HIKING TRAVEL GUIDE
The trails worth the airfare.
The 15 most popular rio de janeiro hikes. The trails that draw the most hikers, with the distance, the time on your feet, the cost and who guides them.
Small-group Tijuca Forest hike with caves and waterfalls, plus 19th-century coffee ruins and hotel pickup from Rio’s South Zone.
Most Popular“The tour was great! Ricardo was very knowledgeable and personable”
Hike Pedra do Telégrafo, then unwind at Grumari or Prainha in Rio. Early summit timing, AC pickup, expert guides.
“Great Hike, it’s not easy….but it’s not too difficult….its a very good hike that will challenge you….but….the view….it’s unbelievable!!! A absolute must do in Rio…host was excellent Dayvison!!”
Sunrise at Two Brothers Hill from Vidigal. A local-guided hike with lanterns, fast moto transport, and sweeping Rio views.
“The experience was absolutely incredible! The views from the top of Morro Dois Irmãos at sunrise are truly breathtaking, totally worth the early wake-up. Everything was perfectly organized, and our guide Rodrigo was the best! Super friendly, knowledgeable, and made us feel safe the whole way. One of the highlights of my trip to Rio.…”
Tackle Pedra da Gávea from sea level to 840 m with a small-group guide. Expect short climbs, ropes, and Rio’s big views.
“Communication with provider was very clear and efficient. Guide (Eduardo) was excellent. You should bring fitness as it is a steep hike, not a walk in the park. But absolutely worth it. Highly recommended.”
Challenge your legs on a hard 10.4 km Tijuca Forest hike with small-group jungle trails, coffee-farm ruins, caves, and waterfall refresh.
“Ricardo is an excellent guide! Despite the rain in the forest, he made it feel like the sun was shining all the time. He made jokes, he told lots of interesting facts & figures, took endless pictures of the group. Would really recommend Ricardo as a tourguide for this trip!”
Guided Vidigal favela tour plus the Two Brothers hike for panoramic Rio views of Rocinha, Corcovado, and Copacabana from $88.
A short, moderate climb to Dois Irmãos for Rio’s best views, with a guided sunrise or daytime hike from Vidigal.
“Everything was great! Naty is very very nice and caring, with her an unforgettable experience is guaranteed. I also recommend the favela tour”
Challenge Pedra da Gávea on a small-group guided hike with certified climbing gear, safety-first guides, and sweeping Rio views.
“The tour we took was amazing. Sergio was a great guide, he provided us with a lot of interesting stories about Rio, and Brazil. He was also very helpful on the hike itself, and made us feel 100% safe throughout the whole hike.”
A small-group rainforest hike in Tijuca National Park to Pedra Bonita, with Rio coast views and real history along the trail.
“The guide was amazing. He knows English very well. He has extensive knowledge of the area he guides around and is a very nice and intelligent man.”
Climb Sugarloaf’s East Face with a pro guide, enjoy postcard views, and ride the cable car down to Morro da Urca.
“The hike was no joke — definitely not for the faint-hearted — but Igor stayed calm, supportive, and made the whole journey feel safe. Once you find your rhythm on the trail, it becomes more manageable mentally. The rope climbing section was the highlight for me — being harnessed in Lol. Highly, highly recommend this…”
Hike to Garganta do Céu for surreal Rio views, then cool off at Sorimã Waterfall on a small-group Tijuca National Park trail.
“This was a very challenging hike for me. Took me 2hrs going up. Rugged terrain with lots of rocks. Ron Beulah is an excellent guide and truly helped to make sure that I got up and down without incident. There were 3 tourists & 1 guide. If you have any major health issues or are…”
Guided hike to Pedra da Gávea from Rio’s Tijuca Rainforest, with safety gear, small groups, and big views including Christ.
“The hike and climb was a bit difficult but so my triumph once reaching the top. Sergio was so amazing. The most patient human being I’ve ever met. He continuously controlled me to “control my fears” which gave me so much trust into his instructions. 10/10 highly recommend.”
Half-day hike from Morro Dois Irmaos to Vidigal with local motorcycle taxi, panoramic views, sunrise option, and HD photo album.
“Fernando is a Star. This is the best tour in South America that I have done thus far (travelled ~5 months over multiple years throughout South America). My partner and I took this tour for the sunrise option and the views are absolutely stunRead more”
Guided hike in Rio’s Tijuca National Park to Pico da Tijuca for jungle views, a waterfall stop, plus the Tijuca forest museum.
“Nous ne sommes pas des habitués de randonnées. Nous avons voulu nous dépasser en essayant cette randonnée de 6h et nous n’avons pas été déçu ! Le guide a été génial et a su nous faire passer par des recoins géniaux. Il avait aussi une bonne connaissance de la forêt et de son histoire. La…”
Tijuca Forest hike with 35m Taunay views, cool waterfalls, and safe cave visits. Small-group walking, mostly easy trails, great photos.
“This was an incredible experience! The waterfalls and caves were beautiful - Juliana (my wonderful guide) said that bathing under a waterfall cleanses the soul, and it really did feel both otherworldly and grounding at the same time.”
Every region we cover, and every kind of ground underfoot.
