What you do A bespoke, private full-day immersion into Santos — its gilded Coffee Exchange, the panoramic peak of Monte Serrat, and the world's longest beachfront garden — at your own pace with a vetted local expert.

What to expect Your private guide meets you at the pier and whisks you through Santos in a chauffeured vehicle. The Museu do Café dazzles with its original 1922 trading floor — stained glass, gilded balconies, and rich espresso tastings. You ascend Monte Serrat by funicular for sweeping coastal panoramas, then stroll the 5.3 km beachfront garden at Orla e Jardins da Praia. The day closes with fresh seafood at a waterfront restaurant of your guide's choosing.

Good to know Santos port is compact; your guide meets you dockside. Pre-book well in advance — private guides fill up fast on busy port days. Confirm all-aboard time with your guide to build in comfortable return buffer.

book direct with Tours by Locals – Santos Private Guides → · the full guide →

What you do Step inside the breathtaking 1922 Bolsa Oficial do Café — Brazil's legendary coffee exchange — for a private guided tour of its stained-glass masterpiece and an expert cupping of Santos's finest single-origin coffees.

What to expect You enter a Belle Époque palace where fortunes were once made in minutes — the trading floor's vaulted ceiling and painted glass panels glow with filtered light. Your private guide narrates the rise of Santos as the world's largest coffee export port while you stand at the original mahogany desks. The tasting session that follows pairs single-origin Santos coffees with traditional Brazilian sweets. A visit to the rooftop terrace reveals the old port warehouses stretching to the waterfront.

Good to know The museum is a 10-minute taxi or rideshare from the cruise terminal. Open Tuesday–Sunday; confirm hours ahead. The tasting bar serves coffee continuously — arrive before the midday tour bus rush for a quieter experience.

book direct with Museu do Café (official) → · the full guide →

What you do Ride the century-old funicular railway to the summit of Monte Serrat for breathtaking 360° views over Santos, the Atlantic, and the Serra do Mar — crowned by a historic hilltop sanctuary that has watched over sailors for centuries.

What to expect The antique funicular creaks and sways as it hauls you up the forested hillside, revealing tantalising glimpses of Santos's terracotta rooftops and the blue Atlantic below. At the summit, the whitewashed Nossa Senhora do Monte Serrat sanctuary offers a moment of quiet reflection amid stunning scenery. The 360° panorama takes in the port, Guarujá island, and the Serra do Mar. Pair the ascent with a ride on the historic Linha Turística de Bonde tram through the city centre below.

Good to know The funicular operates daily; aim for mid-morning to avoid midday heat and haze. It's a short taxi ride from the port. Combining this with the Coffee Museum makes for a perfect half-day independently, leaving afternoons free for the beach garden or seafood lunch.

book direct with Linha Turística de Bonde & Monte Serrat (official Santos city service) → · the full guide →

What you do Enter the world's only museum dedicated to Pelé — the greatest footballer of all time — in the city where he made his legend, with a private guide to bring every trophy, jersey, and photograph to vivid life.

What to expect You walk through a beautifully curated space tracing Pelé's journey from barefoot child in Bauru to three-time World Cup winner and global ambassador. Original match jerseys, golden boots, and personal correspondence fill glass cases while rare footage plays on looping screens. Your guide draws connections between Santos FC's golden era and Brazilian cultural identity. A short walk or taxi brings you to the historic Vila Belmiro stadium for an optional stadium tour.

Good to know The museum is centrally located in downtown Santos, a short taxi from the pier. Open Tuesday–Sunday. Combine with a stop at the Coffee Museum — they are within easy walking distance of each other — to make the most of your port day downtown.

the full guide →

What you do Wander through one of Brazil's finest botanical collections at the Orquidário Municipal — over 600 orchid species, native Atlantic Forest fauna, and resident parrots — a serene, fragrant escape from the city.

What to expect You enter a lush canopy of palms and bromeliads, the air thick with fragrance, as orchids in every conceivable colour cascade from trellises and tree trunks. A resident botanist guide points out rare Cattleya and Laelia hybrids alongside Atlantic Forest natives that took decades to cultivate. Resident parrots, tortoises, and occasional monkeys move freely through the grounds. The garden's tranquil interior is a world away from the port bustle — a genuinely restorative hour or two.

Good to know A 15-minute taxi from the pier. Best visited in the morning when light filters through the canopy and wildlife is most active. Combine with the adjacent beachfront garden for a relaxed, nature-focused port day. Open daily.

book direct with Orquidário Municipal de Santos (official) → · the full guide →

What you do Escape to the gorgeous beaches of Guarujá island — Santos's glamorous neighbour — for a private chauffeured day of powder-white sand, crystalline Atlantic water, and a long seafood lunch at a renowned beachfront restaurant.

What to expect Your private vehicle and guide collect you at the pier and head to the Guarujá ferry crossing — a scenic 10-minute water passage with views of the Santos port channel. Praia de Enseada stretches before you in a wide arc of golden sand lapped by warm Atlantic water. After swimming and sunbathing, your guide escorts you to a handpicked beachfront restaurant for grilled fish, moqueca, and chilled caipirinhas. A scenic coastal drive back through Santos rounds out the afternoon before your return to the ship.

Good to know The ferry to Guarujá runs frequently and takes around 10 minutes. Pre-book your private guide to ensure a vehicle meets you at the pier. Confirm all-aboard time carefully — build in at least 90 minutes' return buffer given ferry and traffic variables.

book direct with TourHQ Santos – Private Local Guides → · the full guide →

What you do Soar above the emerald Atlantic in a glass-floor gondola linking three breathtaking beaches — then freefall on South America's most dramatic zipline. Unipraias is the defining adrenaline icon of Balneário Camboriú.

What to expect Board the iconic cable car at Barra Sul station and glide high above the jungle-clad hillside to Laranjeiras Beach, with floor-to-ceiling glass showcasing the 6 km crescent of Praia Central below. From the summit platform, strap into the 800 m zipline and rocket over the Atlantic canopy. Wind down on the high-speed mountain sled before returning on the return gondola for a second look at the coastline. The whole circuit takes 2–3 hours — thrilling but never rushed.

Good to know Pre-book tickets on the official site; slots sell out on port days. The park is a 10-min taxi ride from the port. Allow 3 hrs plus travel. All-aboard times in BC are typically 17:00–18:00, so a morning start is ideal.

book direct with Unipraias Park (official) → · the full guide →

What you do Step into a private, air-conditioned gondola on one of South America's tallest Ferris wheels — 88 m high — and watch Balneário Camboriú's glittering skyline and coastline unfold beneath you in slow, panoramic revolution.

What to expect Your private gondola lifts you silently above the Barra Sul waterfront, framing the full sweep of Praia Central, the Interpraias hillscape, and — on clear days — the distant islands of Bombinhas. Each rotation takes approximately 15 minutes; private gondola guests may request additional rotations. The open-sided observation deck at the base offers a champagne bar to toast before or after your flight. An effortlessly elegant 1-hour experience.

Good to know Located directly on the Barra Sul beachfront, a 5-min taxi from port. Combine with Unipraias Park nearby for a seamless half-day. Book the private gondola upgrade in advance via the official site — availability is limited.

the full guide →

What you do Cruise the Enchanted Peninsula aboard a private vessel, hopping seven dazzling coves — Bombas, Bombinhas, Quatro Ilhas, Mariscal and more — with crystal-clear snorkelling stops in marine reserve waters.

What to expect A scenic 40-minute van transfer south brings you to the fishing village of Bombinhas, where your boat crew awaits with snorkel gear, fresh fruit, and cold caipirinhas. The vessel threads through seven beaches, pausing at Quatro Ilhas — one of Santa Catarina's most celebrated snorkel sites — where sea turtles and shoals of colourful reef fish are common sightings. Lunch of fresh-grilled catch at a beachside restaurant is included in most private packages. Return transfer to BC by late afternoon.

Good to know Travel time from port to Bombinhas is approx. 45 mins each way. Depart by 08:30 to comfortably return before a 17:00 all-aboard. Confirm snorkel gear, marine park entry fees, and lunch are included when booking the private charter directly.

the full guide →

What you do Ascend Morro da Cruz to the glowing Cristo Luz statue for a panoramic night-time spectacle — BC's dazzling vertical skyline and the entire bay shimmer below this iconic 33 m hilltop Christ figure.

What to expect A private car winds up Morro da Cruz as dusk falls, arriving at the hilltop plaza where the Cristo Luz statue blazes against the sky. Your guide shares the story of BC's meteoric rise — from humble Santa Catarina fishing village to the city with more high-rises per capita than Manhattan. From the panoramic balcony, the full 6 km arc of Praia Central, the lagoon, and the distant Serra Gaúcha mountains are laid out in light. Sundowners and a gourmet charcuterie spread can be arranged on request.

Good to know Best after 18:30 when lights come on. Check with your ship for late all-aboard options, or confirm a 20:00+ all-aboard. Access by private car or taxi (10 mins from port). Entry tickets purchasable at the gate; private guide should be pre-booked.

book direct with Cristo Luz (official attraction) → · the full guide →

What you do Journey inland to two jewels of German-Brazilian culture — historic Blumenau with its half-timbered Fachwerk architecture and the UNESCO-worthy village of Pomerode, where 70% of residents still speak German daily.

What to expect Your private transfer heads west into the Vale do Itajaí, the lush valley settled by German and Pomeran immigrants in the 1850s. In Blumenau, stroll the Rua XV de Novembro with its immaculate Fachwerk façades and visit Eisenbahn's brewery for a premium tasting flight. Continue to tiny Pomerode — the most German city in Brazil — where a local family opens their home for coffee and traditional Streuselkuchen cake. The return drive through the Serra reveals the extraordinary contrast between European village life and the tropical Atlantic Forest canopy.

Good to know Allow a full 8–9 hrs; ideal for ports with an 18:00 or later all-aboard. Blumenau is 55 km (50 mins) from BC. Confirm departure time with your guide to guarantee a stress-free return. Private transfers from/to the port are standard with specialist operators.

the full guide →

What you do Go behind the glass at the Aquário Marinho do Brasil — the largest marine aquarium in Latin America — for an after-hours private encounter that puts you face-to-face with sharks, sea turtles, and thousands of Atlantic species.

What to expect Your marine biologist host leads you through the aquarium's research corridors, explaining the rescue and rehabilitation programmes for local sea turtles and endemic Atlantic reef species. In the main cylindrical tank — Brazil's largest — you witness nurse sharks, rays, and dense shoals of trevally from an upper observation gallery reserved exclusively for private guests. Certified divers may arrange an in-tank dive alongside the resident marine life, accompanied by aquarium staff. The private tour concludes with a curated tasting of sustainable Catarinense seafood at the on-site restaurant.

Good to know Located in central Balneário Camboriú, 10 mins from port by taxi. Standard hours 10:00–20:00; private/after-hours sessions require advance booking directly with the aquarium's events desk. Dive experience requires PADI Open Water certification minimum — confirm prior to booking.

the full guide →