Enhance your tours with self-guided, immersive audio walks. We offer travellers the opportunity to discover the birthplace of Bossanova walking the famous Ipanema and Copacabana beach as we offer them a sensorial tour prepared by local "Cariocas". Our self-guided audio walks take travellers to the colourful neighbourhood of Santa Teresa. We invite travellers to listen to actors performing directly to their headsets as they discover Rio de Janeiro like never before.
Options
We have four options for you to choose from. Depending on your interests, you can choose one of the available audio-guided walking tours. If you have plenty of time, you can choose a combo tour, which includes all available tours.
* Story of Bossanova tour
* Santa Teresa tour
* Imperial Rio tour
* Combo Tour - All of the above tours are included
You are free to stop and listen wherever you like. Go ahead, spend more time at those places you like! That's one of the best parts about a self-guided audio tour!
Begin your tour in a restored military open-air jeep, with a visit to Selaron Steps and its famous colored tiles of the neighborhood of Lapa, a region with an artistic and vibrant atmosphere. Up next, visit the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa with its beautifully preserved architecture and urban art. Visit the "Parque das Ruinas" (Ruins Park), a public park built around an old mansion and enjoy the view of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro's downtown area and the Sugarloaf. In the "Largo do Guimaraes" you will be able to observe the famous tram of Santa Teresa.
On the way to the Tijuca National Forest, prepare yourself to an amazing sensory experience in one of the largest urban forests in the world. Walk through the forest and feel the beautiful nature and sounds, you might be surprised by some animals, such as monkeys and toucans. Observe the Taunay Waterfall, the charming Mayrink Chapel built in 1855 and make a quick stop at the visitors' center to know more about the forest. Get back to the jeep e pass by the famous Sao Conrado beach to observe the pilots on the hang gliding and paragliding, while returning to the hotel with panoramic views.
Languages
English, Spanish and Portuguese (trilingual guide)
Come visit Christ the Redeemer, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and combine this tour with a unique view of local life in a favela.
This four-hour tour offers two different experiences for those who want to see a traditional tourist attraction, but also want to better understand the socioeconomic aspects of our city. In a minivan, we will cross the Tijuca forest, driving to the top of Cerro Corcovado to reach Cristo Redentor. With open arms to Guanabara Bay, the statue of Christ is a work of art that cannot be compared to anything else. You can sit on the stairs in front of the Christ to take the famous photo with the statue. Don't miss the opportunity to take photos of the city from there too.
We combine this tour with the view of the life of the inhabitants of the favelas. We will walk the alleys, we will see how the locals live to understand more about their daily life. Home to thousands of people, the favela is a place of resistance with a vibrant culture and plenty to see. Be friendly and respectful.
There is no better way to get inside Rio's Samba Culture than this. Although the famous Carnival Parade happens once a year, the ongoing work on the backstage happens every day. You will go to the Cidade do Samba and visit the Academicos da Grande Rio warehouse and contemplate their costumes, allegories and curiosities.
A guide will lead you through a tour where the Carnival Spirit will get inside of you. Learn about the history of Samba and Carnival Parade. And after seeing so many carnival costumes, why not try them? Feel like a local, get your camera and share this moment with your best shots. In the end, make a toast with the traditional Caipirinha to celebrate the Samba Spirit.
This is a different and unique walking tour designed to give you a feel for the legends and stories woven through the narrow streets and old historical buildings of downtown Rio. The walk includes a visit to many interesting points, such as the Sao Bento Monastery, Candelaria (the candle-makers), Praca XV, the Travessa do Mercado"", Imperial Court, the cultural centre located in the beautifully-restored Banco do Brasil, the House France-Brazil, Ouvidor (the listeners) Street and Goncalves Dias Street with the traditional Colombo Bakery. The walk continues on down Uruguaiana Street, Carioca Square up to the Metropolitan Cathedral where passengers will meet the transportation that will take them back to their hotels.
The Gavea Rock (Pedra da Gavea) hiking is one of the most startling and rewarding of all tours. The summit stands at 842m / 2763ft above sea level. The ascent takes around two and a half hours and, once close to the top, you will probably feel the butterflies.
Besides a steep but short hand-climbing (15m / 49ft) and a few walks on the edge of precipices, there is nothing to fear. It's all perfectly safe and doable by anyone. From up there, the view of Tijuca Forest, Pedra Bonita, Rocinha favela (one of the world's biggest ghettos), Sao Conrado beach, Cristo Redentor, Sugar Loaf, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and Barra da Tijuca is simply wonderful.
On January 1st 1502, a Portuguese squad, commanded by Andre Goncalves, discovered the Guanabara Bay and, judging to be a great river, and being January he gave it the name of Rio de Janeiro. It is the largest bay of the world in volume of water; it has several islands, as the Governor's island, Fundao and Snakes Island.
In the west margin we see Rio de Janeiro, and East the municipal district of Niteroi. Neighborhoods of Botafogo, Flamengo, Urca, Sugar Loaf, Fort Sao Joao, Flagstone Island, Santa Cruz Fortress, Rio- Niteroi Bridge and all other surrounding beauty are seen from a different perspective as we as we leave "Marina da Gloria "" by Saveiro (schooner).
Founded in 1808 by King John VI of Portugal, The Botanical Garden shows the diversity of Brazilian and foreign flora. The 140-hectare park lies at the foot of the Corcovado Mountain, far below the right arm of the statue of Christ the Redeemer and contains more than 6,000 different species of tropical and subtropical plants and trees, including 900 varieties of palm trees.
The Garden also houses monuments of historical, artistic and archaeological significance. The Botanical Garden has an important research institute, which develops a wide range of botanical studies in Brazil.
Points of interest/ itinerary:
The area was defined by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve area.
Fountain of the Muses and the avenue of Royal Palms.
Victoria Lillies in the Lago Frei Leandro Pond
Old Gunpowder Factory
Japanese Garden
Many Sculptures and Fountains
Variety of birds and monkeys
Great historical, cultural, scientific and landscaping importance
