Guanabara Bay

A vast oceanic inlet flanked by the looming peaks of Sugarloaf Mountain and Papagaio Peak and dotted with over 100 islands, Guanabara Bay provides a dramatic backdrop to the city of Rio de Janeiro. Measuring in at about 159 square miles (412 square kilometers), Guanabara is Brazil’s second largest bay, home to the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo, the Port of Rio de Janeiro and Rio’s two airports. The iconic landscape has been immortalized on countless postcards.
Most visitors choose to explore the sights of Guanabara Bay with a boat cruise from Rio harbor, taking in highlights like the Rio neighborhoods of Botafogo, Flamengo and Urca, the beaches of Niterói and the fortresses of Sao Joao and Santa Cruz.

Practical Info

Guanabara Bay is located off the Atlantic Ocean, stretching inland from the city of Rio de Janeiro, and can be explored by boat from the city’s main port. The islands of Fundão and Governador and the city of Niteroi are also connected via road bridges to Rio de Janeiro, and passenger ferries regularly cross the bay to Niteroi and the Island of Paquetá.