We had an amazing experience with Manu. It was a two-day tour (on non-consecutive days), and we saw…read morealmost everything Rio has to offer: Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, Santa Teresa, the favelas, the Selarón Steps, the old town, Tijuca National Park, Ipanema and Leblon, and much more. Each tour lasted nearly nine hours, yet the time flew by. Manu arranged a private car and was fully at our disposal throughout the tours.

Manu is a an amazing guide!! We had a wonderful experience in Rio seeing sights on and off the…read morebeaten path. He is entertaining, knowledgeable and fun and knows where to get the best food!

I go to Brazil often on business. It can sometimes be difficult to get around especially if your…read morePortuguese is terrible like mine. I finally found Rio Cultural Secrets in Rio to help guide clients through the city going to and from appointments for business and also to squeeze in some fun. Alan and his partner Fabio were fantastic. They were prompt, professional and really knew the city. We always felt safe, as they always appeared exactly when we needed them. In addition, as we went to our business meetings, they told us about the city, it's history and people. A special highlight was to visit favela Vidigal near Rio. It was a special honor to visit there and see the talent of the street artists, and meet the people little bars and snack shops. We went to Helena's bar and thrift store. She made us a nice drink and visited with us. It was a lovely place curated with found objects which she cleverly decorates and uses through her decor. Go there- so wonderful. We can't thank them enough and will always call Rio Cultural Secrets for every trip to Rio and look forward to seeing Alan and Fabio soon!

Faced with the challenge to provide introductory tours of Rio de Janeiro to senior corporate…read moreexecutives from Japan, the USA, and Europe, I did thorough research into several leading Rio tour companies before selecting Raul Melo and his team to conduct the tours for our group. Within minutes of the start of the tour, it was clear we made the right choice. Raul brings every facet of Rio to life with his deep knowledge of Rio's complex history and understanding of the City's vibrant Carioca people and culture. The result is a fun and captivating experience for everyone. Indeed, Raul is the "Guia Maravilhoso" for any tours of the "Cidade Maravilhosa"!

For those who love History, this is the best in town!!! Amazing crew, Priscila and Raul Melo's…read moreknowledge in Rio de Janeiro's scene as it was and is now is massive. You end up falling in love with Rio even more... Very much recommended!

I used Rio Adventures to go paragliding from Pedra Bonita out over Sao Conrado and Rio de Janeiro…read more The guides were wonderful and both bilingual in Portuguese and English. Can definitely say that it was the most fun and beautiful way to see Rio, and I say that having been up to the top of Dois Irmaos and Cristo. My girlfriend and I went in July, and though it was the winter, the tickets were still pretty expensive, R$450. But the trip was worth every penny. My guide was right in saying that people who are afraid of heights (like I am) have the most fun on the trip. Highly recommend doing this and working with Rio Adventures. They also include a video and about 120 photos from your trip on a memory card immediately after the trip. We had a great experience! Though be careful that you get connected with the right people once you arrive at the beach in Sao Conrado. There are TONS of people working for different companies who will assume that you're going up with them once you arrive. Also, there is a bus stop nearby, so you don't necessarily have to pay for a cab to get to/from the beach.

Big place!!! Very easy to get lost cause a lot of it looks the same. Monkeys are seen throughout…read more Look at all the colorful birds as well. Its 80 reais (about $16 USD). Worth every dollar as i would be okay with getting charged more. If you get lost just open your phones map and you can find your way to the exit.

I loved this huge botanical garden, which was like a beautiful tropical paradise. It was my first…read morestop after checking my luggage at the hotel. The cost was around $15 for US residents (less for locals) and only cash is accepted. Upon entering, I noticed black monkeys walking around the rainforest-esque environment, as well as climbing trees. There were palm trees, bright and colorful flowers, bodies of water, lovely little bridges, gorgeous fountain, yellow and green state house, greenhouses with rare and award winning orchids, a wonderful cafe serving fancy coffee & beverages, playground, and more. There were plenty of breathtaking views of the many natural wonders. I really enjoyed my time exploring the vast expanse of the garden. The place was sprawling and easy to get lost in. It tops the list as one of my favorite botanical gardens that I have visited.

Guilherme was so helpful and we did not even take his tour this time. Long story, I had been…read moresearching for private tour guides and this company caught my eye! Gui reached out via WhatsApp and was very generous with his recommendations and sharing insights for visiting Rio during a rainy few days. Perfect English, flexible with ideas/plans, and patient with my tourist questions. We will definitely reach out when we are in town and the sun is shining again. Thanks Giu!

My best friend and I were fortunate enough to encounter Gui & Rafa. If you're coming to Rio, you…read moremust have Gui as your tour guide!! They made our trip the best trip we've ever had. With a personally curated tour to fit our wants and needs, Gui was exceptional. 10/10 stars!

I have a number of friends in Brazil, a few of them from Rio de Janeiro. As Fate would have it,…read morethey were all busy with other things (work, family commitments, moving homes, travels, health issues, etc.) on my recent visit to Rio. Some of my friends had warned me about the dangers of wandering around in the City of Rio de Janeiro by myself. So, I decided to book two private tours with Marcelo, to have somebody show me around this wondrous city (really, one of the most beautiful cities I've visited). Marcelo is very gracious, and touring the city with Rio native Rafael was just like having a friend show me around his hometown. He took me to all the places I wanted to see, and then some. He's passionate about the history of his beautiful city that is so rich in natural beauty and culture. Feira de Sao Cristovao, a funfair showcasing the cuisine, artwork, music, and cultural heritage of northeastern Brazil, is a fantastic way to experience the local scene (I was the only non-Brazilian there!). Overall, I had a wonderful weekend exploring Rio without the stress of accidentally venturing into a dangerous area, and I found myself planning my next trip before this one was even over!

My sister & I hate guided tours. Mainly because we don't need to spend a lot of time at each sight…read more You spend half the day waiting for other people as there is always someone who wants to spend hours at 1 sight or worse, a gift shop. After reading about private tours on TripAdvisor we decided to give it a try. After we inquired prices were not that much for 2 of us on a private tour than a bus tour. The decision was easy. We booked a full day tour with Ederson. He picked us up at 8 am and we were off to the Tijuca National Rainforest. Our first stop was the Chinese View, but we mentioned that we wanted to get some fruit and we happened to pass a fruit truck. He stopped for us and even helped us select the best fruit and negotiate a great price for all the fruit. The Chinese View (Vista Chinesa) gives you a great overlook of the city of Rio and Ipanema. After a few minutes, we stopped by a local waterfall. Then, we were on our way to Christ the Redeemer. The crowd wasn't too long, but with his pass, we were able to cut the line. I can imagine how great that benefit is during busy season. It's amazing to the see the modern wonder that is Christ the Redeemer. The view of the city is amazing too. I can't believe how this city go blessed with so many mountains all over that give you a truly breathtaking sight of this gorgeous city. We stopped by a local restaurant that just opened up for lunch. He had never been there but asked if we were curious like him. I always am. It was a Brazilian/Italian mix restaurant that served very good food. Even Ederson was impressed. We made our way back to the city and we drove through the Lapa neighborhood & stopped at the mosaic steps. They reminded me of the steps in San Francisco but these were on a bit of a grander scale. To end the day, we went to Sugarloaf Mountain. This was my favorite view of the city. It was gorgeous up there. Sugarloaf left me in a completely awe. Edersen is a great guide. He can adjust the tour based on people's interest and can speak on lots of topics. He loves local politics and history so be sure to prod his mind on those topics. If you prefer other topics he's happy to change the subject. His English is not perfect and there can be a slight language barrier at moments, but we had no problems communicating.

My boyfriend and I did a private tour with Ederson, whom he found on Trip Advisor. I HIGHLY suggest…read moreprivate tours! It is more intimate and you don't have any conflicts with people holding up the tour. Ederson was very knowledgeable and answered all our random touristy questions. Lol. Oh yes, and he takes AMAZING photos which is always nice because it's better than asking strangers for a pic. We visited Christ the Redeemer, Selaron Steps, Sugar Loaf and other beautiful locations in Rio. The end we went to a Brazilian steakhouse that Ederson suggested and it was the perfect ending to the tour. Oh and his car is very clean and cooling. Just a perfect day!