I took the tour on the third day of my trip to Rio. By then I have already figured out how to take public transportation which is great here -- cheap and easy to use, and with a map in hand everything is very clear. So, there was really no advantage in taking the tour! It is basically nothing but transportation to the venue and back, though tour bus was well air-conditioned which is a big plus in the hot weather. WHen I signed up for the tour, I was hoping for an excursion with a lot of information, historical and cultural, but did not get that. Information was very limited, not exceeding the tour books, if that. However, our guide was a very nice lady and spoke excellent English. SHe could answer my questions well. Views from Sugar Loaf are spectacular -- not to miss! Unfortunately, we did not get to see the monkeys, they were probably asleep in the hot afternoon...

I enjoyed the content of the tour very much. It was interesting to see old Rio and walk its streets. The pace was a bit too fast for my taste -- too much information in a fast tempo. I could not quite absorb it all. Nice coffee break at the end in a beautiful cafe.