Rio de Janeiro Private Tour: Christ, Santa Teresa, Sugarloaf

Experience the best of Rio de Janeiro with an exclusive 7-hour private tour led by a knowledgeable guide. Discover the highlights, history, and beauty of the city with priority access and round-trip transportation included.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Parque Nacional da Tijuca - Board the train for a journey to the top of Corcovado Hill.
  • Corcovado - Christ the Redeemer - Enjoy the Christ the Redeemer statue and the view from 710 meters above sea level.
  • Santa Teresa - Explore the charming neighborhood of Santa Teresa by car.
  • Escadaria Selaron - Visit the Selaron Steps, adorned with 215 colorful tiles.
  • Carioca Aqueduct - Drive through the Arcos da Lapa, the historic aqueduct.
  • Confeitaria Colombo - Traditional bakery since 1894, making its own sweets and savories. Closed on Sundays and will be replaced by a local farmers’ market, (foods and beverages available for purchase).
  • The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian - Visit the architectural marvel that is the Metropolitan Cathedral.
  • Sugarloaf Mountain - Visit Morro da Urca and take a thrilling cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. Enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of Rio and its stunning surroundings from the summit.
What's Included
  • Hotel/Port pickup and drop-off
  • Private executive vehicle with air-conditioning
  • Professional driver
  • Professional Tour Guide
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fees for attractions
  • Food and drinks (available for purchase)
  • Gratuities (optional)
Additional Information

Embark on a 7-hour private tour of Rio de Janeiro with a knowledgeable local guide and luxurious chauffeur service. Begin with a scenic train journey to Christ the Redeemer, offering panoramic views. Explore Santa Teresa and Lapa, marveling at the aqueduct and Selaron Steps. Discover Rio’s history at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Colombo bakery (closed Sundays, replaced by a local market). Conclude with a thrilling cable car ride to Sugarloaf Mountain, enjoying unmatched vistas of Rio. An unforgettable blend of culture, history, and natural beauty awaits.

  • The order of the activities can be changed according to events or closing times
  • Please remember to bring a valid ID, passport, or student card (copies are accepted).
  • The activity provider is not responsible for changes in weather conditions. Please choose the best departure day based on your own research
  • Admission tickets for the attractions are not included in this activity.
  • You will receive instructions for purchasing your tickets in advance in a separate email.
Location
Parque Nacional da Tijuca
Estrada da Cascatinha 850, Alto da Boa Vista
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(10 Ratings)
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Passenger34016529304
May 31, 2024
A great tour - An amazing tour. All tickets were taken care of beforehand. Patricia was a great guide who spoke very good English and great knowledge of her city. She took time to ensure we had a good time and took some fantastic pictures 😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tini2024
May 29, 2024
Best Tour Guide in Rio - If you're contemplating a private tour with Rio Smile Tours, my advice is simple: just do it! Booking Patty as my guide was the best decision I made during my solo trip to Rio de Janeiro. From the moment we started, it was clear Patty wasn't just a guide; she was like an old friend eager to show me the best of her city. Her deep knowledge and genuine enthusiasm made every moment memorable, turning what could have been a typical tour into a personal journey through the heart of Rio. Obrigada, Patty! ❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melaniemh6088le
May 21, 2024
Book with Patricia - she is AMAZING - There is simply no better tour guide in all of Rio than Patty. She is so knowledgeable, organized, fun, professional and packs a LOT into a tour. We love her so much. Our tour had us visiting all the most popular spots, plus a few less visited ones. Patty ALWAYS had an answer to our many questions about the city, culture, food and history. I don't know how one human retains that much knowledge. She custom designed and executed tours specifically for us, even helped with questions when we weren't on tour. XOXO The only thing she needs to improve is her ability to keep me out of the Havaiana shops. :-) I recommend her 1000%. Such a bargain for a well-rounded, fantastic tour guide. Love you, Patricia! Melanie, Liz and Mike - your 1/2 Carioca pals
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mahaau1967ia
Jan 23, 2024
Your tour gal - Patty is the best! I had 7 wonderful hours with her. She took care of me and made me feel like a visiting friend more than a customer. I recommended her to all my friends. She is the first familiar face you want to see when you arrive to Rio once you leave hotel for a tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Guide222905
Nov 28, 2023
Rio tour - All excellent. Information was top rate. Weather was very poor but that didn’t stop us from seeing and doing almost all we wanted. Saw some areas we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. All very flexible and well thought through. Good communication prior to the tour. Couldn’t have asked for more.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W4415hgleol
Jun 6, 2023
Patricia made it happen! - I had the best birthday and tour all because of Patricia! I thought my short visit in Rio would be a normal city tour, yet it turned to be an unforgettable one! She was fun, accommodating and informative as we drove around the town. Her positive spirits kept the sunshine on a rainy day! She never failed to keep up with our requests and made everything up to level best. I wouldn't want it any other way! Dear Patricia, thank you for your happy smiles and warm welcome. You made our once in a lifetime stay memorable for the rest of our lives. You are SUPERB! Continue to put a smile on your client's faces! Thank you and keep it up!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fridasigj
May 9, 2023
Highlight of our stay in Rio! - We had a full day private tour with Patty and it was a wonderful experience from the beginning til the end. She patiently answered all my questions prior to booking , arrived on time to pick us up in our hotel and we felt very comfortable and safe in her private car with the driver. She is very nice, knowledgeable and the tour really gave smile in our faces. This tour is considered the highlight of our stay in Rio.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jtatetravels
Aug 17, 2021
Do Rio like a Local! - My family and I LOVED Patty. My parents used her services once and then re-hired her on a second trip. She was great at managing our large group (15ppl) and really made us feel like locals. We went on several excursions with her: the night life tour, the favela walking tour, and a few other offerings. All were great. Patty’s English is very fluent, so we were able to get lots of interesting details and stories about the history and demographics of Rio. She’s really thoughtful about what might be interesting to your group and is flexible enough to change things around on the fly. I really can’t say enough good things about her. I can’t wait to visit again, so I can see my Brazilian family at Rio Smiles!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shonese
Dec 9, 2019
Private tour Rio de Janero - As a first time visitor to Rio I was excited to see all that the city has to offer without having to be in a large group. My friend and I opted to do a private tour with Patricia as our tour guide. I can without a doubt say that my experience would not have been as great as it was without Patricia, she is friendly, personable and professional and also has some photography background so my photos are great! With her years of experience and insight, she was able to give us good advice e.g. getting a very early start to get to Christ the Redeemer before the cruise ships docked (not one for very large crowds, so I appreciated not being flooded by the masses from the cruise ships). She explained the history of the various sites which added to the experience. Patricia arranged for a driver to take us around the city. As two females, my friend and I felt safe and thoroughly enjoyed our time. As an adventure seeker, I wanted to go hang gliding. Patricia was able to assist in arranging the hang gliding with a pilot who was equally amazing and even waited with me until my uber arrived so he could be sure that I was safe. Thank you Patricia, you really made this an enjoyable and memorable experience, I will definitely reach out when I return for carnival!.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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