Swim Under Tijuca Waterfalls — Hike, Caves, Wildlife & Rio Views
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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!
- Hassle-free round-trip transfers from your Rio hotel
- Enjoy the chauffeured drive to Tijuca National Park, the planet's largest urban rainforest
- Explore caves, hike to and under waterfalls, through the forest, and more
- A small group tour means more attention from your guide
What's Included
- Certified, passionate local guides who bring the rainforest to life (English, Spanish & Portuguese)
- Door-to-door hotel pickup & drop-off in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle
- Flexible morning & afternoon departures to fit your Rio schedule
- Guide-taken photos on your device so every moment is captured (just ask)
- Entrance to Tijuca National Park — just show up and explore
- Food and beverages
- Tips or Gratuity
- Rain jackets, ponchos
- Bug spray
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
SÃO CONRADO PICKUPS REQUIRE DROP OFF IN LEBLON OR IPANEMA. Starting time: Morning: 6:45–7:30 AM Afternoon: 1–2 PM
Itinerary
1
Mirante das canoas
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Cascatinha Taunay
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Cachoeira das Almas
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Gruta Bernardo de Oliveira
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
the Bat Cave
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Cascata da Baronesa
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Vista Chinesa
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The trails range from easy to moderate, with some elevation to reach caves and waterfalls, so basic physical conditioning is recommended. The trails range from easy to moderate, with some elevation to reach caves and waterfalls, so basic physical conditioning is recommended. Walking distances range from 2 to 5 km (1.2 to 3.1 miles).
- Tip: We recommend booking on weekdays for a quieter experience and a higher chance of spotting wildlife. However, if the weekend is your only option, don’t worry—you’ll still enjoy an amazing tour!
- Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed
- Tour duration may be affected by traffic, especially in a busy city like Rio, where congestion can sometimes extend the tour time. We STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST booking on days with important commitments (flights, tours, etc.) as delays are possible. Morning tours typically offer a smoother experience.
- Itinerary is subject to change based on various factors such as the park's regulations, prevailing natural conditions, and the physical capabilities of the group.
- From May to October, reduced rainfall can impact the flow of certain waterfalls, affecting the itinerary. Please note that photos are for reference only and may reflect conditions during the wetter months.
- Rainy weather does not affect the scheduled tour of the forest, which is known to be more enchanting and lively during such weather. The waterfalls are more magnificent and the chances of spotting wild animals increase during rainfall. Visitors are guaranteed a safe and unforgettable experience in the forest, regardless of the weather conditions.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Janina_Y
10/10 hike! The views were beautiful and the hike was good. Our guide, Eric, was fantastic! He was so knowledgeable and we learned so much about the rainforest. I was so impressed how much he knew! He also gave us very good recommendations for Rio and told us a lot about the city. One of the best tour guides we've ever had!
Reviews
4.9
based on 1,208 reviews
Pavan_R, May 2026
Fun and informative. Tour guide was great and really interactive. Bring insect spray, water, wear comfortable trainers, bring swimwear and towel to enjoy the waterfalls.
Martin_G, May 2026
Eric Fernandez was great he was super friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about educating us about brazil wild life and hiking adventure. My expectations were met 100%, i would highly recommend this tour especially the cave and the water fall. The water was amazing!
Steffi_C, May 2026
Read the notes beforehand so you know what to expect. It’s a proper hike and there’s lots to see. The guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what we saw. A great trip - waterfall swim was a highlight. Thank you.
Janina_Y, Apr 2026
10/10 hike! The views were beautiful and the hike was good. Our guide, Eric, was fantastic! He was so knowledgeable and we learned so much about the rainforest. I was so impressed how much he knew! He also gave us very good recommendations for Rio and told us a lot about the city. One of the best tour guides we've ever had!
Steve_S, Apr 2026
It was a great hike, a little challenging but nothing harder than climbing down a few rocks in a cave, and going up inclines. Daniel showed a real curiosity, informative view, and passion for the wildlife that made the trip much more enjoyable. Highly recommend!
Jamie_B, Apr 2026
Victor was everything you could hope for in a tour guide. Friendly, knowledgeable and went out of his way to ensure every member had a memorable experience. He was a wealth of knowledge, and was more than happy to provide recommendations for other sites to see in Rio.
Sahil_S, Apr 2026
We had Eric as our guide, and he was great! Explained a lot of interesting facts about the things we saw, and history about Brazil. The tour itself was also great. Pleasant hike with beautiful scenery and a waterfall at the end. Highly recommend.
Vishal_R, Apr 2026
Great tour. Our guide Victor was both knowledgeable and enthusiastic! Waterfalls and caves were beautiful and a great way to cool down in the warm weather.
Sara_J, Apr 2026
Beautiful escape from the business of Rio. Victor was a really enthusiastic guide who actively searched for wildlife for us to see and gave great recommendations. We were very glad to have a small glimpse into Brazilian nature and wildlife so close to the city, with very little travel effort on our part.
James_G, Apr 2026
A spectacular tour of Tijuca with our amazing guide Victor! The waterfalls, caves and views are all stunning. We would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Rio!
Brianna_L, Apr 2026
This tour was an experience I would’ve never imagined walking through the rainforest and seeing such beautiful scenery, including waterfalls in walking inside caves something I would’ve never done at home in our wonderful tour guy, Eric is someone who loves his job explaining great details about the rainforest in the native Amazonian people that would stay in the forest and how they navigate through life in the rainforest in all the history that comes with it I’ve learned a lot I’ve learned my body is not fit and I definitely got a workout in, but definitely took some great pictures and had an experience of a lifetime on this tour
Marnie_G, Apr 2026
It can be tough but it's worth it!! The waterfalls were beautiful! We even saw a sloth on the way up the to the hike! Victor was a great guide!
Daniella_S, Apr 2026
It was a great experience
Bring bug spray
We saw some wildlife
Such as a sloth Monkeys, a toucan and butterflies, beautiful and neon butterflies and Raccoon like animals
Richard_B, Apr 2026
It's quite tough at times during the hike. You need a bit of fitness. Great fun though and a very knowledgeable and friendly Tour Guide in Eric (genuine and fantastic gent with a great sense of humour. Multilingual too).
Some beautiful waterfalls, fun hike in the forest (walking shoes, bug spray - we were recommended to use Mise Icaridina at the pharmacy by a lovely lady) Some great views en route. Last waterfall was great fun, you can Stand underneath it (not swim) but it's pretty fast and pounds your head. Eric told us about the history of the forest and the plants during the walk recommend this for a nice half day trip.
Scott_M, Apr 2026
Fun hike with a passionate guide! It was raining the whole time (it is a rainforest after all!) but that made it an even more memorable experience.
Giles_H, Apr 2026
Victor the guide was very friendly, witty, informative and considerate. The driver was also friendly and a careful driver. Overall a very good experience and something very different to do in the city.
Ariel_K, Apr 2026
Rafael was an amazing tour guide! He was very knowledgeable about the surrounding area, culture, and forest life! We learned so much from this experience and Rafael did a great job making it authentic and enjoyable.
Ehab_A, Mar 2026
It was a really fun tour to go through the Tijuca forest. The hike was moderately challenging and our tour guide Victor did a great job in keeping everyone engaged.
Ben_A, Mar 2026
Fantastic private tour showing all the highlights of the national park in a comfortable car, with about 5 miles of walking through the beautiful rainforest. We saw caves, waterfalls, and amazing views of the city. Wildlife included a tortoise, monkey and even a sloth! Our guide Jalmir made the day for us - he is friendly, knowledgeable, kind and patient.
Kerstee_N, Mar 2026
Daniel the guide was 5 star. Very knowledgeable & passionate about the rainforest. The trip is 6 hours, not 5 & is best described as challenging terrain- walking up & down /over rocks not trail/path in general. Need more than a basic level of mobility/fitness & balance
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for joining us and for your kind words about Daniel—we’re glad you appreciated his knowledge and passion. We understand that perception of difficulty can be subjective, and while many guests find the experience "easy", we always aim to set clear expectations. Your feedback is appreciated and helps us improve.
Chris_C, Mar 2026
Really enjoyable steady walk. This was in no way difficult or strenuous in any way. Guide Victor was fantastic. What a really nice genuine guy, stacks of knowledge and great sense of humour. Honestly this was a great afternoon out.
Martin_T, Mar 2026
Excellent trip to Tijuca with some hiking, bathing in waterfall, with an excellent guide. I highly recommend.
Sarah_M, Mar 2026
What a great experience! Eduardo was excellent. We went to one trail and it was quite busy so he gave us options...and we chose well. Hiked to the top of the world and saw monkeys and Eduardo found a well hidden sloth as well. If you are in Rio, book this tour and request Eduardo!
Elizabeth_A, Mar 2026
Phenomenal tour, our guide was exceptionally fluent and answered all our questions while providing excellent history of the forest and wildlife. We saw beautiful waterfalls and wild toucans which were breathtaking. The caves were very cool and the hike was a good level of difficulty (mild to moderate stairs/incline) but we had good breaks and it wasn’t too tiring. 10/10 great experience
Aidan_B, Mar 2026
Great tour seeing and learning of the history of Tijuca national park. Sam our guide was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide. We saw a sloth and a toucan (after a local bird watcher pointed it out). Would highly recommend :)
Deborah_G, Mar 2026
Wonderful escape in Tijuca Forest. Our guide was Victor and was friendly, knowledgeable and a great guide. Enjoyed the beautiful waterfalls , topical vegetation, caves and wildlife.
Niloofar_K, Mar 2026
Yan was super nice and knew what he was talking about! Always eager to find animals and taught us a lot about the history of the forest and was very easy to follow. Would definitely recommend him! Also travelled with kids, they didn't get bored and also told me to write a positive review.
Yardena_P, Mar 2026
Really enjoyed our tour guide Daniel, gave very nice detailed descriptions of the plants and animals in the rainforest.
Tejal_P, Mar 2026
Great tour. Greatly enjoyed the rainforest even though it started pouring during the second half of the tour. Viktor is a fantastic tour guide. Very helpful, super sweet and knowledgeable. Go check out the Tijuca rainforest in Rio!
Carl_M, Mar 2026
I had a great tour through the Tijuca Forest with our guide Yan. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience both interesting and enjoyable. Yan shared a lot about the forest, the wildlife, and its history, which made the hike much more meaningful. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Rio.
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