Day trips
Arraial do Cabo day trip from Rio
An Arraial do Cabo day trip from Rio is about the sea: a boat trip around the bays of a federal marine reserve. You can do it in one long day, but staying a night lets you go out on the water in the morning. We arrange the private transfer, the boat and the stay, and check the current landing rules for your date.
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At a glance
| Format | Private transfer and boat trip, with an optional night by the sea |
| Duration | One long day, or one or two nights |
| Who it suits | Couples, families and friends who want a day on the water |
| Pickup | Your hotel in Rio or Galeão airport |
| Guide language | A guide who speaks your language, on request |
| Cancellation | Up to 48 hours before a day trip, 14 days before a trip with nights |
| Price | On request, proposal within 24 hours |
Why people go
The sea around Arraial do Cabo is a federal marine reserve, the Resex Marinha do Arraial do Cabo, created in 1997 to protect the town’s traditional artisanal fishing. ICMBio, the federal agency for protected areas, manages it, and boat trips run under its rules. Most visitors come for a boat trip around the bays and beaches, so the plan for the day depends on the weather and on which beaches are open for landing.
Rules on the water
Landing points and access to some beaches can change by decision of ICMBio, the agency that manages the reserve. We check the current status for your date before we confirm the route.
The boat trip
Boat trips leave from the Marina dos Pescadores, and the town sets the rules there, including what passengers may bring on board. If you want lunch or drinks on board, tell us and we arrange it with the boat under the current rules.
Arraial do Cabo day trip or a night by the sea
A day trip from Rio is possible. The road takes a large part of the day, though, and the boat time gets short. We prefer one night in Arraial do Cabo or in Cabo Frio, about 15 km away: you go out on the water in the morning, when the sea is often calmer, and drive back after lunch.
How you get there
- Private transfer or a private driver from your hotel in Rio or from Galeão, door to door.
- Bus: Auto Viação 1001 runs from Rio to Arraial do Cabo through the Região dos Lagos on the BR-101 and RJ-106. We check the timetable for your dates.
Combine it with Búzios
Búzios is about 40 km away in the same region. Two or three days cover both towns: the sea in Arraial, beaches and evenings in Búzios. See Búzios day trip and our other day trips from Rio.
What we handle
- The transfer from Rio or Galeão and back.
- A shared or private boat on the day with the best forecast.
- A stay in Arraial do Cabo or Cabo Frio, if you want a night.
- A check of the landing and marina rules for your date.
- One contact on our team in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Our fee is already included in the price. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. If the weather keeps the boat in port, we move the trip or refund the deposit in full. You can change the date once at no cost with 48 hours’ notice if the provider has another date.
Check entry requirements on official websites before you travel.
What to tell us in your request
- Your dates and whether you want a day trip or a night.
- How many people, and the ages of any children.
- Where you start: your hotel in Rio or Galeão.
- Shared boat or a private boat for your group.
- Whether you want lunch or drinks arranged on board.
- The language you want your guide or driver to speak.
Frequently asked questions
Do the boat and landing rules change?
They can. ICMBio manages the marine reserve, and the town sets rules for boats leaving the harbour, including what you may take on board. We check the current rules for your date before we confirm the route.
Is a day trip enough?
It works, but the road takes a big part of the day. With one night you can go out on the boat in the morning and drive back without rushing.
Can we combine Arraial do Cabo with Búzios?
Yes. Búzios is about 40 km away, so two or three days cover both towns.
Do we pay anything before we confirm?
No. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal, and you pay nothing before you confirm.
See also
- Búzios day trip from RioA Búzios day trip from Rio works, but it makes a long day, so we usually suggest one or two nights. We arrange a private transfer from your hotel in Rio or straight from Galeão airport, plus a boat trip and a place to stay, and send a priced plan within 24 hours.
- Private day trips from Rio de JaneiroThe most common day trips from Rio de Janeiro go to Petrópolis in the mountains, to Búzios, Arraial do Cabo and Cabo Frio on the coast east of the city, and to Angra dos Reis, Ilha Grande and Paraty to the west. We arrange each one as a private trip: your own car and driver, a guide who speaks your language, and a schedule set around you. Price on request, proposal within 24 hours.
- Private driver in Rio de JaneiroA private driver in Rio de Janeiro can be booked by the hour, for a half day, a full day or several days in a row, with the same driver and car waiting for you between stops. We pick the driver and the car for your group and luggage, plan the route with you and stay your contact the whole time. Price on request, proposal within 24 hours.
- Private yacht and boat charter in Rio de Janeiro and Angra dos ReisWe book private yachts and motorboats with a skipper in Rio de Janeiro and in Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: a few hours on Guanabara Bay, a day among the islands, a marriage proposal at sunset or New Year's Eve facing Copacabana. Tell us the date, the number of guests and the occasion: we pick a boat that fits and send a priced proposal within 24 hours.
Sources
- ICMBio: Resex Marinha do Arraial do Cabo (created in 1997), checked 20.10.2026
- Auto Viação 1001: Arraial do Cabo (route via BR-101 and RJ-106; Cabo Frio 15 km, Búzios 40 km), checked 20.10.2026