Rio de Janeiro Trip Overview
If your time in Rio is short, make the most of it with this 2-day tour that checks off the big-ticket items: Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugar Loaf Mountain and lunch at a traditional barbecue house. Begin with personalized pickup from the airport and an overnight stay in a 3-, 4- or 5-star accommodation in the affluent South Zone. When you’re refreshed the next day, an informative guide zips your group around the city in air-conditioned transport for breathtaking views from Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Rio de Janeiro Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
If your time in Rio is short, make the most of it with this 2-day tour that checks off the big-ticket items: Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugar Loaf Mountain and lunch at a traditional barbecue house. Begin with personalized pickup from the airport and an overnight stay in a 3-, 4- or 5-star accommodation in the affluent South Zone. When you’re refreshed the next day, an informative guide zips your group around the city in air-conditioned transport for breathtaking views from Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains.
Itinerary
Day 1: Airport – Hotel transfer
Pass By: RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport, Av. Vinte de Janeiro, s/nº – Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 21941-900, Brazil
Enjoy personalized pickup from Rio de Janeiro International Airport that coincides with your flight arrival time and then relax as your driver takes you to your hotel in the popular and upscale South Zone (Zona Sul) district.
If you arrive during the day, enjoy the area on your own before turning in for the night. Explore the fabulous beaches of Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana, or take a stroll on the path surrounding Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Afterward, sit down at an open-air café along the shore and soak up beautiful views of the lagoon and the white-sand beaches.
Overnight in a South Zone hotel
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at a Selected hotel of 3, 4 or 5 Stars.
Day 2: Rio by Day
Pass By: Copacabana Beach, Av. Atlantica – Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22070-011 Brazil
Copacabana Beach is the most famous beach in the city (maybe even in the country, or in the world) and is about 4 km long. Among the trademarks is its boardwalk with waves drawn in Portuguese stone, designed by famous brazilian landscaper Burle Max.
In Copacabana you will testify why cariocas have such a beautiful tan. While you travel through these neighborhoods, you will hear a few tips on what to do around them and the interesting stories that took place in these streets.
Pass By: Guanabara Palace, Rua Pinheiro Machado s/n, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22231-901 Brazil
You will pass through the historic Laranjeiras neighborhood, which hosts the Guanabara Palace, the ancient home of Princess Isabel who signed the Golden Law to free all slaves. Nowadays, the Palace is the official headquarters of the government of Rio de Janeiro.
Pass By: Sambodromo da Marques de Sapucai, Rua Marques de Sapucai, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22640-100 Brazil
Before reaching downtown you will pass next to the Sambodrome, where the Samba School Parade happens every year.
Stop At: The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, Avenida Republica do Chile 245, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20031-170 Brazil
See from outside and get inside the iconic Metropolitan Cathedral which was built in a pyramidal form with an internal diameter of 96 meters and a height of 80 meters.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Aterro Do Flamengo, Avenida Infante Dom Henrique s/n, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20021-140 Brazil
You will make your way to Urca through Aterro do Flamengo and its parks, designed by Burle Marx and hear all about Brazil’s participation in World War II as well as the founding of the city back in the late 1500s, just before arriving to Sugar Loaf.
Pass By: Urca, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22290-240 Brazil
Pass by the beautiful neighborhood that hosts one of the main sights of Rio de Janeiro, the Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Stop At: Morro da Urca, Praia Vermelha, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22290-270 Brazil
The first cable car takes you to Urca Hill, a vantage point 215 meters high for which already grants beautiful views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, Flamengo and Botafogo beaches, Santos Dummont Airport, the Rio-Niterói Bridge, Urca’s neighborhood and Corcovado Mountain.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Sugarloaf Mountain, Av. Pasteur, 520 – Urca, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22290-255 Brazil
A second cable car takes you up to the top. When you get there, you will understand why Rio is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. At 395 meters you’ll enjoy breathtaking views from Copacabana beach, Niterói and the Santa Cruz fortress. From up there, you will have no trouble understanding why Rio is nicknamed “Wonderful City”.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Carretão Ipanema Classic Grill, R. Visc. de Pirajá, 112 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22410-003, Brazil
After visiting Sugar Loaf Mountain, you will head down to an all-you-can-eat-style barbecue house. Brazilian Churrascarias (Barbecue places) offer a wide variety of sides and alternative options, in case you decide to stick with a vegetarian option, you will still leave delighted.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Pass By: Ipanema Beach, Avenida Vieira Souto – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22420-002 Brazil
Located between Arpoador and Jardim de Alah, it is one of the most famous beaches in the country (Have you ever heard “Girl from Ipanema”?) and one of the busiest in the city. About 2 km long, some areas of the beach have strong waves and currents, and can be used for sports.
Pass By: Leblon Beach, Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Catch up nice views from the Leblon beach, where you can get a great perscpective of the Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Hill)
Pass By: Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Avenida Epitacio Pessoa, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22471-001 Brazil
Pass by the famous Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing sea water to enter by a canal along the edge of a park locally known as Jardim de Alah.
Stop At: Av. Pres. Castelo Branco, Portão 3 – Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20271-130, Brazil
Take a lap around the stadium and have a short stop so you can appreciate the splendor of the two-time World Cup Finals host. There you will be able to imagine the amount of history that took place since its opening in 1950 when Brazil hosted its first World Cup. You will see the stadium from outside only.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Cosme Velho, Cosme Velho, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro
Get to Cosme Velho train Station, where you will catch the train to reach the Corcovado Mountain. Skip the line with pre-reserved, so you won’t waste your time with long lines!
Stop At: Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Estrada da Cascatinha 850 Alto da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20531-590 Brazil
Upon reaching Cosme Velho Station, sitting at the bottom of Corcovado Mountain, we will catch the train with pre-reserved tickets to save time and it will take you up to the top, through the dense Tijuca Rainforest to the 38m tall (125ft) Christ Redeemer Statue. The 20 minute ride up will give you a chance to thoroughly appreciate the Tijuca Forest, which is considered to be the largest urban forest in the whole world. It represents 7% of the whole city`s territory! It’s breath taking and that alone already makes the trip well worth it.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Corcovado – Christ the Redeemer, Estrada Redentor – Alto da Boa Vista Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22241-330 Brazil
Upon arriving at the Statue, you will have two options of reaching the top, by a lift and then an escalator, or the traditional way, by stairs, 222 Steps, but the prize makes it all worthwhile. Once up, the views and the imposing statue will take your mind off the walk up! Looking up you will feel blessed and protected by this beautiful monument of Christ with open arms, now one of the new Seven Wonders of the World! From up there you can see most of the city, all of the south zone and all the way to Niteroi. A unique view that will astound you. You will have about 40 minutes to get to know all the sides and views of Corcovado and take pictures.
Duration: 40 minutes
Pass By: RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport, Av. Vinte de Janeiro, s/nº – Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 21941-900, Brazil
After a fantastic day in Rio, you are taken back to your hotel and then you are off to finish your trip with a transfer to the airport.
Meals included:
• Lunch: Barbecue Lunch with a wide variety of sides and alternative options, including vegetarian.
No accommodation included on this day.
