Guanabara Bay, Natural bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Guanabara Bay extends 31 kilometers in length and 28 kilometers in width, featuring over 130 islands across its 412 square kilometer surface.
Portuguese explorers Gaspar de Lemos and Gonçalo Coelho discovered the bay on January 1, 1502, leading to the establishment of Rio de Janeiro.
The name derives from Tupi language terms referring to a bay similar to the sea, reflecting the indigenous heritage of the region.
The Rio-Niterói Bridge spans the bay, connecting the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói while facilitating daily transportation for thousands of people.
The bay entrance features prominent geographical markers including Papagaio Peak, Santa Cruz fortress, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and São João fortress.
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Part of: South Atlantic Ocean
GPS coordinates: -22.79043,-43.15567
Latest update: November 18, 2025 10:37
Rio de Janeiro is more than a city; it is a living backdrop. Between mountains and sea, the Brazilian metropolis showcases its most famous landscapes: Christ the Redeemer overlooking Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf shining in the sun, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches where music and sand never sleep. But Rio is not just postcards. In the streets of Santa Teresa, colorful azulejos climb the Selarón stairs, museums reinvent the modern city, parks hide tropical forests, and lookouts reveal stunning panoramas. From samba to nature, from colonial heritage to futuristic architecture, each neighborhood tells a different face of Rio. Here are the must-visit places to experience its energy, beauty, and the unique joie de vivre.
Parish Church of Our Lady of Help (Ilha do Governador)
1.6 km
Morro do Barão
2.3 km
Praia das Pelônias
3 km
Praia Grande
2.5 km
Praia de Cocotá
2.6 km
Praia da Moça
1.1 km
Morro dos Bancários
3.1 km
Morro do Quilombo
1 km
Iemanjá da Ilha do Governador
1.6 km
Morro do Boqueirão
1.3 km
Praia do Bananal
981 m
Caramanchão da Praça Manuel Madruga
2.9 km
Morro das Araras
2.2 km
Praia da Bandeira
2.9 km
Praia Saco da Rosa
3 km
Praia Zumbi
3.1 km
Morro do Bananal
615 m
Praia Congonhas do Campo
2.2 km
Praia da Guanabara
1.3 km
Lima Barreto na Ilha do Governador
1.5 km
Capitão Nelson Megé
3.1 km
Gato-Maracajá, Pedra da Onça
609 m
Canhão da Ponta do Tiro
3.2 km
Morro do Matias
2.4 km
Castro Alves da Ilha do Governador
3 km
Praia da Olaria
3 km
Manuel Bandeira
3.1 km
Marco do Cocotá
2.7 kmReviews
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