The Best Rio De Janeiro Helicopter Tour | 5 Best Options!
The city of Rio de Janeiro (January River), Brazil is one of the most picturesque cities that I have ever seen. I remember being so impressed on my first flight into Rio in seeing the mountains against the beaches and lagoons as the sun rose. I was immediately in love! So, on my second visit, I decided a helicopter tour was required to get a better look of the city from above. It is absolutely the best way to get unforgettable views of this beautiful city. If you are here, you are likely interested in taking a similar tour as well – and I could not recommend this experience more. Stick around to get my perspective on the best Rio de Janeiro Helicopter tour. I’ll also share some information on what you can expect on the tour and the different types of options that exist.
Don’t feel like reading the whole post? Below is my top rated Helicopter Tour recommendation!
Top Tour recommendation
Rio de Janeiro Helicopter Tour – Christ the Redeemer
- Includes all highlights of Rio from above, including Copacabana, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Christ Statue
- Most affordable price
- Highest number of reviews
The Best Rio De Janeiro Helicopter Tour
1 | Rio de Janeiro Helicopter Tour – Christ the Redeemer
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars (266 Reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 7-8 Minutes | Check Price Now
This tour is best for those who want a nice “taste” of this marvelous city from the sky, and is by far the most popular choice. During this tour 7-8 minute helicopter tour, you will fly from the neighborhood of Rodrigo de Freitas and return there at the endpoint. You should be able to catch the beautiful Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon as you start the tour.
Although this helicopter ride is short, you will see sites such as:
- Botanical Gardens
- Parque Lage
- Tijuca National Park Rainforest
- Sugarloaf Mountain
- Corcovado Mountain – The mountain where the Christ sits
- Christ the Redeemer statue – One of the Modern Wonders of the World!
- Ipanema Beach
- Copacaba Beach
- Leblon Beach
- Copacabana Fort
- Guanabara Bay
This tour offers incredible views of the city and provides an entirely new perspective than just exploring the city by foot. My helicopter flight in Rio was my first one ever, and I found the helicopter ride very easy a safe. I thought it was so cool how the helicopter can just “hover” at times.
“What an awesome experience!! I’d never been in a helicopter, so that alone was cool! But flying around the Cristo Redentor was a once in a lifetime experience! The pictures/videos alone are worth the price! I highly recommend doing this!! Rayona, Felipe, and Brina were wonderful and accommodating as well! Thank you!”
– Adam K. (See more reviews)
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Four Additional Helicopter Tour Recommendations
2 | Rio de Janeiro – 30 or 60-Minute Highlights Helicopter Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.8 out of 5 stars (60 Reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 30 Minutes or 60 Minutes | Check Price Now
This tour will take you to many of the same sites as the first option, but with the extended time you are able to get different angles of the major sites. The takeoff point for this option is located at Jacarepaguá Airport. The 30-minute flight hits essentially the same sites as the prior one, but there are some additional ones included with the 60-minute flight.
These sites include:
- Olympic Center
- Barra de Tijuca
- Modern Museum of Art Niterói
- Santos Dumont Airport
- Downtown Rio (and the cruise ships that often arrive in this part of the city)
- Maracanã Stadium
- Tijuca Forest, and more!
This tour is available during the day, at sunset, and a night. So you can choose the the option that will make this the most memorable experience for you.
“It was the best experience ever, the pilot was funny and made sure that we felt secure and safe. Great choice!” (See more reviews)
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3 | Helicopter Tour in Rio de Janeiro – 30 Minutes
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars (39 Reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 30 Minutes | Check Price Now
This option is quite similar to the prior option 30-minute option, but departs from a helicopter hanger in Barra da Tijuca. Like the other options it provides aerial views of the Rio skyline. And although it comes with slightly review reviews the option #2, it does get more 5/5 ratings. The key differentiator here may be the price, which you can check below!
“This was the best way to see the entire city of Rio de Janeiro. Thiago and his crew made me feel absolutely safe throughout the entire process. I would definitely book with him again to see the “Cidade Maravilhosa” from a different point of view. I was completely satisfied by the service and the attention I received from the crew. Thanks Thiago!”
– Steven_R (See more reviews)
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4 | Private Helicopter Tour for 2 People
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars (1 Review) | TOUR LENGTH: 30 Minutes | Check Price Now
If you prefer to not to fly with strangers, this private tour option may be the best one for you. Get the vantage point of a helicopter, and make it extra special by doing it with someone you love. They advertise as providing you an unforgettable experience and views of the Wonderful City. This company is also highly focused on meeting international safety standards, which is good for all, right?
And unlike the other options on this post, you will meet at the helicopter office and they will taxi you to the takeoff point.
Check Prices for the Helicopter Tour in Rio de Janeiro – 30 Minutes Now!
5 | Rio de Janeiro: City Highlights Helicopter Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.7 out of 5 stars (7 Reviews) | TOUR LENGTH: 30 Minutes | Check Price Now
This option also provides an overview of the city like the options above. This one is rated lowest solely because of the (typically) higher price for what you get. You should confirm prices for all the tours before booking, but this one appears higher for the overall duration than others in this list. Like above, this tour also begins at the helicopter office.
“It was my first time on a helicopter. And I couldn’t have asked for a better first experience. The pilot was very informative and nice. He even did a little fly past our hotel which was on Copacabana beach. Before we took off, we had been informed that due to the cloudy conditions that morning we might not be able to see Christ the Redeemer. The first attempt at viewing the statue was probably the best because I got some of the most amazing photos and video I have ever taken. He tried for a better view a few times but that first one was the money shot. I would wholly and gladly recommend this tour.”
-Abayomi
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What to Expect in Each Helicopter Tour
There are a few things that you can expect from any option that you choose:
- Professional Pilot
- Round-trip transportation to the starting point
- Aerial views of the city and a breathtaking experience!
Check below for a short clip that I video’d while I was in my helicopter ride above Rio. If it’s not clear so far, I absolutely loved it! One thing that you should be aware of is that weather conditions may impact the timing of your flight, so you may need to plan for some flexibility on the day of your planned flight.
Rio De Janeiro Helicopter Tour Price
On average, the price for a helicopter tour will run from ~$170 – $300, depending on the duration of your flight.
In Summary | The Best Rio De Janeiro Helicopter Tour
I hope that post has provided you the details you need to experience your helicopter ride in Rio, Brazil. I’ll be honest, the price may seem high for a relatively short experience, But simple due to the breathtaking views alone, I think it is highly worth it!
