Tours & Routes

How boat tours work on Gigóia Island

Gigóia Island sits inside the Barra da Tijuca lagoon system — a chain of lagoons and canals linking Lagoa da Tijuca to Lagoa de Marapendi and out to the sea. That is where the island's two nicknames come from: the Venice of Rio, for the lanes and the boats that replace cars, and the Carioca Pantanal, for the wildlife living in the mangroves next door.

First-time visitors often mix up two things. The crossing is transport: the boat that takes you from the mainland to the island in about two minutes, costs a few reais and runs all day. The tour is the guided route that leaves from the island or the main pier and runs through the canals, the mangroves and the neighbouring lagoons.

Most routes leave from the main pier on Avenida Armando Lombardi, near number 370, a few minutes from Jardim Oceânico metro station (exit A). Trips to the Tijucas Islands usually leave from Praia dos Amores, since they head into open sea.

When to go and what to bring

The island is much quieter on weekdays, and it is easier to book a tour on the spot. On weekends and holidays, book a day or two ahead — the boats fill up and the wait grows.

For wildlife, mornings are best: the caimans tend to sit still on the bank in the sun and the wind is still light, which keeps the water flat for photos. For sunset, leave between an hour and an hour and a half before the sun goes down that day.

Bring sunscreen, insect repellent (the mangroves have mosquitoes in the late afternoon), water, a cap and a light shirt. There is no ATM on the island, so carry cash or have Pix ready. If you are heading to the Tijucas Islands, add swimwear, a towel and a waterproof pouch for your phone.

Safety and the rules of the tour

Gigóia is an easy-going destination, but the tour takes place on water and inside a protected environmental area. It is worth knowing what to expect from an operator and what the law requires.

Before you board

• A life jacket for everyone on board — in the right size when children are with you.
• A boat registered with the Port Authority (Capitania dos Portos) and a licensed skipper.
• Capacity respected. An overloaded boat is a reason not to board.
• Departures cancelled or rescheduled when the sea is rough or the weather turns.

Passenger boats working the lagoons and canals of Barra follow the NORMAM, the rules of the Brazilian Navy’s Directorate of Ports and Coasts, and are inspected by the Rio de Janeiro Port Authority.

Sharing the place with wildlife

• The lagoon system lies inside the Marapendi Environmental Protection Area (APA).
• Broad-snouted caimans, capybaras and herons are wild animals: watch from a distance, never feed them, do not make noise to draw their attention and never try to touch them.
• Chasing, harassing or feeding wildlife is a crime under Brazilian Federal Law 9,605/1998.
• No litter in the water — whatever comes on the boat leaves with you.

The operators on the island know these rules. If something about the boarding does not look right, do not board, and talk to us.

Prefer to call? (21) 99380-2618

Who is responsible for what

Portal Ilha da Gigóia is a booking and agency service. We do not own boats, we have no crew and we do not operate any vessel. Every tour is run by an independent local operator, named in your booking confirmation.

• The portal is responsible for the booking: date, time, number of people, the agreed price and passing that information on to the operator correctly.
• The operator is responsible for the tour itself: the vessel, the skipper, the safety equipment, the passenger limit, the route and compliance with Brazilian Navy regulations. We are not responsible for how the boat is handled or for anything that happens during the tour.
• You are responsible for following the instructions on board: life jacket when required, the skipper’s directions and the wildlife rules described above.

We only work with operators whose vessel is registered with the Port Authority (Capitania dos Portos) and whose skipper is licensed. This page explains how responsibility is shared and does not remove any right granted to you by the Brazilian Consumer Protection Code. Full terms in Terms of Use.