Rio de Janeiro Travel Forum

Hi everyone. I am off to Rio for the first time in about a week and a half and would like to know if anyone can recommend tour services to visit the sites: Christ, Sugar Loaf etc..!

I've been there twice and both times I hired a private tour guide as recommended by my Brazilian friends. You thus get a private chauffeur, a translator, and a guide and the freedom to go at your own pace.

You can arrange for him to pick you up at the airport and bring you to your hotel which will avoid a chance of being ripped off and the stress of making it safely to your hotel. Then hire him for the following day and you will have plenty of time to go to the Christ, Sugarloaf, tour downtown and visit the beaches between 9 and 5.
Do not go for the tourist traps such as typical Brazilian dinner and dance at night, or even lunch in touristy place.

The taxi ride from the airport should not cost you more than 80 reals (airpot to hotel in copa cobana or around). If they want more, negotiate or ask someone else.

You should be able to get the full day for 200-250 reals. If you think about it it is a real goo deal because that includes, transportation, information, safety and reliability. Just don't go for the package deal that they will try to push on you. It is invariably a rip-off. Pay your own entrance at the Christ and Sugarloaf (the guide is FREE by law) You'll find plenty of good restaurants on your own at night and you can grab a sandwich anywhere for lunch.

I can't remember the name of the guide I used last time but an internet search will give you plenty of options and hire the one who gives you the best deal. Don't be afraid to negotiate down and quote the prices here (from last June)

Have fun. It is an absolutely wonderful city

On two of my six visits to Rio, I used tour agencies.

One was very good: its drivers showed up promptly and its guides were well-informed and helpful. See: www.rioturismoradical.com.br

The other, Blumar, was terrible. The driver who picked me up at the airport had the wrong hotel as my destination. A driver-guide for the "historical Rio" tour just didn't show up. Nor did the driver meant to take me to the airport. Happily, the US-based agency, BROL, refunded the money I'd paid for the last two of those miscues. But it didn't -- couldn't -- pay for the inconvenience.

A regular yellow taxi form the airport should be no more than R$50. Just go outside and get one (or, insider's tip, go down to where they just dropped someone off--even cheaper if oyu bargain). The pre-paid taxis that they try very hard to sell you as you come out of customs are much more expensive (as mentioned above), but really no better or more reliable.

A majority of the yellow taxis belong to one cooperative or another (look for the sign on the back fender) and are honest, reliable and helpful. (The taxis in front of the hotels may charge more, so just go around the corner.) It may help to write out addresses and some basic phraases to carry with you if you don't speak Portuguese. If you find one driver you particularly like, get his phone number and use him whenever you need.


The major sights of Corcovado and Sugarloaf are easily reached by regular taxi. They are relatively cheap. No need for a guide. When you come down from either/both mountains, there will be plenty of taxis waiting to take you back to your hotel.
To get more history, you might want a guide to walk around the city center with you.
If you want to see Tijuca forest (great vista points, monkeys, and hiking if you want), you need transportation, so a guide, or at least taxi if you don't want to hike, is the way to go.

As far as group tours like Grayline, you will spend most of the time passing by various hotels to pick up and drop up passengers.

If you want a great personal guide, I can highly recommend Rafael Torres Lopes. He has a long history of off-the-beaten-path tips for Rio on this site (under the name rafaelthesecond). He's gotten quite popular and is now booked quite a bit in advance, but will recommend someone great for you if he is busy.

Rafael Torres Lopes
donrafa_brazil@yahoo.CO.uk
(021)(cell) 9469 6562

You can also check:www.amazingtoursagency.com

Hey Iīve been living in Rio for 3 months now and I did all the tourist stuff when I first got here so I can recommend the places I used and offer some tips...Christ is obviously the most famous sight here and itīs best that you do this at the first sight of a sunny day because the weather changes quickly and you donīt want to miss it cuz you decided to lay on the beach instead, you can do that anywhere...The best tour company Iīve used here was Brazil Expedition and they offer a full day tour starting with a short hike to Pedra Bonita where you can see the best view of the beaches in Rio and then you drive through Tijuca National Forest to the top to see Christ. They banned taxis from taking people up there recently, but the train ride to the top takes forever and isnīt very exciting so I recommend doing a tour...After the statue they drive you through the old neighborhood of Santa Tereza and then you go to these secret steps in Lapa where Snoop Dogg shot his video for `Beautiful`. Its a really fun and unique tour and the guides speak perfect english so youīll also learn some history and interesting facts...At the end they can drop you off at Sugarloaf in time for the sunset and its a great way to end the day...They also offer tours to a football game at Maracana stadium, which I also recommend because its a mad house and a lot more complicated to do on your own, among many other cool things in the city for the best prices. Check out their website to see all they have to offer and definitely use them while youīre here! www.brazilexpedition.com Have fun and be safe!!! Tchau!!!