The 14 Best Hikes and Treks in Rio de Janeiro

1.Tijuca Forest Small Group Hike to Caves and Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 536 reviews · 6 hours · from $69Our pick

Spend six hours exploring Tijuca Forest with guides such as Vini, Riccardo, Tito, or Luiza. Walk 6.2 kilometers past a cave, chapel, coffee-era ruins, suspension bridge, and waterfalls, then cool off beneath Baronesa Cascade.

“Pietro was our guide.He was professional and very passionate about what he is doing. His English was very good.The half day tour was very nice,we had a sunny day and almost no other people around the trek.The history and other information told by Pietro were very interesting and nice to listen to.Thank you very much.”

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2.Pedra do Telégrafo Hike and Beach Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 417 reviews · 4 hours - 390 minutes · from $56

Start early for a guided hike from Guaratiba Beach to Pedra do Telégrafo, where Rio’s wild western coast opens below you. Guides such as Erick, Nicolas, and Dayvison are praised for patient pacing and great photos. Finish with swimming or lunch at Grumari or Prainha Beach.

“It was good. Nice views. Dayvison was a great guide”

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3.Pedra da Gávea 7-Hour Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 183 reviews · 8 hours · from $56

Join Eduardo, Lucas, Sergio, or another specialized local guide for a demanding Pedra da Gávea hike through Tijuca National Park. Expect steep trails, hand scrambling, and a roughly 30-meter Carrasqueira climb with safety gear. The $56 price includes guiding and equipment, but not transport.

“Fantastic day out, professional and patient guide and incredible views! Would highly, highly recommend this excursion if you’re looking to do something different whilst in the city and enjoy a challenge when it comes to hike. I wouldn’t say the route was difficult but there are areas that require rock scrambling and the assistance of the guide (in order to safely cross). Only way to improve would be more communication around a delay to our start time (met at half 0730, didn’t start the hike until 0815), as none of us were too sure what the reasoning was. Otherwise I would highly recommend!”

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4.Tijuca Forest Challenge Hike Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 163 reviews · 9 hours · from $86

Spend up to nine hours exploring Tijuca Forest with guides such as Gustavo, Ricardo, Pietro, or Tito. Hike 10.4 km over rough, steep trails to Taquara Hill, caves, coffee-farm ruins, viewpoints, and a waterfall. Pickup is offered in Rio’s South Zone.

“Super! I had a great time on the hike and I'm so happy that I included it in my itinerary. Riccardo was a great tour guide and expanded my appreciation for the Mata Atlantica.”

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5.Vidigal Favela Tour and Two Brothers Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · 5 hours · from $88

Spend five hours exploring Vidigal with a local guide, ride through the neighborhood by motorbike taxi, then hike Morro Dois Irmaos. Guides such as Beatriz, Kako, Rafael, and Robinson lead small or private groups in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, with views toward Rocinha, Ipanema, Leblon, and Copacabana.

“Beautiful hike with amazing views of Rio from the top. Rafael was a great guide.”

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6.Dois Irmãos Peak Sunrise, Day or Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 94 reviews · 3h 30m · from $54

Meet your guide by the blue steps at Praça do Vidigal, ride a moto-taxi through Vidigal, then hike about 1.5 kilometers uphill to Dois Irmãos Peak. Choose a 3:20 AM sunrise, 10:00 AM daytime, or 3:30 PM sunset start. Guides include Milena, Nat, Nathalia, and Thainá.

“This was SUCH a magical experience. We got engaged at the top, with the most stunning sunrise colours! We had a private tour of the 2 of us, with Melina as our guide and honestly she was amazing. She made sure we had everything we need and got us most incredible photos to remember it all! Had an interesting tour round the favela afterwards. Would highly recommend this as a trip if you want to see the best views of Rio and have a magical experience. I would highly recommend booking through these guys as they've been so helpful, including changing the day for us as the weather was bad…”

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7.Pedra da Gávea Guided Hike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 86 reviews · 8 hours · from $68

Climb Rio’s 842-meter Pedra da Gávea with a small group of up to 10 people and a bilingual guide such as Sergio or Eduardo. Expect a demanding forest hike, a secured rock-climbing section, local myths, and broad views of Guanabara Bay, Rio’s beaches, and Tijuca National Park.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to see the view from the top because it was cloudy that day, however Sergio was very nice and told a lot of interesting stories. For me personally the hike was quite complicated but for sure worth it”

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8.Tijuca National Park Small-Group Hike to Pedra Bonita

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 79 reviews · 5 hours · from $63

Spend five hours with a bilingual guide hiking through Tijuca National Park to Pedra Bonita, a 696-meter summit with views toward Pedra da Gávea, Rio, and the coast. The small group holds up to six people, with South Zone hotel pickup, rainforest stories, and a stop at Vista Chinesa.

“Alex our tour guide was great at his job! You can see how he loves his job and he explained the history of Rio for us which was informative. He also was very polite, professional and brilliant! Thank you Alex! And getyourguide for a great experience! Took lots of great pics too”

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9.Hiking in the Tijuca Forest : Waterfalls and Caves

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $62Top rated

Spend about five hours in Tijuca National Park with a multilingual guide such as Eduardo, Victor, or Julio. Visit Canoas Lookout, Taunay Waterfall, forest cascades, the Bat Cave, Emperor’s Table, and Chinese View, with hotel pickup from Rio’s South Zone.

“This tour was my absolute favourite highlight of my entire visit to Brazil (and there were many highlights). From beginning to end the experience was efficient and fun. I booked very last minute and still received prompt and comprehensive communication and were picked up at my doorstep punctually early the next morning. Eduardo is an unforgettable and magnificent guide who clearly loves sharing the ins and outs of not only the Tijuca forest, but the whole of Rio. His energy and enthusiasm is very contagious. And - as other reviews certainly mention - his photography skills are second to none. He managed to make everyone feel comfortable, taking into consideration…”

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10.Garganta do Céu and Waterfall hike in Pedra da Gávea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $58

Climb through Tijuca National Park to Garganta do Céu, a rocky viewpoint above Rio with views of Christ the Redeemer, Pedra da Gávea, and southern beaches. Guides such as Vagner, Ricardo, and Ron Beulah lead small groups, with photos and videos included.

“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 out of shape do not do this hike! You need at least 2 liters of water and snacks. It was very rewarding and satisfying to see the monkeys and tropical forests. I’d do it again since I’m aware of the level of difficulty.”

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11.Pedra da Gavea Guided Hiking tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $70

Spend about eight hours hiking from Tijuca National Park to Pedra da Gávea. Your guide leads you through steep forest trails, wildlife areas, the Carrasqueira rock section, and a guided rope descent. Sergio, Lucas, Didi, Eduardo, and Luiz have led past departures, though your guide may vary.

“The view atop this mountain was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life! Be aware however, that you will be doing some serious mountain climbing on this excursion and will get dirty. The climb takes around 8 hours up and down, so eat a good breakfast and you may want to bring snacks and of course water for along the way. No bathrooms along the way, so if you are shy about relieving yourself in the woods, this is something you should know. Our guide Didi was extremely trustworthy, patient and supportive, I would give him 5 stars!!”

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12.Half Day Hiking Tour Morro Dois Irmaos and Favela Vidigal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $53Best value

Join a small group of up to 10 for a 4 to 5 hour hike on Morro Dois Irmaos and a guided walk through Vidigal. Fernando leads you by motorcycle taxi to the trail, with views of Rocinha, Christ the Redeemer, Pedra da Gavea, and the coast. Sunrise departures are also available.

“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”

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13.Pedra do Telégrafo Hiking Tour ( Telegraph Rock – Avoid Crowds) – Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 41 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $59

Start early for a guided 3.6-kilometer hike to Pedra do Telégrafo, one of Rio’s best photo spots. Guides such as Felipe and Leo provide transport, hiking sticks, local tips, and help with the famous hanging pose. Expect a steep uphill walk, ocean views, and about five hours on the road.

“Stunning view. Hike was great as well. Great exercise with an incredible pay off at the end. Felipe, our guide was great. Deep knowledge about hiking, rock climbing and Rio in general. Highly recommended!”

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14.Pedra do Telégrafo Trail Hike and Ocean View

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $56

Join a bilingual guide, possibly Barbara or Rafael, for a shared five-hour hike to Pedra do Telégrafo. Capture the famous cliffside views, then see Praia do Perigoso, Praia do Meio, and Grumari before returning to Copacabana, Ipanema, or Leblon.

“Barbara was an outstanding tour guide, and her energy truly made the experience unforgettable! From the start, her friendliness and fun personality set the tone for an amazing day. The trekking was fantastic, and the breathtaking views along the way were like something out of a dream. Barbara’s patience stood out—she made sure everyone was comfortable and even went the extra mile to capture beautiful photos of us. Her sparkle and infectious joy uplifted the whole group, adding an extra layer of magic to the journey. If you’re looking for a tour guide who’s not just professional but also genuinely delightful, Barbara is the one!Read more”

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