The 14 Best Private Tours in Rio de Janeiro

1.Private Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 207 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $56Our pick

Build your Rio day around beaches, Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Santa Teresa, gardens, or local neighborhoods. A private guide such as Dario, Meilin, or Riccardo travels with you by car, adjusts for weather and traffic, and shares practical local insight.

“Riccardo is an amazing guide. He made sure we had a great time and he showed us Rio de Janeiro through his eyes as he was born and lives there. We saw a lot and enjoyed every moment of it. Thank you so much Riccardo! We had a wonderful day”

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2.Private Helicopter tour – Rio de janeiro in 30min

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 173 reviews · 30 min · from $281

Take a private helicopter flight for two to four people over Rio's coast and landmarks. From Jacarepaguá Airport, you'll pass Barra, Ipanema, Copacabana, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Christ the Redeemer, with one or two turns near the statue. English and Portuguese support is available, and hotel transfers are optional.

“A fantastic, once in a lifetime experience. A great pilot, and guide, in very modern helicopter. We saw all of the amazing sights. We highly recommend this trip.”

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3.Private Transfer GIG International Airport To or From Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 109 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Book a private, air-conditioned transfer between Rio’s GIG Airport, cruise terminal, and hotel for up to four people. Your driver tracks the flight, waits with a name sign, and handles early-morning airport runs. Confirm luggage, language, and pickup details before you go.

“Great communication for the transfers. Alex our driver was on time, friendly and professional. Highly recommended transfer”

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4.Private Half-Day Must Sees: Your Last Minute Booking in Rio!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) Top rated

You get a private vehicle, driver, and local guide for four to five hours in Rio. Shape the route around Christ the Redeemer, Selarón Steps, the Cathedral, Tijuca Forest, the Botanical Garden, or a local lunch. Guides such as Isaac, Diogo, Fred, and Tatiana have led past departures.

“Our experience with Igor as guide was wonderful. From an on time hotel pick up to fascinating local color the tour and guide were totally memorable. We toured Christ the Redeemer, the tile steps and the cathedral and had a wonderful lunch. Igor knew how to navigate all the locales and crowds without a hitch. Would recommend guide and tour to anyone.”

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5.Private tour – The best of Rio in 1 day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.)

Patricia Cannabrava and her team take your private group of up to four through Rio’s major sights in six to seven hours. Expect private transport, guide service, WiFi, flexible pacing, and time at Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps, and the cathedral. Entry fees and food cost extra.

“Pat was amazing. Knew all the places to visit and tailored made the tour for our needs. Truly a wonderful day with her. Highly recommend.”

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6.Exclusive Private Rio Tour: Guide & Private Car/Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 83 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.)

Start at 7:30 am with Bruno and a private driver for a six to seven hour tour of Rio. Visit Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps, historic churches, Kobra’s mural, and Valongo Wharf.

“Bruno is an exceptional guide. We saw the key sites and then some, very efficiently. Besides being extremely knowledgeable about Rio and its history, he’s a delightful person. He was born in Rio, moved to the US as a child, and returned to Rio to open a tour business a few years ago. He’s a great blend of Brazilian and US culture. So, if you’re looking for a great guide in Rio, try to book with Bruno. A+++++++++++”

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7.Private Sunrise Tour at Mirante Dona Marta

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 81 reviews · 2h 30m

Leave your Rio hotel around 5:00 AM with guide Guilherme for a private ride to Mirante Dona Marta, 360 meters above sea level. Spend about an hour watching dawn over Sugarloaf, Christ the Redeemer, Niterói, and the ocean, then return by roughly 7:30 AM.

“Absolutely wonderful morning! We arrived to watch the most beautiful sunrise and our guide was so patient and lovely with us taking some of the best photos I’ve ever had! Thank you so much for such a great experience!”

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8.Private and Customizable Tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 6 to 9 hours (approx.)

Build your Rio day around Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps, samba sites, churches, and city viewpoints. A private guide such as Vitor or Pedro helps set the order, pace, and stops, with hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and a 6 to 9-hour schedule.

“Our tour guide Vitoria and driver Thiago were amazing. They had many wonderful suggestions of things to do and see. They were very informative. Very funny and engaging. We have a most wonderful day. Highly recommend them.!!”

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9.Private Bilingual Transfer – City of Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.)

Book a private, air-conditioned transfer in Rio for up to three people. A bilingual driver meets you at the airport with a name sign, tracks flight changes, and takes you to your hotel, port, or another city destination. Drivers such as Vitor may add useful Rio tips along the way.

“Hotel pick up. Group went to the Redeemer, on the way guide, " Mini Ghia" provided excellent commentary (great English). Group allowed to explore on our own. Returned to hotel. Exactly what we wanted.”

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10.Private Full-Day Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 7 hours

See Rio’s biggest sights in seven private hours with a guide and driver. Ride the Corcovado train to Christ the Redeemer, walk Santa Teresa, visit Selarón Steps and the cathedral, then take the Sugarloaf cable car. Patricia, Thalyta, and Leandro are among the guides who have led this route.

“We were warmly welcomed and picked up, and the exciting tour started right away. Our guide was incredibly friendly, and we were truly amazed by the entire history and everything we got to see. We can definitely recommend this tour and the guide; it was a wonderful experience and worth every cent!”

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11.The Best of Rio de Janeiro in a Private Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Build an eight-hour Rio itinerary with a multilingual guide and private driver. Choose major sights such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf, or focus on beaches, food, museums, history, and local neighborhoods. Guides including Victoria, Ederson, Vicente, and Niels have led custom days in several languages.

“Vincente was an absolute gem! Knowledgeable, personable and a joy to be with. He took us on a journey to some of the lesser traveled locations providing a great view and sense of the city. He augmented the views with historical commentary on Brazil and Rio. Great time!”

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12.Private Custom Hidden Gems tour: Your Amazing Second Day in Rio!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.)

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring Rio with a private driver-guide or separate guide and driver. Build your day around Tijuca Forest, Leblon, Parque Lage, São Bento, the Portuguese Reading Room, Kobra’s mural, and The Maze.

“My experience on this personal tour with my tour guide Tatiana was excellent. She took us to hidden gyms throughout Rio, and she was very informative and knowledgeable about the countries, history that tied in to the entire personal tour. When I do come back, I will definitely be using her as my tour guide again.”

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13.6-hour Classic Rio de Janeiro Private Tour – Optional Airport & Port Pick-ups

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $198

You’ll tour Rio with a licensed private guide such as Vitor, Henry, Camila, or Ulysses, using a private vehicle and flexible pickup from your hotel, airport, or port. The route covers Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Lapa, Centro, Maracanã, and the Olympic Boulevard area.

“Wonderful experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable and was with us throughout the entire tour, and showed us many other landmarks besides Corcovado and mount sugarloaf. I highly recommend this tour”

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14.Half Day Private E-Bike Tour in Rio

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $120

Start with Stefano in Santa Teresa and learn to handle an electric bike before riding through Tijuca Forest, past Dona Marta, Vista Chinesa, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Copacabana, Botafogo, and Flamengo. Expect big views, possible monkeys and toucans, hills, beaches, and a private adult-only ride.

“Great day out. For people who love to ride this ride is for you. It’s fun, challenging and breathtaking. Monkeys included. Stefano the tour leader is wonderful”

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