Comfort, safety, and small touches
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Private Bilingual Transfer – City of Rio de Janeiro

10.Private Bilingual Transfer – City of Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.)

Confortour provides private transfers between Rio’s airports, hotels, ports, and other city destinations. A bilingual driver meets airport arrivals with a name sign and can track your flight if you share its number. Expect an air-conditioned vehicle, direct transport, and, depending on your driver, useful Rio tips along the way.

“We organized a tour and private transfer with this company and had the best experience. Our tour guide, Vitor was very knowledgeable and helpful upon our trip, allowing us to have the best experience possible. Highly recommend booking a transfer or tour with them!!”

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Rio de Janeiro: Private Full-Day Highlights Tour - A short walk through Santa Teresa
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Rio de Janeiro: Private Full-Day Highlights Tour

11.Private Full-Day Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 7 hours

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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The Best of Rio de Janeiro in a Private Guided Tour - From rainforest trails to the city’s beaches
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The Best of Rio de Janeiro in a Private Guided Tour

12.The Best of Rio de Janeiro in a Private Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Build a private Rio day around the places and themes that interest you, from Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf to local food, beaches, and historic downtown. A multilingual guide and driver handle the transport, with hotel pickup and drop-off. Guides have included Victoria, Ederson, and Vicente, though your guide is assigned separately.

“Vincente was an excellent guide, packed loads into our two half days with him. Brilliant at ensuring we got ahead of any queues. Vicente was extremely knowledgeable, was very upbeat with a great sense of humour. Would thoroughly recommend a personal guided tour with Vincente if you want to make the best of a short time in Rio.”

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Private Custom Hidden Gems tour: Your Amazing Second Day in Rio! - São Bento, a reading room, and Rio’s Olympic mural
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Private Custom Hidden Gems tour: Your Amazing Second Day in Rio!

13.Private Custom Hidden Gems tour: Your Amazing Second Day in Rio!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.)

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring Rio by private, air-conditioned car with a driver-guide or a separate guide and driver. Fixed stops include Mirante do Leblon and Parque Lage; you can shape the rest around nature, architecture, art, or history. Guides named by past customers include Beth, Diogo, Tatiana, Wagner, and Igor.

“In general a good additional day, if you have visited places like Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Rio Cathedral. Flexible in places to visit, enabling you to tailor to your own likes.”

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6-hour Classic Rio de Janeiro Private Tour – Optional Airport & Port Pick-ups - Lapa’s arches and the Selarón Steps
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6-hour Classic Rio de Janeiro Private Tour – Optional Airport & Port Pick-ups

14.6-hour Classic Rio de Janeiro Private Tour – Optional Airport & Port Pick-ups

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $198

In about six hours, a private guide and vehicle connect Rio’s headline sights, from Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf to the Selarón Steps, the Cathedral and Maracanã. Choose a start time and pickup at your Rio hotel, airport or port. Guide assignments vary; past guides have included Vitor, Henry and Camila. Entry fees and meals are extra.

“I highly recommend this tour company whose staff was very responsive when I confirmed the tour and had questions about my options. Everyone I spoke with was excellent, kind and helpful. My guide Vitor was fantastic. He showed us the greatest sites I never even knew about and filled us in on the history. Plus he gave us great insight into Rio today. Don’t hesitate to book with this company. I will book with them again if we return. We saw mind-blowing good covered churches and had a ball climbing the Selaron Steps.”

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Big Five Rio Attractions & More Private Tour with Tickets and Lunch Included - Rocinha from above
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Big Five Rio Attractions & More Private Tour with Tickets and Lunch Included

15.Big Five Rio Attractions & More Private Tour with Tickets and Lunch Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $286

Spend about seven hours exploring Rio by private vehicle with a certified local guide. Visit Tijuca Forest, Joatinga Beach, Rocinha, Christ the Redeemer, Santa Teresa and more, with a Brazilian BBQ lunch and listed admission tickets included. Sugarloaf is optional and costs extra. Guides who have led the tour include Tavi, Alex and Alejandro.

“Tavi fue un guía grandioso, puntual, agradable, siempre preocupado por hacer de nuestra estancia en Río de Janeiro única y perfecta. En un día logramos conocer las principales atracciones de Río y logró adaptarla a nuestras necesidades. Uno de los mejores tours que hemos realizado. Totalmente recomendado. No podrán no amar Río de Janeiro.”

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New in Rio Private Tours

★ 5.0Rio Highlights: Christ, Sugarloaf, and More in a Private TourFrom $19636 reviews
★ 4.54-Hour Private Guided Tour in Rio de JaneiroFrom $6030 reviews
★ 4.5Private Transfer Rio de Janeiro and Airports x Angra dos Reis (10 max)36 reviews
★ 5.08 Hour Private Tour by Car in Rio de Janeiro38 reviews
★ 5.0Rio de Janeiro private Full day Custom Tours35 reviews
★ 4.58-Hour Private Guided Tour in Rio de JaneiroFrom $11031 reviews
★ 5.04-hour Sum-up Of Rio de Janeiro “Private Tour” – Optional Airport & Port Pick-upFrom $17336 reviews
★ 5.0Private Jeep Tour with All Prices Included by PARATY TOURS36 reviews
★ 5.0Jipe 4×4 Private 3hr Waterfalls and Waterfall Paraty by Jango Tour27 reviews
★ 5.0Private Sugar Loaf with fast pass ticket and Hotel Pick upFrom $1604 reviews
★ 4.9Skip-The-Line Private Sugarloaf & City Tour10 reviews
★ 4.8Private Tour 5 Hours Customized Tour With a Local GuideFrom $1096 reviews
★ 5.0Private, Custom express, Main Attractions!From $1603 reviews
★ 4.2Private Tijuca Forest & Botanical Garden Guided TourFrom $809 reviews
★ 4.3Skip-The-Line Christ Redeemer Private Tour7 reviews

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Christ the Redeemer ToursSugarloaf Mountain ToursSelarón Steps ToursRio Sunrise ToursRio Helicopter ToursRio City Tours
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Rio, by what you came for

Peaks, trails, the bay or the samba floor.

The peaks

Christ the RedeemerSugarloafHelicopter FlightsSunrise ToursMaracanã

Trails & forest

Guided HikesTijuca ForestWaterfallsPedra do TelégrafoJeep Tours

Sea & sand

Boat TripsSunset SailsBeach DaysSurf LessonsHang Gliding

Nights & neighbourhoods

SambaLapa NightsFavela WalksSanta TeresaFood Walks