Brazil · DRINKING TOURS
Lapa on a Friday runs on its own logic. These 15 compare the guided crawls, the samba-house nights and the boat parties on price, how many stops and what is included at each one.
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!”
Meet your English or Portuguese speaking host in Urca, transfer by small boat, then spend three hours on a sailboat across Guanabara Bay. Expect caipirinhas, beer, fruit, snacks, music, swimming, and sunset views of Christ the Redeemer, Flamengo, Niterói, and planes near the airport.
“The crew were friendly and inviting. the experience was first class”
Meet at Jurema Bar for a four-hour night through Lapa, led in English, Spanish, or Portuguese by guides such as Marx, Victor, and Bernardo. Visit Selarón Steps, local bars, samba circles, and dance venues, with cachaça shots and club entry included.
“Our guide's name was Isabella and we started off at a bar where they taught us the process of making Chacaca. The sugar can juice they had us taste was pleasantly good. The night was fun overall as we were able to meet other travelers from different parts of the world and we ended the night at a Samba club where the music was fantastic and I learned how to Samba a little.”
Start at 8:30 pm in Lapa and follow local guides through samba bars, a rooftop stop, Selarón Steps, and a Latin club. You will receive cachaça shots, learn basic samba moves, and meet an international group. Guides such as Marx, Victor, Julia, Bernardo, and Igor have all led this experience, though the lineup varies.
“Victor was our guide and he was great! We got to experience lots of fun places we wouldn’t have been able to find or feel comfortable visiting without the group. Would 10/10 recommend!”
Sail from Marina da Glória for a three-hour sunset outing with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, beer, water, soda, and snacks. Stop near the Museum of Tomorrow, Niterói’s contemporary art museum, Urca, and Adão e Eva Beach for swimming. Guides Leo and Rafaela have received special praise.
“Nice weather, the boat had snacks and drinks which was very nice. The tour guide was very informative and very friendly! I would definitely book this tour again.”
Head to Rio Scenarium in Lapa, a three-level former antique shop packed with film-worthy relics. You get fast-track entry, live samba, forró, or MPB, a three-course dinner, and three hours of selected drinks. South Zone hotel pickup is available, but return transport is not included.
“The transportation was safe and easy. The experience at Rio Scenarium was fantastic. The music was great and I enjoyed joining in on the samba!”
Meet Leticia at the SATÉLITE gas station in Pinheiros for a three-hour walk through Vila Madalena and Beco do Batman. Learn about São Paulo’s graffiti artists, visit local bars and galleries, and finish with Brazilian snacks and drinks. Food and beverages cost extra.
“I had such a fun and lovely day on this tour! Leticia was friendly, energetic, and made everyone feel comfortable. The group was great and the atmosphere was full of good vibes. I’d definitely recommend this experience to anyone visiting São Paulo! 🌿”
Travel from Rio to Petrópolis with an accredited guide, visit the Imperial Museum, cathedral, Crystal Palace, and Quitandinha Palace, then tour Bohemia Brewery with three tastings. Rafael has earned praise for guiding in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, though language support can vary.
“Very nice walk, lots of history, beautiful road. We really liked Petropolis and were surprised. Very good food, excellent brewery! All very good! We recommend it.Auto-translated”
Start at Urcabar in Urca for a shared speedboat ride of about three hours. You’ll cruise toward the Cagarras Islands, stop for swimming, and enjoy beer, water, soda, and floats. Captains such as Antonio and Ricardo have been praised for friendly service, though the route and commentary can vary.
“Captain antonio was super friendly, i loved the speed boat trip, we stopped at 2 spots and had a nice swim and we had a chance to take amazing photos as the boat moved in different angles revealing the magical beauty of rio de janeiro.”
Join hosts such as Jena, Diego, Pétala, or Rodrigo for a four to five-hour night through Vila Madalena. Start with an hour of open bar and drinking games, enjoy a caipirinha at Ô de Casa, then finish with samba and funk at two lively clubs.
“It was fun night with a good group of people! The hosts did a great job and we went to cool places. I would suggest this to anyone”
Spend about nine hours touring Petrópolis from Rio, with stops at the Imperial Museum, cathedral, Crystal Palace, Quitandinha Palace, and Santos Dumont’s house. The day ends with a Bohemia Brewery visit and three tastings. Pickup, lunch, transport, and key admissions are included.
“Our guide was great. Got to see all the important parts of Petropolis. However, the bus driver was unsafe. He was regularly looking at his phone while driving, checking WhatsApp and leaving messages. At one point he was looking at photos on another persons phone while driving at speed in merging traffic, and nearly crashed.”
Spend nine hours exploring Petrópolis from Rio with bilingual guide support, round-trip transport, and entrance tickets. See Quitandinha, the Imperial Museum, Saint Peter of Alcantara Cathedral, and the Crystal Palace, with time for Casa do Alemão and Santos Dumont’s home. Santos Dumont entry is optional.
“Educational trip, our tour guide Julio was funny and attentive. He's also multilingual - speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese.”
Board at Urca Pier for a three-hour private or small-group speedboat ride past Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana, Arpoador, Niterói, and Cagarras Islands. Captain Rafael may guide you in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, with beer, soda, and water included.
“me gustaría un tour en español o en otro idioma solo hablo en portugués”
Join Rio Island Boat Tour for a three-hour sunset cruise from Urca, limited to eight people. Sail past Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana, Arpoador, and Niterói, with swimming stops, soft music, and a Heineken toast. Guides speak English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Spend five hours with a Portuguese-speaking guide such as Vini or Vinnie, moving by private vehicle through Vila Madalena and Jardins. Expect rooftop views, a historic cellar bar, live music, dancing, and late-night food stops. Drinks, food, and some entry fees cost extra.
“We had an unforgettable time on the tour with Vini! The mix of rooftop views, hidden gems, and diverse bars made it an incredible experience. Each stop had its own unique charm, whether it was savoring craft cocktails under the stars, enjoying live music in an upbeat venue, or enjoying some local food. The variety was amazing, and we felt like we got a true taste of São Paulo's nightlife scene. Cheers to an incredible guide and an unforgettable night!”
Pick a summit, a shoreline or a dancefloor.
