Get to know many of the most traditional places in Rio de Janeiro: begin with a tram ride from Downtown to Santa Teresa over the Lapa Aqueduct (“Arcos da Lapa”) and visit the Ruins Park, Selarón Steps, Passeio Público, Cinelândia, and Confeitaria Colombo.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- COVID-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 4 hours
- Check availability to see starting times.
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- Spanish, English, Portuguese
- Pickup included
- • Hotels in Rio de Janeiro's South Zone (Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema, and Leblon). Passengers lodged in Hostels or B&B will be informed of nearest hotel for pickup/dropoff • Please inform your hotel to arrange your pickup • Pickup time in Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema and Leblon: between 1:10-1:55 PM; drop-off around 06:00 PM • Meeting point for participants not staying in the pickup zone: C2Rio Tours & Travel - Praça do Lido (Rua Ronald de Carvalho, 21 - Copacabana) at 12:45 PM
Experience
Highlights
- Ride the most traditional tram in Rio de Janeiro
- Explore Santa Teresa and experience its special flair
- Enjoy Rio's mesmerizing landscape from the Ruins Park
- Walk down the colorful stairway of the Selarón Steps
- Visit Confeitaria Colombo and try Brazilian snacks (the cafe is closed on Sundays)
Full description
Begin your tour at Downtown (“Centro”), where you will get the tram (“bondinho”) to the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa. You will drive over the Arcos da Lapa, the aqueduct used to connect water from Santa Teresa to Downtown and one of Rio’s most traditional postcards. At Santa Teresa, you will experience an interesting local atmosphere.
Walk through the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa, a bucolic area in Rio de Janeiro. Located on a hillside, Santa Teresa has become a district of cultural interest because of its architectural value and prime location, famous for its winding, narrow cobblestone streets and a favourite spot for artists and tourists. A flair similar to Montmartre, in Paris.
You will visit the Ruins Park, a public park with an art gallery built around the ruins of a mansion. (Please note that Ruins Park is closed on Sundays.) Take a minute to enjoy the city’s landscape, in particular the Downtown area and the Sugarloaf Mountain. Up next, you will walk down the colorful Selarón Steps, one of Rio’s landmarks, and arrive at the district of Lapa, the zone with the most traditional nightlife.
Take a stroll in the Passeio Público, the oldest public park in South America, to reach Cinelândia, a lively spot in Rio thanks to its bars, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Among many remarkable constructions in the area, you will notice the Theatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro’s most traditional theatre and opera house, as well as the Biblioteca Nacional, Brazil’s most important library.
Your last stop will be at Confeitaria Colombo, a permanent member of all must-see cafés rankings around the world. Enjoy the opulent art nouveau decoration with huge stained glass, tiles, and mirrors imported from France, Portugal, and Belgium. You can finish your tour tasting one of the Brazilian traditional snacks – such as the coxinha de frango (‘little chicken thigh’) – or desserts – such as the brigadeiro (‘brigadier’) in what was one of Rio de Janeiro’s most prestigious places at the beginning of the 20th Century. (Please note that Confeitaria Colombo is closed on Sundays.)
Includes
- Guided half-day walking tour
- Santa Teresa tram ride included
- Professional guide with live tour commentary in English, Spanish, and Portuguese
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from hotels in South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Leme) hotels
- Comfortable air-conditioned van with maximum capacity of 19 passengers
- All taxes, fees, and handling charges
- Food and drinks (available for purchase at Confeitaria Colombo)
- Gratuities (optional)
COVID-19 precautions
Safety measures in place
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
- Customers must keep distance in vehicles
- The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
Traveler requirements
- Customers are required to bring and wear masks
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
Important information
Know before you go
- Roundtrip transportation available from South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Leme) hotels via air-conditioned van
- Gratuity is not included and is left to individual discretion
- This tour operates rain or shine
- Maximum group size is 19 people
- Wear comfortable shoes for a walking tour
- Please note that Confeitaria Colombo is closed on Sundays
- Please note that the Ruins Park is closed on Mondays
- This experience requires a minimum number of participants. If the experience is canceled due to lack of participants, the local partner will offer a different date or a full refund
