Rio de Janeiro Urca Self-Guided Walking Tour

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2 hours (approximately)
Offered in: Portuguese and 2 more

Urca is Rio's quietest neighbourhood and its most surprising — tucked between Sugarloaf Mountain and the bay, with history on every corner.

This app-led scavenger hunt takes you through Rio de Janeiro on foot, using phone-based riddles to guide you from one landmark to the next. No guide, no fixed start time.

• Stroll along the Mureta da Urca, the beloved low seafront wall where cariocas gather to watch the sun set behind Sugarloaf
• Visit the Museu de Ciências da Terra, a fascinating geological museum with one of Brazil's finest mineral collections
• Walk to Praia Vermelha, the sheltered red-sand beach at the foot of Sugarloaf with one of the most dramatic natural backdrops in the city

Around 2 hours, any group size, available in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.

Rio has bigger neighbourhoods and louder ones — but none quite as perfect for a walk as Urca.

What's Included

Learn about town stories, history, and local legends
Total flexibility: no waiting, start anytime, walk at own pace and do as many breaks as you want
Free download of the Explorial App from your appstore required (iOS and Android supported)
Points and scoring system — compete with your group
Self-guided city tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks
Clear hints and map guidance — so you never get stuck or lost
A Smartphone is required and not provided. Fully charged with active data connection (internet)
No live guide: The tour is 100% self-guided – no one will be meeting you at the starting point
This is not an audio guide

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
Rua Roquete Pinto

→ Book 1 ticket for each participant → You get one game code per booking by text or Viator message → Download the Explorial App on your app store → Open the app and enter provided game code (6 digits) → All particpants join the game with same game code

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What to expect

Starting at Rua Roquete Pinto in Urca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, you'll open the Explorial app, enter the 6-digit game code that you received by text and Viator chat message, and set off into one of Rio's most atmospheric neighbourhoods. No guide, no fixed start time.

Your first stop is the Mureta da Urca, the low seawall that has been a gathering spot for Rio locals for generations. With Sugarloaf rising directly behind you and the bay stretching ahead, the riddles pair Rio's best views with the stories of the neighbourhood beneath the mountain.

The route then leads to the Museu de Ciências da Terra, housed inside a striking early 20th-century building in the heart of Urca. Its collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils tells the geological story of Brazil.

The hunt finishes at Praia Vermelha, the small sheltered beach at the very foot of Sugarloaf. Named for its distinctive reddish sand, it's one of the few truly peaceful beaches in Rio de Janeiro.

Allow around 2 hours for the full route. Urca is a neighbourhood that Rio keeps to itself — and this tour is your way in.

Additional info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Max 15 people per booking. For larger groups, make multiple bookings.
  • After booking you receive a text message and a Viator message with your game code. Download the Explorial app from your appstore. Open the app, enter your 6 digit game code
  • Weather & Health Guarantee: If bad weather or illness prevents you from starting the tour, you can simply reschedule it for another day. You can also rebook to a different city or request a refund
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Tags

Self-guided Tours
Walking Tours
Fun & Games
Scavenger Hunts
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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