Welcome to Tour Guide Rio

Welcome to the webpage of Madson Araújo, personal tour guide in Rio de Janeiro.

What a tour guide can do for you in Rio? I can drive and guide you to the must-see places as well as to places only locals go. With me, you can do more in less time, avoid lines and customise your own private tour exactly as you want.

I am a licensed and experienced tour guide, my English is absolutely fluent (listen it here), my minivan is spacious and air-conditioned, and my rate is fair. I have even guided Lonely Planet, Footprint and National Geographic authors and I have also been on TV. Briefly, if you want to visit Rio de Janeiro in a safe, comfortable and hassle-free way you are at the right website. Hire Madson as a Tour Guide in Rio de Janeiro.

Enjoy the Most Beautiful City in the World!

Christ Statue

Christ Statue

Recently elected one of the 7 new wonders of the world, it 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

Rio’s second most visited monument. 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

Beaches Tour

Car tour of the 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

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

Hurry-free full visit to this 250-year old artistic neighborhood. 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

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

Botanical Garden

The 200 year-old 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

Samba City is a pavillion where samba schools work on their floats for the following carnival. 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 (Delta Flight)

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 instructions for the landing. I have done it and it is unforgettable.


Helicopter Tour

Helicopter Tour

Besides visiting the city by land you can also do it by air. It is a short but very intense and unforgettable experience. 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 !!! ».

Last modification on 04/03/09 at 07:41 PM (-3 GMT)