Rio de Janeiro by Veloso Tours | Latin America specialists

Famed for its iconic granite peaks intertwined with modern buildings and fabulous beaches, Rio de Janeiro has a magnificent setting with a huge lagoon and coastal forest, offering a trendy cosmopolitan lifestyle and a unique heritage

Few cities embody the personality of their country better than Rio does for Brazil. The Marvellous City has come to be synonymous with laid-back Brazilian beach culture, its contagious and irrepressible spirit, breathtaking scenery and social complexities. Rio is a city of icons; Christ the Redeemer, the cable cars of Sugarloaf Mountain, the world famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema and the Maracanã stadium. It also enjoys the most envious setting of any metropolis the world over, with a beautiful huge lagoon, flanked to the east by the Guanabara Bay and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, and extending between enormous granite peaks and wide sandy beaches.

From 1808 to 1821 the Portuguese Royal Family moved to Rio, fleeing the Napoleanic Wars in Europe and making it the capital of the Empire. This move paved the way for a number of royal palaces to be built, both within Rio and the summer residences at Petropolis, and the establishment of the Royal Library, the academy of Fine Arts, the Botanical Gardens and the Bank of Brazil, as well as holding a Royal Wedding and a Coronation. This importance led to Rio remaining the capital of Brazil through its independence, until 1960. This legacy can still be seen today, away from the famous beaches. The 'cariocas', residents of Rio, are a lively, friendly people and the city is constantly buzzing with life.

Specialist Knowledge

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Terrace restaurant with Bossa Nova music and view

Urca - Yacht Club - Sugar Loaf Cablecars

Carnaval Fabia Borges Drum Queen Rocinha 2009 Carnival Parade Agencia FOTO BR Copy

Choose your perfect holiday Rio de Janeiro

Find inspiration from our selection of itinerary suggestions, a great starting point for your next trip

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Brazil

Ninos Amazonas Family Tour

14 Nights from £3,202

Rio de Janeiro - Manaus - Amazon - Salvador - Praia do Forte Beach Resort

Ideal for families, discover the exciting city of Rio, venture deep into the Amazon jungle and relax on the golden beaches of Praia do Forte.

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Rio de Janeiro - Manaus - Amazon - Salvador - Praia do Forte Beach Resort

Brazil

Paquera Tour

13 Nights from £3,123

Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls - Salvador da Bahia - Praia do Forte Beach Resort

Ideal for life's special celebrations, honeymoons, anniversaries, major events - the romance of Rio de Janeiro, the colonial and African heritage in architecture, music, art a…

Route

Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls - Salvador da Bahia - Praia do Forte Beach Resort

Admire the incredible weaving skills of the local people

Multi-Country Landmark Tours

Pioneer Tour

78 Nights from £29,489

Buenos Aires - Perito Moreno Glacier - Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego Cruise for 4 nights - Torres del Paine - Puerto Varas - Andean Lakes Crossing - Bariloche - Iguazu Falls - Salta - Mendoza -Andean Crossing by road - Santiago - Easter Island - Maipo Valley - Atacama Desert - Uyuni Salt Flat - Potosi - Sucre - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Cusco - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Lima

Experience mighty glaciers, the wilds of Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego, Easter Island, stunning Andean Landscapes and cultures in the Atacama Desert, Uyuni Salt Flat, La Paz, L…

Route

Brazil

Varzea Tour

13 Nights from £4,800

Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls - Amazon Expedition Cruise - Salvador

Experience Brazil's most vibrant cities, admire the stunning Iguassu Falls and venture deep into the pristine Amazon Rainforest on a four night expedition cruise

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Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls - Amazon Expedition Cruise - Salvador

Brazil

Salvador City Break Tour

6 Nights from £1,760

Salvador da Bahia

Explore the fascinating essence of Brazilian identity; a blend of Portuguese and African heritage, visible in the colonial architecture, Orixas, Capoeira, paintings and music

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Salvador da Bahia

Brazil

Diamante Tour

13 Nights from £3,045

Salvador - Chapada Diamantina (Lençois) - Salvador - Morro Sao Paulo

Discover the unique character of blending African and Portuguese heritage in Salvador, forming the roots of Brasilian identity, hike the inland rivers and canyons of Chapada D…

Route

Salvador - Chapada Diamantina (Lençois) - Salvador - Morro Sao Paulo

In the time when the big trees were kings

Brazil

Caiman Nature & Wildlife Tour

14 Nights from £5,720

Rio de Janeiro - Pantanal - Manaus - Amazon - Salvador - Praia do Forte

Our nature and wildlife Tour of Brazil focuses on the prolific birdlife of the Pantanal wetlands and the exuberant vegetation of the Amazon rainforest

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Rio de Janeiro - Pantanal - Manaus - Amazon - Salvador - Praia do Forte

Multi-Country Landmark Tours

Shaman Tour

31 Nights from £27,994

Buenos Aires - Iguazu Falls - Rio de Janeiro - Salvador - Brasília - Manaus - Tabatinga Three Borders: Brazil, Colombia, Peru - Public or Private Amazon Cruise to Iquitos - Lima - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Cross continent journey via the Amazon with a 4 night private cruise or shared public cruise in the remote depths of the rainforest. Discover the local lifestyle, cosmopolitan…

Route

Multi-Country Landmark Tours

Viracocha Tour

21 Nights from £6,774

Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu Falls - Buenos Aires - Santa Cruz - Sucre - Potosi - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco - Lima

A cross continent odyssey from tropical beaches and magnificent waterfalls to the cultural heartland. Raising to dramatic mountain landscapes to explore Inca ruins, remote vil…

Route

Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu Falls - Buenos Aires - Santa Cruz - Sucre - Potosi - La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco - Lima

Brazil

Verde Tour

14 Nights from £3,578

Rio de Janeiro - Parati - Ilha Grande

Explore Rio de Janeiro in-depth then journey to Parati colonial village with its pedestrian cobbled streets, old houses and nearby Ilha Grande.

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Rio de Janeiro - Parati - Ilha Grande

Multi-Country Landmark Tours

Cataratas Tour

14 Nights from £4,280

Santiago - Puerto Varas - Lake District across the Andes - Bariloche - Buenos Aires - Iguazu Falls - Rio de Janeiro

Discover the awe-inspiring Iguassu Waterfalls, cosmopolitan cities with unique character and setting, beaches and towering mountains. Journey from Santiago to Buenos Aires and…

Route

Santiago - Puerto Varas - Lake District across the Andes - Bariloche - Buenos Aires - Iguazu Falls - Rio de Janeiro

Multi-Country Landmark Tours

Montecristi Tour

17 Nights from £4,650

Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls - Buenos Aires - Lima - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Journey from Rio de Janeiro to the mighty Iguassu Falls, explore Buenos Aires, Lima and Lake Titicaca and enjoy a luxury train journey across Andean mountain landscapes to Cus…

Route

Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls - Buenos Aires - Lima - Lake Titicaca - Andean Train Journey - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu - Cusco

A huge thanks to Veloso Team. Everything went very smoothly which considering the number of flights, meetings, hotels, guides etc. was a miracle. Well done.

Mr & Mrs M (London)

From the outset we had wonderful holidays. Our driver and Guide, Betsheyla, in Cusco were exceptional and helpful. In Rio de Janeiro, Eugenio, was very good and extremely knowledgeable.

Mr & Mrs D (Southport)

Our holiday worked well due to the suggestions Nick put in. Our guides were always early so there was no hanging out. Hotels and excursions exceeded expectations. We had the holiday of a lifetime.

Mr & Mrs B (Witney)

Congratulation to your company for our splendid itinerary, documentation and your choice of the guides, especially Eugenio Souza in Rio de Janeiro who was amazing and Santana who was excellent.

Mr & Mrs S (London)

We have travelled extensively during all our life and this trip was the acme of excellence. Our guide Eugenio in Rio and Luiz in Iguassu, were excellent. It was an ideal unique experience.

Mr & Mrs B (Salisbury)

Your guides took us by the hand that we could totally relax throughout our journey. They were excellent and made the holiday fantastic through their efficiency, friendliness and knowledge.

Mr & Mrs G-H (Wiltshire)

Guides were excellent and really loved their countries. It was the first time we had personal guides and we were very impressed with them all. Always on time for pickups and nice clean vehicles.

Mr & Mrs L.P (Guernsey)

Thank you for all times and effort that went into our fabulous holiday. No complaints. Except that 4 weeks is unfortunately too short for visit these places.

Mr & Mrs G (Bournemouth)

Amazing trip to Brazil thanks to your team. A special mention to Carlos Carbosa in Salvador Da Bahia: We found him to be a very friendly flexible guide who was also very good company.

Mr & Mr C (Solihull)

Our tour hosts were without fail. They were friendly, warm, informed, open and shared the love of their country. We recommend all of them highly, especially Eugenio in Rio and Gaby in Bariloche.

Mr F & Ms G (Harrogate)

We had a most fantastic holiday. Guides were all very knowledgeable, they took us around interesting places, and took into consideration our age and fitness levels making each part enjoyable.

Mr & Mrs B (Salisbury)

From Lima to Sao Paulo we were truly looked after, and we have Veloso’s hard work in the planning to thank for this. Thank you all for making an unforgettable trip of a lifetime.

Mr & Mrs T (Ulverston)

We had such a wonderful time and your organisation was flawless - in a holiday that relied on excellent planning there was not one single glitch! Our guides were simply wonderful!

Family J (Chester)

Thank you for organizing a fabulous holiday for us: The guides were amazing and enriched our holiday, all the hotels were all good, and the wildlife we saw was brilliant. We will recommend Veloso Tours to everyone!

Mr & Mrs B (Fareham)

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Explore Our Travel Blog

Rio de Janeiro

Special tour of Rio de Janeiro

Visit Corcovado, the historic centre and lesser-visited areas, for a more in-depth perspective on modern day Rio and its fascinating history.

Rio de Janeiro

Corcovado Mountain

Combine a visit to the famous Christ statue on Corcovado with Sugar Loaf Mountain, historic Santa Teresa or the Tijuca forest.

Rio de Janeiro

Sugar Loaf Hiking

Avoid the crowds and reach the summit on a challenging hike up Sugar Loaf, in the company of expert guides.

Rio de Janeiro

Botanical Gardens & Sugar Loaf Mountain

Discover thousands of plant species from across Brazil and an array of exotic birds at the excellent Botanical Gardens. Continue to take the cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, overlooking the bay and with a magnificent view of the city.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio's Three Ecosystems

Rio's exotic climate and remarkable setting have created three unique ecosystems, which can be enjoyed on our special tour, perfect for nature lovers.

Rio de Janeiro

Ipanema Hippie Market

Ipanema is known the world over for its famous beach, but its Hippie Market is a wonderful place to people-watch and shop for local products and artwork.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro History tour

Relive Rio's rich colonial history on this special tour through the older parts of the city, often overlooked by visitors.

Rio de Janeiro

Art and Culture of Rio de Janeiro

Explore Rio's thriving art scene at excellent galleries and museums

Rio de Janeiro

Classical Music & Shopping

Visit the beautiful theatre, listen to some live Brazilian or classical music and spend the afternoon shopping at the city's best centre.

Rio de Janeiro

Tujica Forest

Discover virgin rainforest, isolated waterfalls and lush 'Mata Altantica' vegetation in the huge Tijuca Forest, set in the urban heart of the city.

Rio de Janeiro

Pedra Da Gavea trek

Take on perhaps the city's best hike through dense forest to magnificent viewpoints, reached by relatively few visitors to Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha Favela

Urban dilemmas, population growth and migration, freedom to invade land, honest people doing a hard days work for little money, and delinquency issues. Pressures on humans.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio by night

Venture out into the lively Lapa district to discover Rio's famed nightlife and live music scene.

Rio de Janeiro

Maracana Stadium

Enjoy a match at the world-famous Maracanã stadium, host of two World Cup finals.

Rio de Janeiro

Burle Marx & Folk Art Museum

Get off the beaten track with a tour of the estate of the world famous landscape designer and the charming Folk Art museum.

Rio de Janeiro

Ilha Grande hiking

Journey along the coast to the forest-covered 'Big Island' to enjoy wonderful hiking opportunities and idyllic jungle-fringed beaches.

Rio de Janeiro

Sepetiba Bay

Board a schooner boat to sail to the tropical islands of Sepetiba Bay, around 50 miles from Rio.

Rio de Janeiro

Petropolis

Located up on the hills outside Rio de Janeiro, Petropolis has a cooler climate and was used by the Brasilian Royal Family as their residence. We visit the Imperial Palace recounting the unique history of how the Portuguese Royal Family came to live in Rio de Janeiro making Brasil the capital of the Portuguese Empire.