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Rio de Janeiro: Museum of Tomorrow, AquaRio & Olympic Boulevard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.66 (87 reviews) 83% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/24

Duration4h

GroupUp to 19

LanguagesEN · PT +1

PickupAt your hotel

Rio’s revitalized port, marine wonders and bold art in one day

You’ll ride through Rio de Janeiro’s transformed port zone with a local guide, meet sea creatures at AquaRio, snap photos by Kobra’s massive mural, and step inside the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow—all with hotel pickup included. Expect lively street scenes, surprising moments of calm beneath aquarium glass, and maybe even a new way of seeing Rio by day’s end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Get picked up at hotel
Drive to Boulevard Olímpico
Walk through Porto Maravilha
Visit Maua Square
Visit AquaRio aquarium
Stop for photos at Kobra Mural
Visit Museum of Tomorrow

The Experience

“You know, Cariocas never used to come here,” our driver Paulo said as we rolled into Porto Maravilha. He grinned in the rearview mirror, like he still couldn’t quite believe how much the place had changed since the Olympics. I could see why—old warehouses now painted in wild colors, kids chasing pigeons across Mauá Square. There was this faint salty smell from the bay mixed with something sweet—maybe coconut from a nearby vendor. It felt like a city waking up differently.

AquaRio was next. I’m not usually an aquarium person (fish are fish, right?), but walking under that glass tunnel with sharks gliding overhead was… oddly calming? The light shimmered blue on everyone’s faces. Our guide Ana pointed out a seahorse so tiny I almost missed it—she said they’re symbols of luck here. I tried to get a photo but just ended up with blurry fins and my own reflection. There were families everywhere, little kids pressing their noses to the tanks and squealing at every new creature.

After that, we wandered along Olympic Boulevard to the Kobra Mural. It’s huge—like, you have to step back into traffic just to fit it all in your camera frame (don’t do that). Five faces staring out in these wild colors and shapes—I remember Ana telling us each one represents a different continent. Some locals were selling cold drinks nearby and laughing at tourists trying to pronounce “Boulevard Olímpico.” I gave it a shot; Li laughed when I butchered it in Portuguese.

The Museum of Tomorrow looks like something from another planet—white spikes against Rio’s sky. Inside was all mirrors and interactive screens about climate and technology; honestly, some of it went over my head but there was this one room full of swirling lights that made me feel weirdly hopeful about what comes next for us humans. When we stepped outside again, the sun had shifted and everything looked sharper—the water, the mural colors, even people’s voices seemed brighter somehow. Still thinking about that feeling now.

What’s included

Your day includes air-conditioned transport with hotel pickup and drop-off (from main South Zone hotels), entry tickets for both AquaRio and the Museum of Tomorrow if selected at booking time, plus all taxes and fees taken care of so you can just focus on exploring Rio’s revitalized port area with your local guide before heading back home again.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by C2Rio Tours & Travel