Top Rio de Janeiro Hiking Tours

Skip the gridlocked city traffic and the crowded tour buses. Just 40 minutes from Rio's famous beaches lies a protected UNESCO World Heritage wilderness where the dense jungle canopy blocks out the city chaos. This is a paced, small-group journey designed to show you Rio’s wild side without the crowds.

If you’re looking for an experience that helps give back to nearby communities, this Two Brothers Mountain Lookout Hike from Rio de Janeiro gives a percentage to the communities that are struggling within Rio. Plus, this hike provides you with a great adventure along the trail up to Two Brothers. See lesser-known spots as you make your way up to take in views of the city and the coastline.

It’s hard to beat the crowds in Rio de Janeiro entirely, but trekking the challenging Pedra da Gavea gives you access to viewpoints with far fewer people, so that you can soak up views of Rio’s iconic coastline in more peace. This hiking tour helps you navigate the moderate-difficult route, ensuring you stay safe and don’t get lost along the way.

Discover Rio de Janeiro from its history, architecture and cultural influences that have shaped the way you are Carioca. We will walk through squares, churches and historic sites, with the possibility of a break for a snack or coffee at the traditional Colombo Confectionery (not included in the tour price).

Get a glimpse into local life in Rio de Janeiro during a favela tour that reveals a different side of the Marvelous City. In an intimate group limited to 12 travelers, you’ll explore two of the largest favelas in Rio, and benefit from the local insight of a guide as you learn more about living conditions in the city.

Discover a side of Rio de Janeiro that goes far beyond the beaches and postcard sights. Explore waterfalls, a natural cave, and the lush Tijuca Forest in small groups, with the chance to spot wildlife in its natural habitat. An authentic experience for those wishing to discover the city's wilder, more surprising side.

Experience a different side to Rio de Janeiro—one that few travelers experience—and gain a deeper appreciation for life in the Brazilian city, with a small-group tour of the Vidigal favela. In the company of a guide who has decades of experience working in Vidigal, see work by local graffiti artists, visit community projects, and take in panoramic views of the city.

Tour Rio de Janeiro your way, with a private car and driver, during this fully customizable tour. Choose the landmarks and attractions that you want to visit, such as Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado, Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Selarón Steps, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the city's famous beaches. Learn about the food, language, culture and history of the city and its inhabitants from your informative local guide while you explore. Round trip transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned private vehicle is included.

Take a challenging hike to one of Rio de Janeiro’s most scenic viewpoints during this small-group excursion. Trek through Tijuca Rainforest to reach the famous Pedra da Gavea for stunning views of the city. Discover local wildlife, refresh yourself in a waterfall, learn about the history of Rio, and rock climb up a small section to reach the famous rock. This tour is recommended for those with strong physical fitness.

Tijuca National Park is a great opportunity to get to know Rio de Janeiro's rich avifauna, with endemic species of the Atlantic Forest. This is an ideal tour for those who want to start bird watching or for those more experienced birders.

Explore the parts of Rio de Janeiro that interest you—and skip the ones that don’t—on a private customized tour. This bespoke excursion is perfect for discerning travelers who want to maximize every moment of their vacation time without a humdrum highlights tour. Whether you decide to observe wildlife at Tijuca Forest or uncover the city’s hidden corners, your guide will organize the perfect itinerary.

And an opportunity to learn to samba with a carnival queen of Rio de Janeiro. Besides having a lot of fun, you will learn to sambar ....

This experience combines one of Rio de Janeiro’s most spectacular sunrise and sunset views with the expertise of a knowledgeable local guide who speaks multiple languages and has extensive experience in hiking, outdoor activities, and adventure sports. Throughout the hike, your guide ensures a safe and enjoyable experience while sharing insights about the region, local culture, and the best photo opportunities. Reaching the trail through Vidigal and watching the sunrise from the summit of Two Brothers Hill offers an authentic and unforgettable way to experience Rio. With small group sizes, this tour provides a more personal experience, allowing everyone to hike at a comfortable pace, enjoy the scenery, and capture unforgettable moments.

Most visitors to Rio De Janeiro ride the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. This small-group tour allows you to experience it in a more rewarding way: by climbing. You'll get the chance to challenge yourself as you make your way up a steep yet technically simple ascent that offers both great views and a sense of excitement.

Take your Rio de Janeiro visit to new heights thanks to this small-group hiking excursion to the top of Pedra da Gavea. Travel to Rio’s Tijuca rainforest for your ascent of this 2,770-foot (844-meter) pinnacle of rock, admiring local wildlife during the steep climb. You’ll eventually strap on climbing equipment, completing a few basic rock climbing sections on your trip to the top. Enjoy stunning views of greater Rio from the peak before rappelling back down. A guide and all necessary equipment are all included.

Spend the day trekking through the lush Tijuca Rainforest on this small-group tour. Discover local wildlife as you make your way up to Taquara Hill which is 330 feet (100 meters) higher than Christ the Redeemer. Take in views of Rio, visit caves and grottoes, and take a dip on the refershing pools of the Baronesa Waterfall. This is a challenging hike for those with good physical fitness.

Explore the Tijuca Forest National Park in Rio de Janeiro on this half-day guided tour. Hike along a loop circuit, visiting a variety of attractions off the beaten path. Learn about the history of the park, one of the largest replanted urban forests on the planet. See the Cascatinha Taunay waterfall, the delicate pink Mayrink Chapel, the Cova da Onça suspension bridge, and a bat cave. Then, cool off at Baronesa Cascade waterfall.

As one of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic attractions, Christ the Redeemer attracts lengthy lines. Save time and prevent hassle by prebooking skip-the-line tickets, which allow you to board the next available train to the summit of Corcovado, where the statue is located. Your return ticket is valid on any train, so spend as much time as you like at the top, enjoying panoramic vistas of Rio and capturing photographs of the landmark.

Summit both Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains on this half-day tour in Rio de Janeiro. After bright and early pickup from your Rio hotel, travel through the Tijuca National Forest to get up close with the Christ the Redeemer statue without throngs of people around. After learning about its history from your local guide, move on to Sugar Loaf Mountain for spectacular views of the sprawling city.

Posing for photos at the unique hanging rock of Pedra do Telegrado is a popular pastime for visitors to Rio. With this tour, enjoy a guided 45-minute hike up to the viewpoint and experience the rock at its most atmospheric during a sunrise or sunset visit. As an added bonus, enjoy round-trip transfers from your Rio de Janeiro hotel.

On the west side of Rio, inside the huge Pedra Branca State Park, with plenty of native forest and wild life, Pedra do Telégrafo is Instagram famous due to an optical illusion that makes it look as though you are hanging off the mountainside. Get your own selfies while enjoying sweeping views of beautiful beaches and forest on this walking tour. On the way back, you'll drive by Grumari, Prainha, Macumba, and Recreio dos Bandeirantes beaches.

We begin in the charming neighbourhood of Cosme Velho, walking up a cobblestone road toward the forest. Entering Tijuca Forest National Park at the historic Carioca River reservoir—built during imperial times when the river supplied most of Rio’s water—we reach the Carioca River Trail. Your adventure starts with a climb up a stone staircase, keeping an eye out for wildlife. With luck, we may spot monkeys, sloths, quatis, toucans, and a variety of birds. Along the way, we pause at a scenic lookout before arriving at the Emperor’s Bathtub—a pool once used by Dom Pedro II to cool off during forest visits. Next, we stop at the Paineiras Visitors Centre, a former hotel with information about the park. Here, you can enjoy coffee and snacks before continuing the final 1 km walk to the statue. At the top you’ll marvel at the iconic statue and breathtaking views of Rio. We then return to Cosme Velho on the Christ the Redeemer Train, ending the journey with unforgettable memories.

Climbing Sugar Loaf by walking and climbing the mountain is unforgettable. Know this is the best trail in Rio!