12 Beaches Bike Tour – Rio's City Centre and Bay Beaches by Bike

Highlights

• The Museum of Tomorrow and the revitalised port
• Flamengo Park, landscaped by Roberto Burle Marx
• Botafogo Beach, with one of Rio's classic views of Sugarloaf
• 12 beaches along the way, some of them "ghost beaches" that vanished under landfill as the city grew
• Urca and its famous seawall, the Mureta da Urca
• Mostly flat, about 10 km; small group of up to 5

The route

From the Museum of Tomorrow we ride along the waterfront past the Navy headquarters, Candelária Church and the Olympic cauldron sculpture, then back towards the city centre past the Glória marina. Much of this shore was once Rio's most popular beaches, lost when Castelo Hill was flattened to extend the port. Flamengo Park follows 7 km of the bay on land reclaimed in the 1950s and 60s, with wonderful views and landscaping by Burle Marx. Along Botafogo Beach, Sugarloaf dominates the skyline. Next is a quiet bay beach framed by two granite giants, Sugarloaf and Morro da Urca, a good place for a coconut water. We finish in Urca, with its 1920s–40s houses and the seawall where locals gather at sunset.

Is it for me?

Yes, if you can ride a bike. The route is almost entirely flat, on bike paths and quiet streets. A support tricycle comes with the group and can carry your bike at any time, and if you'd like to finish early we'll wait with you somewhere convenient for an Uber or taxi. Prefer the rainforest? The Easy Forest Bike Tour is just as gentle, and the Rainforest Bike Tour is a real mountain bike ride.

Practical information

• Duration: 3.5 hours (about 10 km)
• Start times: 7:30 and 14:00
• Meeting point: Porto Mauá Café, Av. Rio Branco 25 (city centre). Ends in Urca.
• Ages: 14+
• Group size: up to 5
• Price: R$390 per adult, R$290 youth (14–17)
• Included: quality mountain bike, helmet, water bottle, small snacks, guide
• When booking we ask each rider's height, so your bike is the right size.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

FAQ

Do I need to be fit? No. It's mostly flat and the pace is relaxed, and the support tricycle can carry your bike if you get tired.

How do I get back from Urca? It's easy to get an Uber or taxi from Urca, or to stay for a drink on the seawall.

Why "12 Beaches"? That's how many beaches we pass between the start and the finish. Some are "ghost beaches": they no longer exist, because landfill and engineering projects reshaped the shoreline. Your guide will show you where they were.