Tour operator
Eat Rio Food Tours
A Rio food tour company running since 2011, with a five-hour daytime tasting walk, an evening bar and samba tour and a Brazilian wine experience.
Saveiros Tour
A Guanabara Bay boat operator founded in 1978, running a daily two-hour cruise from Marina da Glória past Sugarloaf, Niterói and the island forts.
At a glance
- Type
- Boat tour
- Area
- Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Official site
- saveiros.com.br
Good to know
- Daily Guanabara Bay cruise
- Fleet of schooners and yachts
- Private charters
Why we recommend it
Saveiros Tour is a boat tour company that has been sailing on Guanabara Bay since 1978. Its daily cruise is one of the easiest ways to see Rio from the water, taking in the city's mountains, forts and islands.
The main tour lasts about two hours. Boarding opens every day from 09:00 at Marina da Glória, at the pier called Cais Nobre, with departure at 09:30 and return at 11:30. The company warns that routes may be changed or cancelled depending on the weather.
The route is a full circuit of the inner bay. Leaving the Marina da Glória, the boat passes Santos Dumont Airport, the Naval School, Ilha Fiscal and the city centre, with the Museu do Amanhã on the waterfront, then Ilha das Enxadas and Ilha das Cobras before reaching the Rio-Niterói Bridge. On the Niterói side, it passes the city centre, the Museu de Arte Contemporânea and the beaches, along with the forts of Santa Cruz, Lage and São João. The return leg passes Urca and Sugarloaf Mountain, Botafogo Cove and Flamengo Beach.
The company operates a fleet of saveiro boats, with names such as Saveiro Araçá, Beethoven, Bruma Seca, Mozart, Baía de Guanabara and Pirata, as well as schooners, launches, yachts and sailing boats that can be chartered for private trips and events.
The cruise suits families, couples and anyone who wants a relaxed overview of the bay, and its morning timing leaves the rest of the day free.
Booking information is on the official website and the company's social media channels. Because the schedule depends on the weather, confirm on the morning of the trip.
After the cruise, Jurema Bar on Rua Morais e Vale, between Glória and Lapa, opens at midday from Thursday to Sunday, according to Diário do Rio, which makes it a convenient lunch stop. Seeing the Museu do Amanhã, Santiago Calatrava's museum on Píer Mauá, and Sugarloaf, the 396-metre peak at the mouth of the bay, from the water also makes a good preview before visiting them on land, and the view of Niterói across the bay shows how the city's setting extends far beyond its famous beaches.
Saveiros Tour FAQs
How long is the Guanabara Bay cruise?
About two hours.
When does it leave?
Boarding is daily from 09:00, with departure at 09:30 and return at 11:30.
Where does it depart from?
Marina da Glória, at the pier called Cais Nobre.
What do you see?
Ilha Fiscal, the Museu do Amanhã, the Rio-Niterói Bridge, Niterói and its forts, Urca, Sugarloaf, Botafogo Cove and Flamengo Beach.
How long has the company operated?
Since 1978.
Can tours be cancelled?
Yes. Routes may change or be cancelled depending on the weather.
Can you charter a private boat?
Yes. The fleet includes schooners, launches, yachts and sailing boats.
Is it suitable for families?
Yes. It is a relaxed morning cruise that suits families and couples.