Private trips
Private day trips from Rio de Janeiro
The 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.
Updated:
At a glance
| Format | Private day trip by car with a driver, guide on request |
| Duration | A full day; Ilha Grande and Paraty work better with a night |
| Who it suits | Couples, families, friends, solo travelers |
| Pickup | Your hotel or apartment in Rio, or straight from the airport |
| Guide language | A guide who speaks your language |
| Cancellation | Free up to 48 hours before |
| Price | On request, proposal within 24 hours |
Day trips from Rio de Janeiro: where to go
Rio sits between the mountains and two long stretches of coast, so the classic trips split three ways. Inland, up in the mountains, is Petrópolis. East along the coast, the Região dos Lagos takes in Arraial do Cabo, Cabo Frio and Búzios. West, along the BR-101, you reach Angra dos Reis, Ilha Grande and Paraty. Paraty and Ilha Grande were listed together by UNESCO in 2019 as “Paraty and Ilha Grande, Culture and Biodiversity”.
| Destination | Distance or time from Rio | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrópolis | We confirm on your dates | History, museums, mountain air, a slower day | Museum days and hours checked for your date |
| Búzios | We confirm on your dates | Beaches, a walk in town, lunch by the sea | A long day as a round trip; better with one night |
| Arraial do Cabo | We confirm on your dates | Clear water, boat trips around the bays | Boat rules in the marine reserve change; we check them before you book |
| Cabo Frio | We confirm on your dates | Wide beaches, easy to pair with Arraial | Close to Arraial, so the two fit one day |
| Angra dos Reis | 155 km by the BR-101 (city of Angra) | Island hopping by boat | City tourism fee for visitors, see below |
| Ilha Grande | 155 km to Angra, then a boat; we pick the departure point for your date | Trails, beaches, no cars on the island | Little time on the island as a day trip; a night is better |
| Paraty | We confirm on your dates | Colonial centre, bay by boat | We would not do it without at least one night |
Drive times depend on traffic, the day of the week and the season, so we plan the departure hour for your date rather than quote a fixed figure.
Each trip in detail
Búzios, Arraial do Cabo, Niterói, Ilha Grande, Paraty, Petrópolis and a boat day in Angra dos Reis.
Rules worth knowing before you go
Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande. Since June 2026 the city of Angra dos Reis requires visitors to issue its Taxa de Turismo Sustentável (TTS). The city’s official site lists exemptions for residents, their close relatives and service providers, and its calculator covers both the mainland and Ilha Grande and the other islands. We tell you how the fee applies to your trip in the proposal.
Arraial do Cabo. The bays are part of a marine reserve, and access rules for boats and landings at some beaches have changed more than once. We check the current rules with the operator and the official notices before we confirm a boat trip, and we tell you if a stop on the usual route is not available.
Entry to Brazil. Check entry requirements on official websites before you travel.
Why a private trip instead of a group excursion
Group day trips sold on Civitatis and similar platforms run on a fixed route, with a shared bus and a set clock. With a private trip:
- Your own car and guide. Only your party is in the car, and the guide speaks your language.
- Your timing. Leave early to beat the traffic, stay longer at the beach, skip a stop you do not care about.
- Two places in one trip. Arraial do Cabo and Cabo Frio, or Angra dos Reis and a boat to Ilha Grande, in one day.
- An overnight option. For Búzios, Ilha Grande and Paraty, we can book a night and keep the same driver for the way back.
- Pickup where you are. From your hotel, or straight from the airport with an airport transfer that turns into the first day of the trip.
Our fee is already included in the price, and you deal only with us from the first message to the drive home.
Which trip fits your trip
If you have three or four days in Rio, one day trip fits well; our Rio itinerary shows where it goes in the week. With a week or more, consider Paraty or Ilha Grande with a night. Families with small children usually prefer Petrópolis or a short boat day in Angra, with fewer hours in the car. If you would rather stay in the city, a private tour of Rio covers Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf and the neighborhoods. For a car with a driver at your disposal for several days, see private driver in Rio.
Traveling with a large group? We have a separate Rio, Ilha Grande and Paraty group program.
What to tell us in your request
- Where you want to go, or “help us choose”
- Date, plus a backup date in case of rain
- How many people, and the ages of any children
- Where we pick you up (hotel area or airport)
- Guide language, or driver only
- Day trip or with one night, and whether you want a boat trip
- Anything that matters to you: early start, long lunch, a slow pace
Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before the trip. If the provider cannot go, we find a replacement or refund the deposit in full. See how we work for the details, or write to us with your dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best day trip from Rio de Janeiro?
It depends on what you want from the day. Petrópolis suits history and cooler mountain air, Arraial do Cabo and Búzios suit beaches and boat trips, and Angra dos Reis suits island hopping by boat.
Can I do Ilha Grande or Paraty as a day trip?
You can, but most of the day goes on the road and the boat. We usually suggest at least one night, and we can book it and keep the same car and driver for the return.
Can we combine two places in one trip?
Yes, and that is one of the reasons to go private. Common pairs are Arraial do Cabo with Cabo Frio, or Angra dos Reis with Ilha Grande; Búzios with Arraial works better with an overnight stay.
What if it rains on the day?
We watch the forecast with you and move the trip to another date if the weather turns. If the trip cannot go ahead because of weather, you get a new date or a full refund of the deposit.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before the trip. You can also change the date once for free with 48 hours' notice if the provider has another date.
See also
- Private trips in Rio de Janeiro and BrazilFor couples, families and friends we plan a private trip in Rio and across Brazil and stay your one contact before and during it. Tell us your dates and what you like, and we send a priced 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 tour of Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer and SugarloafA private tour of Rio de Janeiro covers Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf in a half day or a full day, with a guide who speaks your language, a private car and pickup at your hotel. We book the train or van to Corcovado and the cable car for your date and time. Price on request, proposal within 24 hours.
- Rio de Janeiro itinerary: 3, 5 and 7 daysThree days in Rio de Janeiro covers the essentials: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Santa Teresa and Lapa, the beaches and the centre. Five days adds a day trip and a spare day in case clouds hide the views, and seven days lets you slow down. We turn any of these plans into a private trip for your dates.
- Rio de Janeiro airport transfer: GIG and Santos DumontWe book private airport transfers in Rio de Janeiro for 1 to 6 people: a driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Galeão (GIG) or Santos Dumont (SDU) and takes you to Copacabana, Ipanema, Barra or any other address. Send us your flight number and we plan the pickup around it; price on request, proposal within 24 hours.