Rio de Janeiro Trip Overview
This tour you take you to 4 off the beaten path viewpoints in Rio and give you a real perspective of the city. You’ll be able to see the best view in town staying away from the crowds that flock to the main attractions.
Perfect for those who love landscapes but don’t want to stand in lines at the main attractions.
I’ve carefully selected the top 4 admission free vantage points in Rio.
Parque do Penhasco
Chinese Pagoda
Mirante Dona Marta
Parque das Ruinas
Tour includes pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Rio, cruise port or airport.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 hours
Starts: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Rio de Janeiro Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This tour you take you to 4 off the beaten path viewpoints in Rio and give you a real perspective of the city. You’ll be able to see the best view in town staying away from the crowds that flock to the main attractions.
Perfect for those who love landscapes but don’t want to stand in lines at the main attractions.
I’ve carefully selected the top 4 admission free vantage points in Rio.
Parque do Penhasco
Chinese Pagoda
Mirante Dona Marta
Parque das Ruinas
Tour includes pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Rio, cruise port or airport.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Luis Darin Private Tour Guide In Rio, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22060-002 Brazil
Your will start with a visit to Parque do Penhasco in Leblon.
Places we will drive by on the way to the first attraction will depend on your hotel location.
Tour is conducted in an air-conditioned vehicle driven by your tour guide.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Morro Dois Irmaos, Parque Do Penhasco Dois Irmaos, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20020-030 Brazil
At the foot of a gigantic seaside mountain in the end of Leblon Beach, Parque do Penhasco offers the best perspective of Leblon and Ipanema beaches.
From over here the mountains lush vegetation can be seen in contrast with the busy intersections of the city.
Upon taking some pictures and enjoying this viewpoint we will procced to the Chinese Pagoda inside Tijuca National Park.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Mirante Do Leblon, Av. Niemeyer, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Nice vantage viewpoint at the end of Leblon Beach.
Pass By: Leblon Beach, Avenida Ataulfo de Paiva, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Depending on your hotel location we’ll pass by this very nice beach in the most expensive neighborhood in South America.
Pass By: Ipanema Beach, Avenida Vieira Souto – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22420-002 Brazil
Simply put, the most beautiful beach, with the most beautiful people, in the south side of Rio. Don´t miss the opportunity to see Tom Jobim´s statue and take great shots of the beach and Dois Irmãos´hill.
Pass By: Arpoador beach, Avenida Francisco Bhering, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22080-050 Brazil
A large rock at the end of Ipanema Beach considered one of the best spots in Rio to observe the sunset during the summer.
Pass By: Forte de Copacabana, Praca Coronel Eugenio Franco 1 Spot 6, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22070-020 Brazil
The Fort seats at the tip of the Copacabana Beach and offers some of the best views in of Copacabana.
Pass By: Copacabana Beach, Av. Atlantica – Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22070-011 Brazil
This worldwide famous beach is also the area where most hotels are located in Rio.
Pass By: Avenida Atlantica, Avenida Atlantico, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22021-001 Brazil
The seaside avenue in Copacabana is the most famous beach area in Rio.
Pass By: Praia do Leme, Avenida Atlantica Leme, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22010-000 Brazil
At the very end of Copacabana Beach Leme Beach is the best place for a picture of Copacabana.
Pass By: Leme, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
A less busy beach located at the very far end of Copacabana.
Pass By: Forte Duque de Caxias, Praca Almirante Julio de Noronha, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22010-020 Brazil
This fort, located at the very end of Copacabana Beach, is a well-kept secret.
The fort was built in 1776 as a lookout to spot incoming ships. To reach the summit of the 183m (600-ft.) hill we’ll walk for 20 minutes on an 800 meters cobblestone road that crosses the natural preserve area kept by the Brazilian Army.
Several species of the Brazilian fauna live in the area. It is not uncommon to spot mamorset monkeys, tropical birds and lizards on the way up.
Once we reach the summit, a series of spectacular views will be discovered. From the hill top we’ll have a vantage point of view of the entire extension of Copacabana Beach, Corcovado Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain and the entrance of Guanabara Bay.
Pass By: Mirante do Leme, Praca Almirante Julio de Noronha, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22010-020 Brazil
Most definitively the best spot to take a picture of Copacabana Beach.
Pass By: Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Avenida Epitacio Pessoa, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22471-001 Brazil
One of the nicest areas in Rio this tidal lagoon connects with the sea and it is surrounded by a bike lane.
Pass By: Botanical Garden, Rua Jardim Botanico 1008 Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22460-000 Brazil
The garden was created in 1808 by order of the Portuguese prince Dom João VI as a temporary site for acclimatizing exotic plant species from all over the world broth there by the Portuguese. During the walk we will also be able to see the majestic imperial palm trees and the orchid and Bromeliad greenhouses.
Rio’s Botanic Garden is also one of the best spots to observe the city wildlife, such as capuchin and marmosets monkeys, toucans, red throated guan and several other animal species.
Pass By: Floresta da Tijuca, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Tijuca Forest is the largest reforested urban forest in the world. The forest takes 10% of the city area and houses the Tijuca National Park.
Stop At: Vista Chinesa, Estrada Dona Castorina Parque Nacional Da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22460-320 Brazil
Erected to celebrate 100 years of Chinese immigration to Brazil, the pagoda is surrounded by tropical forest and offers a spectacular sight of the South part of the city.
We will reach the monument by driving up 15 minutes on a winding asphalt road through Tijuca National Park and pass a couple of waterfalls on the way.
It is not unusual to observe Capuchin and Marmoset monkeys over here.
After the Chinese Pagoda we’ll drive to Dona Marta viewpoint for yet another breathtaking view of Rio.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Cosme Velho, Zona Sur, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22241-220 Brazil
Drive through this neighborhood that was once the home for most embassies in Brazil when Rio was the country capital.
Stop At: Estr. Mirante Dona Marta, S/N Cosme Velho, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22241-330 Brazil
Mirante Dona Marta offers one of the most incredible views of the city. From there you’ll have a panoramic view that includes the Christ Monument, Sugarloaf Mountain, Maracana Stadium, Guanabara Bay and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.
Dona Marta is also the best spot to take the perfect picture of the Christ monument.
After leaving Dona Marta we’ll drive to Parque das Ruinas in Santa Teresa district.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Santa Teresa, Rua Aurea, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20240-210 Brazil
This picturesque and well preserved colonial style area born in the mid-1800s is now an artsy neighborhood full of bars, cafés and good restaurants that offer a myriad food options including the best Acai and cheese bread in Rio.
The place offers great photo opportunities with its painted murals, street art, cobblestone streets and a variety of souvenirs shops, including the only one in Rio listed on Lonely Planet for having only items made by local artists.
Pass By: Largo dos Guimaraes, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20241-310 Brazil
Central part of Santa Teresa District.
Stop At: Centro Cultural Municipal Parque das Ruinas, Rua Murtinho Nobre 169, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20241-050 Brazil
Located in Santa Teresa and former home to a preeminent female art supporter, Parque das Ruínas is now a cultural center in the most authentic and picturesque district of Rio.
Out last stop on this tour is a lookout on the rooftop of this cultural center. The breathtaking view of downtown, Guanabara Bay Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains is well worth the effort of climbing up the three flights of stairs.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Carioca Aqueduct, Rua Riachuelo 27, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20230-010 Brazil
Also known as Arcos da Lapa the aqueduct used to supply the city with water from the rivers born at Tijuca Forest. Now it is used as a passageway for the tram that connects Downtown Rio and Santa Teresa neighborhoods.
Pass By: Aterro Do Flamengo, Avenida Infante Dom Henrique s/n, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 20021-140 Brazil
A very large park area crossed by an expressway.
