São Paulo Zoo & Botanical Garden tour: 4 hours with boat ride

Boat ride and motorized cart tour through the Zoo, then walk the Botanical Garden's trails

A private tour of São Paulo combining the Zoo of São Paulo and the Botanical Garden, lasting four to five hours with hotel pickup included. Start with a ten-minute boat ride on Lake Acqua Safari, then tour the Zoo by motorized cart to see lions, tropical birds and other animals. Finish with a walk through the Botanical Garden's plant collections and trails.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit São Paulo Zoo and Botanical Garden

• Boat tour at Lake Acqua Safari
• Motorized van tour of the Zoo
• Parade in Funny Dinosaur World
• Walk through Botanical Garden

The experience

The tour begins with a boat ride across Lake Acqua Safari (about ten minutes to set the pace) before moving to a motorized cart that covers the Zoo's full grounds in roughly an hour. The Zoo of São Paulo is the largest in Latin America, and the cart lets you move through the animal areas without walking the whole site on foot. You'll see lions, tropical birds and the range of species the Zoo keeps. A driver accompanies you throughout and handles the logistics so you focus on what's in front of you.

After the Zoo, the tour includes entry to the Dinosaur World parade area, then moves to the Botanical Garden of São Paulo. Here you walk the trails at your own pace through collections of plants and flora. The Garden is quieter than the Zoo, a shift in tempo, and gives you space to take photos, sit on the grounds or simply move through the plant life without a schedule. Both sites have restaurants and dining rooms if you want to eat, though meals aren't part of the package.

Hotel pickup and drop-off in São Paulo are included, as are all entry fees and the motorized cart ride. Your driver speaks Portuguese and stays with you for the full four to five hours, so there's no waiting for guides or figuring out transport between the two sites. The tour is built for all ages, and the combination of boat, cart and walking means you're not doing any single activity for the whole day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in São Paulo.
• private transportation.
• boat tour on Lake Acqua Safari.
• motorized cart tour of the Zoo.
• Zoo entry and Dinosaur World entry.
• Botanical Garden entry.
• Portuguese-speaking driver for the full tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 75 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guidePortuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Transfer Unique Tour

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour to visit both the Zoo and Botanical Garden in one afternoon, with a motorized cart handling the Zoo's expansive grounds so you walk selectively rather than cover the entire area on foot.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What animals will I see at the Zoo of São Paulo?

The Zoo of São Paulo holds lions, tropical birds and a broad range of animal species across its grounds. The motorized cart tour covers the Zoo's full layout, so you see the major animal areas without having to walk the entire site on foot.

How long is the boat ride on Lake Acqua Safari?

The boat ride on Lake Acqua Safari lasts about ten minutes and opens the tour before you move to the motorized cart for the Zoo grounds.

Can I walk around the Zoo, or do I stay in the motorized cart the whole time?

The motorized cart covers the Zoo's main areas in roughly an hour. After the Zoo, you walk through the Botanical Garden's trails at your own pace, so you get both cart and walking time across the full tour.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included, but both the Zoo and the Botanical Garden have restaurants and dining rooms on site where you can eat during the tour.

What is the Dinosaur World parade?

The Dinosaur World parade is an attraction at the Zoo that is included as part of your tour entry. It is a separate experience from the main animal areas and the motorized cart ride.