Before traveling to Brazil, I spent a lot of time researching tour companies, reading reviews, and…read moretrying to understand what kind of experience my wife and I wanted to have. After spending time in Rio and São Paulo from April 16th through April 29th with Rio4Fun and Guilherme, I can honestly say this became one of the best travel experiences we have ever had anywhere in the world. I know sometimes Google reviews can sound exaggerated, and I honestly wondered the same thing before booking. After this trip, I completely understand why people write such passionate reviews about Rio4Fun. If anything, I do not think words fully capture the level of care, personalization, and effort Guilherme puts into making sure people have an unforgettable experience in Brazil. My wife and I booked three private tours with Rio4Fun: the Rio City Tour, the Favela Tour, and the Food Tour. What made everything so special was that Guilherme never made us feel like customers being moved from stop to stop. From the first day we met him, it genuinely felt like we had a friend in Brazil who wanted us to experience the city the way he would want his own friends and family to experience it. We told Guilherme we were huge foodies and wanted to explore Rio through food, culture, and local experiences instead of just doing typical tourist activities. The Food Tour especially was incredible because it felt authentic and personal. He introduced us to places we never would have found on our own, and every recommendation felt thoughtful and intentional. Outside of the tours themselves, Guilherme helped us with so much more than we expected. We would casually ask questions about beaches, neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants, chocolate shops, nightlife, or places worth seeing, and he always had amazing recommendations ready for us. What impressed me most was that he actually listened to what we liked and tailored recommendations around our personalities and interests. One thing my wife absolutely loved was how flexible and relaxed the tours felt. Guilherme has incredible style and knowledge of local fashion and shopping spots, and anytime we walked past stores or boutiques that caught our attention, he happily adjusted the day and gave us time to explore. We never once felt rushed or pressured to stay on a strict schedule. Instead, the experience felt fully customized around us. Another thing that made this trip unforgettable was how much effort Guilherme put into helping us create memories. Everywhere we went, he offered to take photos for us using our own phones, which completely changed the experience. We never had to struggle with awkward selfies or ask strangers to take pictures. Somehow he knew camera settings on my brand-new iPhone that I did not even know existed, and every single picture came out incredible. I am also a huge soccer fan, and after learning that, Guilherme helped create an experience I will never forget. He helped us navigate ticket options and guided us through the process in a way that made everything easy and stress-free. The timing of our trip also ended up being perfect. Traveling through Rio and São Paulo from April 16th through April 29th gave us beautiful weather while avoiding overwhelming tourist crowds. Because things were less crowded, our experience with Guilherme felt even more personal and relaxed. By the end of the trip, we were not just sad to leave Brazil -- we were genuinely sad to say goodbye to Guilherme. I truly wish yelp allowed more than 5 stars because Rio4Fun deserves it. If you are planning a trip to Brazil and are debating whether or not to book with them, stop debating and do it. It will completely change your experience for the better.

Guilherme was so helpful and we did not even take his tour this time. Long story, I had been…read moresearching for private tour guides and this company caught my eye! Gui reached out via WhatsApp and was very generous with his recommendations and sharing insights for visiting Rio during a rainy few days. Perfect English, flexible with ideas/plans, and patient with my tourist questions. We will definitely reach out when we are in town and the sun is shining again. Thanks Giu!

We had an incredibly positive experience with Berkana Travel. The guides were knowledgeable,…read moreprofessional, dependable, with wonderful personalities. The accommodations that were arranged for us were first class in every way. We had wonderful experiences in both Rio and and Iguassu Falls. The ease of it all from airport transfers to tours was flawless. Obrigada for an amazing experience.

My sister & I hate guided tours. Mainly because we don't need to spend a lot of time at each sight…read more You spend half the day waiting for other people as there is always someone who wants to spend hours at 1 sight or worse, a gift shop. After reading about private tours on TripAdvisor we decided to give it a try. After we inquired prices were not that much for 2 of us on a private tour than a bus tour. The decision was easy. We booked a full day tour with Ederson. He picked us up at 8 am and we were off to the Tijuca National Rainforest. Our first stop was the Chinese View, but we mentioned that we wanted to get some fruit and we happened to pass a fruit truck. He stopped for us and even helped us select the best fruit and negotiate a great price for all the fruit. The Chinese View (Vista Chinesa) gives you a great overlook of the city of Rio and Ipanema. After a few minutes, we stopped by a local waterfall. Then, we were on our way to Christ the Redeemer. The crowd wasn't too long, but with his pass, we were able to cut the line. I can imagine how great that benefit is during busy season. It's amazing to the see the modern wonder that is Christ the Redeemer. The view of the city is amazing too. I can't believe how this city go blessed with so many mountains all over that give you a truly breathtaking sight of this gorgeous city. We stopped by a local restaurant that just opened up for lunch. He had never been there but asked if we were curious like him. I always am. It was a Brazilian/Italian mix restaurant that served very good food. Even Ederson was impressed. We made our way back to the city and we drove through the Lapa neighborhood & stopped at the mosaic steps. They reminded me of the steps in San Francisco but these were on a bit of a grander scale. To end the day, we went to Sugarloaf Mountain. This was my favorite view of the city. It was gorgeous up there. Sugarloaf left me in a completely awe. Edersen is a great guide. He can adjust the tour based on people's interest and can speak on lots of topics. He loves local politics and history so be sure to prod his mind on those topics. If you prefer other topics he's happy to change the subject. His English is not perfect and there can be a slight language barrier at moments, but we had no problems communicating.

My boyfriend and I did a private tour with Ederson, whom he found on Trip Advisor. I HIGHLY suggest…read moreprivate tours! It is more intimate and you don't have any conflicts with people holding up the tour. Ederson was very knowledgeable and answered all our random touristy questions. Lol. Oh yes, and he takes AMAZING photos which is always nice because it's better than asking strangers for a pic. We visited Christ the Redeemer, Selaron Steps, Sugar Loaf and other beautiful locations in Rio. The end we went to a Brazilian steakhouse that Ederson suggested and it was the perfect ending to the tour. Oh and his car is very clean and cooling. Just a perfect day!

Condor Travel is the company hired by our travel agent, Captivating Journeys based out of Wailuku,…read moreHI for a 15-day, private tour of Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Lima. RIO DE JANEIRO: One of Condor's reps met us at the airport and got us situated for transport to the Miramar Windsor hotel on Copacabana Beach about 30 minutes away. The next day Renata was our guide. She was friendly, patient, spoke English well and taught us a new panoramic trick with our phones! We took in Christ The Redeemer where there was no waiting in line for the train thanks to pre-purchased tickets, then stopped off at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Escadaria Selarón (steps), Sambodrome and Mário Filho stadium. Lunch was at Churrascaria Carretão (see separate review). Sugarloaf was last on the agenda where she left us because we wanted to watch sunset from there. She was nice enough to drop off our belongings we left in the car back to our hotel. On departure day, no Condor rep escorted us, just an unknown woman who dressed like a business executive but helped us with our bags like an airport porter in heels! TIPS: Definitely use Uber in Rio. Cars were plentiful and fares were cheap! Try not to use your credit cards as mine got compromised early on.

Ack! My first Brasilian review! I suppose there's no better place to start than at the beginning…read more Unless you live in the country, odds are you're going to be flying into Rio. And, if you're flying into Rio, you're going to need someone to pick you up and show you around. And, if you need that person, that person is Eraldo. After one of the more harrowing flights of my life and frustrating arrivals, I was dizzy and disoriented. I just wanted to get to my apartment and get acclimated to where I was. Prior to coming to Rio, I'd arranged a car service thanks to my apartment hosts. I sent over my arrival time, airline, etc. and as soon as I walked out of the baggage area, Eraldo was there with a sign and we were off. Not only does he have a comfortable van in which to relax and spread out, he speaks fantastic English, has suggestions about where to visit, is extremely knowledgeable about the city and things to do that are touristy and more locally-inspired, and, best of all, is just really nice. The drive in to Ipanema from the airport is rather long and during it all, Eraldo pointed out things for me to photograph and was able to speak on a wide variety of subjects. More than just a shuttle to and from the airport, he offers tour services and thanks to the sneak peek I received to/from the airport, I have no doubt he excels in that area. While email (edomello@hotmail.com) is bit better than phone to set things up, Eraldo was always available, prompt and helpful. Without a doubt, I'll be using his services upon my next trip to Rio and I suggest that you do the same. Cash is king.

This is one of the best food tours I have ever done and I do one in every city I travel to that has…read morethat option. You will not be hungry. The wide range if food and the Rio history go together well. Save your appetite. You start in a food market and end the day with a full course meal. All I can say is: awesome.

We did this tour the day we arrived in Rio for the Olympics in August! It was a true highlight of…read moreour trip and the organizers could not have been more helpful! They even offered to store our bags for us while we went on the tour since we were coming straight from the airport. It's a great way to get an introduction to Brazil, its food, the city of Rio, and the culture! If you are lucky you will also have some other great folks on your tour with you that you will meet up with again later on in your trip! Cannot recommend this enough! Worth every penny!!

If you're traveling to Rio, Copacabana Palace is the place to stay. The service, amenities, and…read moresmall touches all add up to a restful and restorative stay. The resort has something for families, singles, events, conferences, couples and more. Located directly on the beach there is no where better to stay. We booked with Chase Sapphire Reserve and had quite a good amount of specials. A resort credit, an upgrade, late checkout, and free breakfast. The suite had beautiful high ceilings, spacious bathroom and living room, and we were met with a bottle of champagne upon our arrival. Concierge and hotel staff took care of everything for us from restaurant bookings to attractions to attraction and spa bookings. I can't say enough about the friendly and helpful nature of everyone we encountered. We enjoyed breakfast each morning with a beautiful buffet of fruits, pastries, meats, cheeses, fresh fruit juices, eggs, sausage, and more. We also could order off the menu for specific items. Coffee, sparkling wine, and juices included. The pool was the perfect temperature(its temperature controlled), and well attended with bathrooms right there. Outside on the beach the hotel has its own tent, chairs, and towels. Complimentary beach bag and flip flops upon your arrival. Turndown included fresh water and treats, and I loved the scents of all their products. Great restaurants on site as well as nearby.

This is what you call an EXPERIENCE. My stay at the copacabana palace changed my life and I will…read morenever again settle for anything else. The vibe is pretty old school, but the staff are all pretty young, so they really make the place feel more alive! Breakfast is pretty good and they have lots of options, 24hr pool, and tennis courts! What I really liked was that they had a section reserved right on the beach, where you can sit, leave your stuff, and even get a massage! Will definitely be back! They have my heart!!

Great location but lack of service and attention to customer…read more Could be a gem if they improve the service. I arrived with luggage and no one to help get from the taxi. Only one person working at the reception. Still the location is the selling point

Chose this hotel based on Tripadvisor reviews and was not disappointed. The rooms and hotel are…read morevery clean. The staff is incredibly friendly and speak fluent english, spanish as well as the native language, Portuguese. Half a block to the beach and close to everything. I would definitely recommend this hotel and would stay here again.