Rio de Janeiro Sunset Boat Tour: Swimming in Guanabara Bay
You see Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain lit by the last light of the day from the water.
A 3-hour sunset boat tour on Guanabara Bay departing from Marina da Glória in Rio de Janeiro, with a swimming stop, photo moments at landmarks, and drinks and snacks included. The group stays under 12 passengers, giving everyone space and attention from the crew. The tour times the return crossing to catch the city's skyline and mountains glowing as the sun sets over the water.
Step-by-step itinerary
Sunset boat tour with swimming and sights
- Board boat at Marina da Glória
- Photo stop at Ilha Fiscal palace
- Cruise past Museum of Tomorrow
- Stop for photos at MAC museum
- Swim at Praia de Adão e Eva or Enseada da Urca
- Cruise back at sunset past Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain
- Museum of Tomorrow 15m
- Niterói Contemporary Art Museum 15m
- Urca 25m
What’s included
- 3-hour boat tour departing Marina da Glória.
- swimming stop with pool noodles.
- beer, water, soft drinks and snacks.
- in-person guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
- photo stops at Ilha Fiscal, the Museum of Tomorrow, and the MAC in Niterói.
Times
- Monday to Thursday 14:30
- Friday to Sunday 14:30 15:30
Before you book
Operated by Rio Water Fun
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
You board at Marina da Glória and head out across Guanabara Bay timed so you're on the water when the light starts to shift. The boat passes Ilha Fiscal (the neo-Gothic island palace where Brazil's last imperial ball took place in 1889, just before the monarchy fell), and cruises past the Museum of Tomorrow, one of the world's most striking contemporary buildings sitting right on the waterfront. The group stays small, capped at 11 passengers, so there's room to move and the crew can give full attention to everyone on board.
A photo stop at the MAC in Niterói puts Oscar Niemeyer's iconic flying saucer-shaped museum in front of you against Rio's skyline as the backdrop. Then comes an hour in the water: calm, clear, with pool noodles provided if you want them. Depending on conditions, the swimming stop happens at Enseada da Urca or Praia de Adão e Eva. Beer, water, soft drinks and snacks are all included, so you're not managing hunger or thirst while you're trying to take in the view.
The final stretch is the crossing back across the bay as the sun goes down. Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain light up in the last of the day's glow, visible straight from the boat. The angle and the timing are what make this moment land the way it does. It's the best seat in Rio, and it's on the water.
Is this one for you?The tour moves at a relaxed pace (you're on the boat the whole time, with one hour in the water and the rest spent sitting or standing on deck), so it suits an afternoon or evening when you want to be on the water without exertion. Book this one if you want the sunset view of Rio's landmarks and a swim without arranging transport or a separate swimming spot yourself.
Compare the 6 alternatives
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 10).
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 sunset boat tour in Rio de Janeiro?
The tour runs 3 hours total, timed to put you on Guanabara Bay as the light starts to shift toward sunset and to catch the return crossing when the city's landmarks are lit by the last of the day.
What's included in the boat tour, food and drinks?
Beer, bottled water, soft drinks and snacks are all included. You don't need to bring or buy anything for the crossing.
Where do you swim on this tour?
The swimming stop lasts about an hour in calm, clear water at either Enseada da Urca or Praia de Adão e Eva, depending on conditions that day. Pool noodles are provided.
What landmarks do you see on the boat tour?
You pass Ilha Fiscal, the neo-Gothic island palace where Brazil's last imperial ball took place in 1889; cruise past the Museum of Tomorrow on the Porto Maravilha waterfront; stop for photos at the MAC, Oscar Niemeyer's flying saucer-shaped museum in Niterói; and see Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain lit by sunset on the return crossing.
How many people are on the boat?
The group is capped at 11 passengers, so there's plenty of space on board and the crew can give full attention to everyone.
Rio de Janeiro Sunset Boat Tour: Swimming in Guanabara Bay
3h · EN · ES · PT
from US$ 74 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.