The 15 Best History Tours in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro Historical Center Walking Tour - Selarón Steps and the best photo stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 336 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $29Our pick

Explore Rio’s historic center on foot, from Theatro Municipal and Selarón Steps to colonial squares, churches, local stories, and practical tips.

“This excursion was fantastic and the group very nice. Our guide was very educational without counting his minutes. 5 hours in total! I recommend. Arturo is a very human person who helped me personally with problems encountered at the airport. I am grateful to him for everything.”

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Gramado Tours, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Wine Tours

Maria Fumaça – Wines and History

2.Maria Fumaça – Wines and History

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 242 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $97

Ride Brazil’s Maria Fumaça steam train, visit Epopeia Italiana and Garibaldi Winery, and taste Serra Gaúcha wine and handmade truffles.

“They really made an effort for me because I dont speak Portugese. And everything was arranged really well.”

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Favela Tours, Historical Tours, History Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Private, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro

Private Walking and Cultural Tour Rocinha-Rio de Janeiro

3.Private Walking and Cultural Tour Rocinha-Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 239 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $50Top rated

Explore Rocinha with local guides, rooftop views, motorbike transport, capoeira, and candid insight into Rio’s largest favela.

“Makes you feel a whole lot more comfortable when your guide actually lives in the area you’re touring. Antonio was an excellent guide; friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. He made the tour fun & kept me wanting to see more.”

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Historical Tours, History Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews

Discover Rio Little Africa: A Cultural and Historical Journey

4.Discover Rio Little Africa: A Cultural and Historical Journey

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 238 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $86

Explore Rio’s Little Africa through samba, slavery, museums, and Afro-Brazilian culture on a thoughtful small-group walking tour.

“We signed up for the 3 to 3.5 hr tour, we got an almost 4.5 hr tour and would have been fine with her continuing to spread her knowledge. A fantastic tour that everybody should take, to learn about heritage, culture and the present day. Scarlet is a great tour guide and count yourself lucky if you get to spend time learning about Rio Little Africa from her. We had an absolute best time ever. Thank you for spreading the knowledge.”

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Half-Day, Historical Tours, History Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro City Tours, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rio de Janeiro: Historic Rio and Santa Teresa Half-Day Tour

5.Historic Rio and Santa Teresa Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 228 reviews · 4 hours · from $47

Review of Rio’s historic center and Santa Teresa tour, with Lapa, Parque das Ruínas, hotel pickup, multilingual guides, and practical tips.

“Dario was excellent and knew all the spots and history. He answered all our questions and finally made took us to an amazing library from the 1750s and a remarkable restaurant. Great experience”

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Cycling Tours, Historical Tours, History Tours in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo City Tours, Sao Paulo Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

São Paulo: Downtown Historical Bike Tour

6.Downtown Historical Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 191 reviews · 3 hours · from $85

Ride São Paulo from Paulista Avenue to Liberdade, with historic sights, local snacks, bike lanes, and expert guides in three hours.

“Loved everything! The route, The information given, The guide . Great way to spend time getting to know the city. Much appreciated Lucas (our guide) 🙏🏾🌺”

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Curitiba Tours, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Scenic Train ride to historical cities of Morretes and Antonina

7.Scenic Train ride to historical cities of Morretes and Antonina

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 188 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $128

Ride a 19th-century railway through Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest, explore Morretes and Antonina, and enjoy Paraná’s famous barreado lunch.

“Essa viagem é simplesmente maravilhosa!!! Vivemos momentos incríveis que vamos guardar na memória e no coração.”

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Historical Tours, History Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro: Little Africa Heritage Walking Tour

8.Little Africa Heritage Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 177 reviews · 2h 30m · from $40

Explore Rio’s Little Africa, samba’s birthplace, Afro-Brazilian culture, Valongo Wharf, and Mauá Square with a passionate local guide.

“I just loved the tour. Our guide Nathalia knows a lot about the history of Brazil and in special about the slavery and the heritage of little africa. She showed us all the nice and hidden spots and could tell a lot about it! Highly recommended!”

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Food, Food & Drink, Historical Tours, History Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro

Rio Gastronomy: Culture & History Through The Art Of Food – Walking Group Tour

9.Rio Gastronomy: Culture & History Through The Art Of Food – Walking Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 164 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $193

Taste Rio from Copacabana to Santa Teresa while exploring local food, historic sights, street art, and Brazilian culture with a bilingual guide.

“It was a great experience touring and tasting the cultural cuisine of Rio. I would recommend this experience to travelers new to the area.”

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Historical Tours, History Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Private, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tijuca and Pedra Hiking Tours, Tour Reviews

Adventure & History at Tijuca Forest (small group or private)

10.Adventure & History at Tijuca Forest (small group or private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $67

Explore Rio’s Tijuca Forest on a 6-hour small-group hike with waterfalls, caves, history, wildlife, and a refreshing waterfall shower.

“Really nice trip into the forest. Nice to have a small group. The guide is great and will let you know interesting facts of Brasil and the forest along the way.”

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Foz do Iguacu Tours, Historical Tours, History Tours in Foz do Iguacu, Iguazu Falls Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

From Foz do Iguazu: Triple Frontier Landmark Ticket

11.Triple Frontier Landmark Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 136 reviews · 4 hours · from $24

Watch sunset over Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, enjoy a lively cultural show, and visit Foz do Iguaçu’s Triple Frontier for $24.

“amazing tour that you definitely need to add to you list for when you visit foz do iguaçu”

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Historical Tours, History Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro

From the Past to the Present: A Historical Walking Tour of Rio

12.From the Past to the Present: A Historical Walking Tour of Rio

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 109 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $49

Walk through Rio’s history from Cinelândia to Valongo Wharf with Bruno, visiting grand landmarks, churches, street art, and colonial sites.

“We chose Bruno for a private historical tour in English, and we ended up experiencing far more than we expected.”

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Historical Tours, History Tours in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews

Explore Little Africa : Unveiling Afro Heritage in Rio de Janeiro

13.Explore Little Africa : Unveiling Afro Heritage in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 97 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $82

Explore Rio’s Little Africa through Afro-Brazilian history, museums, landmarks, and a short VLT ride on this moving half-day tour.

“The Little Africa Tour lived up to our expectations as it was very informative and very enjoyable to learn about slavery from a different perspective than what was taught in America. Our tour guide was excellent and while English was her second language she did an excellent job is delivering the information. Definitely pack comfortable shoes as there is a considerable amount of walking(as well as a short tram ride) but it wasn’t overwhelming. From the meeting point to the very last stop, the experience was well worth it. My only suggestion would be to try to do this tour in the AM instead of the 2 pm start time…”

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Beach and Island Day Trips in Paraty, Brazil Beach and Island Day Trips, Food & Drink, Historical Tours, History Tours in Paraty, Paraty Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Paraty

Paraty: Historic Centre Walking Tour & Cachaça Tasting

14.Historic Centre Walking Tour & Cachaça Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 96 reviews · 1h 30m · from $19Best value

Explore Paraty’s UNESCO-listed old town, learn its colonial stories, and taste local Gabriela cachaça on a 90-minute guided walk.

“The tour of Paraty was absolutely wonderful. Thiago is incredibly knowledgeable, bringing the town’s history to life and helping you truly understand its roots. A journey through the past, expertly guided and deeply engaging. The cachaça tasting is also a must! Daniela”

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Historical Tours, History Tours in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo City Tours, Sao Paulo Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo: Downtown-Center History Walking Tour – in English

15.Downtown-Center History Walking Tour – in English

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $31

Walk São Paulo’s historic center in English, from Copan and Sé Cathedral to Liberdade, with local stories and a small group of 10 or fewer.

“What a great tour! I learnt so much about Brasil history . If you want to do this tour, I would suggest do it on your first day. São Paulo isn’t at all as it may seem. We were given many ideas and tips of what to do and how to get around. An excellent tour of two hours for a fair cost.”

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