15 Day Trips in Brazil to Give a Whole Day To

1.From Rio: Arraial do Cabo Day Trip with Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 400 reviews · 14 hours · from $65Our pick

Travel from Rio with a multilingual guide to Arraial do Cabo, then board a traditional schooner for Ilha do Farol, Prainhas do Pontal, and Praia do Forno. You’ll also see Gruta Azul and Fenda de Nossa Senhora. The trip lasts about 14 hours, with lunch optional.

“This is a great trip, pick-up right on time. The driver & guide were amazing, making sure everyone had a lovely day. I was the only English speaking person on the tour, but the guid took care of translating everything. The boat trip is actually amazing, fantastic views and great atmosphere on board. Big shoutout to the drive and guide for providing such a great day!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.From Rio de Janeiro: Petrópolis Day Trip with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 203 reviews · 12 hours · from $48

Spend about 12 hours traveling from Rio into the hills of Petrópolis, with hotel pickup, an English, Portuguese, or Spanish guide, and admission to the Imperial Museum. Visit Quitandinha Palace, the cathedral, Crystal Palace, Santos-Dumont’s house, and optionally Bohemia Brewery. Rafael, Julio, and Mama Chris have earned special praise for clear guiding.

“Just nice to get out of the city and into the mountains.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.From Rio de Janeiro: Arraial do Cabo Island Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 192 reviews · 14 hours · from $67

Travel from Rio to Arraial do Cabo for a boat trip past Praia do Forno, Ilha do Farol, Blue Grotto, and Fenda de Nossa Senhora. English, Portuguese, and Spanish guides lead the day. Expect clear water, brief stops, buffet lunch, and a journey of up to 14 hours.

“The excursion was nice and well organised, although for someone who travels for the first time in Rio, Angra dos Reis is more interesting to visit.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Day Trip to the Argentinian Side of Iguassu Falls from Foz do Iguaçu

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 177 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $58

Travel from Foz do Iguaçu into Argentina with a local guide such as Roberto, Henrique, or Bhrennon. Walk Iguazú’s Lower and Upper Circuits, ride toward Devil’s Throat, and handle the border crossing with help. Park fees, food, taxes, and visas are extra.

“It is not so easy to appreciate the beauty of the Iguassu-Falls when thousands of other people want to see the same Falls at the same time but with a bit of patience it is possible to see 'all'.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Full-day excursion Lencois Marnahenses, Lagoa Azul & Lagoa Bonita combined

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 171 reviews

Join LencoisPrime EcoTour for a full day in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. A 4x4 takes you to Lagoa Azul, a regional lunch stop, and Lagoa Bonita for dune views, swimming, and sunset. Guides speak Portuguese, while private and small-group options are available.

“Sébastien was very kind and had bring us a little snack and water bottle for the day trip. A very nice attention. The tour was amazing and the experience is highly recommended ! Thank”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.From São Paulo: Santos, São Vicente & Guarujá Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 165 reviews · 12 hours · from $110

Spend 12 hours with a bilingual guide such as Mauricio exploring Santos’ Coffee Museum, São Vicente’s Itararé Beach and cable car, and Guarujá’s Enseada Beach. The small group is limited to seven, with hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and free time for lunch and swimming.

“We enjoyed the tour and the company of the other tourists”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Rio de Janeiro: Tijuca Forest Challenge Hike Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 163 reviews · 9 hours · from $86Top rated

Spend about five hours on a hard 10.4km Tijuca Forest circuit with a bilingual guide such as Gustavo, Ricardo, Pietro, or Tito. Climb Taquara Hill, visit Cascatinha Taunay, old coffee-farm ruins, caves, and a waterfall, then return by vehicle to Rio’s South Zone.

“Great day with Ricardo our tour guide, who had lots of interesting conversation and knowledge. The hike was as expected length wise, and good for those who want a bit longer in the jungle than the other half-day tours. Mostly in-shade so walk is hot but at least not in direct sunlight for the most part. Saw monkeys, raccoons, frogs and lots of nice wildlife.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.From Manaus: Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls Daytrip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 149 reviews · 12 hours · from $90

Travel from Manaus to Presidente Figueiredo with an English or Portuguese-speaking guide. Visit two waterfalls, walk through Gruta do Refugio, see cave wildlife, swim in natural pools, and enjoy included lunch with local fish or meat.

“I was only one on this tour. There was a driver and a guide who could translate in English. Very friendly people. They pick me up from Novotel Hotel and went about 2 hour drive to water fall. These water falls from Amazon forest. We walked through caves and saw the first waterfall. Guide took photo & video. I could sit in middle of waterfall. It is enjoyable time. Then we went to Lunch. we had Tambaqui fish for lunch. It is very big and tasty. Even three people can eat this dish. Lunch was covered in the cost. Then we went to se3cond water fall. Water from the fall…”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.From Rio: Arraial do Cabo – The Brazilian Caribbean Daytrip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 56 reviews · 14 hours · from $65

Travel from Rio to Arraial do Cabo for a full-day coastal outing with air-conditioned transport, a schooner boat, three swim stops, Farol Beach, Gruta Azul, and an all-you-can-eat lunch. Expect a long day, loud music, and weather-dependent sailing.

“Hermoso lugar, aunque preferiría que la música del barco no fuera tan invasiva. El almuerzo correcto, pero poco variado.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Salvador: Praia Do Forte and Guarajuba Beach Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 56 reviews · 8 hours · from $43

Leave your centrally located Salvador hotel for Bahia’s North Coast, following the Coconut Road past Itapuã and Abaeté Lagoon. Visit Praia do Forte, explore its fishing village, and optionally enter Projeto Tamar before relaxing at Guarajuba Beach. Lunch and Tamar admission cost extra.

Check availability →Read our full review

11.From Búzios: Arraial do Cabo and Cabo Frio Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 53 reviews · 7 hours · from $79

From Búzios, ride to Arraial do Cabo for a boat trip past Lighthouse Island, Blue Grotto, Pontal do Atalaia, and Forno Beach. You’ll swim at three stops, eat at a buffet restaurant, and take a Cabo Frio city tour, though weather or timing can affect the plan. Guide Leo has been praised for his help.

“le spiagge di Arrial do Cabo, sono fantastiche come ai Caraibi. Purtroppo per il tour non si può dire lo stesso. Presi in hotel alle 8.20 a Buzios con una macchina ci hanno ad portato ad Arrial do Cabo. Arrivati lì ore 9.20 abbiamo aspettato quasi 2 ore prima che la nostra barca lasciasse il porto. Lasciato la banchina ore 11.15. Visto 4 spiagge di cui solo 2 visitabili solo via gommone. Alle 15.15 rientro in porto. Fermati a mangiare e ritorno a Buzios. La sosta di Cabo Frio inserita nel programma e non fatta? Sicuramente esperienza da non ripetere. Peccato”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Búzios Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 43 reviews · 12 hours · from $94

Travel from Rio to Búzios, stroll its tidy seaside center, then cruise past Bones, Azeda, João Fernandes, Tartaruga, Boi, and Rasa beaches. A bilingual guide leads the day, with buffet lunch included. Pick-up covers Rio’s South Zone and downtown.

“Hate this activity. If you like being on a buss with 60 people and a boat with a 160 capacity then please join this S****.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Boa Viagem or Piedade: Olinda and Recife Antigo Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 31 reviews · 7 hours · from $28

Travel from Boa Viagem or Piedade to Olinda and Recife Antigo with a Portuguese or Spanish-speaking guide. See Alto da Sé, Bom Jesus Street, the first synagogue in the Americas, Marco Zero, Brennand sculptures, and local crafts. Hotel transport is included, but some local vehicle fees may apply.

“waste of time and money: slow walk from souvenirs markets to shops with (half)hour stops in them, no churches, convents or other interesting places visited, just passing by... dropped it in the middle and continued on our own”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.From Fortaleza: Day Trip to Jericoacoara

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 28 reviews · 18 hours · from $43

Ride from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara by coach and 4x4, crossing dunes to the Sloth Tree, Lagun Beach, Jericoacoara village, and Paradise Lagoon. English, Portuguese, and Spanish support is available, but confirm your pickup time and language before departure.

“We spent almost a whole full day. Just two hours before starting the tour we were informe about the change in the pickup time (initially we expected to be picked up at 4:00, then at 3:00 and finally at 2:30 am. We reached our hotel next day at 1:00am). The guide is only Portuguese speaker so it was a bit tough to understand the whole planning. Our 4x4 jeep driver was the best. Very helpful and he tried to speak Portunol to make him understand). The places we visited were nice though but not much information about them. We missed more time in the second Lagun Beach club instead of…”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Fortaleza: Cumbuco Beach Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 23 reviews · 10 hours · from $11Best value

Leave Fortaleza’s seafront for a full day at Cumbuco Beach, 30 kilometers away. An English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide handles hotel pickup, transport, and return. You can swim, eat by the sand, try a buggy ride, slide down dunes, or take part in wind and kite sports.

“Pünktliche Abholung vor dem Appartement, sauberer Van. leider hat es so viel geregnet, dass man fast nichts unternehmen konnte im combuco. ich würde die Aktivität eher Familien empfehlen, weil man zu einem kleinen Erlebnispark gefahren wird. Kan kann nämlich schon mit dem Uber für ~80 R$ nach combuco von Fortaleza.”

Check availability →Read our full review