The 4 Búzios Beaches the 90-Minute Tour Doesn't Cover — And How to Reach Them
The standard 90-minute buggy tour covers Búzios's 8 most photogenic stops. But 4 beaches consistently come up in conversations about what the tour leaves out — Geribá, Ferradurinha, Porto da Barra and Tartaruga. Here's what each one actually offers, and how to reach them.
The standard buggy tour covers 8 beaches and 3 viewpoints in 90 minutes — the most impactful stops on the peninsula. It's designed for efficiency, and it delivers.
But 4 beaches consistently come up when visitors ask what the tour leaves out. Not because they're better than the standard stops — they're not all directly comparable — but because they offer something different, and "different" matters when you're staying in Búzios for more than two days.
Standard Tour vs. Extended Tour: What Actually Changes
The 90-minute tour is fixed and efficient by design — it's built to give first-time visitors the essential postcard stops without eating into the rest of the day. The 3-hour extended version exists for a different traveler: someone who's already done the essentials, or who knows going in that they want more time in the water and fewer stops overall. It's not a "better" version of the same tour, it's a different itinerary built around depth instead of coverage — which is also why it's quoted rather than fixed-priced, since the mix of beaches you choose changes the route.
Praia de Geribá — The One With Real Waves
Every other beach on the standard tour sits in a sheltered cove or inlet. Geribá breaks that pattern — open Atlantic exposure, consistent swell, surf schools operating all day. It's the most active beach in Búzios and the most popular with surfers, bodyboarders and anyone who finds calm-water beaches slightly too quiet.
It also has the most built-out shoreline — pousadas, bars and kiosks the entire length of the sand. The contrast with the preserved, quiet stops on the main tour route is real and worth experiencing if you're staying long enough.
Ferradurinha — The Beach Most Visitors Don't Find
Praia da Ferradura is the final stop on the standard tour — horseshoe-shaped bay, calm water, perfect for families. Ferradurinha is its smaller, quieter neighbor, separated by a side trail that most visitors simply don't find.
The result: even on busy days in Búzios, Ferradurinha tends to stay close to empty. Calmer water than Ferradura, no formal kiosks, the kind of beach that feels genuinely discovered rather than recommended by a guidebook.
Porto da Barra — For Lunch With a View
Porto da Barra isn't a beach — it's Búzios's main gastronomic hub, with restaurants overlooking the bay and a pace that's noticeably slower than the Rua das Pedras area. It's the natural stopping point for lunch on a longer day out, sitting close to Praia da Tartaruga and Ferradura.
For visitors doing the 3-hour extended tour, Porto da Barra works well as the closing stop — a proper meal with a sea view before heading back to the hotel.
Praia da Tartaruga — Warmer Water, Sea Turtles
Three species of sea turtles nest in this sheltered cove — which is a reliable indicator of how calm and protected the water is. It's consistently warmer than most Búzios beaches (the south-facing cove traps warmer currents), with a shallow coral formation good for gentle snorkeling.
It's the beach Búzios locals most consistently recommend for families with young children — warm, calm, shallow and genuinely beautiful without requiring any trail access or significant walk.
If You Can Only Add One, Which Should It Be?
Since the extended tour is built around your priorities rather than a fixed list, it helps to know which of the four fits your trip best. Surfers and anyone craving open water after a few days of calm coves should add Geribá. Travelers who've already seen the "greatest hits" and want a beach that feels undiscovered should pick Ferradurinha. If your day revolves around a proper sit-down lunch rather than snacks on the sand, Porto da Barra is the natural add. And if you're traveling with young kids, Tartaruga is the one locals point to first.
How to Actually Get to These Beaches
These 4 beaches are included in the 3-hour extended private buggy tour — a customizable route that starts with the standard 8-beach, 3-viewpoint itinerary and continues with whichever of these extras you want to add.
Since the tour is 100% private, you choose which beaches to include and how long to spend at each. The guide adapts the itinerary to your preferences rather than following a fixed schedule.
Pair It With the Rest of Your Trip
If your schedule has room, many travelers combine a day exploring these extra beaches with our 3-hour boat tour of the peninsula's islands and swim stops, or the standard private buggy tour on a separate day for the essential postcard stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add just one extra beach instead of all four?
Yes — the extended tour is built around whichever combination you want, whether that's one addition or all four.
Does adding beaches change the price?
Since the route and time on the road vary depending on which beaches you add, pricing is quoted per itinerary rather than fixed — send us your preferences on WhatsApp and we'll confirm a price before you book.
How to Request a Quote
Send us a WhatsApp message with your date, number of people and the beaches you want to include. We'll confirm availability and price with no upfront payment required. Hotel pickup included at no extra charge.
Book your private buggy tour in Búzios directly on WhatsApp — no deposit required.