Búzios City Tour by Buggy: The Insider's Guide to Seeing Everything in One Morning

Here's something most visitors to Búzios discover too late: the city has two completely different sides, and most people only ever see one of them.

The north side — where most hotels are, where the Orla Bardot boardwalk is, where tourists naturally gravitate — is beautiful. But the south side is where the most spectacular beaches are. Pink-sand Praia do Forno. The dramatic 360-degree Forno Viewpoint. The wild Praia Brava with its exclusive beach clubs. The 520-million-year-old volcanic rock formations at Ponta da Lagoinha.

Without a guide and a vehicle that knows the roads, most visitors spend their entire trip on the north side and leave without ever having crossed to the south.

The private buggy city tour fixes that — in 90 minutes.

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Why a Buggy is the Best Way to Do a City Tour in Búzios

Búzios has no shortage of ways to get around. Uber works. Local vans run along the main avenue. Water taxis connect some northern beaches by sea. Car rentals give you full autonomy.

But for a city tour — for seeing the whole peninsula systematically, with context, efficiently — none of those options comes close to what an open-air buggy with a local guide delivers.

The van keeps you behind glass. The water taxi only covers the northern coast. Uber requires you to know where you're going before you get there. Self-drive rental works brilliantly if you already know the city — and leaves most first-timers seeing only the obvious spots.

The buggy is open-air, which means you feel the city rather than observe it through a window. It reaches viewpoints and beaches that are impractical on foot. And the guide turns every stop into something you understand, not just something you photograph.

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The Perfect Morning Schedule

This is how we recommend structuring your first morning in Búzios:

• 8:00am: Buggy picks you up at your hotel door — no meeting point, no transport to organize
• 8:00–9:30am: Private buggy city tour — both sides of the peninsula
• 9:30am: You now know exactly which beach you want to spend the rest of the day at — and why
• 10:00am–1:00pm: Your chosen beach, with full information about what's there
• 1:00pm: Lunch with a view — you already know the best spots from the tour
• 5:00pm: Sunset at João Fernandes Viewpoint — you know exactly how to get there now

That's a first day in Búzios that most visitors don't manage in three.

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What You See — Stop by Stop

Orla Bardot and the Brigitte Bardot Statue

The story of how a French actress turned a quiet fishing village into an international destination in 1964 is the starting point for understanding everything else about Búzios. The life-size bronze statue is the most photographed spot in the city — and the guide's context makes it meaningful rather than just a photo opportunity.

Bairro dos Ossos

The oldest neighborhood in Búzios and the most atmospheric. A church built in 1740, a Yacht Club with sailboats, cobblestone streets and colonial architecture that has barely changed in two centuries. The name "bones" comes from whale hunting in the 18th century — the guide tells the full story as you walk through.

João Fernandes Viewpoint

The view that stops conversations. The entire João Fernandes bay opens below — turquoise water, anchored boats, coastline to the horizon. There's a local craft market here too, worth a few minutes if you want to pick up something genuinely local.

Praia Brava and Olho de Boi

The wild side of the peninsula that most tourists never reach. Praia Brava has waves for surfing and exclusive beach clubs tucked into the vegetation. From the viewpoint above, you can see the trail leading down to Olho de Boi — Búzios's naturist beach, accessible only on foot.

Praia do Forno — The Highlight

Pink-tinted sand. Crystal clear cold water. The best snorkeling spot on the peninsula. The buggy gets you here without the steep downhill walk in the sun that puts most independent visitors off. You arrive at the beach fresh — and the guide waits while you swim.

Forno Viewpoint

360-degree view of the entire coastline. Pink Forno beach below on one side. Calm Ferradura bay on the other. Open Atlantic ahead. This is where the best panoramic photos of the trip happen — the guide knows every angle.

Ponta da Lagoinha

520-million-year-old volcanic formations. Búzios was once physically connected to Africa before the continents separated. These rocks are the evidence. It's a stop that changes how you look at everything else you've seen that morning.

Praia da Ferradura

The final stop. Horseshoe-shaped bay with calm, pool-like water perfect for families and anyone who wants a relaxed swim to end the morning. You can stay here while the guide returns to the city, or head back to your hotel — your choice.

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Who is This Tour For?

First-time visitors to Búzios — this is the single most efficient way to understand the city and make informed decisions about how to spend the rest of your time

Cruise ship passengers — with 4–5 hours in port, the buggy city tour covers more than most people see in a full weekend visit, leaving time for lunch and a swim before returning to the ship

Weekend visitors — two days in Búzios is plenty if you start with the buggy city tour on day one. You go into day two knowing exactly where you want to be and why

Repeat visitors — if you've been to Búzios before and only saw the north side, this tour will show you a completely different city than the one you remember

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Practical Information

• Duration: 90 minutes average
• Route: 8 beaches and 3 viewpoints, both sides of the peninsula
• Price: R$100 per person (up to 4 per buggy)
• Children 0–5: free | 6–10: half price
• Hotel pickup: included, no extra charge
• Payment: on the day only, directly to the guide — no upfront payment
• Departures: daily 8am to 4pm
• What to bring: sunscreen, sunglasses, swimwear, towel, camera
• Payment methods: cash (Brazilian Reais), PIX or credit card (5% surcharge)

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How to Book

Booking is done by WhatsApp in minutes. No forms, no deposit, no upfront payment. Tell us your preferred date, departure time and hotel or pousada name — we confirm availability immediately and pick you up at your door.

For morning slots — the ideal time for a city tour before the day heats up — we recommend booking at least a few hours in advance. In high season and on holidays, book the day before to secure your preferred departure time.

Ready to experience it? Book your private buggy tour in Búzios or pair it with boat tour in Búzios.

For the full overview of every route, price and booking detail, read the complete guide to the buggy tour in Búzios.