Great way to see the most popular sites... - <p>Great way to see the most popular sites in this beautiful city!</p>

Loved it! Tour guide Vincent very... - <p>Loved it! Tour guide Vincent very knowledgeable! Love Rio!</p>

The one day city tour was worth the... - <p>The one day city tour was worth the price. I wanted to see the main attractions, the Statue of Christ and the Sugar Loaf and they are included. Beside these highlights the lunch was a highlight. I didn't expect to get such a delicious lunch - all you can eat- included for that price. I recommend that tour to everyone who has a short stay in Rio and wishes to see the main attractions.</p>

travelling rio by yourself - Pantanal - Rodrigo and santa clara lodge - insights and operative notes 1. We arrived in Brazil in August and after the Amazon-experince I went to the Pantanal with my two kids. After wandering around the internet and looking for a contact person who would organize the stay there, I contacted Rodrigo (silva?) whose number was mentioned by several travelers on several websites on the net. 2. In her first contact with him, the price he demanded for three nights and four days was 3100 r per person. I had an idea about costs from the vacation in the Amazon . The price seemed expensive and I found out that only five years ago another traveler paid Rodrigo less than a third (1100 riyals (!!)) for the exact same thing. Following this, I contacted Rodrigo from another phone number stating what I saw and the new price was set at 1950 Real (in a shared room) per person. Later i I saw that another tourist published a post according to which he paid only 1350 Rials several months before. 3. I agreed with Rodrigo that I would pay in dollars according to the official exchange rate. When time to pay arrived and I paid in dollars - his representative refused to return the excess and Rodrigo explained that he should get it for the conversion even though it was agreed otherwise, clearly. 4. After being picked up from the place where we slept - the trip from Campo Grande was on a good road and lasted between 10:00-14:30 approximately in a public transportation with a food-toilet break. Rodrigo collected the full price before the trip, through the person who sent to pick us up. 5. We were driven to the Santa Clara Lodge and Rodrigo promised that when we arrive in the afternoon we would get Lunch and go out for activity. In practice, when we arrived, it turned out that no meal was served because lunch is only served until 1:00 PM and we arrived a few hours later. After an hour of waiting for the lunch we were supposed to receive - we lost patience and they made us a sandwich with meat even though we said in advance that we were vegetarians. When we refused to eat it - we got instead a sandwich with lettuce and tomato only... the one who "took care" of it was the local guide named Tony - a lazy man who lost his patience without hiding his impatience, when we explained him what Rodrigo promised about food and activity. When I asked about the activity we were supposed to do that day (after all, it was the first day of activity out of four) I was told that there was going to be no activity. When I approached Rodrigo about it - he ignored it. Then it became clear how the method works: Rodrigo directs those who contact him and "hire his services" to this place, which it is highly doubtful if he has ever visited, and from that second he evaporates: the guide is not on Rodrigo's behalf at all, but the permanent guide of the place, who also lives nearby .The place, alone, is the one that decides what will happen and when with the traveler, without anything to do with Rodrigo. 6. Unfortunately, beyond the fact that the guide was lazy and impatient (but also nice, intermittently) - his English was broken. It was very difficult to understand the guide's words in English and even when we did - some of the 'explanations' indicated a complete lack of knowledge. 7. The food at Santa Clara was the only bright spot. Both cooks did a good job. 9. In the evening the guide said that the next day we will fish piranhas between 07:30-10:30 and the next activity will only be around 15:30. I explained him that according to.my fishing experience in amazonas it would last no more than 45-60 minutes so I asked him to organize another activity, but he ignored. In the morning we walked 15 minutes to the river bank, he handed out fishing rods and cut sausages as bait and went to sit in the shade. Some managed to fish and some didn't and after about 45 minutes the experience was over and we went back to the lodge to do nothing until the afternoon. A complete waste of time. 10. In the afternoon we went on a "jungle walk". The guide simply led us through the fields to see many cows grazing there and walked along a path next to a fence not going into the woods. the guide, as usual, chose the easy way. When I asked why we walk along the fence and not in the vegetation, he said that it is forbidden to cross the fence. When I told him that we came for a walk in the jungle and watching cows doesn't look like that, he changed his mind, we crossed the fence and entered several clumps of vegetation and a muddy area and the feeling was that this was the first time he had done this...we didn't see too much but at least we walked among local vegetation.. . In the evening I sent a message to Rodrigo about the huge gap between what was promised and what was received. He didn't respond, obviously because he had no control over it. 11. The next day was our last full day. In the morning we went on a "safari trip". Together with other travelers we boarded a safari truck and were driven on the main road that connects the farms to a point where we were asked to get off. From there the guide led a walk to nowhere. In the first minute we saw monkeys and from there until the end of the walk we walked in an environment of plants, without seeing any animal and without getting close to the water that was near us where the animals live. At a certain point, when daughter asked the guide what about animals, he replied that he did not promise to see them (which is true) and that because of a fire that happened several years ago - there are not really any animals in the area... but there was no sign of a fire around us and everything was green...after an hour of lazy walking we were driven back. 12. In the afternoon we went on the only tour that was worth anything - it is a boat ride (finally) on the very nearby river. On the cruise, we saw monkeys in the treetops, capybaras and alligators and many birds. We returned in the dark while lighting crocodiles in the water. 13. The next day we went "horse riding" which was supposed to last two and a half hours. In practice, the lazy guide led us on the dirt path where we arrived two days before by car and in the field next to it and an hour later we returned. A complete waste of time. 14. Because we had a flight back from Campo Grande in the afternoon we needed a private return transportation. In the clarification I made in advance with Rodrigo it was agreed that it would cost 225 r per person one way. When I arrived at the lodge I asked the local guide several times to ask Rodrigo to arrange it but he, of course, did not. When I contacted Rodrigo directly he mentioned that it I have to pay for it and I confirmed it. At this point he said it would cost us 1400 r. I reminded him that in the email he wrote me something else. There was an exchange of WhatsApp messages in which I also sent him a photo of the email he sent me with the amount he indicated. He continued to argue. I finally called him. This time he claimed that the 1400 is a special price because the return trip should cost 2400 r per person and that's what he wrote to me in that email!! I showed him, clearly, that 2400 riyals was the price he demanded for the entire vacation including private round trip transportation!! In the end he 'gave up' and demanded that the three of us pay 700 r. We paid directly to the driver who drove us and were happy to end the bad experience in the Pantanal. 15. In practice, there are quite a few farms along the river. I guess some organize similar things. I am attaching photos with details of some of them and of the nearby Santa Catarina Hotel which is accessible online and probably organizes a similar activity. 15. In conclusion, the organization of the trip by Rodrigo reflected a complete disdain for the travelers and a complete exploitation of them from a position of power, since the travelers have nothing to do once they arrive in the area. Anyone who wants to enjoy a visit to the Pantanal should avoid contacting Rodrigo, and look for someone else who will organize it for him.

This is a long day however a great... - <p>This is a long day however a great way to get a handle on where things are in Rio and have a proper look around the place. The lunch was at a traditional steakhouse buffet and plenty of food is available. Unfortunately we had little visibility on our viewing at the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf but it was still a good day and an enjoyable round robin of Rio. Thanks guys.</p>

We have fun seen all the Rio famous... - <p>We have fun seen all the Rio famous landmark in one day plus a great Brazilian BBQ lunch. It was a great experience. Highly recommended this tour.</p>

Cristo and SugarLoaf are worth the... - <p>Cristo and SugarLoaf are worth the visit. Went during the Olympics, so lines were very long. Half the day was spent waiting. Bring comfortable shoes, water and a jacket for sugarloaf even in the summer gets very cold on top. Guide did not provide too much history and was generally concerned about the schedule. Nice though. Pick up was a mess. I had to go to a location 45 minutes away by subway and the pick up was late. Hotel also would not allow any of us 2 others me to wait inside because we were not guest at the hotel. I have never seen that in my life...very disgusted. The meal was an average churrascaria, I have had much better in other parts of Brazil and even in North America. Service was very good as was the salad bar. Mean caparinhas, but drinks are not included in your meal. Going with a guide means getting early access, so I am happy that I did the tour. I also had a great group very international, only 1 Brazilian from another state, so it was nice to meet fellow tourists.</p>

I enjoyed the tour with Viator. It... - <p>I enjoyed the tour with Viator. It was a pity that the weather did not cooperate, but that is the luck of the draw. Very imformative<br/> Will make use of your services again</p>

Was average the advertisement said... - <p>Was average the advertisement said it was a 9hr tour we were done in 5 then had a 2 hr lunch. I see the Ad has changed now the Olympics are over so it was clearly making use of the extra tourist in town definitely would advise anyone else to do this tour for the value for money. on a positive note saw some great sites and the tour guide was awesome.</p>

Well guided tour and lovely lunch... - <p>Well guided tour and lovely lunch but pick up was a shambles. Arrived Rio very late and very tired night before. No message to confirm time at our hotel, Windsor Atlantica, or on my phone. Tried to call 9.00 pm but nobody there could speak English so got concierge to phone and confirm pick up time for 8.30am. Bus picks up 2 others from our hotel but I get e mail saying Hotel Miramar which is at other end of beach about 1km away. Persuade guide to take us from Atlantica. Guide was good and jumped huge queues at Sugarloaf. Sort out pick up arrangements and would then recommend. Confusion common with bookings re first names and surnames and which comes first in the country you are in. Viator you should be well aware of this so SORT IT OUT so drivers and guides have correct names.</p>