Helicopter transfer from Rio

At a glance

Road or helicopter transfer

All these places are several hours from Rio by car.

The ferries to Ilha Grande run on a fixed timetable published by Barcas Rio, and the whole day has to fit around it.

How long the flight takes depends on the departure point, the aircraft and the route. We give that figure in the proposal.

Where we fly from

• Jacarepaguá airport in Barra da Tijuca, open from 05:00 to 22:00. Executive aviation and air taxis work here, as do offshore flights to oil platforms.
• Another registered site that the operator works from.
• If you are arriving on an international flight, a driver meets you at Galeão and takes you to the departure point; see Rio airport transfer. We ask the operator whether a departure from Galeão itself is possible for your flight.

The departure point is in the proposal.

Where we land

Only at aerodromes and helipads on the official registers. We check the list for your route before we book.

• Angra dos Reis: a public state aerodrome (code SDAG), with its own circuit for helicopters.
• Ilha Grande: only if your accommodation has a registered helipad. Otherwise we land in Angra and you continue by boat. Angra dos Reis asks visitors to issue its Sustainable Tourism Fee (TTS), and we explain how it applies to your route in the proposal. More on the island: Ilha Grande from Rio.
• Paraty: the town has an aerodrome on the official register (SDTK).
• Búzios: Umberto Modiano aerodrome is private, and take-offs need prior coordination, so the landing is agreed in advance.
• A pad at a hotel, marina or private house works only if it is registered. We check that before booking too.

Luggage, weight and weather

Weight and luggage

A helicopter has a strict weight limit and little room for bags. The exact numbers depend on the aircraft and come from the operator, so we ask for each passenger’s weight and the number and size of bags. If you travel with a lot, the suitcases go by car and you fly light.

Weather

On these routes helicopters usually fly by visual flight rules, so the pilot needs to see the ground. Low cloud, fog or heavy rain can delay or cancel a departure, and the pilot decides on the day. The city’s weather service, Alerta Rio, describes November to April as Rio’s rainy season. In those months delays are more likely, so leave spare time if you have a connection afterwards. We only schedule flights in daylight.

How we check the operator

Before booking we check that the company holds a valid ANAC authorization to carry passengers and that the aircraft is on the national register, and we confirm the departure and landing sites against the official lists.

Return flight and a boat day in Angra

Book the return together with the outbound flight. If you stay several days, we agree the return time in advance and keep a car to Rio or the airport as a backup in case the weather closes in.

In Angra a helicopter fits well with a day at sea: fly in in the morning, spend the day on a boat in the bay and fly back before sunset, or stay the night. Routes in the bay are on the Angra dos Reis boat trip page. Búzios on land is covered in Búzios day trip.

Terms and price

The price depends on the aircraft, the distance, the number of passengers, waiting time and the return flight. Our fee is already included in the price. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm.

• Cancel up to 48 hours before the flight and the deposit is returned; after that it is not.
• One date change at no cost with 48 hours’ notice, if the operator has another slot.
• Weather keeps the helicopter on the ground: we move the flight or refund the deposit in full.
• If the operator cannot fly, we find a replacement or refund the deposit in full.
• If the flight is part of a New Year’s Eve or Carnival package, the deposit is not refundable after confirmation.

What to tell us in your request

• Dates and preferred departure time
• From where to where: address, airport, hotel or island
• Your flight number, if you fly straight from Galeão
• Number of passengers and each person’s weight
• Luggage: how many bags and what size
• Whether you need a return flight, and when
• What to add: a boat, accommodation, a car on the ground

Sightseeing flights over the city are on the helicopter tours page.