We did a 2 day tour in one day and this river walk boat ride was lovely! Thankful it wasn't on a super hot day but even so the tour had a few shaded areas. Tour guide was informative and funny. I grabbed a slice of pizza thinking I had plenty time they had boarded already and waited on me. Thanks so much!! The boat ride provided a good overview of what's offered along the strip. We noted places to dine and a couple of hotels to check out in the future. The next day was a parade and that was fun. Would not have known had it not been for tour guide May 29, 2026 read more

I hopped on the Go Rio San Antonio River Cruise thinking, "Alright, Texas Venice... let's not get carried away." Five minutes in boom full-blown water gun war. I'm talking grown adults acting like unsupervised 8-year-olds. Drinks flying, people ducking, one girl fighting for her dignity like her top came off ... and I'm pretty sure we came within inches of flipping that boat into the San Antonio River Walk. Meanwhile, the captain's just cruising along like, "This is fine. This is my Tuesday." Daytime? Beautiful, classy, postcard stuff. Nighttime? Turns into a floating bar fight with better lighting and a tour guide doing stand-up. End result: I came for a relaxing boat ride... Left feeling like I survived a low-speed aquatic bar brawl in one of the best spots in Texas. read more

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This was a great little cruise. Only 35 min for $12.50 with military discount. Our captain was knowledgeable and entertaining. Is it worth the drive?...yes read more

This is a popular river walk tour that last 30 minutes. My tour guide was nice and tried to crack some jokes. It was crowded and they packed us on the boat like sardines. The process to get on the boat could be explained better. Didn't know if we had to go to any stop or the main one. Tickets are too expensive. The city is making a killing. Just think15 a person with a packed boat every 30 minutes all day and I went o a typical weekend and it was a line to get on the boat. Always a wait no matter the time. Wear comfy shoes for the wait. Decent tour. Natives to the state get a discount. When it was time to get on people were just running up. I don't honestly think the guy checked tickets properly. I am pretty sure some got a free ride congrats to them. read more

Went on a tour with a group of coworkers and we had an enjoyable time. Our tour guide was knowledgeable of the history around the area while making it fun. It's a quick 20-30 min ride around. You're able to buy drinks when you purchase a ticket. The boats are running regularly you really don't need to buy ahead. read more

Our tour guide, Patrick, was fantastic. Tour was relaxing and informational. It ran every 20 mins so it's convenient. Must do if visiting the Riverwalk. And please tip your guide, stop being cheapskates! read more

Go Rio Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Taking a boat ride along the river and canals of downtown San Antonio is fun, relaxing, and a great way to see the areas of Riverwalk without actually walking it. From what I could tell, there are three places you can board a boat; one at the Shops at RiverCenter next to Alamo Biscuit and two other spots along the restaurant area of Riverwalk. You purchase tickets at those locations and can also purchase drinks (beverages are allowed on the boats but not food). The ride lasts about half an hour and boats seem to leave every 15 minutes or so...it didn't seem like there's a set schedule. Everyone recommended the best time to float down the river was at night. I agree as the lights at night are cool and activity along the Riverwalk seems to be more vibrant. We actually did both - once during the day and once at night. The day one we did mostly because we'd been walking around and just needed a rest. Both are great experiences. But I think a lot of the enjoyment comes from whoever is driving the boat. For our day ride the fellow was a non-stop, rapid-fire talker, telling a lot of lame jokes with a bit of history thrown in now and then. It felt like he was doing a bad open-mic stand-up routine which at times got annoying. For our night ride, our female guide focused on history and sights with a joke thrown in every now and then. She was more laid back with her presentation which made the trip much more enjoyable. Whatever the time of day and whoever you randomly get steering your boat, it's worth it to take a boat cruise. read more

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this is the company that operates the Riverwalk cruise and they're awesome. We had an experienced guide who took us through all the nooks and crannies of the river. They're friendly and let you bring beverages on board. another tourist offered me a big ole can of Corona because she was going to bring the party back to her hotel, but then they stopped to get cocktails for the cruise and now she didn't want the beer, so thanks lady! The Riverwalk is well lit and the bridges are beautiful and this is so much better of a tour of downtown compared to a Hop On Hop Off. Great location too. I was staying at a hotel next to the Dennys and before I knew it, I found a stairway next to Fogo de Cho and you take it down and the convenience store where they sell the tickets are right there and that's where you start your tour. And the ticket price is completely reasonable for what you get. I was really happy with the whole experience and so glad I did this. read more

This was really our first time to thoroughly check out the San Antonio River Walk, so what better way to experience it than to take a river cruise. My wife found Go Rio Cruises online and it seemed to have good reviews. Well, she did well, because Go Rio Cruises was an absolutely fantastic experience. We were able to sit, relax and enjoy a beverage while getting a river view of the River Walk experience. Our guide was fabulous, full of information and LOTS of humor. He really made it worthwhile. I highly recommend trying Go Rio Cruises for a different view of the San Antonio River Walk that will get you going in the right direction with a lot of fun. read more

Go Rio Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

We took the night cruise (7pm ish) since that was recommended by most. Unfortunately, we did not get seats in the front of the boat for clear pictures but were close enough. Its a short ride. About 20 minutes once we start but very pleasant. The weather was perfect for a cruise. It went down the river a bit (about 2 miles) and the guide called out a few buildings and stories. It was nice to get all the info sitting comfortably in a barge. I would definitely recommend them as something to do when visiting the Riverwalk. Got to see the trees lit up and looked beautiful. read more

Go Rio Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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We did the Go Rio boat ride during the week before Christmas, and although it was very crowded, the experience was still well worth it. Once we boarded, the boat captain was very friendly and informative. Because of all the music and activity along the River Walk that night, it was sometimes hard to hear the full commentary, but the atmosphere made up for it. The Christmas lights along the San Antonio River Walk were absolutely beautiful and truly bucket-list worthy. Overall, it was a festive and memorable experience that we'd recommend, especially during the holidays. read more

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Michael was our tour guide and he was great and informative about the history and provided great customer service. The boat tour is about 20 mins. If it is a hot day I recommend bringing a hat and sunscreen. I purchased my boat tour through the city pass and saved money by doing so. If you purchase it on the website, they provided a discount for which if you are military, student, senior or if you are a local resident. For general admission is $15 usd. You can also purchase your tickets in person. For the boat tour, you don't need to make reservations. Overall the experience was great. read more

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Amazing cruise! Anthony was an amazing tour guide! A job well done! Such a great tour and highly recommend. All of the staff were so friendly and welcoming! This tour is definitely child and family friendly! Great job, Anthony! You deserve a promotion sir! read more

Go Rio Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This was a 35-40 minute boat trip along the San Antonio river in the most scenic part of town. There were about 2 dozen people on the boat, and we had a tour guide that explained the historical stuff, added humor, and even asked people questions. Going in March had a steady stream of boats going. Great way to get an overview of San Antonio. read more

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I was leery of jumping on one of these boats as it seemed a little boring, but i had time to kill so i figured what the heck. I could not have been more wrong. Captain Nick was unexpectedly hilarious but also knowledgeable about the river and history of the area. If you are thinking of going, try and get on his boat! read more

This is a MUST if you ever visit San Antonio...and practically a staple at Riverwalk, with seemingly half a dozen (or more) boats operating all day, and well into the night. This was our second time visiting San Antonio Riverwalk, and our second boat tour. This time, we decided to go first thing in the morning (10 am start time)...and it was a good decision. Unlike the previous boat tour that we took after dinner, it was much cooler, and luckily, a smaller crowd! In fact, we lucked into a boat with only about 3 other couples? We're thinking that maybe next time, we'll try a night tour. While the entire strip of Riverwalk is a magical scene, the scenery while on the boat is even better. I could be wrong, but I think we made the "U" loop around the riverwalk...with the end point at the Mall. Anyway, just as last time, the tour guide was very educational throughout the tour, which lasted about 30 minutes. Well worth the $15.50 fee per person. read more

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What a fun tour all thanks to our guide, Dora! I highly recommend these tours because they are about 30 minutes long, which is perfect, you learn so much about San Antonio, the guides are very entertaining, and it is not too expensive. The lines can get pretty long but trust me it is worth the wait! I would definitely do it again. Thanks Dora for making the experience so engaging and funny! read more

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I had a great time doing this boat tour with my colleagues at a work conference. I was disappointed to hear from a different tour guide that people shouldn't touch the water when I was just on a tour with water quality scientists. To say the water is toxic is a lie and tour guides need to stop telling people that. The water quality of the river is actually really good, it's healthy! You certainly don't need to tell people who aren't even on your boat to "wash off after". I would rather put my feet in the San Antonio than chlorinated water. Stop spreading misinformation! We have enough of that! read more

Highly recommend at night if you're visiting San Antonio, especially during the holiday season. It's an inexpensive experience to enjoy the lights on the canal. It was about a 30 minute ride, and you hear about some of the history and architecture near the river. Note that the wait to get on the boat can be quite long, so plan ahead. The line went up the stairs and lined pretty far down the street above (at all locations). It took a little over an hour for us to get to the front of the line & many people who purchased tickets ended up getting out of line and wasting their money because they didn't want to wait. The tour guide mentioned last nights wait was a little over 1.5 hours. read more

This is really late but I have to write the review mainly because of the fantastic customer service! I actually used them twice in the same week and they were incredible! The first, which was a HUGE one, was for Dia de los Muertos River Walk parade on the riverwalk. We wanted to have dinner together and learned that you can eat on a buoy and watch the parade. We had a large group, but they worked with us. We were literally on the water. That was unexpected. The food and drinks were great! They had extra activities in the area for the VIPs (which we were since we reserved a buoy). The food was unlimited. We all had our fill. The parade was right next to us and was incredible. This was definitely the way to watch it. What I didn't expect was that after, we had a free cruise around the riverwalk. We had drinks in hand and got to save at all the people still sitting around the river. BTW, the tickets are not cheap, but you get all you can eat, drinks, special area, mariachis, face painting, plus your own tables on the water. Worth it! I may as well call it unlimited drinks because my friends kept giving me their drink tickets. ;) I had also made a reservation for a daytime cruise. I didn't know one would be included with the dinner, but it's okay, We got to see different parts that we didn't even notice at night. They were great and let us rent an entire buoy to ourselves. Again, they were so wonderful and really made our visit to San Antonio so great! I will always use Go Rio when I am in town. x .. ......... .. ... read more

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Our party of six really enjoyed out river tour with Go Rio because of the captain / tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the history of San Antonio, the river walk, and the historical buildings lining the river. Best of all, he narrated in such a humourous fashion that he kept the audience captivated. Also the boat cruised to the less visited part of the river walk. It was a enjoyable experience. read more

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The tour was great. Very informative the history of San Antonio is amazing! Glad this tour exists. It was $15.50 per person read more

Go Rio Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

We did a night cruise in December. The lights along the river are spectacular. The cruise itself is simple with the driver narrating and pointing out the highlights of the river history. It's a pleasant 30 minute trip up and down the riverwalk checking out all the sites. It was cheap - $12 for a senior ticket, so well worth it. It's a fun diversion and if you don't want to walk the whole riverfront this is a great way to see it. read more

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We got advance tickets to ride the river during the holiday lights. They gave us a time and it was perfect. Boat not too packed. It was almost an hour trip thru the lights. Just beautiful. Our driver I think was one of Santa's elf's. She had fun holiday music and she was having a great time. It cost a little more but you got a cup of hot chocolate and we weren't crammed in. And got in line about 10 minutes before we left. Nice kids checking you in and taking pictures. read more

Go Rio Cruises - lights were beautiful on the river. By boat was the best. - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Local government-approved lack of competition has made this firm apparently think they can treat clients poorly and still get away with it. They have no problem letting people already on board wait 20 minutes while they get more customers to pack every seat so you can hardly move. They they have the nerve to give the hard sell for tips at the end! Stay away from this rude tourist trap and just walk the Riverwalk. A much better experience - and will save you $20 pp. Also, bought an iced margarita from them before the cruise and it ended up being $20 for a medium. Most to-go places along the walk are about $7. read more

The tour itself wasn't the greatest, but for $15 (and many places offer discounts) I'd say it is a must do when visiting / staying on the riverwalk. It is a nice way to get oriented when you first arrive and hear some history and interesting facts about the area. The tour lasts about 30 minutes. read more

Go Rio Cruises - Riverboat - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Really great way to experience the Riverwalk. You grab tickets at certain areas along the Riverwalk (there are maps along the way). It's a come as you want to enter ticket - not timed. They run every 15-20 minutes. There was an abundance of boats available. Once you purchase your ticket, you get on the boat which holds quite a bit of people. They pick you up and drop you off at the same place. Would have been great if could hop on/off at different points so that you could explore different areas you saw along the ride without having to get off at your place of origin and then walk to where you may have wanted to go. The Riverwalk is a large area so be ready to get your steps in. The tour was reasonably priced. They give military, senior, and local discounts. The captain of my tour was very friendly and knowledgeable with facts along our hour journey. A simple way to see all the things along the Riverwalk. The captains do offer the opportunity to tip them at the end. This is the quintessential experience of San Antonio. Apparently, every single tree along the Riverwalk is dripping in lights during the holiday season which is their busiest season. read more

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The #1 thing we were told to check out for our San Antonio trip was the Riverwalk. There is so much to do and see on the Riverwalk: walk, eat, shop, and enjoy a Riverboat tour. We did them all. We walked the riverwalk one day then did the riverboat tour another day & there was so much more to see & learn that we would have missed out on if it wasn't for the Riverboat tour so I highly recommend doing both. Even though we were there during Final Four weekend the Riverwalk never felt too crowded. It was nice seeing so many people out enjoying the same experience as us. This is definitely a must see and do tourist attraction for San Antonio! The Paramount hotel history was so cool to learn about & we even took our tour guide advice and looked up the moving of the hotel on YouTube. read more

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Go Rio makes me think of the word, "Value." There was nothing necessarily amazing, but let's be honest - if you're going to the San Antonio Riverwalk, this is a must-do activity. At less than $16 per ticket, it's truly one of the better values in a tourist area. You get to go up and down the river, learning about the development of the area and seeing all of its incredible landmarks. The Riverwalk is a destination unlike what you'll find anywhere else in the US. To get a guided tour lasting about 40 minutes or so, it's a fun way to see the sites and rest your legs for a while, since the area is designed for a lot of walking throughout the day. While we were in town, I listened to a lot of the tour guides, and each one seems to put their own personality into the presentation. If you're in the area, this is a very good activity for people of all ages. read more

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Great way to see the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio. Prices are very reasonable at fifteen dollars a piece. The tour lasted about an hour. read more

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My husband and I booked a sunset sip cruise. The cruise was SO MUCH FUN! We were able to order a wine and beer for the cruise. The captain played great sing a long music as the boat took us all around the Riverwalk as the area got lit up for the evening. That evening the other cruises had long lines. We booked this a few weeks in advance there was no wait for our cruise. I would suggest booking one of the specially cruises for a fun night on the river. read more

Twas a first time on the river boat which costed us $15 per person for adult. The river flows through the downtown San Antonio and there are many restaurants and gift shops as well as the hotels lining up for us to enjoy Day time tour could be fine but we enjoyed the night time view as many illuminations were there! If you get a captain with the loud voice you'll hear the historical facts along the way. Our captain was lady with quiet voice so we didn't hear the facts as much but still we enjoyed the ride and the scenery from the boat! If you are in the area, this tour is highly recommended! There are two locations to get on the boat so if you don't know where to hop on then keep walking around the circle then you'll find the spot stating "Go Rio." And that's the spot! Cheers read more

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We stopped in San Antonio for a few days on our way back to California after visiting our daughter and son in law in Oklahoma. We have never been to San Antonio but have heard wonderful stories. We decided the River cruise would give us some insight as to what there is to do. It was a nice mid morning cruise. Our host was very informative and humorous. It was relaxing and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend...not necessarily something you would do multiple times but I've heard they offer other types, like a dinner or cocktails, not completely sure but might be an option. Reasonably priced and fun. read more

Go Rio Cruises - River cruise along the Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Marriott offered two tickets as part of the destination fee. We were able to take advantage and take a ride on the river boat on New Year's Eve. Everyone had the same thing in mind so the line was very long but we got on a boat fairly quickly; they put about 30 people on a boat at a time. I didn't mind the full boat. Kept us snuggled in and warm on a cold night. However, our boat guide was a bit militant with the boat rules. He stopped the boat twice to address the little kids on the boat which seemed a bit excessive. Also, couldn't really hear his brief; the Riverwalk is pretty loud but overall, glad I got to experience this for free. read more

Go Rio Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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My friends recently came to visit and they wanted to go on the GO RIO cruises, they loved it! We had Mariah as our guide and she was phenomenal! We could have probably had a great tour regardless of who we were with, but she really sold us on the tour and made it a great experience. The tour itself is very cute and scenic. A nice getaway from the busy streets and hot weather! As a local I enjoyed myself. read more

What a great way to experience the city of San Antonio. Our guide David was wonderful and super knowledgeable. We stayed at the Marriott and we actually got 2 free tickets included in our stay. Definitely recommend you do this! Oh, and they took a group photo before you get on the ride and had them developed and ready to purchase upon our return 30 minutes later. read more

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So much fun! We got to do the Christmas lights tour and our tour guide was so much fun. The wait was a bit insane to get on, but once it started moving, it went relatively quickly. I love all the art murals and statues that you get to see on the way. read more

Had a lovely ride on the riverwalk. Our guide was knowledgeable and funny. It's a perfect way to see the riverwalk, especially with kiddos. read more

Go Rio Cruises - Boat Tours Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

The best way to view the Riverwalk. Highly recommend. Better at night when it's cooler and the lights are out. They open until 10 pm and have Spanish speaking boats too. Our driver was entertaining. We just bought tickets on site without any wait on a Sunday night. Boat was half full. No surcharge either when buying onsite. Child fares are only for 5 and under. read more

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We've taken the Go Rio Riverwalk Cruise 3 times in the last year (due to family visiting from out of state) and it was very enjoyable each time. The boat captains add history and humor to the tour and the ride is the perfect length for everyone, including kids. They suggested a restaurant on the first cruise which we ended up dining at and it was really nice to sit outside on the rivers edge while enjoying our lunch. I was able to take some great photos. read more

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