rio cruises san antonio

• San Antonio Resorts
• San Antonio Vacation Packages and Hotel Deals

Riverwalk Dining Cruises

• Sightseeing Tours
• San Antonio Attractions

Riverwalk Boat Cruises

• Kayaking The Riverwalk
• The Shops at Rivercenter
• Carriage Rides
• Calendar Of Events
• Nightlife on the Riverwalk
• San Antonio Golf Courses
• The Alamo in San Antonio
• Theme Parks in San Antonio
• Fiesta Texas Discount Coupon
• Arts and Culture in San Antonio
• Event Calendar
• Disability Access on the Riverwalk
• Frequently Asked Questions About The Riverwalk
• Photo Gallery
• Discount Coupons
• History of the Riverwalk
• San Antonio Tourism Information

Boat cruises on the Riverwalk are an amazing way to see the river and downtown San Antonio.  The tours are operated by Go Rio Cruises and take place from 10am to 10pm, 365 days a year.  The tour of the main Downtown area lasts about 35 to 40 minutes and is a wonderful way to learn about the origins of the river and our downtown history.  Go Rio offers 3 convenient ticket and boarding locations at various positions on the River Walk. You can also pre-purchase your boat tour tickets on their website at www.GoRioCruises.com.

Don’t miss out on taking a boat cruise on the Riverwalk on your next visit!

Go Rio Cruises Riverwalk Tours

Go Rio Cruises narrated river tours can be accessed from several different locations along the Riverwalk.  The costs of the tours are below.

• Adults: $14.50
• Children (ages 1-5): $8.50
• Local Residents of Bexar County Texas: $12.50
• Senior Citizen (65 & older) and Military: $11.50
• All prices include tax

Hours of operation:

• Daily: 10am to to 10pm.

Spanish language tours are available Monday through Thursday at 10:30, 11:30am and 12:30pm at their Historia ticket and boarding location across from the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel.

Ticket Purchase Locations For Go Rio Cruises Narrated Tours

• Under the Market Street Bridge and Alamo Street (across from the Hilton Palacio del Rio)
• The Shops at Rivercenter – Rivercenter Mall (Commerce Street and Bowie)
• Aztec Theatre (St. Mary’s and College Streets)

Go Rio Cruises River Shuttle Services

Riding the River Shuttle

Just trying to get from place to place as you explore San Antonio attractions? Look for the GO RIO Shuttle signs that are located along the River Walk downtown and on the Museum Reach. Boats are labeled with GO RIO Shuttle signs. Shuttles run approximately every 60 minutes. Shuttle service begins at 12 noon. Tickets also available for purchase on the boat or at any GO RIO Ticket booth.

Go Rio Cruises Shuttle Passes One Day Shuttle Pass $20.50 3 Day Shuttle Pass $29.50

Monthly Pass Local Bexar Residents $28.50

Lunch and Dinner Cruises Lunch and dinner cruises are done on a charter basis. There are currently no Riverwalk restaurants that offer reservation based “community” type lunch or dinner cruises where you can join others on a boat for a meal.  To book a charter lunch or dinner cruise, you first contact a Riverwalk restaurant and they will assist you in chartering the boat and cater the meal for you. Chartered dinner and lunch cruises seat a maximum of 20 guests but most recommend 16 to 18 people for comfort.  It is a wonderful and charming way to see the Riverwalk. If you would like more information about a private, chartered dinner, lunch or cocktail cruise, email us here .

Cocktail Cruises Cocktail cruises are also done on a charter basis and catered by any number of Riverwalk restaurants. They can seat a maximum of 30 to 40 guests and can be configured for drinks and appetizers.

For more information on dining and cocktail cruises click here .

Chartered Narrated Tours If you are part of a group coming to San Antonio, there is no better way to see the Riverwalk than with a private, chartered narrated tour. These private narrated tours can seat up to 40 people.

Looking for a great restaurant or bar on the River Walk? Visit our restaurant page!

GO Rio San Antonio River Cruises

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

GO Rio San Antonio River Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Rio San Antonio Cruises

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Rio San Antonio Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Rio San Antonio Cruises

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Rio San Antonio Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Destinations
• Travel Videos
• Around Houston
• Historic Forts in Texas
• Historic Sites on the Texas Gulf Coast
• Historic Homes in Texas You Must Visit
• Where to Go Stargazing in Texas
• Texas Revolution Historic Sites
• Texas State Parks in South Texas
• Texas State Parks near Abilene, Amarillo & Midland
• Texas State Parks near Austin
• Texas State Parks near Dallas
• Texas State Parks near El Paso & Big Bend
• Texas State Parks near Houston
• Texas State Parks near San Antonio
• Texas State Parks near Tyler
• Beaches of Texas
• Things to Do in Texas
• Attractions
• Featured Events
• Texas Road Trips
• Places to Stay
• Browse Free Brochures
• Shopping Cart
• Texas State Historical Sites
• Texas State Parks

GO RIO River Cruises

Floating along with GO RIO River Cruises is much more than a fun jaunt on the water. Instead, it’s a captivating journey to some of San Antonio’s most historic places.

Cruise by La Villita, the city’s first neighborhood where General Santa Anna placed his cannon line during the Battle of the Alamo. Pass under Selena’s Bridge, where beloved Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla Perez’s husband proposed to her. All the while, you’ll discover San Antonio’s American, German, and Mexican cultures with the help of your tour guide, who will provide fascinating tidbits of knowledge throughout your 35-minute journey.

Need an easy way to get around the San Antonio River Walk? Hitch a ride with one of the Go Rio shuttles, which pick you up and drop you off at various locations within walking distance of some of the Alamo City’s biggest attractions. Keep an eye out for the Go Rio Shuttle signs and boats that are labeled as such. These shuttles run approximately every 45 minutes, although there is no set schedule for pick-ups and drop-offs.

Explore the San Antonio River Walk and uncover the city’s diverse cultures and enthralling history on a tour with GO RIO River Cruises. An essential part of any visit to downtown San Antonio, it’s a great starting point to your other adventures in the Alamo City.

GO RIO River Cruises Tours

Go Rio Cruises Slideshow

View Go Rio Cruises Slideshow

Go Rio Cruises Social

Share This Page with Someone

Our message to your friend.

I thought you might be interested in this story from the Tour Texas web site:

Go Rio Cruises

(Your comments will appear here)

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

Hours updated 2 months ago

Review Highlights

“ We came to the Riverwalk to see the Christmas lights for the first time and the river cruise did not disappoint. ” in 90 reviews

“ Captain Nick had an absolute great attitude for having to work on Thanksgiving Day. ” in 7 reviews

“ Highly recommend spending the money to take this 30 minute cruise along the river walk. ” in 6 reviews

Show more review highlights

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

809 E River Walk

San Antonio, TX 78205

Amenities and More

About the business.

With a fleet of eco-friendly electric boats in vibrant colors inspired by Mexican folk art, GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises offers an unforgettable experience of the San Antonio River that reflects the sights, wonders and culture of a unique American city. Guests can take guided or specialty tours, chartered excursions or catch a ride on a river taxi from downtown to the Museum Reach to experience the Soul of San Antonio. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

I'm not seeing ride times online. Do you pay and show up for that day?

Yes they have a ticket booth.

How long does the tour last and can you bring drinks on the tour?

Yes on drinks. For the main cruise plan on 30 minutes.

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

411 reviews

If you have something with you with mobility impairments it is not as accessible as it is advertised. There was a pretty good lip in the transition in between the boat and dock area the captain instead of grabbing a ramp was very firm telling my son to "gun it" to get enough moment to get over the transition. Had he just used the ramp it would have been much easier. Other than that it was ok but I personally wouldn't spend the money on the cruise.

So much fun! A must-do if you are visiting San Antonio. My family and I loved it and learned some interesting facts about SA and the Riverwalk. Highly recommend. We loved our tour guide, Rey! We waited in a short line to buy tickets and maybe another 20-30 minutes to get on the boat. We went around 2:30pm. The lines during the day were significantly less than at night but we went during the holiday season where the lights at night truly make the Riverwalk a magical, beautiful place.

Business owner information

Business Customer Service

Jan 24, 2024

Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us. It means so much when our customers share their experiences. We are glad we were able to meet your expectations! We hope to see you again soon!

The River Cruise was a welcome reprieve from walking on a hot day and gave me and my group a 30 minute out-and-back tour of some historical and interesting sites along the river. We bought our tickets at the nearby counter and hopped in line-it moved fairly quickly and the wait wasn't too bad. When we boarded the boat, the captain was really grumpy-shouting out directions to go all the way to the end, don't leave any seats vacant, etc. He then mumbled angrily to himself when some customers didn't follow his direction (I don't think they spoke English). It made for a rather uncomfortable few minutes since we were right next to him. Aside from the jaded captain, the rest of the ride was pleasant enough. He shared some interesting scripted facts and attempted to joke with the guests, although his delivery was forced and awkward. As with most tours, I think your experience is highly dependent on your guide. Maybe this guy just needed a hug and his day would have been a little better.

Go Rio river cruises is a great way to take a break and learn some about various sites and the history of the riverwalk area. They have multiple launch points to alleviate some congestion and allow you to start from wherever you are near. They run during the day and into the evening - after dark you may get to enjoy the bustling riverwalk all lit up, and during the day a slightly different experience seeing sights in full light. I wasn't planning on doing the cruise, but after a long day of walking around and sightseeing, giving my feet a break and getting in more sightseeing was much appreciated! I didn't end up waiting more than 10-15 minutes in line for a boat, but I could tell at other times when I was walking by that the wait probably gets considerably longer when crowds are at the peak. Each boat captain brings their own flair and spin on the ride, interjecting different tidbits or jokes to engage with their riders. Unfortunately, I didn't find my captain to be very engaging and many of his jokes didn't land with the folks on our ride (he also multiple times called out people on the boat for not paying attention to the knowledge he was sharing), but the experience and history of the area that was shared on ride was still enjoyable.

Horrible customer service, lousy processes and zero communication. We purchased a city pass for our trip to San Antonio. City Pass allows you to participate in your choice of 4 activities in the city for which you purchased the ticket. On Monday, March 11 we waited in line for 40 minutes for the Go Rio River Walk Boat Ride. There were no signs anywhere to indicate the process for purchasing a ticket, using a ticket, or boarding the boat. There were also no employees anywhere other than the very front of the line. Once at the front, we were told that our mobile City Pass Tickets would not work, and we needed to wait in another line. The girl told my wife and daughter to 'stand to the side' while I waited in line for the paper tickets with my son. My daughter needed to use the restroom and since I was about 15th person in line for paper tickets, she took my daughter. When she returned, she and my daughter waited for my son and I, then we went back to the front of the line to the girl that told us to 'stand to the side' to let her know we were ready. She said that since we did not 'stand to the side' we now needed to go to the very back of the line and start over. The line was now longer than when we'd stood in it the first time. My wife told her that was unacceptable we needed to be boarded with the next group. The girl then said she would get her manager. After another 10 minutes Evelyn Porras, a manager of Go Rio River Walk Boat Ride approached us. My wife explained the situation as outlined above and Evelyn said there was nothing she could do, and we needed to go to the back of the line. My wife again told her that was unacceptable. Evelyn said that we did not follow instructions and therefore lost our place in line. We asked to speak to her manager, and she said she is the manager. She seems more annoyed that she had to spend time speaking with us than, attempting to find an amicable solution. I contacted City Pass immediately and will be getting our money back. Needless to say, we will not attempt to participate in these cruises again nor would we recommend them.

Mar 13, 2024

Hello, we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Please check your direct messages for further instructions, thank you.

The weight is far too long. Our guide was fantastic, but there was no accommodation for handicap people as they waited in line. One girl with major deform it is had to wait about an hour and a half. There should be a fast pass line like they have a Disney for those with severe disabilities.

See all photos from Veteran T. for GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

We loved this tour. With riverboat captain/ tour guide Bob is a must. He made our trip so enjoyable and I never laughed so much. He made the history so interesting. Highly recommend taking this tour. It's about 30 minutes with Rich history. Spacious boat.

See all photos from Tiffany C. for GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

Our tour guide was Jen and she was amazing. Sang at times and we enjoyed the jokes. Most of them of course follow the same script but she was the only one we saw singing :)

Our tour guide's boat. Pick up station by Selena bridge.

Such a fun tour! It was awesome getting to learn more about the history of the city and scope out places to eat/drink in an efficient manor. Our tour guide was awesome and kept us laughing. Prepare yourself for a long wait in line though- we went on a Tuesday at 2PM and waited in line for 45 mins. The do sell concessions at the ticket office though.

Great price! Teo was the perfect tour guide! Great view and tour of the city! Very safe! Gave us great recommendations and highlights of the city!

15 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Collections Including GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

San Antonio, Texas

By Alexis B.

San Antonio Adventures

By Anson W.

San Antonio Day Trip

By Liana W.

The Kids in San Antonio

By Ashley L.

San Antonio Kids Activities & Playgrounds

By Michelle M.

San Antonio

By Paige C.

Austin/San Antonio/Dallas

By Tiffany D.

San Antonio ATTRACTIONS

By Sonia S.

San Antonio 🤠

People Also Viewed

San Antonio River Walk

Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours

Mission Adventure Tours

Natural Bridge Caverns

Bad Wolf Ghost Tours

The Barwalk

SA Food Tours

San Antonio Detours

Trolley Pub - San Antonio

Alamo City Ghost Tours

Best of San Antonio

Things to do in San Antonio

Other Places Nearby

Find more Boat Tours near GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

Find more Historical Tours near GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Fishing Charter

Jet Ski Rental

Boat Tours Near Me

Historical Tours Near Me

People found GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises by searching for…

Boat Cruise San Antonio

Booze Cruise San Antonio

Horse Carriage Ride San Antonio

River Boat Tours San Antonio

River Taxi San Antonio

River Walk Boat San Antonio

River Walk Restaurants San Antonio

Riverboat Cruise San Antonio

Riverwalk Boat Ride San Antonio

San Antonio Riverwalk Restaurants San Antonio

Water Taxi San Antonio

What To Do In San Antonio San Antonio

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises is a Yelp advertiser.

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

E-News Sign Up

Visitor guide.

© 2024 Visit San Antonio. All Rights Reserved.

Go Rio Cruise & Tower of The Americas Combo Ticket

GO RIO & Tower of the Americas is now offering their first-ever combo ticket! Package includes 1 Tower Admission ticket and 1 GO RIO Narrated Cruise ticket. 

Get yours at any Ticket Booth!

Save with San Antonio CityPASS® !

Visiting several San Antonio attractions? CityPASS® tickets save 39% on admission to 4 top San Antonio attractions of your choice. One easy purchase and mobile ticket delivery saves times and money.

Learn More & Buy Tickets

Email Signup