Brazil · EVENING EXPERIENCES
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 evening tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Sail Guanabara Bay from Marina da Glória aboard Chama, a small-group boat capped at 12 people. Expect fortresses, Niterói’s Oscar Niemeyer museum, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, drinks, snacks, and a sunset stop. Guides including Clarisse and Karina help create a relaxed, friendly outing, with private bookings available.
“Best planed tour, very timely managed. Guide was good English speaking & punctual”
Spend three hours sailing from Urca across Guanabara Bay with an English- or Portuguese-speaking host, open drinks, fruit, snacks, music, and a possible swim stop. Hosts such as Paola, Lohanny, Mariana, and Jhulia are known for friendly service and local stories. Bring a towel and jacket for the cooler ride home.
“The sunset sailboat tour was so much fun and a highlight of my trip to Rio! The crew were amazing very friendly, helpful, and informative and made the experience a great time!”
Meet at Jurema Bar for a four-hour walk through Lapa with multilingual guides such as Marx, Victor, and Bernardo. You’ll visit Escadaria Selarón, local bars, samba and dance venues, and clubs with entry included. Cachaça shots are included, while extra drinks cost more.
“it was very fun! the best way to meet new friends especially if u are travelling alone like me! highly recommend it, and our two quides were awesome!!!”
Spend three hours aboard a blue-water cruising sailboat from Marina da Glória. Your English or Portuguese-speaking crew guides you past Sugarloaf Mountain and around Guanabara Bay, serving beer, caipirinhas, soft drinks, water, and finger food. Weather permitting, you can swim before returning at sunset, with towels and pool noodles sometimes provided.
“Excellent sailing in a super-relaxed atmosphere, with a fabulous and very attentive all-female crew! It was a truly fantastic experience that included snacks, drinks and a swim (towels provided). Highly recommended!!!”
Start at 8:30 pm in Lapa and spend about four hours moving between samba bars, a rooftop stop, Escadaria Selarón, and a Latin club. Guides such as Marx, Wil, Julia, Victor, and Bernardo are praised for keeping the group friendly and safe. Bring ID and budget for drinks beyond the included cachaça.
“A fun way to be out and about in Rio at night. The crawl allows you to experience which of Rios clubs in Lapa that you would like to revisit.”
Join a small group of up to 11 people at Marina da Glória for a three-hour Rio boat tour with an English or Spanish guide, beer, water, soda, and snacks. You’ll pass the Museum of Tomorrow and Niterói, swim near Adão e Eva Beach, and finish with views around Urca as the sun fades.
“Even though the weather wasn’t the best, the trip was still amazing. Our tour guide spoke English and was very friendly. I would definitely recommend.”
Meet Helena, Gustavo, Yan, Lena, or another English-speaking local guide near Angu do Gomes, then walk into Pedra do Sal for live samba, history, drinks, and local company. This is a street party rather than a staged show. Expect crowds, dancing, one welcome drink, and about 150 minutes of guided nightlife.
“Really it was wonderful night , we knew the history of the pedra do sol and the great people that living there . Also we got fun with Samba Night .”
Start with a beginner-friendly one-hour samba class led by guides such as Marco or Bruno, then travel with your instructor to a live samba night. Monday heads to Pedra do Sal in Ipanema, while Wednesday to Saturday visits a club near Copacabana. Your ticket, transfer, fast-track entry, and three hours of guidance are included.
“I just had to share this incredible experience we stumbled upon recently! So, my wife and I were on the hunt for something fun to do, and we came across this Samba class that promised not only dance lessons but also a taste of that electric nightclub atmosphere. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Our instructor, Elio (I hope I got the spelling right!), was an absolute gem. Not only was he exceptional at teaching us the dance moves with infectious enthusiasm, but he also went above and beyond to ensure we had a blast. What really touched me was how he looked out for our safety as…”
Meet your guide at Vidigal’s blue steps and ride a moto-taxi to the trailhead before a moderate, one-hour climb through forest to Dois Irmãos Peak. Choose a 3:20 AM sunrise, 10:00 AM daytime, or 3:30 PM sunset start. Guides such as Milena, Nat, Nathalia, and Thaina add local context and help with photos.
“I recently had the pleasure of going on an unforgettable tour in Rio, which involved a hike, watching a breathtaking sunset, and a fascinating tour of a local favela. The experience was made all the more amazing by our guide, Nathalia. Nathalia was incredibly knowledgeable, providing detailed insights into the history, culture, and daily life of Rio, the favela, and the surrounding areas. She was not only punctual but also made sure we were comfortable throughout the entire experience. It was clear she had a deep respect and understanding of the local community, which made the favela tour feel authentic and meaningful. Her fluency in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese,…”
Spend about three hours sailing from Marina da Glória around Guanabara Bay, with Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, historic forts, Niterói, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in view. A small group of up to 11 enjoys caipirinhas, drinks, fruit, sandwiches, and attentive crew members such as Luiza, Thais, Pedro, or Klaus.
“Fantastic experience. Crew were super nice and always made sure we were enjoying ourselves. The swim was fun and worth making the effort. Best way to spend our last night in Rio.”
Leave Barreirinhas around 2 pm for Bonita Lagoon, where a Portuguese-speaking guide leads you to two or three clear lagoons, with about 40 minutes to swim at each. Finish atop the region’s highest dune for sunset. Transport and a guide are included, with private groups available.
From Foz do Iguaçu, ride to the port and board Kattamaram II for a dinner cruise on the Iguaçu and Paraná Rivers. You will pass the Three Frontier Landmark and Tancredo Neves Bridge, with music, a full bar, air-conditioning, and a short stop at a riverside swimming pool. Sunset timing can vary.
“Notre guide qui est venus nous chercher à notre hôtel était adorable ! La balade en bateau était très jolie c’était super sympas par contre le temps de navigation est de même pas 2h alors qu’il y a marqué 3h30 sur l’annonce et le buffet au vue du prix n’était pas à la hauteur de nos attentes. De plus ils mettent couché du soleil et nous sommes rentrés bien avant le coucher du soleil. Vraiment très déçus sur ces points. Le concept est quand même tres sympas mais trop cher au vue de la prestation. La photo est la dernière que j’ai prise avant de quitter le navire! Qui témoigne…”
From Manaus, you’ll cruise toward Iranduba, pass stilt houses and riverside communities, fish for piranha with a bamboo rod, then search for alligators after sunset. An English-speaking guide is included, though language service has been uneven. The small group is limited to 10 people, and hotel pickup is included in downtown Manaus.
“I requested English speaking but he didn't speak any. He was told it was a Private hire. I suppose on the basis that nobody else booked that it was.”
Cross from Foz do Iguaçu into Argentina for an evening at Puerto Iguazu’s duty-free shops and Feirinha market. You’ll have about an hour at each, with time for wine, cheese, salami, alfajores, and souvenirs. Add dinner for chorizo steak, with Spanish, English, or Portuguese guidance and hotel pickup included.
“Je trouve le rapport qualité prix pas assez bon. Nous sommes resté bloquer presque 1h30 à la frontière pour aller en argentine ce qui a ensuite empiété sur la visite et les restaurants prévus. Il n’y a pas de plus value à prendre un guide. Vous pouvez, vous même traverser la frontière avec de l’organisation et cela sera moins cher. Le prix ne vaut le le coup d’après moi.”
Spend about four hours at Rio’s Roxy nightclub in Copacabana, starting with a three-course dinner by chef Danilo Parah and Bossa Nova from the Roxy Band. The Aquele Abraço show follows, mixing samba, forró, funk, MPB, dance, projections, poetry, and Art Deco surroundings. Hotel pickup and return cover select South Zone waterfront hotels.
“Buen show. Deliciosa cena. Muchos bailarines y buenos cantantes pero cantar canciones a estilo pop y bailes como actuales no me gustó. como que esperaba algo más tracional o de bailes típicos Pero en general recomendable”
Pick a summit, a coast or a waterfall.
