Brazil · CACHAçA & CAIPIRINHA TASTINGS
Cachaça is not rum and the difference matters after the second glass. The 10 below cover the Paraty distilleries, the Lapa bar crawls and the caipirinha workshops, priced by how much you actually taste.
Spend four hours in Lapa with Caipi Tours, tasting at least four cachaças, sipping a caipirinha beneath the Arcos da Lapa, visiting the Selarón Steps, and dancing to live samba, Brazilian funk, pop, and reggaeton. Guides such as Andressa, Raffa, Marcos, and Nayara keep the group together.
“Excellent tour by lovely people. Would highly recommend, made it fun, interesting and safe!”
From Paraty, ride into Serra da Bocaina National Park with an English or Portuguese-speaking guide. Hike to Pedra Branca, swim at Poço do Tarzan, watch the Tobogã rock slide, and visit Engenho D’Ouro for a cachaça tasting. Guides such as Everton and Gilberto are known for adding local plant and wildlife details.
“The experience was absolutely amazing—waterfalls, distilleries, history, nature, and everything that made for a perfect day. The guides were exceptional, attentive to everyone’s needs, friendly, and always willing to help. It was truly one of the best experiences of my life. The restaurant in the jungle is also fantastic. If you’re booking this experience, I highly recommend the 6-hour tour for a truly complete experience.”
At Pura Vida Hostel in Copacabana, learn the basics of Brazil’s famous caipirinha, drink two of your own creations, then join a one-hour samba class with teachers such as Camilo, Nati, or Bruno. Finish with a Gabriela cachaça shot and optional nightlife plans.
“We loved this night! Thanks to Pietro, we discovered really cool places in Lapa and how to make a great caipirinha. I totally recommend the tour in case you are looking for a way to meet people and go out at night in Rio feeling safe!”
Join a local guide such as Thiago for a 90-minute walk through Paraty’s UNESCO-listed historic center. Hear about Indigenous peoples, colonial trade, Freemasonry, and the town’s sugar, gold, coffee, and pau-brasil eras, then sample sweet cachaça Gabriela with honey, clove, and cinnamon.
“The tour of Paraty was absolutely wonderful. Thiago is incredibly knowledgeable, bringing the town’s history to life and helping you truly understand its roots. A journey through the past, expertly guided and deeply engaging. The cachaça tasting is also a must! Daniela”
Walk Paraty’s stone streets with an Embratur-accredited guide, visiting four historic churches, the Sacred Arts Museum, and Casa da Cultura before learning about regional cachaça at an authentic cachaçaria. The two-hour tour begins at 5:30 pm and returns to the Paraty Tours office.
“Foi td muito bom, pois o guia conhecia muito bem todo centro histórico. Farei novos roteiros qdo eu voltar.”
Start at Pura Vida Hostel in Copacabana with a caipirinha lesson and two drinks, then learn Rio funk for an hour with a Portuguese, Spanish and English-speaking teacher. The class begins around 9:00 to 9:30 pm. Afterward, you can buy a cheaper club ticket at reception and share an Uber to Lapa.
“Super fun event, especially as a solo traveler. The caipirinhas I learned to make were sweet, but a bit strong, the people in the hostel were super friendly, and the dance class was hella fun. It's not step by step instructions, but give it a try. You'll probably burn off one of the caipirinhas you made by the time the hour is done.”
Spend six hours near Paraty’s Serra da Bocaina National Park in a rugged jeep, visiting Tobogã and Poço do Tarzan waterfalls, Engenho D’ouro distillery, Murycana Farm, and a 300-species bromeliad garden. English and Portuguese guides lead the day, with lunch optional and extra.
“Tour agreable mêlant paysages, baignade, dégustation et decouverte”
Spend two hours walking Paraty’s cobbled Historic Center with an English- or Portuguese-speaking guide. See churches, museums, the Culture House, craft shops, and art studios, learn about Masonic design, and finish with a cachaça tasting. Expect uneven streets and possible entry taxes.
“The tour did not flow - it felt like the guide was just telling us random facts he could remember about random stuff we walked past. He took us to quite a lot of shops, which weren’t related to the tour. He didn’t seem to speak very good English so when we asked questions, he couldn’t answer them. He was a nice guy, but the tour was probably the worst walking tour I’ve been on (I’ve been on loads and only one other tour was bad - normally I’ve found these kinds of tours are excellent).”
Join Bruno at 7:30 PM for a four-hour walking tour through Rio’s Little Africa. Hear the stories behind Cais do Valongo and Pedra do Sal, learn how African culture shaped Rio, then enjoy live Monday-night samba, dancing, and one included caipirinha.
“We had an amazing experience with Bruno in Rio! The three of us joined him on Monday at Pedra do Sal, and it was absolutely perfect. Bruno took great care of us, explained a lot about the place, the music, and the culture, and made sure we felt comfortable the whole time. On top of that, he’s super fun to be around — we had an incredible time celebrating and dancing with him. It felt authentic, relaxed, and unforgettable. Highly recommended if you want to experience Rio with a knowledgeable and genuinely great guide!”
Meet your instructor at Hostel Nomads for a 150-minute caipirinha workshop. You’ll learn cachaça production, taste different flavors, practice classic techniques, and enjoy unlimited caipirinhas after the lesson. Comfortable shoes are essential, and participants must be at least 18.
“L’endroit, les explications et sa gentillesse. À améliorer la transmission de la réservation à l’animatrice”
Pick a summit, a shoreline or a dancefloor.
