Things to do in Brazil
Sugarloaf Mountain53 optionsMuseums5 optionsMuseums11 optionsMaracanã Stadium Tours23 optionsHelicopter Rio8 optionsCity Tour Petrópolis8 optionsCity Tour Rio de Janeiro12 optionsBoat Tour Rio de Janeiro8 optionsBoat Tour Paraty10 optionsWalking Tour Rio de Janeiro67 optionsJeep Tour Rio12 optionsGuarulhos Airport Taxi11 options
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Rio Carnival Backstage Tour: Grande Rio Samba Factory & Dance ClassYou'll walk through the Grande Rio factory where carnival floats and costumes are built, see the construction process up close, dress in an authentic parade costume, learn samba steps from a professional dancer, and drink a welcome caipirinha. The whole experience happens in one afternoon without you having to arrange entry, timing, or a guide—just show up at Cidade do Samba and the carnival backstage opens.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see how Rio's carnival actually gets made—the floats, the costumes, the competition—without having to navigate the factory on your own or piece together a guide. The bilingual guide and fixed itinerary mean you move through the backstage in the right order and understand what you're looking at.
Rio de Janeiro: Hang Gliding over Christ the Redeemer & Sugar LoafYou fly tandem with a certified instructor from Konrad Heilmann's team, launching from Tijuca Forest and passing over Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, and Rocinha before landing on São Conrado beach. The flight lasts roughly an hour total, equipment is provided, and you can add 360° video capture. Groups are capped at eight, and the experience is weather dependent.Is it for me?This is built for anyone who wants to see Rio from a perspective most visitors never get, without needing prior flying experience or special fitness — the instructors handle the flying, and the tandem setup means you're secure the whole time.
Paraty: Private Waterfalls 4x4 Tour & Cachaça TastingYou’ll ride a 4x4 jeep deep into Paraty’s Atlantic Forest, swim in cool natural pools beneath Pedra Branca and Tobogã waterfalls, sample local cachaça straight from a working distillery, and relax over lunch beside Tarzan Waterfall. Expect laughter with your guide and a few surprises from nature along the way.
Paraíba North Coast: Sunset at Jacaré Beach & Fortaleza TourYou’ll feel history under your fingertips at Fortaleza de Santa Catarina before swimming in warm ocean waters near Cabedelo. As dusk falls on Jacaré Beach, listen to Ravel’s Bolero live from a saxophone drifting over the river—plus time for local crafts and maybe even dancing forró if you’re up for it.
Águas Belas & Rendeiras: Beach Day, Cane Mill & Buggy RideYou’ll feel ocean air on your skin at Águas Belas beach, dip into gentle tide pools, watch local women weave lace at Rendeiras Center, and sip fresh cane juice at Engenho de Cana. With easy transport from Fortaleza and friendly guides along the way, it’s more about soaking up simple pleasures than rushing anywhere fast.
Curitiba: Antonina & Morretes Train Ride with LunchYou travel from Curitiba to the historic port town of Antonina, then to Morretes for a typical regional lunch of barreado overlooking the river, with free time to explore colonial streets and local shops. In the afternoon, you board a tourist-class train that climbs Serra do Mar through Atlantic Forest for four hours, passing tunnels and bridges built in the 1880s, arriving back in Curitiba by evening. The guide and driver speak Portuguese only, and the train may run late or cancel due to technical issues.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want a full day outside Curitiba without arranging transport, meals and train tickets separately, and who are comfortable with a Portuguese-only guide and the possibility that the train may run late or be cancelled for technical reasons.
Rio de Janeiro sunrise tour: Christ the Redeemer before the crowdsYou’ll watch Rio wake up from Dona Marta Lookout at sunrise, stand almost alone beneath Christ the Redeemer before crowds arrive, and wander through colorful chaos at Selarón Steps with a local guide. Hotel pickup, breakfast, and entry fees are included—just bring curiosity (and maybe an extra coffee).
Jericoacoara East Coast: Dunes, Blue Hole & Paradise LagoonYou ride in a 4x4 across Jericoacoara's east coast, stopping at the wind-bent Tree of Sloth, quiet Preá Beach with its clear lagoons, the Blue Hole, and finally Paradise Lagoon where you can swim and hang in hammocks. Transport, all stops and photo positioning on the dunes are included; you bring your own lunch or eat beforehand and plan to return by late afternoon.Is it for me?This tour works well if you want to see Jericoacoara beyond the main beach and lagoon without renting a vehicle or navigating the sand roads yourself — the 4x4 and driver handle the logistics, leaving you free to focus on the stops and the light.
Wine Tasting at Casa Seganfredo, Gramado: Sparkling & RedA guided wine tasting tour at Casa Seganfredo, a family winery in the Gramado mountains, where a sommelier walks you through sparkling and red wine production, the fermentation process, and cellar storage before a seated tasting with three cheeses. The tour runs 1 to 1.5 hours and guides speak English, Portuguese, or French; minimum age is 18.Is it for me?Choose between two tasting options at checkout—Tasting I or Tasting II—depending on which wines and depth of experience you prefer. The fixed 1 to 1.5 hour duration means the tour fits into an afternoon without competing with other plans, and the sommelier's guidance on technique and pairing turns the tasting into something you understand rather than just consume.
Salvador: Pelourinho Walking Tour & Barra Lighthouse StopsYou’ll wander Salvador’s historic streets with a local guide—taking in Barra Lighthouse views, walking through Pelourinho’s wild colors, pausing for photos at Municipal Square, then stepping into São Francisco Church’s golden hush. Expect real stories, small surprises, and moments that linger long after you’ve left those tiled sidewalks behind.
Rio Little Africa Walking Tour: Slave Trade History & Samba HeritageYou walk through Rio's Port district with a guide, moving between the Valongo Wharf (where 900,000 Africans arrived), Pedra do Sal's samba heritage sites, the Mercedes Baptista statue, the Ethnicities mural, and two museums dedicated to African-Brazilian history and archaeology. The tour takes about four hours, includes an air-conditioned vehicle for breaks, and covers the arrival, survival, and cultural legacy that shaped modern Brazil.Is it for me?This tour is for anyone wanting to understand how African history shaped modern Brazil and Rio itself—the guide and the walking pace let you absorb the neighborhood's story rather than rush through it, and the museums anchor what you see in the streets with context and detail.
Manaus: Amazon River Dolphins, Indigenous Village & Meeting of WatersYou’ll glide down the Amazon River from Manaus by speedboat, spot wild dolphins surfacing around you, watch two rivers collide at the Meeting of Waters, and share lunch with an indigenous community deep in the rainforest. Expect laughter with your guide and a few surprises along the way—you’ll carry those small moments home.
Paraty: Mangrove Kayak Tour with Beaches & IslandsYou’ll paddle calm waters around Paraty with a local guide, stopping at sandy beaches for swimming or just catching your breath. Glide through island shallows and slip quietly into mangroves full of wildlife—red crabs everywhere if you’re lucky with the tide. No kayaking experience needed; just bring curiosity and maybe a sense of humor when you get splashed.
Private Walking Tour Rocinha Rio de Janeiro: Local GuidesA private walking tour of Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro's largest favela, led by bilingual guides who grew up in the community. You walk the alleys and rooftops for three hours, starting with pickup from your hotel in Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon, and learn the neighborhood's history and daily life directly from residents.Is it for me?Walk through Rocinha's alleys and rooftops with the people who live there, hearing the neighborhood's real history instead of a script.
Rocinha Favela Walking Tour Rio de Janeiro with Local GuideYou ride a moto-taxi to the top of Rocinha, then walk the streets with a local guide who shows you supermarkets, social projects, and the daily routes residents use. You get views of Rio from the hilltop and hear the actual history of Latin America's largest favela, not the stereotype. Bring cash for the taxi, donations, and souvenirs.Is it for me?This tour works if you want to see Rio's largest favela as a real neighborhood, not a cautionary tale — the local guide and the walking pace are what make that possible, and the moto-taxi ride is what gets you to the vantage point where the city makes sense.
Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer, Selarón Steps & City TourYou’ll ride up Corcovado Hill for close-up moments with Christ the Redeemer, pause at Dona Marta Lookout for sweeping city views, explore Rio’s colorful Selarón Steps, and step inside its unique cathedral—all with a local guide handling tickets and transport. Expect real glimpses of Rio life that stay with you long after.
Rio de Janeiro: Food Tasting Tour with 33 Brazilian DishesYou’ll taste your way through Rio with 33 beloved Brazilian dishes—from crispy street snacks to tropical fruits and homemade sweets—guided by a local who shares family stories along the way. Expect laughter over caipirinhas, new flavors you can’t quite name, and an easy pace that feels more like hanging out than touring. You’ll leave full—in every sense.
São Paulo Highlights: Private City Tour with Pickup & Flexible StopsYou’ll feel São Paulo’s pulse as you stroll Ibirapuera Park’s green spaces, gaze out over the skyline from MAC Museum’s terrace, sample salty snacks at the bustling Municipal Market, and wander through Batman’s Alley surrounded by bold street art. With hotel pickup and a flexible route led by a local guide, you’ll see both icons and small surprises along the way.
Ilha Grande Speedboat: Botinas Islands & Dentista BeachYou get five beaches and two island groups in one afternoon without arranging your own boat or managing the timing between stops. The speedboat picks up from Angra dos Reis with parking included, takes you to Botinas Islands for snorkeling, then Dentista Beach, Praia da Piedade, Praia das Flechas (with optional lunch), and Pitangueira Beach. You're back in five hours, having seen more of Ilha Grande's bay than most day visitors manage in a week.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see multiple beaches and islands in one afternoon without renting a private boat or spending days on the island — the five-hour window and shared transport are what make it possible to cover this much ground and still have time to actually swim.
Cassorova Waterfall Tour in Brotas: Two Falls, Self-Guided TrailsEcoParque Cassorova is a self-guided waterfall park in Brotas where you walk two separate trails to reach Cassorova Waterfall (60 meters high, chosen the eighth most beautiful in Brazil) and Quatis Waterfall (46 meters), with access to natural pools, a suspension bridge over the canyon, lookouts and full facilities. The park is open to all fitness levels and includes free parking; you bring your own pace and arrange your own transport to the entrance.Is it for me?Self-guided trails suit travelers who want to set their own pace and spend as little or as much time as they want at each waterfall — no fixed schedule, no group waiting. If you prefer a guide explaining the forest and the geology, or if you need transport arranged from your hotel, look for a guided tour instead.
