Kayaking in Rio de Janeiro 2025-2026
Get a different perspective of the city on a kayaking tour
Best time: October–December
If you're tired of walking around the city and looking for another way to see it, you should try some kayaking. It gives you an entirely different perspective of the coast and Rio. Skills are not necessary since you can kayak with a guide. Aside from that, it isn't too difficult to learn. One of the best things about kayaking is that you can access some places that are not accessible any other way. In Rio, you'll find quite a few ocean kayak tours with guides or places where you can rent a kayak and test your skills on your own. Kayak tours usually offer to take you to the bay near the fortresses of Laje and São João or sometimes even to Niterói city by Santa Cruz fortress on the other side of the bay if the weather is good. When the ocean is especially calm (October–December), you might be able to visit Ilha da Cotunduba, Leme, and Copacabana outside of the bay.