Rio de Janeiro Tours of the City
Several companies offer tailored guided walks, usually charged by the hour. Roteiros Culturais (tel: (21) 9911 3829; website: www.culturalrio.com.br) runs cultural sightseeing tours to Rio's historic and colonial landmarks, led by a history of art professor. The 'Downtown Rio Tour' crosses the best areas of the oldest neighbourhood in town, from the Opera House District to the oldest and richest baroque church in Rio.
Rio Hiking (tel: (21) 2507 4417 or 9721 0594 (mobile); website: www.riohiking.com.br) provides English-language guided walks in Tijuca forest and up Rio's mountain peaks. The price includes an ascent of Tijuca Peak, pick-up and lunch; trips are either five or eight hours.
Boat Tours
Saveiros Tour (tel: (21) 2225 6064; website: www.saveiros.com.br) operates a cultural boat tour around Guanabara Bay, providing a unique viewpoint of the city and Niterói island. The two-hour trip departs from the Gloria Marina daily at 0930. Tickets can be bought at the marina.
Jeep Tours
Several companies offer jeep tours to Rio's natural attractions. Rio by Jeep (tel: (21) 2575 8626 or 9693 8800 (mobile); website: www.riobyjeep.com) offers hiking tours of Tijuca National Park and adventure sports. Hotel pick-up can be arranged.
Jeep Tour (tel: (21) 2108 5800 or 9977 9610 (mobile); website: www.jeeptour.com.br) offers different jeep tours, as well as walking tours and a three-hour tour of the Favela de Rocinha, the largest slum in South America. Hotel pick-up can be arranged.
Helicopter Tours
For a bird's eye view of the city, Helisight (tel: (21) 2511 2141 (week days) or 2542 7895 (weekends and holidays); website: www.helisight.com.br) organises sightseeing flights of various lengths and itineraries. A 15-minute flight covers the city centre, the Sambódromo, Maracanã stadium, Corcovado and the statue of Christ, Pão de Açúcar and Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Departures are from one of three helipads, located at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Dona Marta Belvedere (access route to the statue of Christ) and Sugar Loaf (cable car's first stop).
Helipads are open daily from 0900 to 1800 and night flights are also available from the Sugar Loaf and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon helipads. Even the shortest rides do not come cheap - not least for the environment, meaning this is not an option for the ecologically minded.
Tours of Rio de Janeiro
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