Rio de Janeiro

Rio is a big city and, like any big city, it rewards a little local know-how, which is exactly what a private guide gives you. Your guide is with you through the day and always on hand with advice, steering you to the right neighbourhoods at the right times. By following their simple, sensible tips you can feel as safe as possible, including in your own free time in the evenings when the guide isn't at dinner with you. We're only ever a message away.

Rio is a year-round city, but shoulder season, April to June and September to November, is widely considered the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro: driest, sunniest weather without the intense heat and crowds of high summer. December to March is hotter and more humid, with the liveliest beach scene and Carnival in February or March. Whenever you come, we time each icon, Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, the beaches, around the daily forecast and the light, so you catch them at their best.

Absolutely, and it's often the smartest way to travel. Flying into and out of the same hub keeps your international flights simple and usually cheaper. From Rio the whole country is within reach: Paraty and Ilha Grande down the Costa Verde, the Pantanal, the Amazon and the Lençóis Maranhenses by internal flight, or Salvador on a frequent, inexpensive direct flight. We plan the whole loop as one seamless private trip.

Very much so, and it is easy to keep everyone happy. The beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are made for a relaxed family day, the cable car up Sugarloaf is a hit with kids, and the Tijuca forest brings monkeys and waterfalls minutes from the sand. We arrange family or connecting rooms near the beach, keep the pace gentle for younger and older travellers, and your private guide handles the logistics so the grown-ups can relax too. Rio also pairs beautifully into our wider Family and Multi-Generational journey.