Rio de Janeiro Urca Self-Guided Walking Tour

Duration2h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesNorwegian, German, Hindi, Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese, Greek, Cantonese, English, Italian, French, Hungarian, Spanish, Czech, Ukrainian, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Danish, Romanian, Dutch, Turkish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

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

Available in 24 languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian — see the full list when booking and choose yours when you start the game in the app.
Around 2 hours - any group size.

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

What's included

Free download of the Explorial App from your appstore (iOS or Android smartphone required)
Points and scoring system: Compete between players of your group and beat the cities high score.
Live Location: navigate within the map with marked locations. Always know where you are.
Learn about the cities stories, history, and local legends
Total flexibility: no waiting, start anytime, walk at own pace and do as many breaks as you want.
Self-guided walking tour with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.

Live-Guide: 100% self-guided; no one will meet you or join your group. Start anytime you want.
Entrance fees are not required for this game. All puzzles relate to the public areas of the sights
This is not an audio guide but an sightseeing, gaming and learning experience

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.

Mureta da Urca
Museu de Ciencias da Terra
Praia Vermelha

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Book your Explorial tour today. Start whenever you want.

*** After booking, you’ll receive your game code via text message and a Viator message.

*** Download the Explorial app for free.

*** Head to the meeting point and enter the game code provided (6 digits) to start the tour.

End point

Book your Explorial tour today. Start whenever you want.

*** After booking, you’ll receive your game code via text message and a Viator message.

*** Download the Explorial app for free.

*** Head to the meeting point and enter the game code provided (6 digits) to start the tour.

Additional information

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
Smartphone required: Bring your own fully charged smartphone with an active mobile data connection to the start of the tour. Please disable any VPN and avoid city Wi-Fi, as these will cause the app to malfunction or disconnect.
Recommended attire: It’s best to wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes — approx. 2 hours of light walking

Cancellation policy

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