The 14 Best Morning Tours in Rio de Janeiro

1.Sunrise and Sunrise Walk Two Brothers with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 193 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $64Our pick

Meet your local guide at Praça do Vidigal before dawn or near sunset. Ride a community motor taxi or van to the trailhead, then hike 1.5 km through Atlantic Forest to Morro Dois Irmãos at 533 meters. Guides such as Rodrigo, Milena, Leo, Jessie, and Robinson lead the walk, provide lanterns, and help with photos.

“I spent a whole week in Rio, and this hike was my absolute best experience. I was a little nervous before the motor ride, but it went quite well. The hike isn't easy, but it's well worth it. The view and sunset were simply fantastic. My guide was very good.”

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2.Sunrise at Observatory & Christ the Redeemer

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 144 reviews · 6 hours · from $143

Start around 4:00 to 5:00 am with guide Marco, Jasmine, or another trilingual host, then watch sunrise at Dona Marta, visit Christ the Redeemer, and walk the Selarón Steps. A small group, air-conditioned vehicle, shuttle entry, local breakfast, and guide-taken photos make this a strong first morning in Rio.

“The trip was well organized, we did not have to wait for the lines and the breakfast was nice. Would certainly recommend”

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3.Sunrise Lookout and Christ the Redeemer Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 121 reviews · 3 hours · from $98

Start before dawn with hotel pickup from Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Centro, or Botafogo. Watch sunrise from Dona Marta Lookout, then reach Christ the Redeemer before the main crowds. Guides such as Ederson, Eddie, and Yasmin provide history, photo help, breakfast, and bilingual support during this three-hour shared tour.

“Ederson is an excellent guide and we had a fantastic trip. He ensured we were able to get good positions for photos and helped us take some amazing photos and videos. His English is impeccable and I would strongly recommend this trip to anyone wanting a beautiful view of Rio and some time for exclusive photos at Christ the Redeemer before the crowds arrive! Thank you Ederson! See you soon”

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4.Dois Irmãos Peak Sunrise, Day or Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 94 reviews · 3h 30m · from $54

Meet your guide at Vidigal’s blue steps, ride a moto-taxi to the trailhead, then walk about an hour through forest to Dois Irmãos Peak. Choose sunrise, daytime, or sunset. Guides including Milena, Nathalia, Nat, and Thainá add local insight, help with photos, and set a comfortable pace.

“We had a great tour. The view is spectacular and the information in between is really good. If you are in Rio I really recommend the tour. Especially our guide Nat was perfect. She knows Rio very well and gives you a lot of information. We did the Favela trip after the sunrise tour also and it was “nice” to get more info about the living there.”

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5.Private Sunrise Tour at Mirante Dona Marta

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 81 reviews · 2h 30m

Leave your Rio hotel around 5:00 AM for Mirante Dona Marta, 360 meters above sea level. Guide Guilherme provides private transport, local insight, and photo help in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. You get about an hour at the lookout for sunrise, then return by roughly 7:30 AM.

“Our driver picked us up on time. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. We arrived at the outlook and had the best spot to see the sunrise. He also provided us with much history in English, on the way to and from our hotel. It was a very enjoyable morning.”

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6.Sunrise at Morro 2 Irmãos – Vidigal – Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Meet your guide at 4:00 am in Praça do Vidigal for a motorbike taxi ride up the favela, then hike about one hour to Morro Dois Irmãos. Christian and Junior are among the guides associated with the experience. After sunrise, walk back through Vidigal and return to the meeting point.

“Had a wonderful time and hike up the Two brothers hill with Chris ! Highly recommend. Felt safe the entire time”

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7.Christ Redeemer by Train & City Highlights Morning Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 74 reviews · 5 hours · from $92

You’ll ride the Corcovado Train through tropical forest to Christ the Redeemer, then visit Rio’s Metropolitan Cathedral and Selarón Steps while viewing Maracanã and the Sambódromo from outside. Pickup covers South Zone hotels. Guides speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian, with João and Alberto praised for clear, caring commentary.

“de tour was erg leuk!! we hebben heel veel gezien van de stad.”

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8.Morning Sailing Tour in Rio

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 59 reviews · 3 hours · from $58

Spend three hours on Guanabara Bay with an English-speaking crew, sailing past Rio’s forts, Sugar Loaf, Christ the Redeemer, and Niterói’s Niemeyer museum. Clarisse, Karina, Laiane, and Captains Apolo and João have earned warm praise for friendly service. Drinks, caipirinhas, beer, sparkling wine, juice, and snacks are included.

“HUGE success...so much fun. Crew was amazing! Clarisse was a STAR and Captain João was amazing. Obrigado!”

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9.Tour to Mirante Dona Marta at sunrise with guide and photos!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $114

Leave your Southern Zone hotel around 3:30 a.m. for Mirante Dona Marta, where a guide takes sunrise photos using your phone. Thales has a sharp eye for portraits, and the small shared group, capped at 10, keeps the visit easygoing. The lookout works on cloudy days, but rain cancels the outing.

“T and T were great guides! Fun, safe and very knowledgeable! Thales has a very good eye for taking the right photos! Really enjoyed being with both of them!”

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10.Morning tour at Lençóis Maranhenses (Lagoa Azul)

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 45 reviews · 5 hours · from $44Best value

From Barreirinhas, you’ll ride about an hour to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, walk over the dunes, and visit two seasonal lagoons. You’ll have about 30 minutes to swim at each stop. The route uses either the Lagoa Azul or Lagoa da Prata circuit, depending on lagoon depth. Hotel pickup and a Portuguese-speaking guide are included.

“Wspaniała wycieczka. Odbiór prosto z hotelu. Środowisko międzynarodowe, bardzo miłe. Laguny i wydmy są przecudowne. Polecam”

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11.Stand-Up Paddle – Copacabana Beach Sunrise

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 39 reviews · 1h 30m · from $70

Meet near Posto 6 beside the Fairmont and Fisherman colony Z-13 for a 90-minute sunrise SUP outing. An instructor explains the basics, supplies your board, paddle, life jacket, locker, and waterproof phone case, then leads you toward Copacabana Fort and the open water. The experience suits beginners aged 12 and older, but confirm the meeting point and photo package before booking.

“Pior experiência da minha vida! Conselho que dou é NÃO FAÇAM. Primeiro que fui no ponto de encontro e não tinha ninguém lá, cheguei 4h15 e o horário marcado era às 4h30. Daí fiquei em plena madrugada do Rio esperando responderem as minhas mensagem ou atenderem as minhas ligações e nada. Daí tive que ir na orla da praia saindo de quiosque em quiosque procurando o responsável pela atividade. Só conseguir fazer pois tinha um lá que tinha parceria com a “ empresa” ao qual contratei, caso contrário não iria conseguir fazer a atividade. O rapaz que me atendeu me passou a informação que eles não tinham mais o ponto…”

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12.Corcovado Express: Morning Tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $77

Start early from Copacabana or a selected hotel in Leblon, Ipanema, or Copacabana, then ride by air-conditioned minivan to Corcovado. A guide such as Sabina or Carmen leads the visit through Tijuca Forest to Christ the Redeemer, with Dona Marta as a weather backup. The tour lasts about three hours and includes park transport.

“Great tour. Our tour guide, Sabina, was excellent. Tour started on time and delivered as advertised. Highly recommend.”

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13.Sunrise at Morro Dois Irmãos + Vidigal Favela Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 35 reviews · 4 hours · from $65

Start before sunrise with a guided hike up Morro Dois Irmãos, then descend through Vidigal Favela with Beatriz or another Portuguese, English, or Spanish-speaking guide. Expect steep and possibly slippery sections, sweeping views of Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, and Rio’s beaches, plus time to learn about local life. Comfortable shoes are essential.

“Everything was on time and ran smoothy such a great experience highly recommend! Beatriz was an amazing tour guide her knowledge of the area is unmatched!”

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14.Copacabana Sunrise Stand Up Paddleboard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 6 reviews · 1h 30m · from $58

Meet at the red turtle tent on Avenida Atlântica and walk one minute to Copacabana Beach. An English- or Spanish-speaking instructor provides your board, paddle, leash, life jacket, and instruction before you paddle into the sunrise. Photos and videos are included, with lockers available. You need to be at least 15 and able to swim.

“Vue magnifique. Mais on a pas le droit de s'arrêter 2 secondes pour prendre une photo. Les moniteurs ne font que crier qu'il faut avancer. Plus stressant qu'autre chose. 1 seconde à l'arrêt et on se fait crier dessus. Pas relaxant pour admirer la vue”

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