Rio de Janeiro: AquaRio & Olympic Boulevard City Tour

Inside South America's Biggest Aquarium, Then Through Rio's Rebuilt Port

You get picked up from your hotel, ride through the Olympic Boulevard and Museum of Tomorrow district, board the light rail to see the port and Kobra Mural, then spend time inside AquaRio exploring 28 marine environments with 8,000 animals. Entry and transport are included. You return to your hotel at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Rio de Janeiro city and AquaRio tour

• Pick up at hotel
• Visit Pio X Square and Candelária Church
• Walk Olympic Boulevard to Museum of Tomorrow
• Board VLT light rail
• Stop at Port of Ships and Kobra Mural
• Enter and explore AquaRio aquarium
• Return to hotel

The experience

"Wait, how many fish are in here?" Your guide smiles: they've heard it before. AquaRio holds around 8,000 animals across 350 different species, spread through 28 separate environments filled with 4.5 million liters of salt water. It's the largest aquarium in South America, and the moment you walk in, the scale of it hits you. The tanks wrap around you, and you're moving through Brazilian marine life (rays, seahorses, jellyfish, sharks) without feeling rushed or crowded.

But the aquarium is only half the day. Before you get there, the tour takes you through Porto Maravilha, the port district that transformed after Rio was chosen for the 2016 Olympics. You start with hotel pickup from Barra da Tijuca, Central or South Zone, then stop at Pio X Square to see Candelária Church, walk the Olympic Boulevard (the actual street, not a photo), and ride the VLT. That's the light rail vehicle that now connects the waterfront. The Kobra Mural is there too, the massive street art piece that's impossible to miss. The Museum of Tomorrow sits right along the boulevard if you want to look at it from outside, and then you board the VLT again to pass the Port of Ships before heading into AquaRio itself.

The whole thing runs as one connected experience: city changes first, then the aquarium. You're not just seeing tanks in isolation. You're understanding what Rio rebuilt and what it chose to put at the center of that rebuild. The air-conditioned vehicle handles the transport between stops, so you're not walking the whole distance in Rio heat. Wheelchair access is built in throughout (the vehicle, the aquarium floors, the VLT platforms), which matters if you're traveling with anyone who needs it, or if you just want to move without strain.

Hotel return happens once you're done at AquaRio, so the day ends where it started. If you're staying in the South Zone or Barra and want to see the port without renting a car or figuring out the VLT schedule yourself, this bundles the logistics into one pickup.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Barra da Tijuca, Central or South Zone, a city tour covering the Olympic Boulevard, Museum of Tomorrow, and Kobra Mural, a ride on the VLT light rail to the Port of Ships, entrance to AquaRio with access to all 28 marine environments, and return transport to your hotel. The vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

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

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Receptivo Aborigen Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Rio's post-Olympic transformation and the aquarium in one outing without arranging separate transport or buying tickets at the gate. The pickup and entry are what make fitting both into a single day possible.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4).

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 24h before the start.

Is AquaRio entry included?

Yes, entrance to the aquarium is included in the tour price.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the stops?

No. Hotel pickup is included, and the tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle to move between the Olympic Boulevard, Museum of Tomorrow, the VLT, and AquaRio.

Is the VLT ride included?

Yes, boarding the light rail vehicle to see the port and Kobra Mural is part of the tour itinerary.

What if I use a wheelchair?

The vehicle, AquaRio, and VLT platforms are all wheelchair accessible, and all surfaces inside the aquarium are accessible.

Which hotels offer pickup?

Pickup is available from Barra da Tijuca, Central Zone, and South Zone hotels. Confirm your specific hotel when booking.