Total Rio Tour - Full day tour in Rio de Janeiro

For this Rio de Janeiro city tour, meet at the magnificent and classic Copacabana Palace Hotel. Take the subway downtown and learn how to use this excellent means of transportation inRio, a great way to orientate yourself with this large city. Hop off at Carioca Station and wander through the Financial District, home of huge companies such as Petrobras and BNDES. Visit Carioca Square, once the main source of drinking water inRio, transported in by the Aqueducts of Lapa.
Climb on the a tram for the journey up to Santa Teresa, a 20 minutes ride over the aqueducts which are now used as the tram route. This is the last tram line in Brazil for transportation purpose. Next stop -Largodos Guimaraes. Explore the cobblestone streets of Santa Teresa on foot and discover beautiful architecture, art galleries, restaurants and local costumes.  One of Rio's oldest neighbourhoods, Santa Teresa, situated high on a hill overlooking Rio, enchants locals and visitors alike with its cobbled streets and eclectic architectural styles.  The views of the city centre and the bay are stunning.  Previously a neighbourhood dominated by the elite, with their departure to more modern suburbs of Rio it has been transformed into an artistic centre with many artists choosing the area as their preferred place of residence.
Among the attractions in Santa Teresa, the highlights are the Chacara do Ceu Museum, the Ruins Park and its gorgeous view over Rio de Janeiro Downtown and Guanabara Bay. Many visitors compare the neighboorhood to the bohemian district of Montmartre in Paris. During the Carnival, many street bands perform on the streets and the most famous one is “Bloco das Carmelitas”, which was named after the local Convent.
On the way back towards Lapa District drop by the Carmelitas’ Convent and clamber down the picturesque "Selaron’s Staircase" to see his masterpiece and meet its mentor.
Blessed with the most stunning natural setting, Rio de Janeiro is a city that is as famous for its beauty as it is for its poverty. Stretching up into the mountains that hug glistening Guanabara Bay are the city’s vast, and often misunderstood, shantytowns known as favelas.
Next we give you a unique insiders view into the rea l Rio, from its beautiful vistas to one of its favelas made famous in Michael Jackson’s ‘they don’t care about us’ music video. A birds-eye-view of the city at the base of the Statue of Christ. This enormous white statue keeps constant watch over Rio, offering sweeping 360 degree views of the city’s natural wonders: beaches, lagoons, forests, bays and mountains that seem to rise from the ocean.
It’s no wonder that the ‘Cristo’ statue was recently selected as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Soak up the views, pick out some ofRio’s most famous sights, and snap a must-have picture before getting a very different view of the city.
Next, it’s time to trade in this tourist icon for something less visited, and step into theSanta Marta favela. Accompanied by your local guide, wander through the community, meeting the people who live here and seeing the places made famous in the Michael Jackson video. Stroll the narrow alleys, learn about local life and dispel some of the myths about these vibrant communities.
In the heart of the favela, take a moment to admire the breathtaking views over Guanabara Bayand Botafogo area from Michael Jackson’s lookout. For anyone wishing to experience the realRioyou simply can’t miss this experience. From beautiful vistas and iconic locations, to some of the communities that have helped make this city the melting pot that it is, you’re sure to find Rio a captivating and complex place that can steal your heart forever.