Rio de Janeiro · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 cruises & boat tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Small-group sunset sail in Rio's Guanabara Bay: caipirinhas, snacks, and views of Sugar Loaf and Christ. 3 hours.
“Best planed tour, very timely managed. Guide was good English speaking & punctual”
Sail Rio’s Guanabara Bay at sunset with a small group, caipirinhas and snacks onboard, and big views of Sugarloaf and Christ. 3 hours.
“We enjoyed the trip on the sailing boat. The weather wasn’t the best but the views were great and the crew including Karina who sent us all the instructions were welcoming.”
Rio sunset sail in Baía de Guanabara with open bar, snacks, and a swim, plus views of Christ and Flamengo.
“Amazing experience!!! Our favorite thing we did in Rio. Mariana and the crew were so kind and knowledgeable. She was patient in taking many photos for us and then later even took some from her own phone camera to send to me. Drinks were great, timing was perfect, and the sunset was beautiful! It was awesome we could swim from the boat. Highly recommend and good value for the price! Thank you!!!”
Sail a schooner from Rio to Ilha Grande, snorkel in calm coves, and enjoy a buffet lunch with hotel pickup on a full day.
“As someone who was born and raised in Rio but lives many years abroad I was delighted with the experience and my boyfriend who is a foreigner who never been to Rio as well. Very friendly staff and beautiful beaches. The first stop Lagoa Azul where you can snorkel with the fishes was the best. Between stops you can buy very tasty drinks in the boat and there was definitely the Brazilian vibe. I would definitely recommend this experience.”
Rio de Janeiro catamaran cruise on Guanabara Bay past Sugarloaf and Oscar Niemeyer. Morning or sunset, with audio guide and photo stops.
“A truly value for money tour that will give you a glimpse into different sites that can not be appreciated otherwise. Helpfull stuff and thoroughly information given about each site we passed by or stopped for fotos.”
3-hour Guanabara Bay sunset sail from Marina da Glória with Sugarloaf views, drinks, snacks, and an optional swim.
“This was so enjoyable- very relaxing, yet fun and lively! The crew were super friendly and attentive. Good and drinks great. Taking time to get off and swim was refreshing!!”
Full-day schooner cruise from Rio to Arraial do Cabo, with swim stops at Ilha do Farol, Gruta Azul, and Praia do Forno.
“Quite a nice day. Long day in the end but worthwhile to see some islands and have a nice swim spot.”
Arraial do Cabo day trip from Rio with air-conditioned pickup and a schooner boat tour. Swim at Ilha do Farol, Praia do Forno.
“Tour was BEYOND terrible: 1. Tour was not in English tho I asked for English. Tour Guide barely acknowledged me and never explained anything. Very rude, unprofessional, bad energy. I had to ask other ppl what this ignorant woman was saying. 2. There is a 4 hour drive from Copacabana that is not mentioned. Then another 2 hours boat ride. 3. No stopping at a beach. You only stop for an hour for ppl to jump in the water. It’s lame and boring. You basically pay and travel 6 hours to in water for an hour. 4. Boat is very loud and cheesy. Boat staff does not speak any English.…”
Sail Guanabara Bay at sunset from Marina da Glória, enjoy skyline views, drinks like caipirinhas, and a weather permitting swim stop.
“We’ve been in Rio for 7 days and this was by far our favourite activity!! The crew were friendly, informative and kept the drinks flowing. The swim spot was stunning, as it was just the sun started to set and away from the major beaches in Rio (so the water was fresher/cleaner) They also provided towels which was a nice surprise. 100% this is a must do! I wish I could do it again”
Boat trip from Rio to Arraial do Cabo with lunch, swimming stops, and optional snorkel rentals in crystal-clear blue water.
“Small buss, uncomfortable seats. The driver was nice and good driver 👍 When we boken the tour it said English speaking guide, but Shell spoke only portugese so we didn't understand a single Word the said. She was talking and gave the other passengers a LOT of information but we get any information at all. On the boat she hade to use Google to translate and give us information for the beach. The trip was nice overall and we can really recommend it, if you understand english. The staff on the boat was nice and funny, and they gave a lot of information, in portugese. 👍”
Sail Rio at sunset on a small boat. Beer, snacks, and a swim break, plus quick stops for iconic views and free museum time.
“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.…”
Take a 90-minute catamaran ride on Guanabara Bay from Marina da Glória, with epic sights like Sugarloaf, Niterói, and Niemeyer’s MAC.
“Me encantó la excursión en barco para ver la bahía de Guanabara. Puedes disfrutar de un paseo muy agradable , destinando no demasiado tiempo y visitando lugares icónicos de Río. ¡¡Imperdible y muy recomendable!!”
Private 3-hour Rio sunset sail from Marina da Glória with a swim stop at Adão e Eva Beach, friendly crew, snack-style bites.
“The trip was fantastico. Caesar, the captain, was wonderful and Clarisse, the first mate was divine. The weather was brilliant, warm and breezy. We sailed across the harbor without having to use the motor. Highly recommended. Five stars is not enough.”
A small-group 3-hour morning sail from Marina da Glória to Niterói, with forts, Sugarloaf and Christ views, plus snacks, drinks, and a short swim.
“The service on the sailing tour was amazing. Very polite and attentive, checked on us often and gave us details of the history in Rio. We booked this at night for the following morning and were fortunate to get the boat to ourselves and for the crew to get us in the morning before our flight that night.”
A full day from Rio to Búzios by schooner, with swimming stops, buffet lunch, and time on das Pedras street for shopping and bistros.
“Ainda não acabou mas foi o horror da minha vida tenho 71 anos, já viajei pelo mundo todo. 10 vezes no Brasil e nunca tive uma guia tão horrível, como mandei mensagem devido a um atraso de 1 hora a senhora RAQUEL péssima guia quando chegou e depois de lhe dizer que não me avisaram do atraso, simplesmente me mandou sair do bus, dizendo que seria uma pena eu continuar (somos 4 pessoas de 72, 71, 72e 74 anos chamou-me por imensas vezes merda de portugueses, vocês são uma merda. Acham isto normal. O mínimo que a agência devia ter feito era mudar-nos a excursão. Tive medo de seguir com…”
Every kind of day this city offers, and the best of each.
