Day Trips in Brazil: The 15 We Recommend

1.Arraial do Cabo Day Trip with Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 400 reviews · 14 hours · from $65Our pick

Set aside 14 hours for this Rio day trip to Arraial do Cabo. Ride an air-conditioned vehicle to the Costa do Sol, then board a traditional schooner for Ilha do Farol, Prainhas do Pontal, Gruta Azul, and Praia do Forno. Guides such as Vicente, Publio, and Andrea Vento have been praised for clear communication and calm handling of changes.

“We got on time to the meeting point but the bus that was supposed to pick us up had an issue. Luckily the guide contacted us straight away and kept us in touch and in the end we re-arranged the pick up a few hours later. Despite the delay the whole activity still went ahead and we managed to visit all the beaches. Just know that there might be a lot of people on the beaches you visit (that is out of your control though) but overall it's quite well organised and we got enough time to swim and enjoy the natural beaches we visited. Make sure to bring some…”

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2.Arraial do Cabo Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro: Boat Tour & Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 390 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $70

Travel from Rio to Arraial do Cabo for a schooner cruise along Brazil’s Costa do Sol. Swim at Ilha do Farol and Praia do Forno, photograph Pontal do Atalaia, Gruta Azul, Fenda de Nossa Senhora, and Pedra do Gorila, then eat at a local buffet. Guides may include Newton, Andrea, or Karla.

“Tour was BEYOND terrible: 1. Tour was not in English tho I asked for English. Tour Guide barely acknowledged me and never explained anything. Very rude, unprofessional, bad energy. I had to ask other ppl what this ignorant woman was saying. 2. There is a 4 hour drive from Copacabana that is not mentioned. Then another 2 hours boat ride. 3. No stopping at a beach. You only stop for an hour for ppl to jump in the water. It’s lame and boring. You basically pay and travel 6 hours to in water for an hour. 4. Boat is very loud and cheesy. Boat staff does not speak any English.…”

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3.Iguassu Waterfalls: 1 Day Tour Brazil and Argentina’s sides

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 353 reviews · 9 hours · from $48

Spend nine hours crossing between Brazil and Argentina with a small group of up to 14. Guides such as Bruno, Diego, and Andre lead the 4 km Argentine trail and 1 km Brazilian panorama walk, explain the Atlantic rain forest, and help with border procedures. Add the Macuco Safari boat ride if time and park conditions allow.

“Amazing day. Great guide in Bruno who went above and beyond. Spoke English Spanish and of course Portuguese perfectly. He gave us all a clear understanding of what we saw. Really happy we chose this tour, he even helped us add on an extra that we wanted to do and helped us sort transportation. Excellent knowledge and service. Thank you Bruno!”

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4.Petrópolis Day Trip with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 203 reviews · 12 hours · from $48

Travel from Rio to cool, mountainous Petrópolis with a multilingual guide such as Rafael, Julio, or Mama Chris. Visit the Imperial Museum, Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Quitandinha Palace gardens, Crystal Palace, Santos-Dumont’s former home, and optional Bohemia Brewery. Lunch is optional, and the long day includes hotel pickup from central Rio neighborhoods.

“Christine or Mama Chris was an absolutely fantastic guide. She was so much fun, has a huge heart, extremely friendly, caring, very professional and informative and had the most wonderful sense of humour. We were so privileged to have her as our guide, simply was the BEST. This company are extremely lucky to have her as an employee. Christine, thanks from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and making sure we had a awesome memorable day. Good Luck Christine, you are a very special lady with a heart of gold.”

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5.Arraial do Cabo Island Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 192 reviews · 14 hours · from $67

Travel from Rio’s South Zone to Arraial do Cabo for a full-day boat outing to Praia do Forno, Praia do Farol, the Blue Grotto, and Fenda de Nossa Senhora. Guides such as Lucas, Marcelo, and Talita have led recent tours. Expect a long road transfer, brief beach stops, buffet lunch, and extra fees for marina access, garden access, drinks, and snorkeling gear.

“Fun filled, nice little get away, would do again. Transportation was very convenient as well.”

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6.Day Trip to the Argentinian Side of Iguassu Falls from Foz do Iguaçu

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 177 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $58

Travel from Foz do Iguaçu to Argentina with hotel pickup, a local guide, and help at the border. Walk the Lower and Upper Circuits, ride the park train toward Devil’s Throat, and add the Brazilian side if you want a longer day. Guides such as Roberto, Henrique, Bhrennon, and Antonio have earned strong praise.

“We wee crammed into a small tour van at 7 in the morning, then driven around for an hour picking others up at different hotels. We were crammed into seats like sardines- no legroom or arm room, every single seat taken. The guide was pleasant, but she spoke very poor English and very little Spanish. Inside the van, we had to wait for 30 minutes to go through Brazilian border control and another 30 minutes at the Argentinian control. Once in the park, we had to pay for our park tickets, only to learn that the Argentinian side only took cash. Our guide got us through border control and helped…”

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7.Santos, São Vicente & Guarujá Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 165 reviews · 12 hours · from $110

Spend 12 hours with a bilingual guide such as Mauricio, Maria, or Diogo exploring Santos, São Vicente, and Guarujá. Visit the Coffee Museum, take in coastal views from Itararé, and relax on Enseada Beach. Transport, hotel pickup, and insurance are included, while meals, museum entry, and the optional cable car cost extra.

“Mauricio Vergnano my tour guide was GREAT the best of the best GREAT person and so knowledgeable, intelligent, funny, awesome, Amazing, brilliant, excellent day trip,,, I would do this trip again...”

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8.Tijuca Forest Challenge Hike Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 163 reviews · 9 hours · from $86

Spend nine hours exploring Tijuca National Park with a bilingual guide such as Gustavo, Ricardo, Pietro, or Tito. The hard 10.4 km hike climbs 848 meters to Taquara Hill, then follows quiet forest trails to coffee-farm ruins, grottos, a bat cave, viewpoints, and a waterfall. Pickup is available in Rio’s South Zone.

“Gustavo turned out to be the best guide one could possibly imagine. We have used similar services many times before, but I can say with full confidence that Gustavo is truly unmatched. He has extensive knowledge not only about Tijuca National Park, but also about the whole of Rio de Janeiro. At the same time, he is incredibly helpful, kind, and approachable. During our hike, he revealed many secrets of the forest that we would never have noticed on our own. We also learned a great deal about the history of Rio and Brazil itself. It was an unforgettable adventure that we will cherish for a long time. I wholeheartedly…”

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9.Exploring Angra Dos Reis and Ilha Grande in One Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 107 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $85

This 12-hour trip takes you by licensed bus and schooner from Rio to Ilha Grande and Angra dos Reis. You will swim at Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, visit quiet beaches, eat a Brazilian buffet lunch, and return late. Bilingual guides such as Daniel, Nayt, Fabio, and Thiago have led recent departures. Bring snacks, water, a jacket, and dry clothes.

“Super fun experience, gorgeous coral reefs, well organized (especially given the size of the group). food was good and the islands were great! Highly recommend”

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10.Private Day trip: Both sides of Iguazu Falls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $150Top rated

Spend 7 to 9 hours exploring both sides of Iguazu Falls from Foz do Iguacu in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. Your guide handles transport and border assistance, then helps you choose between Argentine trails, Brazilian viewpoints, and an optional boat ride. Guides may include Gabriel, Fabio, Marcos, Luis, or Daniel.

“Guide was charming, knowledgeable, and made the experience richer. Seeing the falls from both sides was well worth the effort --it is an amazing experience --you've come this far, complete the journey!”

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11.Petrópolis Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro including Imperial Museum and Crystal Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 101 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $93

Travel from Rio to Petrópolis with a multilingual guide such as Marco, Adriana, Tanya, TT, or Tété, depending on the departure. Tour Pedro II’s former palace, see the imperial crown and Princess Isabel’s signing pen, visit the cathedral and Crystal Palace, then choose shopping or Bohemia brewery time.

“excellent knowledgeable guide speak many language,keeps everyone entertained.”

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12.Brazil & Argentina: Iguazu Falls Both Sides in One Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 8 - 10 hours · from $47

See both sides of Iguazu Falls in 8 to 10 hours from Foz do Iguaçu or Puerto Iguazú. Small groups, air-conditioned transport, multilingual guides such as Charles, Bruno, and Anderson, and dedicated park and immigration lanes keep the day moving. Add the Macuco Safari boat ride for a wet, thrilling close-up.

“Excellent day. The guide expedited our crossing from Argentinian side to Brazilian side and back. Very seamless.”

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13.Day Trip to Joao Pessoa / PB – Leaving Natal / RN

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · from $27Best value

Travel by accredited interstate transport from Natal to João Pessoa, where a local guide introduces Tambaú, Cabo Branco, Ponta dos Seixas, and historic sights. The day ends at Jacaré Beach with a sunset and saxophone performance of Ravel’s Bolero. A boat ride, São Francisco Monastery entry, and meals cost extra.

“The catamaran was fantastic. The guides were good. Hotel Globo was a failure. Summary: Pretty good trip”

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14.Pantanal Day Trip – All Inclusive – Leaving Campo Grande

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · from $195

Leave Campo Grande at 4:30 a.m. in a private car for Fazenda San Francisco in the Pantanal de Miranda. You’ll ride an adapted safari truck, walk the Carandá Trail, visit the Miranda River, take a chalana boat through St. Dominic’s Coryx, fish for piranha, and enjoy lunch with a Portuguese-speaking local guide.

“Great place. Beautiful area. Definitely a hidden gem I wish I spend more time here. Loved my experiance”

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15.Praia Do Forte and Guarajuba Beach Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 56 reviews · 8 hours · from $43

Leave your central Salvador hotel for an 8-hour North Coast outing along the Camino del Coco. Visit Praia do Forte and its fishing village, add Projeto Tamar for sea turtle conservation, then relax at Guarajuba Beach. Hotel transfers and a multilingual guide are included, while lunch and Tamar admission cost extra.

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