Description

Rio Essential Private Tour – Old and Modern Rio – 2-Half-Day Tour without Lunch – Duration 12 Hours – Fast Passes included! 

Rio Essential Private Tour

Rio Essential Private Tour – Old and Modern Rio – Christ Statue & Sugar Loaf Fast-Passes Duration: 12 Hours

Rio Essential Private Tour

Group Sizes / Vehicles  – All Vehicles are New and Air-Conditioned – 30-40% Empty Seats 

1-2 Passengers  / Executive Sedan or SUV 
3-4 Passengers / 7-Passenger Minivan (Mercedes Vito, Kia Grand Carnival or Citroen Jumpy)
5-10 Passengers / 15-Passenger Mercedes Sprinter

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This is a 100% Bespoke Private Tour. Only your Group will participate! The Tour is fully customizable, and we´ll design the best Itinerary to suit your preferences. 

Rio Full-Day Private Tour

 

PICK UP AT YOUR HOTEL / AIRBNB – NOT VALID FOR THE CRUISE SHIPS TERMINAL

For Cruise Passengers, please click here. Cruise Port Operations require more staff, Tour Coordinators at the Port, and all Venues for Advance ticket collection, and unfortunately, the price differs.

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1st Day – Old Rio – Duration 6 Hours – Suggested Start Time – 8am 
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1st Stop – Sugarloaf Mountains – Fast Pass Included – Skip the lines on both ways!  From Praia Vermelha, the visitants take the first tram linked to Urca Hill, and from there, a second tram takes them to the top of Sugar Loaf Hill, 396 meters above sea level. Inaugurated in 1912, the little tram of the Sugarloaf was the first Brazilian cable car and the third in the world, linking the Urca hill to the Sugarloaf mountain. The peak of the two mountains reveals the gorgeous landscapes of the city, including Botafogo Bay, Copacabana Beach, and the entrance of Guanabara Bay. The visit will last approx. 2 hours.

 

2nd Stop – Olympic Boulevard – The tour will continue to the Olympic Boulevard, which used to be an old and decadent Port Area, completely rebuilt for the 2016 Olympics. The Olympic Boulevard is one of the most recent and popular tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro. It is located in Mauá Square, an important historical region of the country, as it houses the ancient landmarks of the arrival and residence of African slaves in Brazil.
The boulevard runs from Jardins do Valongo to Cais da Imperatriz, including the Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR) and the Museu of Tomorrow, designed by the world-famous Spanish Architect Santiago Calatrava. The Boulevard also hosts one of the World´s Largest Murals created by local Brazilian Artist Kobra, with over 3000 meters. The visit lasts approx. 30 minutes. 

 

3rd Stop – Selaron Stairways – Located on an unassuming backstreet of Rio de Janeiro, a few blocks from Cinelandia metro station, tucked away behind bars, restaurants, and homes, lies the unexpected explosion of color and creativity known as the Selaron Stairs (or Escadaria Selaron in Portuguese). This fanciful creation sprung directly from the imagination of Chilean Jorge Selaron as a “tribute to the Brazilian people,” in the words of the artist. The visit will last approx. 20 minutes.

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The tour will continue the 3rd stop at Cinelandia Square – One of the most important squares in the city. It doesn’t have the same fame anymore as it had a hundred years ago when it was called the Broadway of Rio, but historically, it has greatly impacted the city’s development. In the colonial period, the square was simply the area that housed the “Ajuda Convent” built for women in 1750. The most significant buildings in the area that remain in the square today are the Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theater), Biblioteca Nacional (Brazilian National Library), Palacio Pedro Ernesto (City Hall), Tribunal Superior (Higher Court), and the nearby Museu Nacional de Bela Artes (The National Museum of Fine Arts). Most of the buildings’ façades and interiors reflect the French Beaux-Arts architectural style, a design that was considered symbolic of Rio de Janeiro’s modernization. The visit will last approx. 15 minutes.

 

5th Stop – Santa Teresa – This captivating hillside neighborhood overlooks downtown Rio and highlights the city’s many facets in addition to beachside antics. The area is dotted with 19th-century mansions – some crumbling wrecks, others carefully preserved in their former glory – which serves as a reminder of the Santa Teresa economic boom. In the 1800s, it was mostly unreachable, with a few farms and a forest refuge for escaped slaves, but the coffee industry’s golden days brought rich industrialists to the hills, along with their boastful mansions. Nowadays, it’s an artistic retreat, a very bohemian and popular touristic area, with many bars, restaurants, art galleries, craft stores,
The visit will last approx. 1 hour and 10 minutes.

 

.Return to the Hotel 20 minutes before the end of the Tour 

 

Sapphire Princess Rio Tour

2ndt Day – Modern Rio – Duration 6 Hours – Suggested Start Time – 7:40am 

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1st Stop—Christ Statue—The magnificent art deco statue on top of Corcovado Hill, 709 meters above sea level, in the Tijuca National Park, overlooks most of Rio de Janeiro, granting the city’s most beautiful views. In 2007, it was informally selected as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Pre-scheduled train Tickets go up the Hill. Skip the line going up! The visit will last approximately 2 hours.

 

After a panoramic Ride through Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, the Tour will have its 2nd stop at Barra da Tijuca Beach. While tourists tend to stick to the south zone of Rio de Janeiro (Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon), Barra da Tijuca (often shortened to Barra) is a neighborhood in the west zone of Rio that stands out for its incredible assortment of leisure options, stunning beaches, and contemporary style. Barra da Tijuca is one of Brazil’s most developed neighboring cities with one of the highest Human Development Indexes (HDI). Unlike the South Zone and Rio’s Downtown, Barra da Tijuca, built only 40 years ago, follows the Modernist standards, with large boulevards creating the major transit axis. The area’s master plan was designed by Lúcio Costa, known for his work on Brasília along with Oscar Niemeyer, and creates a region filled with many gardens, shopping malls, apartment buildings, and large mansions. Optional stop at the Pepê Kiosk for refreshments. The visit will last approx. 20 minutes.

 

3rd Stop – São Conrado (Pepino Beach) – This beautiful and serene beach is located in the affluent neighborhood of São Conrado in the southern zone of Rio. The area is known for its diverse social classes—it’s home to many Brazilian Celebrities, luxury buildings and expensive mansions, and Rocinha, the largest favela in Latin America. São Conrado is also famous for its beach, a popular landing spot for hang gliders and paragliders. Additionally, it boasts natural attractions such as Pedra da Gávea and Pedra Bonita Mountains. The visit will last approximately 25 minutes.

 

4th Stop— Dois Irmãos Natural Park — The Dois Irmãos Natural Municipal Park in Leblon is a treasured urban oasis. Officially named Parque Natural Municipal Penhasco Dois Irmãos, it was established in 1992 and spans nearly 40 hectares. Four viewpoints offer stunning panoramic views of Leblon, Ipanema, and Arpoador beaches, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Jardim Botânico neighborhood, and Christ the Redeemer. The visit will last approximately 1 hour.

If you are staying in Copacabana Beach, panoramic Ride through Ipanema Beach on the return to the Hotel.

Return to your Hotel/AirBnb approx. 20 minutes before the end of the Tour. 

 

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Rio Essential Private Tour

Included in the Rio Essential Two Half-Day Private Tour 

• Round Trip Private Transportation (Portuguese Speaking Chauffeur) 

• Certified & Dedicated Local English Speaking Tour Guide

• All Sugar Loaf Cable Cars (Fast-Pass) and Pre-Scheduled Christ Statue Train entrance tickets – US$85 value per person included

• This Private Service can be changed according to the Group´s preferences. Please feel free to make any adjustments. 

Not Included 

• Gratuities

Cancellation Policy 

Carnival Season from the 24th of February until the 10th of March, 2025 – Fully Refundable if canceled 15 Days in Advance; otherwise, a 30% ADM Fee will be charged to cover non-refundable deposits made to Service Providers (vehicles and guides) during the biggest Brazilian Holiday. 

All Year except for Carnival – Fully Refundable if canceled 72 Hours in Advance

Travel Insurance is Highly Recommended 

Rio Full-Day Private Tour 

Bespoke Tours with Certified & Dedicated Local English Speaking Guides.

 

100% Taylor-made to fit your preferences. 

 

 

Rio Full-Day Private Tour

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Rio Full-Day Private Tour

Rio Essential Two Half-Day Private Tour Request Form