Top Rio de Janeiro Nature and Wildlife Tours

Get away from Rio’s raucous side and head deep into nature on this half-day tour. After pickup from your hotel, you’ll head to the city’s “Green Lungs,” aka Tijuca National Park, the largest urban rainforest on the planet. With your guide leading the way, you’ll wander amongst caves and waterfalls, watch for wildlife, and marvel at Brazilian biodiversity—bring your camera, your hiking shoes, and your exploring legs!

Discover an incredible urban forest without leaving Rio de Janeiro. This small group tour of Tijuaca National Park takes you to the most scenic viewpoints, including a beautiful beach and the famous Pedra Bonita peak. Your guide will also take you on a short hike to access a cave or one of the many waterfalls in the park that you can swim in.

Get an overview of Rio's most important sights during this comprehensive day tour. With your guide, tick off Christ the Redeemer statue, the Selarón Steps, Maracanã Stadium, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian. If you upgrade to the premium option, you can even take the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, plus stop for lunch in one of the city's best steakhouses. Round-trip, air-conditioned transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Discover the tropical paradise of Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande—where stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush landscapes await—on a full-day group tour from Rio de Janeiro. Relax on white-sand shores, dive into vibrant coral reefs, and observe rich marine life, including colorful tropical fish on a peaceful schooner ride. Lunch is included, and snorkeling equipment is available to rent for a closer look beneath the sea’s surface.

Experience Rio's lush Tijuca Rainforest on a thrilling open-air jeep tour. Encounter diverse wildlife, stunning waterfalls, and scenic trails in the world's largest urban rainforest. Enjoy convenient hotel pickup in south Rio and embark on a journey to the forest. Cruise through the lush landscape and keep a lookout for playful monkeys, coatis, butterflies, toucans, iguanas, and an array of fascinating insects. After 30 minutes of moderate hiking, reach a breathtaking viewpoint 690 meters above sea level for awe-inspiring panoramic views. Continue your journey to the National Park's tallest waterfall, a majestic 35-meter cascade. Take a refreshing dip and immerse yourself in the surrounding natural splendor. During the return, we will take you to the iconic Vista Chinesa, a renowned viewpoint that offers breathtaking city views. Conclude with a drive through São Conrado, Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana, enjoying vibrant beaches and a rejuvenating, tranquil ending.

See two iconic Rio de Janeiro landmarks from the water—Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf—on a sailing tour. Sail in Guanabara Bay or the open sea while you relax with a welcome drink and snacks. Enjoy stunning views and discover the magic of sailing from the captain who illuminates Rio’s history. This 3-hour boat tour has a maximum capacity of 20, so there'll be plenty of room onboard.

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.

Swap the bustle of Rio de Janeiro for the tropical beauty of Arraial do Cabo, known by locals as the Brazilian Caribbean, on a full-day tour that takes care of transfers, activities, meals, and guides so you don’t have to. Letting someone else drive allows you to sit back and soak up the scenery, while stops to swim in crystal-clear waters increase your chances of spotting wildlife.

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.

The Tijuca National Forest is one of the largest urban rainforests in the world, set on mountain slopes just west of Rio de Janeiro. With this tour, discover two of the city’s nature sites, starting with a guided walk through the Rio Botanical Gardens, including the Turtle Lake and Sensory Garden. Then, hike through Tijuca, learn more about the native plants and wildlife, and admire Taunay Waterfall.

Head to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car for sweeping views of Rio de Janeiro. Your skip-the-line ticket gives you priority access to both cable cars, saving you time waiting at this popular attraction, and is valid for any departure time on the day you select. Admire the beautiful views of the city, the mountains, and the coastline from the lookout.

Visit the Botanic Garden which was created in 1817 by King John VI of Portugal. Dedicated to the culture of exotic plants, the unique park features a variety of rare and exotic species brought from all over the world. Among the rarest are the Imperial Palm Trees, huge water lilies (Victorias-Regias), and Brazilian Red Wood trees (Pau Brasil), which are an endangered species in the Atlantic Forest. In its famous greenhouse, more than 500 species of delicate orchids are carefully tended to. We will then make a visit to the Tijuca Atlantic Forest, the largest urban forest in the world, stopping at the Chinese View Belvedere which features a magnificent view of Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, the Guanabara Bay and the Sugar Loaf Mountain. The access by car to the Chinese viewpoint is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. On the way back to the hotel, we stop at the Pepino Beach to watch the hang gliders.

When renting a car seems like such a difficult thing to do, opt for this Christ the Redeemer, Selaron Steps, and Santa Teresa Tour from Rio de Janeiro that provides pickup, drop-off, and transport in between sights. This half-day tour takes you to three of the area’s most popular attractions, including the Christ the Redeemer statue on top of Corcovado Mountain.

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.

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.

Venture away from the hustle and bustle of Rio de Janeiro and explore the wild Pedra Branca State Park. Embark on a hike to Pedra do Telegrafo for beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and Rio in the distance before exploring a handful of rugged beaches for a bit of relaxation. This excursion is suitable for most travelers and is limited to a small group for a more personalized experience.

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.

The dramatic rock viewpoint of Pedra do Telegrado is one of the most popular photo spots in Rio de Janeiro. With this tour, explore the West Zone of Rio en route to the viewpoint, stopping at four different beaches. Hike up to the Pedra do Telegrado and enjoy plenty of time to pose for photos on the unique overhanging rock.

The largest urban forest in the world recovered by Emperor D. Pedro II has more than 350 species of animals and is one of the responsible for balancing the city’s ecosystem. We don't have boarding at Barra and Recreio for this tour. To operate the Tour we need a minimum of 4 people.

Explore Tijuca National Park with a local guide on a half-day hike. Learn about native plant and animal species and look out for tropical birds and reptiles along the trail. Swim in a natural lagoon and then take a rest with gorgeous Rio de Janeiro views. This tour is deal for visitors looking for an adventure in Brazil. Escape the city, immerse yourself in nature and learn about Brazilian wildlife.

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.

Get an overview of Rio's most important sights during this full-day tour. Travel through the Tijuca Forest to see the Christ the Redeemer statue. Take the cable car from Urca up to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, before visiting downtown highlgihts such as Maracanã (outside only), the Sambadrome area, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Sao Bento Monastery and Selarón Stairs. Round-trip transport from selected hotels in Rio is included, and you can opt to include admission tickets and lunch.

Soar above the city of Rio de Janeiro aboard a hang glider during this thrilling adventure. Accompanied by a fully certified instructor, launch from the Tijuca National Park and glide over the lush, verdant Atlantic Forest. Take in views of some of Rio's most famous landmarks, such as Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Rocinha Favela, and the Christ the Redeemer Statue atop Corcovado Mountain. Touch down for a gentle landing on the white sands of Sao Conrado Beach.