Air Tours -- For a bird's-eye view of Brasilia, take a 10-minute helicopter tour. Helicopters take off from next to the TV Tower Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 7pm and fly over the Eixo Monumental at an altitude of 135m (450 ft.). Contact Esat Taxi Aéreo (tel. 061/3323-8777; www.esataerotaxi.com.br). Cost is R$480 (US$240/£130) for four people.
Boat Tours -- Tours take place on the lake, Lago Paranoá. Leaving from ASBAC (yacht club in the Asa Sul, close to Setor de Embaixadas Sul), the 2-hour tour passes the Palácio da Alvorada, the official residence of the Brazilian president (not open to the public) and continues around the lake. It's a great way to see the city from the water. Contact Tôa Tôa (tel. 061/9982-1161). Departures are at 10am and 2pm and the cost is R$20 (US$10/£5.40) per person.
Specialty Tours -- To take a specialized half-day architectural tour of the city, contact Prestheza Turismo, Patio Brasil Shopping, Sala 917 (tel. 061/3226-6224; www.prestheza.com.br). The company also offers a variety of other tours, such as a visit to the Vale do Amanhecer (Valley of the Dawn) spiritual community or to one of the national or regional parks in the area. Half-day tours start at R$80 (US$40/£22) per person.
