Santos Dumont Airport Transfers (SDU)
Whether you’re arriving at Galeão International Airport (GIG) or Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), we’ll make sure your transfer to or from Santos Dumont Airport is relaxed and hassle-free.
With everything arranged in advance, there’s no need to worry about taxis, directions, or delays. Just settle in, enjoy the ride, and take in your first glimpses of Rio as you head towards one of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods.
It’s a simple, comfortable way to start your stay.
Flight Monitoring
Meet & greet inside the airport
Prepaid Service
Nothing to pay on arrival
Professional Drivers
Know the quickest & safest routes
Door to Door Service
Straight to your accommodation
Your Transfer to and from SDU Made Easy
Touch down in Rio and start your journey feeling relaxed and looked after. Your driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall with a clear name sign, ready to welcome you and get you on your way – no queues, no confusion, and no last-minute decisions to make.
As you head Santos Dumont Airport sits right in the heart of Rio, on the edge of Guanabara Bay with views of Sugarloaf Mountain. It’s compact, easy to navigate, and significantly closer to the South Zone beaches than Galeão. Your driver will be waiting inside arrivals to take you directly to your hotel.
Why Travellers Trust Us
- Meet & Greet - A member of our team will meet you inside the airport
- Flight Tracking - We adjust your pickup time if your flight is delayed
- Safe, Friendly Drivers - Local drivers with years of experience
- Private Transfers Only - No shared rides and not waiting
- Comfortable Vehicles - Air-conditioned cars, vans and minibuses
- Since 2007 - Rio's original, trusted airport transfer provider
Travel Time From the Airports
OK, so Rio traffic has a personality of its own. Santos Dumont is centrally located, making it the closer airport for most Rio hotels. Journey times vary depending on traffic, weather, events, or whatever surprises Rio decides to throw in that day. Here’s what to expect on average:
SDU → Copacabana / Ipanema / Leblon: 25–35 minutes
SDU → Barra da Tijuca: 40–50 minutes
SDU → City Centre / Lapa: 10–15 minutes
Return to SDU from South Zone: ~45 minutes
Top tip: SDU is much closer to the city than GIG — allow around 45–60 minutes from the South Zone for your return transfer.
About Santos Dumont Airport
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is Rio’s domestic airport, located right on the waterfront in the city centre. It’s named after the Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont and primarily serves domestic routes, including the busy Rio–São Paulo air bridge.
Its central location makes it the most convenient airport for travellers staying in Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, or the city centre. The terminal is small and easy to navigate, and you’ll be through arrivals quickly.
A private transfer from SDU means your driver is waiting the moment you exit arrivals, with no queues, no shared shuttles, and a direct ride to your hotel door.
Our Vehicles
Whether you’re travelling solo, with family, or arriving with a group big enough to start your own Carnival bloco, we’re ready for you.
From mid-size to truly spacious, our fleet covers it all. Explore the full fleet and find the right fit for your arrival in Rio.
Medium Car
Up to 3 passengers and luggage
Small Van
Up to 12 passengers and luggage
Large Van
Up to 15 passengers and luggage
Small Bus
Up to 22 passengers and luggage
Large Bus
Up to 48 passengers and luggage
FAQs
When you’ve completed your online booking you will receive an email confirming your transfer details, including date and time, as well as information on how to meet your driver and our local phone number in Rio de Janeiro
No problem. We’ll monitor your flight to ensure your driver is waiting, even if your flight is delayed.
If you miss your flight, you can email or whatsapp us to advise of your new arrival flight information, and we’ll do our best to ensure your driver is waiting for you when you arrive on your new flight.
Your driver will be waiting for you inside the public arrivals area of the airport, immediately after you exit customs. He will be holding a sign with your name printed on it.
Yes, absolutely. We can provide transfers to and from most locations within Rio de Janeiro.
Ok, so this is an interesting question. Traffic in Rio can be horrific, depending on the day of the week, time of day, weather conditions, security issues etc. Generally, it will take approximately 60 minutes to travel from Galeao International Airport to Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon areas, and up to 75 minutes to Barra da Tijuca.
As with transfers to your accommodation, return transfer times can depend on many factors. We always advise allowing 90 minutes for the return transfer from Copacabana, Leblon, Ipanema back to Galeao International Airport. This allows for unexpected delays. Please keep in mind that we can’t predict if there will be delays, or how long they will be.
No problem. If you can’t find the destination on our booking for, contact us and we’ll be happy to provide a quote.
That’s not a problem. We provide free cancellation, with a full refund, up to 12 hours prior to your scheduled pickup time. Just contact us and let us know.
Other Transfer Options
Looking for transfers to other areas of Rio de Janeiro?
We also offer:
