Rio de Janeiro Airport TransfersThe Best Ways to Get to and From the International Airport! Custom Search As mentioned, there are essentially four ways to get from the Rio de Janeiro airport to your hotel or apartment in Ipanema or Copacabana Beach and other parts of the city. On this page, we provide details for each transportation method.
Shuttle Van TransferYou can arrange a shuttle van transfer from the Rio de Janeiro airport by booking it through your travel agent, the hotel or apartment rental service, or by using a Rio tour operator.This is certainly the easiest transfer method but may be the most expensive. You will likely share a shuttle van with other arriving tourists, who are dropped at different hotels along the beaches. If you book ahead through a travel agent or the hotel, as you exit customs and enter the airport terminal, look for the driver holding a card with your name on it. Apartment rental companies will usually take you directly to the apartment and give you the keys, rental agreement, etc. The apartment rental management company RioApartments.com offers airport round trip transfers. Tour companies, such as Gray Line Tours, also offer airport transfer service to/from south zone (Zona Sul) hotels for about US $34 per per person round trip or US $21 one way. You can make a reservation on line. Hiring a TaxiHiring a taxi at the Rio de Janeiro airport is probably the most common transfer method. We recommend hiring the taxi service at one of the booths as you exit customs and just before you enter the main terminal. It's a bit more expensive than hiring a taxi at the curb, but you avoid being inundated by men in the terminal who try to steer you to a taxi (they get a commission). Also you are assured of getting a fixed price with a reputable and legitimate taxi service. You can't miss these taxi booths that are staffed by women who call out and wave as you exit the international terminal. There is no need to book ahead. The cost for up to four people is between R$60 - R$70, for drop off anywhere in the south zone (Zona Sul)which includes Copacabana or Ipanema. You can pay for the taxi service by credit card. We have had very good results with the TranScooter company. Pay cash in R$ and you will usually receive a 10% discount (you have to ask for a "desconto"). Note - you are not expected to tip the contracted taxi drivers. A return taxi ride to the airport is less expensive and usually costs about R$50 from anywhere in Ipanema or Copacabana. Simply hire a taxi in front of your hotel or apartment. Insider's Tip - The cost for a taxi transfer from the Rio de Janeiro Airport is the same price for one person or up to four people. You might find other tourists on your flight, with whom you can share a taxi cab to the beaches. We did this recently and were dropped off in Ipanema, while the other people were driven up to Copacabana. There was no extra charge for the two location drop-off. If you are bringing a lot of luggage, you Renting a Car at the Rio de Janeiro AirportIf you plan to rent a car for getting around, this can be easily done at the Rio de Janeiro airport.The Brazilian rental car company Localiza, rents cars at the airport and in Copacabana, as does Hertz and a few other companies. You can reserve a car over the internet prior to your arrival, or compare prices and book the rental once you arrive. See our Rental Car section for more information about getting around Rio by car. Note: Some rental agencies, such as Localiza, insist on making a copy of your original passport photo page, which they scan into their system. If you are uncomfortable with having your passport photo in the rental car agency forever, then check ahead with the agency. Thrifty Car Rental is one outfit that does not scan passports. Caution: driving around Rio is not for the faint of heart. Road signs are sparse, traffic is congested, and drivers (especially taxi cabs) are quite aggressive. Parking may also be difficult to locate and is costly. To use a city map, you will need a navigator in the front passenger seat! It's easier to leave the city directly from the airport than to drive down to Ipanema or Copacabana. Buy a map ahead of time and plan your route. Taking a Bus from the Airport
The cheapest way to get to your destination from the airport, is by taking a bus. If you are leaving Rio de Janeiro immediately from the airport and plan to travel outside the city on a long distance bus, then using an airport bus to get to the main bus station (Novo Rio Rodoviaria) is a safe and easy transportation method. Getting to the beaches or the main bus station will cost about R$ 7 per person. Locate the Real Auto Bus or Empresa Real counter in the terminal and buy a ticket. Get the bus that drops passengers off at various hotels in the Zona Sul (south zone), including Ipanema and Copacabana. We recommend this transfer method if you are on a tight budget and are willing to take the slower ride to the beaches, which is normally greater than 1 hour. You'll have to figure out where you are going and when to get off. Safety is less a concern when using the Real Auto Bus from the airport as compared to other city buses, as this bus only picks up and drops off passengers at the hotel stops. The bus that takes passengers from the airport to the Novo Rio Rodoviaria makes no other stops. Getting back to the airport from your hotel using the real Auto Bus is a bit trickier. You'll have to wait for one to come by your hotel, and the schedule is inconsistent at best. Ask the staff at your hotel for assistance in using this bus to return to the airport. Getting to the Rio de Janeiro airport from the Novo Rio Rodoviaria is easy, as buses leave on a regular schedule. Simply purchase a ticket at the counter in the bus station. Your luggage can be stowed under the bus by the driver, and you will be given a claim ticket. It's customary to give the driver a small tip if he loads and unloads your luggage.
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