Rio de Janeiro: Iconic City Tour with Local Guide & Lunch

4.47

(19 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the way the air changed as we climbed up to Christ the Redeemer — thick with mist, then suddenly clear. Our guide, Ana, pointed out neighborhoods below that I’d only ever seen on postcards. There was this quiet moment when everyone just stopped talking, even the kids, because that view really does something to you. I tried to take a photo but honestly, it didn’t catch half of what it felt like standing there above Rio de Janeiro.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much at the Selarón Steps — Ana told us about Jorge Selarón and his obsession with tiles from all over the world. There was a couple posing for wedding photos and a street vendor selling sweet coconut treats (I bought one; sticky fingers for the next hour). The colors are wild, almost dizzying if you look too long. We squeezed in a quick stop outside Maracanã Stadium too — not inside, just enough time for Ana to share stories about legendary matches and point out where fans gather before big games.

Lunch was this buffet place near Copacabana — nothing fancy but plenty of feijoada and grilled fish. I sat by the window watching locals rush by in flip-flops while we tried to figure out which beach was which (Ana laughed at our guesses). Later, Tijuca National Park surprised me with how green and loud it was — birds everywhere, even though we were still technically in the city. Sugarloaf Mountain came last; cable car up as dusk started to fall. The city lights flickered on below us and someone behind me whispered “wow” in Portuguese — I still think about that view sometimes.