Búzios Cruise Port
Armação dos Búzios, Brazil · South America
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Armação dos Búzios — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysTender port with a landing pier right in the centre. Rua das Pedras, Orla Bardot and the northern beaches are on foot or by taxi boat; Ferradura and Geribá are ten to fifteen minutes by taxi.
At a glance
Port summary
Búzios has no cruise berth. Ships anchor in the bay off Praia da Armação and tender passengers to the Píer do Centro, the public pier where Rua das Pedras meets the Orla Bardot waterfront. On busy days or in a swell some lines use the Porto Veleiro marina pier at Ossos instead, about 800 m further north along the same promenade. Either way you are in the middle of town the moment you step ashore. The centre is small and flat: Rua das Pedras, with its boutiques, bars and restaurants, starts at the pier, and the Orla Bardot seafront path runs past the Brigitte Bardot statue to Praia dos Ossos and the little Igreja de Sant'Anna in about 15 minutes. From Ossos a short path and steps lead over to Azeda and Azedinha, two of the prettiest coves on the peninsula. For everything else you have three options. Taxi boats leave from the beach next to the pier and from Ossos for João Fernandes, Azeda and Tartaruga. Schooners run 2.5-hour beach-hopping cruises from the same stretch of waterfront. Road taxis and Uber reach Ferradura in about 10 minutes and Geribá in 15. Búzios is a beach day more than a sightseeing day, so pack a swimsuit, reef-safe sunscreen and some cash for beach kiosks. Arraial do Cabo, with its white-sand coves and turquoise water, is an hour's drive each way and only worth attempting on a long call. Tenders depend on the sea state: in a southerly swell they can be slowed or suspended, so keep an eye on the queue and head back well before the last tender.
Cruise docks
🚢 Píer do Centro — Tender Landing
The public town pier at the start of Rua das Pedras where most cruise tenders land. Ships anchor in the bay off Praia da Armação; the centre, the Orla Bardot and the taxi-boat points are all steps from the pier.
📍 Latitude: -22.754159, Longitude: -41.88658
See dock on port map →🚢 Porto Veleiro — Alternative Tender Landing (Ossos)
Marina pier at Ossos used as an alternative tender landing on some calls. It is about 800 m north of the Píer do Centro along the Orla Bardot, a 10-minute walk from Rua das Pedras and right next to Praia dos Ossos.
📍 Latitude: -22.747683, Longitude: -41.882172
See dock on port map →Getting to Armação dos Búzios
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
The centre is compact: Rua das Pedras starts at the pier, the Bardot statue is 5 minutes along the Orla Bardot and Praia dos Ossos about 15 minutes. Azeda is another 5 minutes over the headland.
📍 Walk straight off the tender pier onto Rua das Pedras, or turn left along the Orla Bardot seafront.
Small taxi boats shuttle to João Fernandes, Azeda, Azedinha and Tartaruga, and are the easiest way to reach the northern beaches. Fares are per person and paid in cash; confirm the pick-up time for the return trip.
📍 Taxi-boat points on the beach beside the pier and at Praia dos Ossos.
Taxis charge fixed prices by zone rather than using the meter. Agree the fare before you set off: Ferradura and João Fernandes are about 10 minutes, Geribá about 15.
📍 Taxi points in the centre near Praça Santos Dumont, a short walk from the pier.
Uber and 99 both operate in Búzios and are usually cheaper than a taxi, but waits can be long at peak times and on the way back from the beaches.
📍 Set the pick-up on Avenida José Bento Ribeiro Dantas or Praça Santos Dumont; cars cannot reach the pier.
Local buses and vans run to Ferradura, Geribá and Manguinhos for a cash flat fare. Cheap, but routes are not signed in English and a taxi saves time on a short call.
📍 Stops on Estrada da Usina and Avenida José Bento Ribeiro Dantas, a few minutes' walk from the centre.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Use a card in shops and restaurants and carry R$150–200 in small notes for taxi boats, beach chairs and kiosks.
Things to do
Orla Bardot and the Brigitte Bardot Statue
Short stop⭐ Highlight
The seafront path to the bronze statue of Brigitte Bardot, who put Búzios on the map in 1964.
🕐 Morning, when the light is on the bay and the fishing boats
Rua das Pedras
Short stop🚶 Walk
The cobbled street of boutiques, bars and restaurants that starts right at the tender pier.
🕐 Late morning, once the shops open; it gets livelier towards evening
Praia João Fernandes
Short stop🏖️ Beach
A sheltered bay with green water, rocks to snorkel around and a row of beach restaurants.
🕐 Arrive by 10am to get a good table and calm water
Praia da Tartaruga
Short stop🏖️ Beach
A calm bay west of the centre where green turtles are often spotted feeding close to shore.
🕐 Morning, when the water is clearest
Praia da Ferradura
Short stop🏖️ Beach
A horseshoe-shaped bay with flat, calm water that is ideal for swimming and paddleboarding.
🕐 Late morning to early afternoon
Praia de Geribá
🏖️ Beach
Búzios's longest and liveliest beach, with surf, beach clubs and a young crowd.
🕐 Midday onwards, when the beach clubs get going
Praia Brava
Short stop🏖️ Beach
The open Atlantic beach on the peninsula's east side, with waves, rocks and laid-back bars.
🕐 Morning; afternoon wind picks up the surf
Praia dos Ossos
Short stop🏖️ Beach
Búzios's old fishing harbour, with calm water, moored boats and taxi boats to other beaches.
🕐 Morning, before the beach kiosks fill up
Azeda and Azedinha Beaches
Short stop🏖️ Beach
Two small coves with clear, calm water, reached by a short path and steps from Praia dos Ossos.
🕐 Early, before the schooners arrive around midday
Arraial do Cabo Boat Trip
🎯 Activity
A boat tour from Praia dos Anjos to Ilha do Farol, the Blue Grotto and Arraial's white-sand coves.
🕐 Morning departures; book the first boat of the day
Schooner Beach Cruise
Short stop🎯 Activity
A 2.5-hour schooner trip past a dozen beaches and islands, with swim stops at coves like Azeda.
🕐 Morning departures; the sea is usually calmer before the afternoon wind
Igreja de Sant'Anna
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
A small whitewashed 18th-century chapel on a rock above Praia dos Ossos, with views over the bay.
🕐 Late afternoon for the best light over the bay
Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia
📸 Viewpoint
Twin white-sand coves under a clifftop viewpoint over Arraial do Cabo's famous turquoise water.
🕐 Morning, before the day-trip buses and boats arrive
Praia do Forno
🌿 Nature
A quiet cove with reddish sand and clear water, reached on foot by a short trail from Praia Brava.
🕐 Morning; the trail is hot and exposed after midday
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Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Armação dos Búzios?
- Armação dos Búzios is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Armação dos Búzios?
- Yes. Armação dos Búzios is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Armação dos Búzios centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Ferry, Taxi, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Armação dos Búzios?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Armação dos Búzios independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Armação dos Búzios and are cards accepted?
- Armação dos Búzios uses the Brazilian real. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Armação dos Búzios cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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