Rio de Janeiro · DRINKING TOURS
Good bar crawls and tastings fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 7 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Join Caipi Tours in Lapa for four cachaça samples, a free caipirinha, the Arcos da Lapa, Selarón Steps, live samba, and a nightclub finish. Guides such as Andressa, Raffa, Marcos, Nayara, and Rafael keep the group together in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
“I’ve tried pub crawls in many other cities, honestly this one was the best one I’ve done!!”
Meet your host in Urca for a three-hour sail around Guanabara Bay. Expect Christ the Redeemer views, a swim stop, caipirinhas, beer, snacks, music, and stories about Rio. Hosts such as Paola, Lohanny, Mariana, and Jhulia are praised for attentive service and friendly English guidance.
“It was well managed and the view of Rio from the sea was great. The staff were friendly and informed and it is a trip I would recommend”
Explore Lapa with multilingual guides such as Marx, Victor, Bernardo, and Julia. Visit Escadaria Selarón, local bars, samba and dance venues, and meet people from around the world. Cachaça shots and club entry are included, but drinks beyond the welcome shots cost extra.
“A must do if its your first time in Rio and trying to know how the nightlife goes.”
Start at 8:30 pm in Lapa, meet guides such as Marx, Victor, Julia, or Bernardo, then visit samba bars, a rooftop stop, and a Latin club. You’ll get cachaça shots and guided entry, but you pay separately for most drinks. Expect walking, dancing, and a group of up to 50 people.
“I was expected to be late. According to the schedule, a tour group moves to the second location after one hour at the first location. So I needed personal communication via WhatsApp in case I miss the guide. But no one contacted me after I booked. I only have experience with tours that contacted me with WhatsApp. I never knew that this kind of tour operators exist. I feel that many of these tour businesses are so spoiled. Maybe there is a sufficient number of tourist that they earn money easily from. Someday they will miss today’s business.”
Cruise Rio from Marina da Glória in a group of up to 11, with English or Spanish guiding, beer, water, soda, and snacks included. Stop at Niterói for photos, swim at Adão e Eva Beach, then pass Urca as the light fades. Paddle boards and pool noodles may be available.
“If you’re looking for a truly magical experience in Rio de Janeiro, a sunset sailing trip is an absolute must! From start to finish, this tour exceeded all expectations and provided one of the most breathtaking moments of our entire trip. As we set sail from Marina da Glória, the views of Rio’s iconic skyline were already stunning. But as the sun began to dip towards the horizon, the scenery transformed into something straight out of a dream. Watching the golden light reflect off Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, and the beautiful coastline was simply unforgettable. The crew was professional, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the city’s history and landmarks.…”
Spend about 10 hours traveling from Rio to Petrópolis with an accredited guide, visiting the Imperial Museum, cathedral, Crystal Palace, and Bohemia Brewery. Rafael has guided this route in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Lunch, transport, museum entry, brewery entry, and three tastings are included.
“This was an impromptu outing which turned out to be quite interesting. Rafael, the guide, was really enthusiastic about doing his job; in Portuguese, English and Spanish, nonetheless. He was able to keep it light yet intellectually challenging for the duration of the whole program; which lasted approximately 8 hours. I went on this tour with my wife and sister. My sister and I are Brazilians and my wife is American. Rafael’s quality of service managed to please us all despite our individual cultural and educational differences. I feel the same can be said of the other participants in the group.”
Set out from Urca at 10:00 am on a shared speedboat for roughly three hours. You’ll cruise toward the Cagarras Islands, stop for swimming, and enjoy cold beer, water, soda, and inflatable floats. Captains such as Ricardo and Antonio have earned praise, but route and commentary can vary.
“Great views of Rio de Janeiro from the water. Swimming was fun out by the islands. Good opportunity to meet and chat with other travelers. Cold beers included on the tour were a nice bonus too.”
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