Rio com Guia Local
Licensed tour guide · Rio de Janeiro

The real Rio, at your pace, with someone who lives here.

Private, personalized tours of Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, the beaches, Santa Teresa and the corners only a carioca knows. No groups, no rush, no lines.

★★★★★5-star reviews · I reply within 1 hour
10+years guiding in Rio
1.200+travelers hosted
4languages: PT · ES · EN · FR
100%private, your group only
Private tours

Itineraries for people who want to live Rio, not just photograph it.

Every tour is exclusive to your group, with comfortable transport, flexible timing and the stops you choose.

Classic: Christ the Redeemer + Sugarloaf – Rio de Janeiro Most booked

Classic: Christ the Redeemer + Sugarloaf

8h 1–4 PT · ES · EN · FR

Rio's essential day, no lines and in the best light. Corcovado by train or van, lunch where cariocas eat, and sunset from the cable car.

  • Christ the Redeemer with pre-booked tickets
  • Sugarloaf cable car at sunset
  • Dona Marta lookout and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
  • Stop in Copacabana and Ipanema
fromR$ 890per group up to 4 people
Carioca culture

Santa Teresa, Lapa & Favela

6h 1–4 PT · ES · EN · FR

Santa Teresa's studios, the Selarón Steps, the Lapa Arches and a respectful favela visit with a resident guide. Ends with samba, if you're up for it.

  • Santa Teresa tram and artists' studios
  • Selarón Steps and Lapa Arches
  • Community visit with a resident guide (part goes to social projects)
  • Optional samba night
fromR$ 690per group up to 4 people
Beaches & Tijuca Forest – Rio de Janeiro Nature

Beaches & Tijuca Forest

7h 1–4 PT · ES · EN · FR

Waterfalls and lookouts in the world's largest urban forest, then the wild beaches of Prainha and Grumari and sunset at Arpoador.

  • Vista Chinesa and Mesa do Imperador
  • Waterfall and easy hike in Tijuca
  • Prainha and Grumari
  • Sunset at Arpoador rock
fromR$ 790per group up to 4 people
Custom

Custom & photo tour

4–10h 1–4 PT · ES · EN · FR

You design the day: a photo session at the best spots, a food route, a cruise-stop itinerary, architecture, or several days around Rio and beyond.

  • Photo session (edited photos included)
  • Cruise stop with guaranteed timing
  • Day trips to Petrópolis, Búzios or Paraty
  • Itinerary built with you over WhatsApp
fromR$ 120per hour, group up to 4
Why book with me

A local guide is the difference between visiting Rio and understanding it.

A true carioca

Born and raised in Rio. I know the no-line hours, the restaurant where locals eat and the lookout that isn't in the guidebooks.

Licensed and insured

Registered tour guide with Cadastur (Brazil's Ministry of Tourism), insured vehicle and a driver whenever the route calls for one.

At your pace

No 40-person groups. You decide when to leave, where to stop and how long to stay.

Portuguese, Spanish, English & French

I explain the history and culture in your language, with real context, not memorized lines.

Hotel or cruise pickup

I pick you up at your hotel, the airport or the cruise terminal, and drop you wherever you like at the end of the day.

Flexible cancellation

Cancel free up to 48 h before and the deposit is refunded. Heavy rain? We reschedule at no cost.

Hi, I'm Rafa
Your guide

Hi, I'm Rafa

A tour guide for more than 10 years, passionate about Rio's history and about showing the city beyond the postcard. I've hosted families, couples, photographers and solo travelers from over 40 countries. My goal is simple: you leave feeling you saw Rio the way a carioca friend would show it to you.

Cadastur licensedFirst aid certifiedTravel photographyHistory & architecture
Reviews

What travelers say after the tour

★★★★★

“We did the classic tour with our 70-year-old parents and he adapted everything to their pace. No line at the Christ, an incredible lunch and the Sugarloaf sunset was the highlight of our trip.”

MMariana & Felipe · São Paulo
★★★★★

“We booked the Santa Teresa and favela route. Respectful, full of history and nothing like a 'human zoo'. We learned more about Rio in 6 hours than in 3 days on our own.”

LLucía · Madrid
★★★★★

“We had a 9-hour cruise stop and he planned every minute. We were back on the ship with an hour to spare, wonderful photos and the feeling we'd seen the real Rio.”

JJames & Ana · London

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Booking

Pick a date and tell me what you'd like to see.

I receive your request by email and, within 24 hours, send you a payment link for the R$ 100 deposit. Your booking is confirmed as soon as it comes in.

Selected Today Unavailable
Select a day on the calendar
Start time
or Send this request via WhatsApp

No payment is taken on this site. Your details are used only to answer your request.

1You pick the date and tour and send the request.
2I confirm availability and send a payment link for the R$ 100 deposit. Once it is in, you receive the confirmation.
3On the day, I pick you up at your hotel. The balance is paid at the end in cash, Pix or credit card (+5%).
DepositR$ 100link · Pix / card
Balance on the dayCash · Pix · Credit cardby card (+5%)

How payment works

R$ 100 deposit through a secure payment link (card or Pix) to hold your date. I email you the link after confirming availability.

The balance is paid at the end of the tour in cash (reais), Pix or credit card. Card payments carry a 5% surcharge (processing fee).

Free cancellation up to 48 h before: the deposit is fully refunded.

FAQ

Before you book

Is the price per person or per group?

Per group, up to 4 people, transport included. Larger groups get a quote over WhatsApp. Tickets (Christ, cable car) and meals are extra, and I tell you the prices beforehand.

How does payment work?

A R$ 100 deposit through a payment link confirms your booking. The balance is paid on the day, in cash, Pix or credit card (with a 5% surcharge for card).

What if it rains?

Light rain is no problem and sometimes makes for better photos. With heavy rain or the Christ closed by clouds, we reschedule or switch to an indoor route (museums, historic center, food) at no cost.

Do you do cruise shore excursions?

Yes. I pick you up at Pier Mauá and guarantee you're back at least one hour before boarding.

Is the tour suitable for kids and people with reduced mobility?

Yes, I adapt the route. I flag which lookouts have stairs, use a van with a child seat when there are kids and choose easy trails or none, depending on the group.

How many people can join a private tour?

Up to 4 people by car. For groups of 5 to 15 I work with an executive van and driver; just tell me the group size in your request.

Tour guide in Rio de Janeiro: why choose a private tour

Looking for an English-speaking tour guide in Rio de Janeiro to explore the city safely, without lines and with someone who truly understands the place? A private tour in Rio is the most efficient way to make the most of a few days: instead of waiting for crowded buses and following a fixed route, you get a licensed guide, exclusive transport and an itinerary built around your interests.

The most requested itineraries are the Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf tour, the cultural tour of Santa Teresa, Lapa and the Selarón Steps, a respectful favela visit with a resident guide, and nature days in Tijuca Forest and the wild beaches of Prainha and Grumari. I also run cruise shore excursions from Pier Mauá, photo tours and day trips to Petrópolis, Búzios, Arraial do Cabo and Paraty.

All tours are led in English, Spanish or Portuguese, with pickup at your hotel, the airport or the ship, and booking with no upfront payment. Pick your date on the calendar above, send the request and I'll confirm availability within 24 hours.

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