Brazil · SAILING
The 10 best sailing trips you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
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!”
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!!!”
Take a one-hour afternoon cruise aboard the Cisne Branco from Porto Alegre’s Cais do Porto. You’ll see Ilha da Pintada, Beira-Rio International Stadium, old waterfront warehouses, islands, bridges, and the city from the Guaíba. Bilingual narration explains key sights, while the onboard bar serves drinks and snacks for an extra charge.
“Fue super sencillo reservar la actividad desde Viator y al llegar lugar super sencillo el ingreso indicando la reserva. Sobre la actividad es un excelente momento de relajo admirando la naturaleza y lago. Agregaria que la entrada desde el Mercado Publico es subterranea.”
From João Pessoa, Luck Receptivo takes you by air-conditioned vehicle to Praia da Penha, where you board a catamaran for the Seixas Natural Pools. Swim with small fish, use the included snorkel gear and buoys, then visit Penha crafts and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Penha. The outing lasts about 3 to 4 hours.
“Excelente! Lugar lindo e atendimento ótimo! Vale muito a pena. Minha família adorou tudo, especialmente a água morna e azul!”
Set out from Urca at 3:30 pm for a small-group sail around Guanabara Bay. Pass forts, beaches, Niterói, MAC, and Santos Dumont Airport, with a swim stop and sunset views. Louise, Lou, Loh, Carlos, and other crew members are associated with the experience, which includes snacks, fruit, beer, soda, water, and flavored caipirinhas.
“My daughter and I had the best time. The weather was perfect. The food was good and satisfying. It wasn’t crowded…just enough. The host and hostess were the best. It felt like you’ve known them for years. A well organized evening.”
Board a stable catamaran from Búzios’ downtown pier for a three-hour cruise past famous beaches and islands. You’ll stop at João Fernandes, Feia Island, and Tartaruga for swimming and snorkeling, with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking hosts. Food and drinks are sold onboard, while masks and snorkels can be rented.
“Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to know you had an excellent experience on the Búzios Catamaran Boat Tour. Your feedback means a lot to us and inspires our team to keep delivering unforgettable moments. – C2Rio Team”
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…”
Set out from Marina da Glória with an English-speaking crew for a three-hour cruise around Guanabara Bay. You’ll pass historic forts, Boa Viagem Island, Niterói’s Niemeyer museum, Sugar Loaf, and Christ the Redeemer. Drinks, caipirinhas, beer, sparkling wine, juice, and snacks are included. Swimming may be offered when conditions allow.
“It was such an amazing way to explore Rio. Clarisse, the guide, was so attentive and kind. This is highly recommended.”
Start with hotel pickup in Boa Viagem, Pina, or Piedade, then visit Recife’s key sights before a 1-hour-20-minute catamaran ride on the Capibaribe River. A guide speaks Portuguese, Spanish, or English aboard the boat. The private tour costs $180 for up to two people and includes transport, tickets, and drop-off.
“Nosso motorista Esdras foi muito paciencioso e prestativo. Carro ótimo. Uma maneira segura de conhecer o centro do Recife que parece meio perigoso, como a maioria das grandes cidades. No passeio, teve guia apenas na parte do catamarã. Gostei muito de ir no centro de cultura, antiga prisão, que hj abriga muitas lojas...as de renda são especialmente lindas!”
Pick a summit, a coast or a waterfall.
