Christ the Redeemer & Rio City Tour from Búzios: 12-Hour Day Trip

Twelve hours from Búzios to Rio's landmarks and back, with a guide narrating the city as you move through it.

A full-day tour departing Búzios at 7am that covers Rio de Janeiro's most recognizable sites (Christ the Redeemer, Maracanã Stadium, Sambadrome, Selarón Steps and the city's beaches) with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned minivan, a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and buffet lunch. The 180km journey takes roughly three hours each way. Entrance to Christ the Redeemer is included, though drinks and desserts at lunch are not.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Christ the Redeemer2h · entry included
2. Sambadrome30m
3. Maracanã Stadiumpassing by
4. Rio de Janeiro Cathedral30m
5. Selarón Steps30m

Full-day Rio de Janeiro city tour

• Pickup at Búzios hotels at 7am
• 3-hour drive from Búzios to Rio
• Photo stop at Maracanã Stadium
• Photo stop at Sambadrome outside area
• Minivan ride through Tijuca Forest to Christ the Redeemer
• Visit Christ the Redeemer statue
• Buffet lunch (drinks and desserts not included)
• Visit Selarón Steps in Downtown Rio
• See Rio de Janeiro Cathedral stained glass
• View Rio shores: Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana
• 3-hour return drive to Búzios
• Drop off at Búzios hotels

The experience

The tour starts with pickup at your Búzios hotel at 7am and heads inland toward Rio on a three-hour drive. Your guide provides commentary on the route, and the road itself passes through the contrast the region is known for: urban sprawl giving way to the Atlantic Forest's green. Once in Rio, you stop to photograph the Maracanã Stadium and the Sambadrome (the Carnival venue where samba schools compete each year), before moving on to the main attraction.

Christ the Redeemer sits atop Corcovado mountain, reachable by minivan through the Tijuca Forest. Entry to the statue is included. You climb to the viewing platform where the city spreads below you. After that, the tour takes you to the Selarón Steps in downtown Rio, a staircase covered in bright tiles, then along the coast past the beaches of Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana. Lunch is a buffet stop partway through the day, though you'll need to order drinks and desserts separately.

The return journey to Búzios takes another three hours. The full day runs about twelve hours from pickup to drop-off. The minivan is air-conditioned, and the guide stays with the group throughout. Entrance to the Sambadrome and Sugarloaf Mountain are available as add-ons at checkout if you want to go inside either one.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Búzios at 7am.
• air-conditioned minivan for the full day.
• live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• entrance to Christ the Redeemer.
• buffet lunch (drinks and desserts not included).
• stops at Maracanã Stadium, Sambadrome, Selarón Steps and Rio's coastal beaches.
• return transfer to your hotel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 46

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 28 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rio Carioca Tour Ltda

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Búzios and want to see Rio's main sights without renting a car or arranging separate transport. The early 7am pickup and fixed schedule mean you leave your hotel ready to go, and the minivan handles the full 180km journey in both directions, dropping you back at the end of the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Búzios to Rio on this tour?

The drive from Búzios to Rio takes approximately three hours each way, so you spend about six hours traveling in total. The minivan is air-conditioned and your guide provides information during the ride.

What is the Selarón Steps and why is it on the tour?

The Selarón Steps are a downtown Rio staircase covered in bright, colorful tiles. The tour includes a stop there to photograph this distinctive public art installation.

Is entrance to Christ the Redeemer included, or do I pay extra?

Entrance to Christ the Redeemer is included in the tour price. You ride the minivan up through Tijuca Forest and walk to the viewing platform at the statue.

What's included in the lunch, and what costs extra?

Lunch is a buffet meal included in the tour price. Drinks and desserts are not included and must be ordered and paid for separately.

Can I go inside the Maracanã Stadium and Sambadrome on this tour?

The tour stops at both the Maracanã Stadium and Sambadrome for photographs from outside. Entry to either venue is available as an optional add-on you can select at checkout.