Snorkeling in Arraial do Cabo from Rio de Janeiro

A schooner carries you past four beaches in one morning—each one a stop to swim and snorkel in water so clear you see the bottom.

A full-day boat tour from Rio de Janeiro to Arraial do Cabo includes schooner transport, stops at Praia do Farol, Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, Gruta Azul and Praia do Forno for swimming and snorkeling, a professional guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, roundtrip hotel pickup from Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, and lunch at a local restaurant (included in the full option or available separately). The tour runs 14 hours and operates year-round, with timing and stops adjusted for sea conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Arraial do Cabo boat tour and beach stops

• Drive from Rio de Janeiro to Arraial do Cabo
• Dive at Ilha do Farol
• Stop for photos at Pontal do Atalaia beaches
• Stop for photos at Gruta Azul
• Pass by Fenda de Nossa Senhora for photos
• Pass by Pedra do Gorila for photos
• Stop and swim at Praia do Forno
• Lunch at local buffet restaurant

The Experience

The day starts with a morning pickup from your hotel in Copacabana, Ipanema, Leme or Leblon, then a drive south to Arraial do Cabo on the Costa do Sol. Once the schooner departs, you stop at Ilha do Farol first—a 40-minute window to swim and snorkel in water so clear the sand and rocks below are visible. The guide stays with you on the boat and narrates in English, Spanish or Portuguese as you move between stops, though the boat itself carries no bilingual guide, so translation happens on the ride to and from the marina.

The next three stops are shorter: Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia for photos and a quick swim, Gruta Azul for its rock formations, and finally Praia do Forno, where you get a 20-minute stretch in the water before heading back. Lunch happens at a local buffet restaurant (drinks are extra). The whole outing takes 14 hours door-to-door, which means an early start and a late return, but the route packs four distinct beaches and the open water into a single day without a second vehicle or a separate guide hire.

Snorkel gear is available to rent on the boat if you don't bring your own. Sea conditions can shift the order of stops or swap one beach for another, so the itinerary is flexible—the guide decides based on the day. Infants ride on an adult's lap; the tour suits all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for anyone with cardiovascular concerns. A boarding fee of R$15 in cash per person (ages 6+) is collected at the marina and is separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Roundtrip hotel pickup from Copacabana, Ipanema, Leme or Leblon.
• schooner boat tour with four beach stops (Praia do Farol, Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, Gruta Azul, Praia do Forno).
• professional guide with live commentary in English, Spanish and Portuguese during ground transport.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the drive to and from Arraial do Cabo.
• lunch at a local buffet restaurant (included in the full option, optional in the other).
• snorkel gear rental available on the boat.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by C2Rio Tours & Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you're willing to commit a full day and start early from Rio to reach four separate beaches and open water on a shared schooner with set stops and timing.

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Top questions

What's the water like for snorkeling at Arraial do Cabo?

The waters at all four stops—Praia do Farol, Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, Gruta Azul and Praia do Forno—are clear enough to see the bottom, which is why the region is called the Brazilian Caribbean. Each stop gives you 20 to 40 minutes in the water to swim and snorkel.

Does the tour include lunch, and what if I don't want it?

Lunch at a local buffet restaurant is included in the full option; you can also book the tour without lunch if you prefer. Drinks are not included and are available for purchase on the boat and at the restaurant.

How long is the drive from Rio de Janeiro to Arraial do Cabo?

The full tour is 14 hours door-to-door, which includes the drive south to Arraial do Cabo, the schooner stops, lunch and the return to your hotel. Most of that time is travel and water time, not sitting idle.

What if the weather or sea conditions change the plan?

The guide adjusts the order of stops or substitutes beaches depending on conditions that day, so the itinerary is flexible. You still visit four beaches and get time to swim and snorkel at each one.

Is snorkel gear included, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkel masks and fins are available to rent on the boat if you don't have your own equipment. Rental rates are set on the boat at departure.

Which hotels does the pickup cover?

Roundtrip pickup is included from main hotels in Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema and Leblon. Confirm your hotel's location when you book to ensure it falls within the pickup zone.