Tour Guide Rio

Madson Araújo, personal English-speaking tour guide in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Take a safe, comfortable and hassle-free Rio de Janeiro private tour.

Formally-trained and accredited since 2004
Fluent in English (and in other languages)
Extremely professional, reliable and reputable
Unbeatable sense of humor
Fully-insured 2010 model eco-friendly minivan
(spacious and air-conditioned)

Click on any logo below to see Rio Private Tour Guide Madson on the media:

As your Brazilian tour guide I can drive and guide you to the must-see places as well as to places in Rio de Janeiro only locals go. On a guided tour with me, you can do more in less time, avoid lines and customise your own Rio de Janeiro private tour exactly as you want.

I have served as a tour guide in Rio for literally thousands of tourists in the last years. If you want to visit Rio de Janeiro in the hands of a professional tour guide you are on the right website. Please read about prices and conditions and send me an e-mail to check my availability.

Discover Rio de Janeiro on a Memorable Private Tour with Madson!

Christ Statue

Christ Statue Tour (Corcovado)

Hassle-free guided tour of one of the 7 new wonders of the world. Christ Statue is Rio’s most visited monument, situated at 710 meters (2,329 feet) above sea level on the top of Corcovado mountain. From there one can have a 360-degree view of the city.

Sugar Loaf

Sugar Loaf Tour

Visit with your personal tour guide Rio’s second most visited monument: Sugar Loaf. It is a 396-meter (1,299 feet) high one-block stone from where you can have a panoramic view to Copacabana, Botafogo and Flamengo beaches besides downtown, Rio-Niterói bridge and Guanabara bay.

Beaches Tour

Rio de Janeiro Beaches Tour

Car guided tour of Rio de Janeiro beaches São Conrado (the beach where the hangliders land), Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana. Opportunity of seeing and photographing locals enjoying a day at the beach surfing, jogging, walking, playing football or beach volleyball or just getting suntanned to show off at night.

Cultural Tour

Rio de Janeiro Cultural Tour

Visit of Rio’s modern cathedral (a church different from all the others you have seen); Visit of the 17th century Saint Benedict Monastery’s Church (a gem of Brazilian religion art, Barrocco-style); Visit of the Sambadrome (where the Carnival parade takes place) and its museum.

Santa Tereza Bohemian Neighborhood

Santa Tereza Bohemian Neighborhood Tour

Hurry-free full guided visit to this 250-year old artistic and charming neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. Possibility to ride on the street-car (as long as it is not packed!); Walk along its main street; Visit of its most traditional hand crafted art store; Quick stop in front of former house of British train robber Ronald Biggs, who escaped jail and lived in Brazil for over 3 decades;

Maracaña Football Stadium

Maracaña Football Stadium Tour

Let me be your tour guide inside this temple in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is the only country 5-time football (soccer) world champion and Maracanã is the world’s biggest football stadium of its glory days, with an official world-record attendance of 199,854 for the 1950 World Cup Final against Uruguay. It is a very interesting visit even if you are not a football fan. The stadium will also host the final of 2014.

Botanical Garden

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Tour

The 200 year-old Rio de Janeiro garden is one of the ten most important in the world and defined by UNESCO as one of the reserves of biosphere. The visit consists in taking a stroll on your own along the centenary imperial palm trees and visiting the orchid house.

Samba City

Samba City Tour

Samba City is a pavillion where samba schools work on their floats for the following Rio de Janeiro Carnival. I can guide you in there and explain everything about it. If you are not in Rio during the Carnival time then this is your chance to see a float from close. Besides, you can see people dismantling the old floats and building new ones. Definitely a must visit!

Hangliding (Delta Flight)

Hangliding over Rio de Janeiro

Hangliding is an activity that a passionate Rio de Janeiro tour guide like me has to recommend. Rio is one of the few cities in the world where you can hanglide over the city and land on the beach safe and sound. All you need to do is to run off the ramp together with your instructor (flights are in tandem) and follow his easy-to-follow landing instructions. Unforgettable! You will see Rio de Janeiro from a different perspective.

Helicopter Tour

Rio de Janeiro Helicopter Tour

Besides being your Rio de Janeiro driver and guide I can book you a helicopter tour. A Rio de Janeiro helicopter tour is a short but very intense and unforgettable experience. As your Rio Tour Guide I strongly recommend it. It is the only way to take a picture of Christ Statue from above it. I can book a tour for you while we are together, drive you to the closest helipad and wait for your return with a « That was something, Madson !!! ».

Madson and French Family at Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro

Last modification on 03/08/10 at 12:00 PM (-3 GMT)

Customers’ Reviews

Carson Phillips, Chicago, USA.
"Madson!! Thank you so much for a fabulous day exploring Rio! The only thing that could have made it better would have been if we were staying there for several more days! I feel like we only began to see the city! Your tour was so fun and a great introduction to a great city! Please contact me if someone requests a personal recommendation. Best regards."

Ralph Brush, USA.
"Nice job … we’re back in the USA. We enjoyed the day you spent with us. If you ever need an endorsement, don’t hesitate to contact me."

Jerry Radin, Phyllis, Roz and Mel, USA.
"Thank you for a really wonderful, professional and most informative tour of Rio and its environs. You gave us an insider’s look into the real FLAVOR of Rio and we loved what we discovered. All our very best wishes."

Nick Pentith, UK.
"I will be recommending your services to family and friends who may visit Rio in the future."

Lynnette Layman, USA.
"Your service was impecable and I appreciate that you helped me navigate the day without any hassle."

Walt, USA.
"Madson, We had a very good time with you as our guide. Your knowledge, personality and wit are terrific. Thank you for sharing your Rio with us. Should you need anything from us, do not hesitate to let me know. Next trip perhaps we can both hang glide."

Paul Sluyter, Canada.
"He refused to take us to ares where there was too much risk, which I dearly appreciated. His pricing was extremely fair. I highly recommend making contact with him for your Rio private tour."

Ginger and Bob, USA.
"Our many thanks for all of your hard work and special touches - you really did a great job and we appreciate everything! Keep up the good work and let us hear from you - we look forward to showing you around NYC! Happy Holidays and all the best to you!"

Jerry Radin, Phyllis, Roz and Mel, USA.
"Dear Madson, Thank you for a really wonderful, professional and most informative tour of Rio and its environs. You gave us an insider’s look into the real FLAVOR of Rio and we loved what we discovered. All our very best wishes."

Aviva, Joe, Marion and Eric. USA.
"Hello Madson (or should I say Mad-Son ?) We came back home from our trip a week ago, and only now we are back to our regular routine. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful time that we spent with you in Rio. All four of us immensely enjoyed the tours that you arranged for us, and consider our visit to Rio one of the highlights of our trip. We still remember some of the jokes and the laughs that we shared. Your command of the English language and your knowledge of Brazil in general and Rio in particular made our relatively short visit rich, informative and fun."

Jason, New York.
"Hey Madson, I wanted to let you know my friends and I had an amazing time in Brazil. I can’t thank you enough for all of your help. If there is anything we can do to help you out in the future, just let me know. Thanks again for everything."

Janie Shendelman. Toronto, Canada.
"We arrived home from our cruise last Monday. What a fabulous trip we had. 2 memerable days stand out from all the rest. That was the 2 days we spent with you in Rio. Warren and I will never forget how warm, friendly and very funny you were with us, Elaine and Len. I don’t know if you have heard from Len but I felt I had to write you and thank you for a most memerable trip to Rio. I have already given your card to my travel agent friend, who will refer you to clients. I have pictures of you and the beautiful girls of Brazil. Anyways, take care of yourself and Thanks again."

Brad and Vicki Wertman, USA.
"Dear Madson, We are missing the heat of Brazil and the food and the music and the most wonderful tour guide! Thanks, again, for the wonderful tour guide services. We really did enjoy Rio and meeting you!! Take care."

John, USA.
"Madsen, Returned home safely, wanted to thank you again for a great time in Rio. What is the best way to provide a testament to your excelent services? When we transferred from our ship in Valparaiso to Santigo we shared a van with a couple from England. It seems they were your clients on the 2 days before us. I guess they had wanted Tuesday as well, but I had already arranged. Its a small world."

Judy Kempf, USA.
"Thank you for the exceptional Rio visit. You showed the boys and me things we never would have had the hance to see without your tour. I will be talking with my travel agent and most certainly be recommending your services. Thanks so much for the wonderful visit."

Hilary, Michael, John & Jan. USA.
"Madson, Please post this on your customer reviews. March 2009. We booked Madson for 2 half day tours of Rio and his English is excellent, his knowledge of the city second to none and we would defintely recommend him to any one of our friends or relatives going to Rio.. Thank you for making our time in Rio so good."

John O'hara. Atlanta, USA
"Madson, thanks for the tour ~ i had a great time and learned alot. i´m already planning my return trip with friends and I´ll get them to take your tour when I come back. I´m also checking out some more affordable hotels down by Copacabana beach ~ any you can recommend ?? I´ll send you my contact info when I get home in case you ever need a contact in Atlanta. Thanks again, John"

George, USA.
"You are a gentleman. Thank you for replying that you are full, rather than leave us wondering. We see why you get good reviews. Thank you."

Ed, USA.
"Madson, Marilyn, Webb, Kathy and I all had a fantastic time with you in Rio. We will definitely recommend you as THE private tourguide in Rio. We were the first in line on Christmas Day for Sugar Loaf and really enjoyed that visit. We are all back to work at home with great memories of you, Rio and the rest of our trip. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you have a Happy New Year! Ed"

Melody. New York, USA.
"Hi, Madson, Just wanted to send these few photographs with you in them. We had a wonderful time in Rio! You’re a great tour guide!! Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you here in the U.S., and of course, if you’re coming to New York, let me know when. All the best."

Dr Jedda McDonogh and Dr Jenny Wilsher, Australia.
"Dear Madson, We have returned to Melbourne and carry with us the most wonderful memories of our time with you in Rio. We are so glad that we arranged you for our guide since it made our stay in Rio perfect and we were thrilled with your attentive care, ensuring that we saw the best the city had to offer. I hope you have enjoyed learning a few more Aussie words and hope you like the photos we took of you. Many, many thanks for cheerfully complying with our rather odd requests to see Pet Shops, our dogs love their new outfits !! I am at this moment listening to the “surprise” you had for us and it is evoking such lovely memories I could cry. Madson, thank you so much, we have no hesitation at all in recommending your services to other travellers from all walks of life. Best wishes from us for your future endeavours and keep on making people smile and have fun, it is your gift to Rio! Warm regards."

Tour Guide Rio – Personal Tour Guide in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Tour Guide Rio

Madson Araújo, personal English-speaking tour guide in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Take a safe, comfortable and hassle-free Rio de Janeiro private tour.

Click on any logo below to see Rio Private Tour Guide Madson on the media: