Búzios: Speedboat tour of 2 islands and 11 beaches

Búzios is at its best from the water, and this private speedboat tour gives you a fast, flexible way to reach 11 beaches and up to three islands in one outing. You can swim, use the floats and snorkels, or simply enjoy the coast from the boat while your group controls the mood.

I especially like the private boat for up to 11 people, which makes this a strong choice for families and groups who want their own space. I also like the onboard grill, cooler, ice, bathroom, and freshwater hose. The main catch is that food and drinks are not provided, and the longer route packs many stops into one day.

Key points at a glance

• Three island stops or pass-bys: Swim at Ilha Feia, then see Branca Island and Ilha do Caboclo from the water.
• A true private outing: Your group can fill the boat with up to 11 passengers without sharing it with strangers.
• Bring your own barbecue: The grill and utensils are supplied, while you provide the meat, drinks, and other food.
• Eight swimming stops: Tartaruga, Azeda, João Fernandes, Azedinha, Ossos, Amores, João Fernandinho, and Ilha Feia are included.
• Useful boat equipment: You get a bathroom, cooler, 10 kilograms of ice, water, floats, a mattress, and snorkels.
• Best for active groups: Expect repeated boarding, swimming, and moving between beaches rather than a quiet sightseeing cruise.

Why seeing Búzios by boat makes sense

Búzios has many attractive beaches, but reaching several of them by road can take time. A boat lets you view the coast from a different angle and move between coves without repeatedly finding parking or walking from one beach to another.

This tour follows the north coast and combines well-known beaches with islands that are harder to visit independently. You get short stops at several places, plus brief sightseeing passes where the boat does not anchor for swimming.

The private format matters. Up to 11 people can share the cost, choose their own food, and enjoy the boat without a mixed group. At the listed price of $522 per group, the per-person cost becomes much more reasonable when you have a full party. For two or three people, the same price feels far steeper.

You can choose a four-hour or seven-hour outing. The longer option is the one to consider if you want most of the listed coast. The published stop plan gives about 30 minutes at many beaches, but the route also includes travel time and short sightseeing passes, so do not expect a full beach day at every stop.

Boarding at three Búzios marinas

You can board at Sailboat Harbor Búzios, Pier de Búzios, or BR Marinas Búzios. After booking, contact the operator through WhatsApp or email to state your preferred pier and receive the exact instructions.

The boat waits near the agreed pier. You need to message the crew when you arrive so they can bring the boat in for boarding. Search for the Albatroz Búzios vessel at the agreed location.

One practical cost can catch you by surprise: pier use and access to a land-based bathroom are not included. The stated fee depends on the pier and is R$10. Bring that small amount, and use the boat bathroom during the outing if needed.

The listed captain speaks Portuguese. Online support is available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, which helps with planning, but do not assume the person steering the boat will conduct the trip in English.

Tartaruga starts the swimming day

Praia da Tartaruga is the first scheduled stop, with about 30 minutes of free time. This early pause gives you a chance to get into the water, try the floats, or use a snorkel before the route gets busy with stops.

The boat carries a floating mat and noodle floats, so you do not need to bring your own water toys. Snorkeling equipment is also supplied, though the material does not promise a particular level of underwater visibility or marine life.

Thirty minutes goes quickly. If your group wants a long swim, a relaxed lunch, and time on several beaches, you may find the seven-hour option more comfortable than the shorter version.

Azeda and Azedinha offer two different pauses

Azeda Beach is one of the main stops, followed later by Azedinha Beach. Both are given about 30 minutes, allowing you to compare two nearby coastal settings rather than spending the whole day in one place.

The route also includes a visit to Ossos Beach, which helps connect the natural scenery with Búzios’ settled waterfront. You can expect a mix of swimming, boat views, and short shore visits rather than a single uninterrupted cruise.

The schedule is active. If you leave the boat at a beach, keep track of the meeting time. The boat is designed to keep moving, and a late return could affect the rest of your group’s route.

João Fernandes and João Fernandinho bring more water time

João Fernandes Beach and João Fernandinho Beach are separate stops, each with about 30 minutes of free time. These are good places to use the floats, take a swim, or stay on the boat and enjoy the water from the mattress.

The tour also passes the nearby beaches of Virgem, Gêmeas, Canto, and Armação. Those beaches are sightseeing-only on this route, so plan your expectations carefully. You will see them from the boat, but you will not stop there for swimming.

That distinction is useful when comparing this trip with a slower charter. The attraction here is coverage. You see a lot of the coast in one day, but you do not get a long stay at every beach.

Ilha Feia is the main island swimming stop

Ilha Feia receives about 30 minutes of free time and is the clearest island stop for getting into the water. The boat’s snorkels, floats, and freshwater hose are useful here, especially if you want to rinse off salt water before the next part of the route.

The tour also passes Branca Island and Ilha do Caboclo. Branca Island receives about 10 minutes of sightseeing, while Ilha do Caboclo is another short viewing stop. These passes add variety, but they are not beach breaks.

The description allows for up to three islands, but the experience is not three equal island visits. Expect one proper island swimming stop and two short sightseeing views.

Ossos, Amores, and the final beach stops

Ossos Beach is listed as a 30-minute visit, while Amores Beach gives you about 30 minutes of free time. These stops break up the longer north coast route and offer more chances to swim or relax away from the boat’s main seating area.

João Fernandinho comes later in the schedule, with another 30-minute free-time stop. The order and exact timing may vary with operating conditions, so use the published plan as a guide rather than a promise that every stop will happen at precisely the same minute.

The short stops are ideal for a group that likes movement. They are less suitable if your perfect beach day means settling under an umbrella for several hours.

Bring the food for your barbecue

The onboard grill is one of the tour’s most practical features. The boat includes a barbecue and utensils, charcoal, a cooler, 10 kilograms of ice, and mineral water. You bring the meat, drinks, side dishes, plates, and anything else your group wants to eat.

This arrangement can work very well for a private group. You choose the menu, buy only what you need, and turn the boat into a floating lunch spot. It also means you need to plan before boarding. Do not arrive expecting a catered meal or a stocked bar.

The operator supplies mineral water but no other food or drinks. The boat has a grill, but the information does not promise a dedicated cook, so your group should be ready to handle the barbecue and keep food organized.

Use sealed containers and modest portions. A boat is not a full kitchen, and loose bags can get in the way when people are swimming, moving between seats, and using the cooler.

What the boat includes for comfort

The vessel holds up to 11 passengers and has a bathroom, Bluetooth sound system, mattress, grill, cooler, floats, snorkels, and a freshwater hose. Complete safety and rescue equipment is also carried onboard.

That list tells you what kind of day this is. You get the basics for swimming and eating, plus practical comfort for several hours at sea. The bathroom is particularly helpful because some beach stops include only a short visit and land-based bathroom access costs extra at the pier.

Towels are not supplied, so bring your own. Food and drinks need to come from you, and the boat does not provide anything beyond mineral water.

The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. Non-folding wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, and baby carriages are not allowed. If anyone in your party has mobility needs, confirm the boarding conditions before paying.

How much value do you get for $522?

The price is listed as $522 per private group of up to 11 people. That is not a cheap solo excursion, but it can be good value for a full group because the price does not rise with each passenger up to the stated limit.

For 10 people, the cost works out to roughly $52 per person. For 11, it is about $47 per person, before any pier fee or optional tip. That compares differently with a shared boat, where you may pay less but have less control over food, timing, music, and seating.

For a couple, the value is harder to defend unless privacy is your top priority. You are paying for the whole boat, not only two seats. Families, birthday groups, cruise friends, and small wedding parties are better matches.

The package also includes fuel, the captain, ice, water, grill equipment, safety gear, floats, and snorkels. You still need to budget for groceries, drinks, pier use, and tips.

What the public feedback tells me about the service

The available feedback is uniformly positive, with a perfect five-star rating from 14 reviews. The most consistent praise centers on friendly, professional service, punctuality, swimming, and the fun of sharing the boat with a full group.

Two crew names appear in the feedback: Micael and Matías. One comment specifically praises Micael, while another calls Matías friendly and says the group enjoyed swimming, the beaches, and the barbecue. A separate comment describes the driver as professional and friendly.

That is useful, but keep the names in perspective. You may not receive the same crew member on your date. The strongest practical message is that the operator has experience handling private outings and helping with the day’s details.

One group of 10 had enough room for everyone to enjoy the boat, which supports the stated capacity. If your party is close to 11, remember that space will feel more compact than it would with six or seven people, especially once food, bags, towels, and coolers are onboard.

A cruise stop can also work, but time matters. One person enjoyed the outing but wished for more time because the ship stop was short. If you are visiting Búzios from a cruise ship, confirm the tour duration, boarding location, and return timing with extra care.

Who should book this private speedboat?

I would choose this for a group that wants coastline coverage and privacy more than long beach stays. It suits friends who want to swim, listen to music, barbecue, and move between several beaches without sharing the boat.

It also works well for families who value a bathroom and the freedom to bring familiar food. The floats and snorkels help keep the day simple, especially when children or less confident swimmers want options beyond sitting on the shore.

I would think twice if you dislike boats, need wheelchair access, want catered meals, or prefer one beach for a whole afternoon. The route is busy, the captain speaks Portuguese, and you must organize your own food and drinks.

The four-hour option may suit a cruise passenger or anyone with a tight schedule. The seven-hour option is the better choice if you want the complete north coast plan and enough time to swim at several stops.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you have a group of up to 11 and want a private day on the water with many short beach stops. The combination of a grill, cooler, ice, water, floats, snorkels, and a bathroom gives you more than a bare transport boat.

Skip it if the price is being split between only one or two people, or if you want a relaxed stay at one beach. Before confirming, message the operator with your preferred pier, check whether the four-hour or seven-hour route fits your plans, and shop for food and drinks in advance.

For a full group that sees Búzios as a coastal playground rather than a place to sit still, this is a practical and enjoyable way to spend the day.

FAQ

How many people can ride on the boat?

The private speedboat can carry up to 11 passengers.

How long does the tour last?

You can choose a four-hour or seven-hour duration. Starting times depend on availability.

Which beaches are included as swimming or free-time stops?

The route includes Tartaruga, Azeda, Ilha Feia, João Fernandes, Azedinha, Ossos, Amores, and João Fernandinho as free-time or visit stops.

Which islands does the boat visit?

Ilha Feia includes free time. Branca Island and Ilha do Caboclo are sightseeing stops of about 10 minutes each.

Does the tour include food and drinks?

No. You must bring your own food and drinks. Mineral water is included, but no other food or beverages are provided.

Can I barbecue on the boat?

Yes. The boat includes a grill, barbecue utensils, charcoal, a cooler, ice, and water. You provide the meat and other food.

What equipment is available for swimming?

The boat includes snorkels, a floating mat, noodle floats, and a mattress. It also has a freshwater hose for rinsing off.

Where does the boat depart?

You can choose Sailboat Harbor Búzios, Pier de Búzios, or BR Marinas Búzios. Contact the operator through WhatsApp or email to confirm the chosen pier and boarding details.

Is the tour accessible for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and non-folding wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, and baby carriages are not allowed.